BME 2026 Spring Graduation Lunch
2026-05-09 13:30 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | Engineering Centers Building Atrium, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
The Department of Biomedical Engineering invites our new graduates and their guests to a celebratory lunch following the commencement ceremony at Camp Randall on May 9 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Graduating students will receive an email with information about RSVPing and picking up their graduation gifts. If you have questions, please contact Vishmaa Ramsaroop-Briggs.

Visit these sites for more information on:College of Engineering Graduate Recognition EventUW Spring Commencement

BME Seminar Series: Paul Ellison, PhD
2026-04-27 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Preclinical nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imaging for theranostic radiopharmaceutical development

Paul Ellison, PhDAssistant Professor, Medical PhysicsSchool of Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

Abstract:The development of radiopharmaceuticals for use in nuclear medicine for the diagnosis and treatment of disease is a highly interdisciplinary field that integrates elements of engineering, materials science, physics, chemistry, and biology. It requires the use of a wide variety of specialty equipment, like particle accelerators, automated radiochemical synthesizers, and imaging systems, such as positron emission tomography (SPECT) or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) that provide biochemical information-rich spatial images, which are often paired with a second modality, such as x-ray computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to provide accurate anatomical references. In this presentation, Dr. Ellison will discuss recent efforts to develop novel theranostic small molecule radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging and radiopharmaceutical therapy of glioblastoma through targeting system xC–, a cell surface antiporter that exchanges cystine and glutamate as a key part of the cellular antioxidant defense system. Using modern chemically versatile halodeborylation chemistries, Dr. Ellison’s laboratory has prepared homologously matched radiopharmaceuticals that emit a variety of medically useful radiations, including positrons (18F, 77Br) and photons (131I) for imaging and Auger electrons (77Br) and beta particles (131I) for therapy. Comparative biology studies of this family of compounds utilize the gamut of preclinical imaging technologies, including PET, SPECT, CT, and MRI.

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BME Design Poster Session and Awards
2026-04-24 12:00 - 14:00 | Engineering Centers Building Atrium, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
The biomedical engineering department invites the public to a poster session presented by biomedical engineering undergraduates. Over 40 teams will be showcasing their solutions for design projects from clients in the medical school, life sciences, engineering, and the community. For a full list of the projects and presentation times, visit the UW BME Design page.

Informal poster viewing: 11 am – 12 pmFormal poster session: 12 – 2:15 pmAwards ceremony: 3 – 4 pm

BME Seminar Series: Fabian Voigt, PhD
2026-04-20 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Expanding the optical bag of tricks for (neuro)biology

Fabian Voigt, PhDPostdoctoral Researcher & Branco Weiss Fellow (2024-2029)Biolabs 2072Engert LaboratoryHarvard University

Abstract:Seeing is believing and thus, optical imaging techniques are extremely useful to study brain structure and function. I will present several projects aimed at providing the neuroscience community with better imaging instrumentation: These range from open-source light-sheet microscopes for imaging cleared tissue (http://mesospim.org) to novel multi-immersion microscope objectives that take inspiration from scallops and astronomical telescopes. In addition, I will present recent projects aimed at rapid 3D tracking of freely behaving fish larvae and for increasing the light-collection efficiency of single objective light-sheet microscopes.

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BME Seminar Series: Natasah Seybani, PhD
2026-04-06 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Bench-to-Bedside Engineering of Precision Immunotherapy Paradigms with Focused Ultrasound

Natasha Sheybani, PhDAssistant Professor of Biomedical EngineeringResearch Director at UVA Focused UltrasoundImmuno-Oncology (FUSION) CenterUniversity of Virginia

Abstract:Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, but significant limitations remain across solid tumor indications. This talk will highlight advances in the use of image-guided focused ultrasound (FUS) as a non-invasive, multi-pronged interventional tool for potentiating multiple classes of immunotherapy, including vaccine adjuvants, checkpoint inhibitors, and CAR T cells. We will showcase integration of non-invasive surveillance approaches such as positron emission tomography (PET) and liquid biopsy with FUS to inform precision, adaptation, and de-intensification of combinatorial treatment regimens. We will also showcase development of novel image-guided ultrasound instrumentation toward these objectives. Applications spanning high-risk breast cancer and adult/pediatric brain cancers will be discussed. Finally, this talk will overview clinical translation and insights from first-in-human trials investigating FUS for immuno-oncology applications.

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BME Seminar Series: Christopher Konop, PhD
2026-03-23 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
How Serious Fun (and Mild Panic) Led Me from Academia to Venture Innovation

Christopher Konop, PhDInnovation and Commercialization SpecialistIsthmus ProjectUW Health

Abstract:Most scientific careers don’t follow a straight line—and mine certainly didn’t. I’ve moved from academia to startups, consulting, and eventually venture innovation. I’ll share a few brief stories from building WiSolve, stepping into life‑science consulting, and helping develop the Isthmus Project to spark conversation and address the career-development questions that are top of mind for graduate students and postdocs. I’m glad to offer practical insights, hot tips, and lessons learned along the way. Spoiler: none of it would have been possible without great mentors and a generous network.

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BME Seminar Series: Wan-Ju Li, PhD, FIOR
2026-03-16 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
From Development to Repair: Using Skeletal Development Principles to Advance Stem Cell-Mediated Cartilage Regeneration

Wan-Ju Li, PhD, FIORAssociate ProfessorDepartment of Orthopedics and RehabilitationUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

Abstract:Why does cartilage regeneration still fall short despite major progress in stem cell engineering? In this seminar, I will argue that one important reason is that cartilage repair strategies are often developed without fully accounting for the developmental programs that shape cartilage formation in vivo. I will present our lab’s recent work showing that developmental origin strongly influences the identity and regenerative potential of human iPSC-derived chondrocytes.

Using isogenic differentiation models, we compared mesoderm-derived and neural crest-derived chondrocytes and found that neural crest-derived chondrocytes more closely resemble native articular chondrocytes and perform better in cartilage repair settings. Building on these findings, I will also discuss our efforts to develop a stepwise induction strategy for generating chondrocytes from human iPSC-derived neural crest cells in a more controlled and efficient manner.

Together, these studies support a broader message that developmental biology is not simply background knowledge for regenerative medicine, but a practical framework for selecting better cell sources, asking more precise biological questions, and overcoming major barriers in the field.

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BME Seminar Series: Ankur Singh, PhD
2026-03-02 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Revolutionizing Immunotherapy: Bioengineered Immune Organs and Nanoscale Technologies

Ankur Singh, PhDCarl Ring Family ProfessorGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical EngineeringWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory MedicineDirector, Center for Immunoengineering at Georgia TechGeorgia Institute of Technology

Abstract:The human immune system is a complex and vital defense network, yet its dysfunction underlies many diseases. Developing effective vaccines, immunotherapies, and cell therapies for infections, cancer, inflammation, and age-related conditions requires a deep understanding of how immune cells develop and activate in primary, secondary, and tertiary lymphoid organs. Traditionally limited to in vivo studies and 2D in vitro models, which lack full physiological relevance, research is now advancing with engineered human ex vivo immune organoids. These synthetic tissues mimic the structure and function of natural immune organs, enabling precise control of cellular interactions. My lab focuses on developing such organoids by combining engineered materials with donor-derived immune cells to generate antibody-secreting cells and assess immunogenicity. We are also developing advanced organ-on-a-chip systems with full immunocompetence for use in infection, inflammation, oncology, and drug development, thereby opening new possibilities for groundbreaking therapeutic discoveries. Complementing tissue-scale engineering, I will introduce nanoengineered wire platforms that program naïve T cells without pre-activation through localized delivery of regulatory microRNAs. These nanoscale interfaces rewire T-cell fitness, proliferation, and differentiation, thereby enhancing protective responses and improving the design of adoptive cell therapies. These approaches establish a multi-scale framework for controlling immune cell fate and function. I will conclude by outlining a cohesive, forward-looking vision for Biomedical Engineering, highlighting opportunities for advancing research excellence, educational innovation, and translational impact within a strategic framework.

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BME Seminar Series: Shawn M. Gomez, EngScD
2026-02-23 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
From Cellular Networks to Therapeutic Predictions: A Data-Driven Approach to Precision Medicine

Shawn M. Gomez, EngScDProfessor and Associate Chair for ResearchCo-Executive Director, FastTaCS, NC TraCS InstituteLampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University

Abstract:Precision medicine aims to tailor prevention, diagnosis, and therapy to individual patients’ biological states. We pursue this as a multiscale problem, combining molecular and systems biology approaches with translational AI methods to improve clinical decision-making. In this talk, I focus on our systems-level efforts to predict targeted therapeutic responses in cancer. This challenge is particularly acute because despite extensive molecular profiling capabilities, predicting how therapies affect cellular phenotypes remains a critical barrier to precision oncology. Targeted therapies produce highly variable outcomes due to the adaptive, networked nature of cellular signaling. Comprising over 500 kinases, the protein kinome forms the backbone of these networks and represents a central therapeutic target space. However, predicting how kinome perturbations propagate through cellular systems to shape phenotypic outcomes is a major challenge. My research program addresses this by developing data-driven approaches that link kinase inhibition states to downstream cellular responses, enabling the rational design of single-agent and combination therapeutic strategies. I will discuss our work building predictive models that forecast cellular responses to kinase-targeted therapies, validated experimentally across breast and pancreatic cancer cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models. These models integrate large-scale proteomic and multi-omic data within machine learning frameworks to identify key kinases and network features driving therapeutic outcomes. This work illustrates how systems-level modeling translates molecular data into actionable insights for precision medicine. I’ll conclude by highlighting opportunities for research, educational, and translational innovation in BME at UW-Madison.

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BME Seminar Series: Wally Block, PhD
2026-02-16 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
*Speaker Change

Gene Therapy for Rare Neurodegenerative Diseases: RARE will get us there

Wally Block, PhDProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringUW-Madison

Rare monogenic neurological diseases affect about 0.5% of Americans at birth and are estimated to account for up to 40% of the workload in hospital pediatric practice. Current drug delivery methods struggle to overcome the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB), with 98% of small molecule drugs and 99% of monoclonal antibody therapies failing to cross the BBB. This barrier, while protecting the brain, creates significant challenges for drug delivery and patient treatment.

Convection Enhanced Delivery (CED) is emerging as a promising solution, circumventing the BBB with direct, minimally invasive catheter-based infusion. Current CED surgical protocols distribute gene therapies are transforming the outlook for Huntington’s disease where only perhaps 1% of the brain needs to be altered genetically. In most rare neurodegenerative diseases however, much larger volumes of the brain require will require treatment.

New government initiatives like ARPA-H THRIVE are making a 9-figure investment in genetic correction, many of which will be focused on genetic correction for rare brain disorders. This talk will provide an overview of the biophysics technology being developed across a consortium centered at UW-Madison to get from 1% to 100% of brain coverage. The talk will present an argument why solving rare diseases will accelerate efforts to treat genetic approaches to much higher prevalence diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimers.

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BME Seminar Series: Salman R. Khetani
2026-02-02 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
From Engineering Predictive Human Tissue Platforms to Advancing the Impact of Wisconsin Biomedical Engineering

Salman R. Khetani, PhDProfessorAssociate Department HeadActing Associate Dean for Graduate StudiesDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Illinois Chicago

Abstract:The convergence of patient-specific human cell sources, microengineering, and data science is accelerating the adoption of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) that reduce reliance on animal studies. Against this backdrop, my lab develops highly functional, long-lasting in vitro human tissue platforms for drug metabolism and toxicity testing, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine. We emphasize reproducibility, scalability, and ease of use to enable broad adoption by end users. We leverage these systems to uncover cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive major human diseases and to inform more effective therapeutics, including metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease, alcohol-associated liver disease, hepatitis B viral infection, inflammatory bowel disease, lung fibrosis, and atrial fibrillation. We are further extending our platforms into reproductive and developmental health, where clinical guidance is often limited, and advancing vascularized, implantable human liver tissue surrogates as a bridge-to-transplantation strategy for patients with end-stage organ failure.

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BME Seminar Series: Lennon Rogers, PhD
2026-01-26 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Prototyping with Purpose

Lennon Rodgers, PhDDirector, Grainger Engineering Design Innovation LabCollege of EngineeringUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

Abstract:What do high-speed motorcycles, zoo animal feeders, spacecraft and medical supplies have in common? They are all challenges I’ve tackled using rapid prototyping as my primary engine for design and innovation. In this talk, I’ll take you behind the scenes of these diverse projects to show how I use prototyping tools to explore, learn, iterate, and ultimately deliver field-tested solutions.

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BME Bay Area Meetup
2026-01-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant, 895 Villa St, Mountain View, California, 94041, United States
We’re headed to the California Bay Area to kick off a new year of innovation. You and your guests are invited to join fellow Wisconsin BME alumni and friends for an alumni reception at Steins Beer Garden in Mountain View, CA.

RSVP

BME Winter 2025 Graduation Celebration
2025-12-13 15:00 - 17:00 | Engineering Centers Building Atrium, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
The Biomedical Engineering Department is hosting a graduation celebration for fall 2025 graduates and their guests.

Graduating students will receive an email with information about how to RSVP and about picking up your graduation gift.

BME Design Fall Poster Presentations
2025-12-05 12:00 - 14:15 | Engineering Centers Building Atrium, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Join us for our annual fall design poster session. BME sophomores, juniors and seniors work in teams to design healthcare solutions for real-world clients. The public is welcome.

BME Seminar Series: Anne Strainchamps and Steve Paulson
2025-12-01 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
The Sound of Science: Engaging the Public with Big Ideas

Anne Strainchamps and Steve PaulsonCreators and Hosts of “To the Best of Our Knowledge”Wisconsin Public Radio

Abstract:Anne Strainchamps and Steve Paulson have spent decades fostering curiosity and conversation in a rapidly changing world. Currently, they are collaborating with the “Island of Knowledge” think tank in Tuscany to produce a series of interviews with leading international biologists, physicists and philosophers. Their recent radio shows have covered topics ranging from astrobiology and neuroplasticity to whale communication.

This talk offers a behind-the-scenes look at the art of using dialogue and the power of story to illuminate complex thinking across multiple scientific disciplines. Anne and Steve will discuss some of the methods they use to help scientists and engineers connect their work with broader audiences. They will also share some of the common traits and abilities they have discovered in scientists who are also prolific scientific communicators.

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BME Seminar Series: Julien Berro, PhD
2025-11-24 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Fantastic forces and where to find them

Julien Berro, PhDAssociate Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, and of Cell BiologySchool of MedicineYale University

Abstract:Mechanical forces are central to countless biological processes in health and disease. However, despite their ubiquity and importance in cellular processes, our understanding of biomechanical forces lags far behind our understanding of the underlying biochemistry. Studying forces within cells is difficult because tools and approaches to directly probe forces at the molecular level are scarce, difficult to use or have limited applications. In this seminar, I will present approaches based on quantitative microscopy, mathematical modeling and molecular force sensor engineering that my lab has developed to readily measure biophysical quantities so far impossible or difficult to measure in vivo. Using clathrin-mediated endocytosis as a model system, I will show how these methods have uncovered new molecular mechanisms of force production, force transmission and force sensing by the actin cytoskeleton.

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BME Seminar Series: Sara McBride-Gagyi, PhD
2025-11-17 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Failing Fabulously: Vogue Challenging Niche Large-Scale Bone Repair Research Missteps into Broad Impact Innovations

Sara McBride-Gagyi, PhDAssistant ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringThe Ohio State University

Abstract:Research rarely unfolds exactly as planned. Despite careful preparation and well-designed protocols, unexpected outcomes — and outright failures — are an inevitable part of experimental science and engineering. Yet these challenges are seldom shared publicly, leaving many trainees and early-career researchers feeling isolated or discouraged when things go awry.

In this talk, Dr. Sara McBride-Gagyi will share two recent projects from her lab related to her larger research on bone regeneration that faced significant, unforeseen setbacks — challenges that could easily have been dismissed as fatal failures that wasted valuable time and resources. Instead, through creative problem-solving and critical re-evaluation, her team turned these obstacles into opportunities, ultimately generating results and innovations more impactful than the original aims.

Dr. McBride-Gagyi will walk through each project chronologically, highlighting the engineering design pivots, decision-making processes, and lessons learned along the way. She will conclude with a discussion of how these experiences are being reframed for publication and dissemination — underscoring the value of transparency, adaptability, and perseverance in the scientific process.

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BME Seminar Series: EnsoData
2025-11-03 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
The Entrepreneurial Journey of EnsoData Co-Founders

Chris Fernandez BMEBS’14, MS’15; Ensodata Co-founder, Executive Chairman and Chief Research OfficerNick Glattard BMEBS’14, MS’15; EnsoData Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer

Hear firsthand how two BME alumni turned a bold idea into a nationally recognized startup.

Nick Glattard (BMEBS ’14, MS ’15) and Chris Fernandez (BMEBS ’14, MS ’15), Cofounders of EnsoData, will share their remarkable journey from UW–Madison biomedical engineering students to leading a cutting-edge company that’s transforming sleep medicine. Their presentation will delve into the challenges and triumphs of building EnsoData.

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BME Seminar Series: Keefe Manning, PhD
2025-10-27 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Predicting Thrombus Formation, Deformation, and Embolization: A Look at Devices, Stroke, and Deep Vein Thrombosis

Keefe Manning, PhDProfessor of Biomedical Engineering and SurgeryDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringPennsylvania State University

Abstract:Thrombosis remains a significant clinical issue manifesting in heart attacks and strokes but also challenges the success of cardiovascular devices. Given the complex process associated with thrombosis, developing accurate computational models is difficult as validation needs to occur over a range of flow and surface interactions and at different temporal and spatial scales. Thrombi are particularly interesting because of their inherent heterogeneity. Leveraging canonical experiments that acquire a breadth of data will be crucial to validate any computational model, but do these experiments accurately represent how thrombi form, deform, and embolize in the context of devices, stroke, and deep vein thrombosis? This presentation will cover the development and experimental validation of our computational models in these areas and the complications posed with blood experiments.

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BME Seminar Series: Susan Leggett, PhD
2025-10-20 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Engineering Tumor Microenvironments on a Chip to Model Early Events in Breast and Ovarian Cancer Metastasis

Susan Leggett, PhDAssistant ProfessorDepartment of BioengineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Abstract:The tumor microenvironment is a dynamic and multifaceted ecosystem in which biochemical and mechanical cues jointly regulate cell behavior, tumor heterogeneity, and disease progression. My lab develops engineered “tumor-on-a-chip” systems to reconstruct the 3D tumor microenvironment and dissect how cell-cell interactions, fluid flow, and interfacial mechanics influence early metastatic events. In this talk, I will first introduce our approach for the rapid and accessible fabrication of organ-on-a-chip devices using epoxy-coated 3D printed molds. This workflow enables the generation of high-fidelity, biocompatible PDMS-based devices in a scalable, reproducible, and imaging-compatible format. I will then discuss how we are leveraging this technology to reverse-engineer solid breast tumors composed of heterogeneous cancer cell and immune cell subpopulations, including macrophages, to model how tumor-immune interactions shape cell plasticity and collective invasion. Finally, I will present our novel peritoneal cavity-on-a-chip, designed to mimic the primary route of ovarian cancer spread. In this model, individual ovarian cancer cells and clusters can be injected into fluid-filled peritoneal cavities to emulate circulating tumor cells that shed from the ovary during disease progression. Using live-cell imaging, we examine how these cells interact with, and infiltrate, the surrounding mesothelium to initiate metastatic colonization. Together, these approaches establish versatile experimental platforms to study dynamic cell and tissue-level behaviors, providing new strategies to model, predict, and ultimately control metastatic progression.

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Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting
2025-10-08 18:00 - 2025-10-11 14:30 | San Diego Convention Center, 11 Harbor Dr, San Diego, California, 92101, United States
We will be at booth 503 at the 2025 BMES Annual Meeting in San Diego, California.

Exhibitor Hours:

October 8: 6-7:30pm

October 9: 8-11am and 12:15-4:30pm

October 10: 8-11am and 12:15-4:30pm

October 11: 10am-2:30pm

BME Seminar Series: From Campus to Career: Maximizing Experiences for Industry Readiness
2025-10-06 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Abstract: Universities are organized primarily by departments, but industry is organized by function: research, design, regulatory, quality assurance, sales, marketing. Having some knowledge of this structure ahead of time will help you select and approach classes in ways more likely to have you end up where you want to be.Fortunately, the UW-Madison also has many opportunities that let you “try on” an industrial career ahead of time. These opportunities vary in duration from hours to months. As you start to invest in these channels, you will be more likely to benefit from the serendipity that the breath of expertise present at UW-Madison naturally provides.This seminar will feature three individuals in a conversational format who will discuss how they used these channels to supplement their coursework and research to build industrial success. While all three of these individuals eventually earned PhDs, the topics and approaches discussed are equally applicable to MS students.

Speakers (L to R):Professor Chris Brace, PhD; UW BME Vice Chair; Co-founder, NeuWave MedicalJustin Koepsel, PhD, MBA; UW BME MS’08, PhD’12; Senior Director of Commercial Operations at Catalent BiologicsTom Lilieholm, PhD’24; Co-founder and Director of Neuroimaging ImgGyd

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BME Seminar Series: Hua Wang, PhD
2025-09-29 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Molecular to Systemic Engineering of Immune Cells for Robust Immunotherapy

Hua Wang, PhDAssociate ProfessorDepartment of Materials Science and EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Abstract:Immunotherapy has achieved significant clinical progress for the treatment of cancer and other diseases over the past decade, but challenges, including low patient responses, off-target side effects, and poor efficacy against solid tumors and autoimmune disorders, remain. One of our research interests is to understand how immune cells (e.g., dendritic cells (DCs)) can be manipulated or engineered using chemistry, material, and chemical biology approaches, in order to develop effective therapies for cancer and other diseases. In this talk, I will present our recent efforts in molecular, systemic, and in situ engineering of DCs and further development of robust cancer vaccines. These include molecules and polymers that can interact with DC membrane and thus activate DCs, and macroporous materials that can actively recruit and program DCs in situ. I will then conclude my talk with several short stories along the line of metabolic glycan labeling, another key technology in my lab, regarding how we made it possible to precisely modulate cells that are historically challenging to engineer.

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BME Seminar Series: Marty Pagel, PhD
2025-09-22 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Molecular Imaging of the Tumor Microenvironment

Marty Pagel, PhDProfessorDepartment of Medical PhysicsDepartment of RadiologyUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

Abstract:Tumor acidosis, hypoxia, and vascular perfusion are well-known characteristics of the tumor microenvironment. We have developed MRI, MR Fingerprinting, PET/MRI, electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI), and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) to quantitatively measure extracellular pH, oxygenation, and pharmacokinetic transport rates in solid tumors. We apply these molecular imaging methods to preclinical tumor models, and we have translated some of our methods to evaluate patients who have cancer. We are especially focused on employing molecular imaging to predict treatment effect before starting therapy, and to evaluate the early response to treatment, during evaluations of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. This presentation will discuss a variety of molecular imaging methods and research applications, and also discuss a value proposition for molecular imaging.

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BME Seminar Series: Allen Garner PhD
2025-09-15 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Electrical Manipulation of Biological Cells: Models and Applications

Allen Garner, PhD, PEProfessor, Graduate Program ChairSchool of Nuclear EngineeringPurdue University

Electric waveforms, including electric pulses (EPs) and alternating current (AC) fields, such as radiofrequency and high-power microwaves, can induce deleterious or beneficial effects that require additional characterization. We combine thermal models with the Smoluchowski equation to assess the interactions of EP and AC waveforms with biological cells. We further develop a computationally efficient model based on the asymptotic Smoluchowski to screen biological response over seven orders of magnitude of pulse duration with excellent agreement between simulated electroporation and experimental observations. Applications in microorganism inactivation, natural products for cancer therapy, platelet activation, and stem cell stimulation will be discussed.

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BME Welcome Back Social
2025-09-05 14:00 - 16:00 | Engineering Centers Building Atrium, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
All Biomedical Engineering undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to join us in celebrating the new academic year. Enjoy snacks and department giveaways in the ECB atrium from 2-4pm.
