Utah Biomedical Company Resource

Check out this website to see what companies are in the biomedical field here in our backyard!

http://www.utahlifescience.com/

 You will find different companies listed under industry directories. Also note that you can put any state name into the URL and find the same information for biomedical companies around the country.

CONNECT Activity -- Feb 04, 2014

Thank you to everyone that came to our activity led by John Sessions, a PhD student here at BYU. He introduced the amazing research his lab is doing with BioMEMs--Micro Electro Mechanical Systems. These incredible devices are built on a micron scale and have a large variety if applications. A former BYU student developed a BioMEM with a micro needle that can inject DNA into an embryonic cell with significantly higher success rates than typical methods. This allows scientists to genetically change somatic cells by modifying genetic expression and behavior. The technology is specific enough to locate and inject DNA at precise sites within the genome.

John recommended that students look into this segment of biomedical engineering because it is a quickly growing area with huge potential. Up and coming technologies like "Lab on a Chip" can be improved upon and the outlook to treat diseases like Alzheimer's and diabetes is optimistic.

John Sessions works in Dr. Brian Jensen's lab. Our club president, Nelson, also works in that lab and would be happy to answer any questions you may have on this subject.


Next week's Connect Activity will be held in the Benson Building room W111 at 4:00pm. We are having a joint meeting with the Life Sciences Entrepenuerial Club. Join us to learn more about TUTE Genomics and eat pizza!

Facebook Page Operational

Check out our Facebook Page for updates on activities and opportunities to get involved! We will be adding info, pictures, and other useful information there to help the club stay up-to-date and informed. "Like" our page and spread the word, inviting others into the exciting world of Biomedical Engineering.

Click here--> BMEC Facebook Page

Introducing BMEC Connect Activities

All New BMEC CONNECT Activities

Every Wednesday 4:00pm~CB Lounge

Come join us each Wednesday during our BMEC Connect activity--a great place to interact with fellow students, interface with grad students, and learn directly from professors and their cutting-edge research! Every week features a new speaker to present his/her research, experience, and advice. These are engaging opportunities to ask questions, network, and have fun. 

This upcoming week Wednesday February 4th John Sessions will present. His area of specialty is in Gene Therapy. Meet in the Clyde Stepdown lounge and join in the discussion!

As always, refreshments will be served.

See you there!

     Hello everyone! It has been another great school year with a lot of great activities and things to learn. We have had great lectures ranging from tissue engineering to advice for graduate school. Every month it gets better and better. We wish to offer our congratulations to our president John Hickey who is graduating. He has done a wonderful job in the organization to help bring everyone closer together. Likewise we would like to offer a welcome to the new president Sara Ehlert who has been working as the vice president, and Nelson Warner who has recently been appointed vice president. There have been other additional changes in leadership and we should be announcing those soon, and updating the webpage's leadership page. If you are interested in helping us by becoming involved with leadership please contact us.

      Two weeks ago we had a great lecture from Dr. Alonzo Cook. It was a great opportunity to listen to someone who has had a lot of experience on both the academic and the commercial side of the biomedical field.

     He explained the successes that he has been able to see in his 17 years working in the industry, and how those have built up to our current advancements. Mainly focusing on his work with tissue engineering. He has helped the medical industry get much closer to being able to grow transplant organs. One interesting story that he told was about the mouse heard round the world:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1949073.stm

The mouse pictured above was in 2002 and we have been able to have great progress since then. We may be able to grow human organs that have been damaged or need to be replaced. We should be able to use 3D printers filled with cells to be able to create organs: (http://www.ted.com/talks/anthony_atala_printing_a_human_kidney.html?embed=true). 

We are already able to do a great amount in the field of tissue engineering and the future looks very promising.

Here are some pictures of the lecture:

     This was the last activity for the academic year and so we'll have to see all of you again next fall. We will have a biomedical conference with a great keynote speaker and wonderful presentations. We will be ironing out the details over the summer and so we will be getting back to you. If you have any questions or suggestions for the next year feel free to contact us.

Thank you so much for your wonderful help and support.

     -BYU Biomedical Engineering Club Leadership

Dr. Brian Mazzeo - Protein Evaluation

Last week we had a great lecture from Dr. Mazzeo. He explained his research detailing electromagnetic measurement of liquids containing biological species. Specifically to understand the behavior of proteins to create accurate digital models. He was accomplishing this through time-resolved dielectric spectroscopy of protein solutions, RF measurement of protein solutions in capillary tubes, and the use of liquid electrodes for microfluidic electrical measurement.

In simpler words for those who may not be too familiar with the chemical and electrical engineering that he's studying, currently the digital models that people use for fluids with proteins in it are inaccurate and he is using electromagnetism to get a more accurate picture of what's happening. Using this picture we can understand cells and drugs more precisely. It was a great opportunity to see how fields can come together for mutual advancement.

Our deepest thanks to Dr. Mazzeo for taking the time to meet with us.

John Hickey introducing Dr. Mazzeo

Dr. Mazzeo

Events for Winter 2013

     Welcome to a new semester! We hope your classes are going well so far, but we know that everyone needs a break once in a while. Join us at any or all of the events below to learn more about the biomedical field, visit with other interested students, faculty, and professionals, and enjoy some time away from school!

     BMEC Events for Winter 2013:

            (Note: Dates are subject to change.  Check the calendar for more up to date information or join us to get email notification of upcoming events)     

• Opening Social (with guest speaker #1) – January 10^th
• Career Fair - January 24^th
• T-shirt competition Ends – February 1^st at 11:59pm
• Guest Speaker #2 – February 7^th
• Blood Drive – February 8^th
• Engineering Week booth – February 20^th
• Email us to volunteer to show kids cool biomedical demos
• Guest Speaker #3 – March 7^th
• Field Trip – March 21^st
• Closing Social (with guest speaker #4) – April 4^th