This section provides an overview of the grants and funding that support AGUI-Lab’s innovative research and development efforts. These initiatives, backed by prestigious organizations and collaborative partnerships, drive advancements in biophotonics, optical technologies, and biomedical engineering. Below, you’ll find detailed information about our ongoing projects and funding sources, reflecting our commitment to pushing the boundaries of science and technology.
NSF Engineering Research Center for Advanced Technologies for Preservation of Biological Systems (ATP-Bio)
The University of Minnesota Institute for Engineering in Medicine and academic collaborators have received a $26 million National Science Foundation grant to establish a new Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Advanced Technologies for the Preservation of Biological Systems (ATP-Bio). Through this center, we will strive to revolutionize transplantation and other cellular and biological therapies, as well as accelerate and shrink the cost of drug discovery and other vital medical research,” said John Bischof, director of ATP-Bio, director of the Institute for Engineering in Medicine and a professor of mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering in the College of Science and Engineering at the U of M.
PIRE: Synthesis of Optical Materials for Bioapplications (SOMBRERO)
This grant facilitates an international research and education partnership between UCR and three Mexican institutions: CICESE, UNAM, and INAOE. The project, SOMBRERO, aims to develop a transparent cranial implant using nanocrystalline yttria-stabilized-zirconia (nc-YSZ) to enable non-invasive optical examination of the brain for diagnosing and treating various neurological disorders. This innovation aligns with education initiatives and offers research opportunities for US students to become globally engaged engineers.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program in Biopreservation Technologies
REU students will work in a university research lab on a project related to ATP-Bio’s science and technology along with a faculty advisor and graduate student mentor. Each student has a project of their own with specific responsibilities and deliverables. The program features professional and skill development opportunities, as well as social activities.
IUSE/PFE:RED A&I – Soft Wired Teaming for Student Preparation (TCORPS)
This project will be focused on creating a bottom-up participatory culture where faculty and students are engaged in continuously building, testing, and sharing sequential innovations in curricula and pedagogy.
NSF PFI-TT: Optimization of a Portable Blood Flow Monitor
This project builds on prior NSF-funded research (I-Corps), to develop a portable perfusion monitoring (PPM) device to observe blood flow to and from a surgical site, both during and post-surgery. As conventional surgical blood flow monitoring systems are bulky and expensive, the approach taken in this project allows for a compact and affordable device with the potential to serve surgeons and patients alike.