Every year, nearly 100,000 people in the United States die from overdoses, and many of these deaths are related to opioids.“To put it into perspective, that’s two Heinz Fields’ worth of people who die every year from opioid overdoses,” said Trent Emerick, associate professor in the departments of anesthesiology, perioperative medicine and bioengineering....

I recently had the opportunity to speak with MS-MPE alumnus Ed Pacey to learn more about his time at the University of Pittsburgh and how it helped prepare him for his career!From a young age, Ed had always had an interest in medicine. Throughout high school, he had the opportunity to explore these interests by shadowing clinicians and taking an anatomy...

As part of the Professional Medical Product Engineering (MS-MPE) program, students are required to complete a summer internship in industry or research. Below are summaries of experiences some of our students had this past summer 2024! Nicole Bohatch Manufacturing Engineering Intern at Cook MedicalIn this role, my primary project involved updating...

The Center for Medical Innovation (CMI), in connection with the Department of Bioengineering, has made awards to three projects in its 2024 Round-1 Early Stage Translational Research Seed Grant competition. The purpose of these awards is to fund the development of innovative concepts in translational medicine, which were originated by teams of clinicians,...

I recently had the opportunity to speak with MS-MPE student Varun Shilesh to learn more about his co-op experience with ZOLL Medical Corporation.Varun has always had an interest in working with medical devices. While he was pursuing his bachelors in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering from the RN Shetty Institute of Technology in Bangalore, India,...

Medical Product Development is the second required course for students within the MS-MPE program taught by Dr. Alan Hirschman. During this course, student teams are paired with a clinical mentor or technical faculty to obtain a working knowledge of primary standards and processes used by professionals to develop, launch, and support medical products through...

I recently had the opportunity to speak with ‘21 MS-MPE alumna Lauren Grice to learn more about her time at the University of Pittsburgh and how it helped prepare her for her career as VP of Engineering with Respair, Inc. From a young age, Lauren was very motivated to work in the healthcare environment. “I had a few experiences of shadowing clinicians and...

I recently had the opportunity to speak with PhD student, Isabelle Chickanosky, to learn more about her passion project EndoDx and how CMI funding has helped accelerate the progress of the project.Isabelle has always had a passion for research. Upon completing her bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Materials Science Engineering, she knew...

Nicole Bohatch recently had the opportunity to speak with ‘21 MS-MPE alumna Maria Geraghty to learn about her experience at Pitt and how it helped influence her career.Maria embarked on her academic journey at Columbia University where she studied Biomedical Engineering. As she neared her senior year, anticipation for her senior design project...

Professional MS Alumni Feature: Ruth SegallBy: Nicole Bohatch, CMI FellowI recently had the opportunity to speak with MS-MPE alumni Ruth Segall to learn more about her time at the University of Pittsburgh and how it helped prepare her for a career at ArthrexAfter having a successful career in cross-country and track in high school, Ruth was recruited by...

The Center for Medical Innovation congratulates the following Professional MS Graduates and those who received certificates during the December 2023 graduation. Best of luck to you all in your future careers!MS – Medical Product Engineering (MPE)Julia Castrucci Neharika Chodapaneedi Luke Chuderewicz Therlking Dervil  Micah Guffey Aditi Guruprasad Megan...

I recently spoke with MS-MPE ‘23 alumni Connor Kerstetter about his experience at the University of Pittsburgh.Connor Kerstetter began his academic career at Penn State University where he studied neuroscience with the goal of attending medical school. As he progressed through his undergraduate degree, he realized he was drawn to a career in medical...

I recently had the opportunity to speak with 2023 MS-MPE graduates Maura Siess, Megan Johns, Connor Kerstetter, and Boyan Zhang to learn more about the success of their class project in the Swanson School of Engineering Design Expo. The team’s project “Aware Compression” won first-place in the medical product category.MS-MPE program students are required to...

$25,000 for “Malleous”.Co-PI’s:Michael McDowell, MD (UPMC Department of Neurosurgery)Harvey Borovetz, PhD  (Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering)The grant is for development of a novel surgical instrument that combines suction and retraction tools into one device. The resultant product concept (patent pending) will provide...

By: Nicole Bohatch, CMI Fellow I recently had the opportunity to speak with current professional MS student Micah Guffey about his experience in the MS-MPE program and with Aneurisk. Micah Guffey’s lifelong interest in problem-solving and medicine led him from his hometown in North Carolina to Geneva College (Beaver Falls, PA), where he earned a degree in...

I recently had the opportunity to speak with LeanMed’s CEO Mark Adkins to learn about how its product, the O2 Cube, is making an impact on healthcare in low resource communities. LeanMed’s story began in 2018 while Mark Adkins worked as an adjunct Bioengineering professor at the University of Pittsburgh. During this time, Mark was teaching a class titled,...

Originally posted to Pittwire; reposted with permission. LifeX has been chosen as a recipient of a $2 million grant through the Build to Scale program that administers funds annually through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The Build to Scale program, which is intended to accelerate technology entrepreneurship,...

I recently had the opportunity to talk with Jordan Barzensky to learn about her experience in the MS-MPE program and how it helped prepare her for her career.Jordan’s higher education journey started at Seton Hill University located in Greensburg, PA. In May 2021, she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Mathematics. She majored in Biology and...

From a young age, David Cervera has always been interested in engineering and medicine. This passion led him to pursue his bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering on a mechanical track from Trine University in 2021. Upon graduation and in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic with limited industry opportunities available, David made the ultimate decision...

I recently spoke with Jinal Mistry about her experience in the MS-MPE program and how it has impacted her career. From a young age, Jinal has always been captivated by human anatomy, biology, mathematics, and computer science. She initially thought that she would pursue these interests by receiving her bachelor’s in biotechnology. It was not until she was...

I recently spoke with Bill Duncan to learn about his experience in the MS-MPE program and how it has impacted his career trajectory.  Bill’s first introduction to the subject of Biomedical Engineering began with his undergraduate studies at the University of Delaware in 2017. During his junior year, he took a medical device development course that consisted...

Originally published on June 6, 2023 The Center for Medical Innovation is pleased to announce an award of $20,000 for the Round-1 Early Stage R&D Seed Grant. The award went to the team of Trent Emerick, MD, MBA, Gaurav Chauhan, MD, and Youngjae Chun, PhD for “A Novel Low-Profile Fully Retrievable Foldable Epidural Lead Array (FELLA) System."Dr. Emerick and...

Originally published June 6, 2023 Ben Ratchford  is currently enrolled in the MS-MPE program at the Swanson School of Engineering. At the beginning of Ben’s academic career in 2015, he dreamed of attending medical school. While he was interested in Biomedical Engineering, he decided to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Biology because he felt it would better...

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Ross Beresford (Chief Executive Officer) and Lauren Grice (head of engineering) to learn more about Respair’s story and how funding from the Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) has impacted their work as a medical device start-up company.Respair’s story, like most other start-up companies, began in a different...

My name is Nicole Bohatch and I am the new CMI Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Medical Innovation! I have recently received my Bachelor’s of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Duquesne University and will begin pursuing my Master’s in Bioengineering--Medical Product Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh this Fall. My passion for...

In 2019 the Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) provided a $25,000 grant for the development of an electronic vision aid, FingerSight, in a collaboration between researchers of the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. George Stetten, MD, PhD, professor of bioenengineering in the Swanson School of Engineering, is leading the development...

The O2 Cube, a bioengineering-led project, was awarded $50,000 at the 2021 Pitt Innovation Challenge (PInCh) on October 13, 2021 for a solar powered, supplemental oxygen system that can rapidly bring medical oxygen to rural health centers in need.Infectious diseases, including pneumonia, are the leading cause of death for children worldwide, and health...

Originally published on August 12, 2021University of Pittsburgh researchers and recipients of CMI funding, Dr. Paul Leu, Dr. Robert Shanks, and Eric Romanowski, have developed a nanomaterial coating for fabric PPE (personal protective equipment) that can both repel viruses such as adenoviruses, coronaviruses, and herpes simplex and withstand up to 250...

CMI leader and LeanMed founder, Mark Adkins, recently shared some fantastic news with us. LeanMed’s O2 Cube, a solar-powered medical oxygen generator for rural communities, recently began its path towards FDA approval using the FDA’s Fast Track pathway. This will allow LeanMed to bring the O2 Cube to those who need it faster, which is critical for those...

StabilEyes: An Innovative Solution to NystagmusFrom a $25,000 CMI seed funding grant in 2019, Julia Foust and Dr. George Stetten present a novel method to determine frequency and phase of repetitive eye motion, using the widely available platforms of smartphones and tablets, requiring only the download of a free software app. Their purpose is to provide...

PITTSBURGH (Dec. 2, 2020) … When the COVID-19 quarantines began, one luxury people grew to miss was being pampered in a salon or barbershop. For many wheelchair users, however, salon hair care is often a challenge. The process can require an individual to be lifted out of their wheelchair into a salon chair, but this transfer can easily result in injury.A...

The University of Pittsburgh Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) is supported by a leadership team representing multiple disciplines across the University. Mark Adkins, who accepted an invitation to serve on this team, will provide strategic and tactical input on the management of CMI, and will represent it as needed within and outside the university...

This fall, Rey Ravi joins the CMI Team as a fellow to the Center of Medical Innovation. A former undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh and a current student at the Masters of Medical Product Engineering program, he will be responsible for updating the website and assisting in recruitment events. Rey's background is greatly involved in clinical...

PITTSBURGH (Nov. 9, 2020) … Two Swanson School of Engineering projects received awards at the University of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute’s Wells Healthcare Competition, which provides funding for students who are developing innovations related to the health care field.Moataz Elsisy, a PhD student in the Department of Industrial Engineering, received an...

PITTSBURGH (July 1, 2020) … The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) awarded grants totaling $60,000 to three research groups through its 2020 Round-1 Pilot Funding Program for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development. The latest funding proposals include a virus-resistant wear-resistant textile, a system for removal...

PITTSBURGH (April 28, 2020) … The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) has awarded a $15,000 grant through an “expedited” 2020 Round-1 Pilot Funding Program for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development. The one-year award starting May 1, 2020 was granted in response to a request for proposal (RFP) for projects with an...

PITTSBURGH (January 31, 2020) … The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) awarded grants totaling $47,500 to three research groups through its 2019 Round-2 Pilot Funding Program for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development. The latest funding proposals include a system for preservation of explanted hearts used in...

PITTSBURGH (Sept 1, 2019) … The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) awarded grants totaling $70,000 to three research groups through its 2019 Round-1 Pilot Funding Program for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development. The latest funding proposals include a new breath-biosensor for detection and diagnosis of disease,...

By William Hsin, CMI FellowAccording to the US Eye Injury Registry (University of Alabama at Birmingham), over 2.4 million eye injuries occur each year in the US, an estimated one million of which result in permanent, significant visual impairment. Eye injuries are the second most common cause of visual impairment behind cataracts. The majority of these...

Joe Pugar has always been fascinated with the elegant structures, systems and mechanics of nature.  From the tensile strength of spider silk to the energy conversion ability of photosynthesis, he has been intrigued at adapting the genius of natural design to engineering challenges. That’s what attracted him as a sophomore student in chemical engineering to a...

PITTSBURGH (January 29, 2019) … The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) awarded grants totaling $60,000 to three research groups through its 2018 Round-2 Pilot Funding Program for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development. The latest funding proposals include a new drug-eluting contact lens for treatment of dry eye...

PITTSBURGH (November 27, 2018) … During a coronary bypass procedure, surgeons redirect blood flow using an autologous bypass graft, most often derived from the patient’s own veins. However, in certain situations where the patient does not have a suitable vein, surgeons must rely on synthetic vascular grafts which, while life-saving, are more prone to clot...

Mir Imran, CEO and Founder of InCube Labs, was the keynote speaker for the Wells Student Healthcare Competition held on October 17, 2018. This video is inspirational for anyone who aspires to conceive, develop, and commercialize ground-breaking innovations for the medical product market. Mr. Imran has over 600 patents and has created more than 20 companies...

PITTSBURGH (June 27, 2018) … The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) awarded grants totaling $105,000 to five research groups through its 2018 Round-1 Pilot Funding Program for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development. The latest funding proposals include a new vascular access device for use with stent grafts, an...

 Our current CMI Fellow, Mr. Akhil Aniff, will be finishing his term as the CMI Fellow as of June 30, 2018. Akhil is graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Bioengineering. He is a Fellow in the Venture for America program and will be working for Grypmat, a Columbus based start-up. Akhil has made major contributions to the CMI research...

By Akhil Aniff, CMI FellowOcuDerm is a new team that is working on a therapeutic gel for EMTs and paramedics to apply to victims of severe eye trauma. The technology behind OcuDerm was pioneered by Dr. Morgan Fedorchak, PhD, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and researcher in the UPMC Department of Ophthalmology. The team was rewarded a CMI grant in...

By Akhil Aniff, CMI FellowOn March 29th 2018, several teams that have received funding from the Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) participated in the Randall Family Big Idea Competition at the University of Pittsburgh. The Big Idea Competition, hosted by the University of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute, allows teams of both undergraduate and graduate...

By Akhil Aniff, CMI FellowAruga Technologies is a new Pitt spin-off company that is hoping to revolutionize the field of vascular grafts. Their unique graft technology, named TopoGraft, aims to reduce the occurrence of clot formation in blood vessels with its specially designed irregular internal shape. Not only can this technology be used for vascular...

Innovation Institute News ReleaseWith a blast of confetti falling from above the stage at the Charity Randall Theater, the participants in the 2018 Randall Family Big Idea Competition celebrated the culmination of two months of extra-curricular work on ideas for new products ranging from a software platform to connect hunters to landowners to a new insulin...

PITTSBURGH (January 22, 2018) … The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) awarded grants totaling $115,000 to five engineering and medicine groups through its 2017 Round-2 Pilot Funding Program for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development. The latest funding proposals include proposed solutions to conditions such as...