BME

About this photo: Observing ultrasound-induced cell banding in engineered tissues in the Dalecki lab more info...

Biomedical Engineering

Research

Translational Research

Separation device (Developed by SiMPore Inc.) featuring an ultrathin silicon membrane. Solutions containing nanoparticle mixtures are placed in the cup which is then spun in a centrifuge. Small particles (or proteins) and water pass through the pores of the membrane while large particles are retained and concentrated.

An annual survey by the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) has placed the University of Rochester among the top ten institutions in the nation in the amount of royalty revenue it receives from its licensed technologies. Royalty revenue is one of several important measures of the quality and productivity of our scientists, said Joel Seligman, president of the University of Rochester. It is also an indication that the research that is being done at the University of Rochester is a source of innovation that can form the basis for new technologies, commercial products, advances in health care, and new companies and jobs. Research funding to the University of Rochester during 2010 jumped by 18 percent in 2010 to $418 million—an increase of more than $63 million over the previous year. The University consistently finds itself in the top thirty of colleges and universities receiving funding for research and other sponsored activities. In the past 11 years, more than 20 new companies have been formed with UR technologies. See the reverse side for examples of startup companies involving members of the BME Graduate Faculty and students.

Entrepreneurship

The Center for Entrepreneurship, funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation grant awarded to the University in 2003, serves to identify and create new partnerships with alumni, local businesses, and non-profit organizations; publicizes school-based experiences; and encourages collaboration among the schools engaged in entrepreneurship education at the University of Rochester. Leadership for the Center is provided by Duncan Moore, the Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship, and a member of the BME graduate faculty, who also teaches a technology entrepreneurship course cross-listed between the Simon School of Business and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Startup Companies Involving BME Faculty, Students, & Alumni

  • Adarza BioSystems, Inc. is an early stage medical diagnostics company developing a rapid, label-free biosensing platform for measuring protein levels in clinical and point-of-care (POC) samples. This fully arrayable technology, potentially allowing hundreds of tests to be run simultaneously on a single chip, provides high sensitivity and dynamic range in a compact and rapid assay system. Founded in 2007 by BME faculty member Benjamin L. Miller and others, the company's core technology was initially developed in the laboratories of Miller and Lewis J. Rothberg.

  • LAGeT, LLC. was formed in 2001 and through its subsidiary, LAGeT Musculoskeletal, LLC (the Company) has developed a technology process, termed LAGT (Light Activated Gene Therapy) for articular and meniscal cartilage repair, ligament and tendon healing and enhanced spinal fusion. The LAGT technology process was developed at the University of Rochester under the scientific leadership of Dr. Edward Schwarz, a team of orthopedic surgeons, and an optical engineer retained by the Company.

  • SiMPore Inc. was founded by BME Faculty members James McGrath and Philippe Fauchet, and PhD student Tom Gaborski, along with colleagues when they recognized the opportunities for a development of a novel membrane filter. This technology offers unparalleled precision in separation and purification with applications ranging from drug development to nanotechnology.

  • VirtualScopics was founded in 1999 by BME faculty members Saara Totterman, and Kevin Parker, along with JosĂ© Tamez, and Edward Ashton. Their technology enables faster and more reliable detection of disease progression or therapeutic benefit, and accelerates the clinical trial process. VirtualScopics utilizes its patented suite of image analysis algorithms to detect, measure, and analyze specific biological structures from CT, MRI, PET, and ultrasound data. The company, which is now listed on NASDAQ, continues to develop image-related biomarkers and provides innovative imaging clinical trial services for pharmaceutical development.

Entrepreneurial Spirit and Opportunities for Students

The University of Rochester Medical Center was one of the first 12 to receive a $40 million Clinical Translational Science Award from the National Institutes of Health. This program offers educational opportunities and pilot funding for both faculty and students. Some examples of BME faculty and student projects:

  • James McGrath, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of BME. His pilot project investigates the potential of a novel, silicon-based membrane material to provide improvements in hemodialysis that are described as revolutionary.

  • Lisa DeLouise, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in Dermatology. Her pilot project involves development of a model to investigate NP skin penetration and translocation mechanisms to quantify potential toxicological impact.

The Clinical and Translational Science Institute also offers three degree programs in translational science, as well as courses, numerous workshops and seminar series open to students in Biomedical Engineering. These programs offer instruction in the subject areas of biostatistics, epidemiology, laboratory methods and analytical procedures essential to clinical research. Members of the Rochester Center for Biomedical Ultrasound hold at least 20 patents related to ultrasound technologies, including one recently licensed to General Electric, and used in more than 80% of the ultrasound market.