News
May 14, 2024
'MUSIC Map' Reveals Some Brain Cells Age Faster and Are More Prevalent in Alzheimer’s
UC San Diego engineers have discovered that some brain cells age more rapidly than others, and they are disproportionately abundant in individuals afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, researchers observed sex-specific differences in the aging process of certain brain cells, with the female cortex exhibiting a higher ratio of “old” oligodendrocytes to “old” neurons compared to the male cortex. The discoveries were made possible by a new technique called MUSIC (multinucleic acid interaction mapping in single cells), which allows researchers to peek inside individual brain cells and map out interactions between chromatin and RNA. Full Story
May 2, 2024
UC San Diego Researchers Honored as Prebys Research Heroes
Three UC San Diego researchers, including two bioengineers, have been named Prebys Research Heroes by the San Diego-based Conrad Prebys Foundation. These researchers have received grants of $500,000 each to support their research focused on advancing health care and medical discoveries. Full Story
April 30, 2024
Biodegradable 'Living Plastic' Houses Bacterial Spores That Help It Break Down
A new type of bioplastic could help reduce the plastic industry’s environmental footprint. Researchers have developed a biodegradable form of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) filled with bacterial spores that, when exposed to nutrients present in compost, germinate and break down the material at the end of its life cycle. Full Story
April 23, 2024
Innovative Microscopy Demystifies Metabolism of Alzheimers Disease
Bioengineers and neuroscientists at UC San Diego have deployed state-of-the art imaging techniques to study the metabolism driving Alzheimer’s disease; results suggest new treatment strategies Full Story
April 17, 2024
Acting Student and Bioengineering Alumna Awarded Soros Fellowship for New Americans
Riyam Al Msari, an undergraduate bioengineering alumna from Iraq, is one of 30 recipients of the 2024 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. The merit-based program for immigrants and children of immigrants awards up to $90,000 to support each fellow’s graduate studies. Full Story
March 25, 2024
UC San Diego Engineers Inducted Into 2024 Class of the AIMBE College of Fellows
Two engineering professors at the University of California San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering were inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Professors Ludmil Alexandrov and Sheng Xu were among the 162 new AIMBE Fellows who were recognized at a ceremony during the AIMBE Annual Event on March 25. Full Story
March 14, 2024
New Imaging Tool Advances Study of Lipid Biology
From fruit flies to humans, there are many, many different types and subtypes of lipids operating at the same time within any living organism. While we know that lipid molecules play myriad different roles in health, aging and disease; researchers currently struggle to uncover the fine details of these roles – details which could unlock cures, extend the human healthspan, and solve mysteries of aging. A study led by bioengineers at the University of California San Diego marks a significant step forward in this critical area of lipid research. Full Story
March 6, 2024
This Injectable Hydrogel Mitigates Damage to the Right Ventricle of the Heart
An injectable hydrogel can mitigate damage to the right ventricle of the heart with chronic pressure overload, according to a new study published March 6 in Journals of the American College of Cardiology: Basic to Translational Science. Full Story
February 21, 2024
Detecting Pathogens--and Sepsis--Faster and More Accurately by Melting DNA
A new analysis method can detect pathogens in blood samples faster and more accurately than blood cultures, which are the current state of the art for infection diagnosis. The new method, called digital DNA melting analysis, can produce results in under six hours, whereas culture typically requires 15 hours to several days, depending on the pathogen. Full Story
February 21, 2024
Five Cutting-edge Advances in Biomedical Engineering and Their Applications in Medicine
Bridging precision engineering and precision medicine to create personalized physiology avatars. Pursuing on-demand tissue and organ engineering for human health. Revolutionizing neuroscience by using AI to engineer advanced brain interface systems. Engineering the immune system for health and wellness. Designing and engineering genomes for organism repurposing and genomic perturbations. These are the five research areas where the field of biomedical engineering has the potential to achieve tremendous impact on the field of medicine. Full Story