Department of Biomedical Engineering
News

From Maui to Medicine, Viterbi Helped Her Chart Her Own Path

Apr 30, 2026CLASS OF 2026 - The daughter of Turkish immigrant physicians, Maui-raised Alara Berkmen is graduating from USC Viterbi with a bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering on the pre-med track, a business club she built from scratch, and a hard-won clarity about who she wants to be and why.

A USC team is targeting the spinal cord to solve paralysis’ most overlooked problem

Apr 28, 2026A new USC study shows that a tiny electrode array can restore coordinated bladder control in rats - proof of concept for a neuroprosthetic device that could transform life after spinal cord injury.

From Backhands to Breakthroughs: USC Viterbi Students Take Bold Biomechanics Research Worldwide

Apr 27, 2026BME students will present their work at the 10th World Congress of Biomechanics this summer.

How Watching Living Cells Could Transform Disease Research and Treatment

Apr 23, 2026USC biomedical engineer Keyue Shen has been elected to the AIMBE College of Fellows for developing tools that measure how living cells signal and interact in real time - without destroying them.

How an unexpected finding turned into a kidney disease startup

Apr 08, 2026USC researcher Eunji Chung spent over a decade learning to steer nanoparticles through the body. Now she's using that knowledge to take on one of the most common inherited kidney disorders.

From Alzheimer’s to PTSD: How a USC Scientist Hopes AI Can Unlock – and One Day Restore – Human Memory

Mar 24, 2026Using AI paired with brain-machine interfaces, Dong Song wants to study how memories form in real life, and eventually help those who have lost the ability to make them.

For the First Time, Scientists Have Mapped the Genetics of How the Brain Ages, Region by Region

Mar 16, 2026USC Viterbi senior Nicholas Kim, a biomedical engineering major, led the landmark study with hopes that it could one day help improve the treatment of dementia and other brain disorders.

Tricking Tumors into Marking Themselves for Destruction

Nov 17, 2025New research from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering harnesses focused ultrasound to reprogram solid tumors, making them more effective targets for immune cells.

When Self-Driving Trucks Don’t Know What They Don’t Know

Nov 11, 2025At the USC Center for Autonomy and AI's fall workshop, participants grappled with a critical question: Can foundation models power the next generation of autonomous systems?

Maral Mousavi Wins Prestigious International Award in Electroanalytical Sciences

Nov 03, 2025Mousavi, an expert in electrochemical sensors for at-home and point-of-care testing, has been honored with the 2026 Royce W. Murray Young Investigator Award.

The Hidden Chemistry of Human Survival

Oct 29, 2025Jeremy Alexander, Doug Peacock Scholar, finds innovation in overlooked spaces - from wastewater microbes to aerospace materials - to protect life on Earth and beyond.

New NIH Project to Model Breast Tumors for Better Immunotherapy

Oct 21, 2025Stacey Finley will co-lead the five-year $2.6 million project that will harness computational modeling to find effective immunotherapy approaches against devastating metastatic breast tumors.

Researchers Invent New AI Tool to Automate Detection of Cancer in Blood Samples

Oct 15, 2025Innovation detects cancer cells in blood samples (liquid biopsies) in as little as 10 minutes and identifies hard-to-find cells without humans in-the-loop

A Sensor Stir Stick to Keep Your Caffeine Hit in Check

Oct 01, 2025USC biomedical engineers have created a low-cost stirrer to precisely measure a drink's caffeine concentration, helping coffee-lovers avoid the pitfalls of over-caffeination.

Medical Electronics that Match the Stretchability of Human Tissue

Sep 29, 2025Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering have developed a novel method for fabricating highly precise and stretchable electronics that conform seamlessly to the body.

USC Viterbi Student Wins Prestigious Astronaut Scholarship

Sep 25, 2025Alara Berkmen, a biomedical engineering student, is recognized for leadership and dedication to cancer research.

New USC Viterbi Eye Study Could Redefine Rules of Tissue Behavior

Aug 28, 2025USC biomedical engineers have shown that tissue stiffness does not always follow fiber orientation - an exception with implications for glaucoma, myopia, and ocular trauma.

Brain’s Blood Flow Could Change How We Understand and Treat Alzheimer’s

Aug 21, 2025New USC Viterbi-led study focusing on brain's vascular dynamics challenges the current prevailing method of dementia diagnosis and treatment.

Vasileios Christopoulos Awarded Brain Research Foundation Seed Grant for Bladder Control Research

Aug 14, 2025The prestigious grant will enable Christopoulos and his collaborators from the USC Neurorestoration Center to map how the brain and spinal cord work together to control the bladder.

New DARPA-Funded Project Aims to Unravel the Brain’s Learning Secrets

Jul 31, 2025A USC Viterbi team will lead the study that could inform future diagnoses for neurological disorders and the development of next-generation bio-inspired AI.

Hangbo Zhao Receives Prestigious NSF CAREER Award for Advanced Manufacturing Research

Jul 30, 2025The $546,713 award will support Zhao’s pioneering work in high-resolution manufacturing of stretchable electronics.

New Discovery Reveals the Spinal Cord’s Role in Bladder Control

Jul 28, 2025A first-of-its-kind study offers hope for future treatments of urinary incontinence caused by neurological disorders, aging and other conditions.

Unlocking the Brain’s Filing Cabinet

Jul 21, 2025USC researchers have discovered how the human brain organizes its visual memories through precise neural timing.

Qifa Zhou Honored for Contributions to the Biomedical Ultrasound Field

Jul 01, 2025The 16th International Conference on Ultrasound Engineering for Biomedical Applications in South Korea recognized Zhou, an expert in high-frequency ultrasound imaging technology.

Could Open-Source Medical Devices Transform Healthcare?

Jun 24, 2025USC Viterbi researchers examine how an open-source approach is changing the game for the medical device sector, accelerating research and bringing benefits to patients.

A Game-Changing Wireless Implant for Personalized Chronic Pain Relief

Jun 23, 2025USC researchers have developed a groundbreaking ultrasound device that could reduce our reliance on addictive painkillers.

New Nanoparticle Weapon in the Fight Against Cardiovascular and Kidney Disease

May 21, 2025The Chung Lab has engineered a new therapeutically enhanced, naturally derived particle for powerful gene therapies to tackle our most significant health challenges.

Excellence, Curiosity, Character: The Graduates of the USC Viterbi Class of 2025

May 19, 2025At the USC Viterbi undergraduate commencement ceremony, the next generation of engineers are encouraged to advance technology that solves the world's grand challenges.

“You Are Agents of Change”: The USC Viterbi Master’s Class of 2025

May 19, 2025At the USC Viterbi master's commencement ceremonies, Dean Yannis C. Yortsos praised graduates on the "singular achievement" of earning their master's degree.

“Building A Better World:” Dean Yannis C. Yortsos Tells Graduates They Will Make A Difference

May 15, 2025The 2025 Ph.D. Hooding and Awards Ceremony honors 150 new graduates and Haotian Hang, winner of this year's best Ph.D. thesis

Leaping Lizards! Class of 2025 Grad Looks to Reptiles to Help ACL Injuries

May 15, 2025Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering graduating senior Alex Kuncz is studying how lizards regenerate their tails to improve orthopedic treatments.

The Student Senator Making an Impact in Women’s Health

May 14, 2025Class of 2025 biomedical engineering graduate Emilia Bletsas reflects on her path at USC Viterbi.

Wearable Smart Lactation Pad Detects Chemicals and Nutrients in Breast Milk

May 12, 2025A BME graduate student having her first baby inspired the research group to work on technology gaps in lactation health.

Engineering Pediatric Rehabilitation

Apr 30, 2025A Winning Innovation at ASBME's Make-A-Thon

The Biomedical Engineer Inspired by her Grandfather to Make a Difference

Apr 30, 2025Class of 2025 graduate Lauren Tomita is driven to support others, taking on a student leadership role as president of the Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering.

USC Viterbi’s CURVE Program Hosts Annual Student Research Showcase

Apr 29, 2025135 student presentations address health, security, sustainability and how to enrich life

New Insight into How the Brain Switches Gears Could Help Parkinson’s Patients

Apr 24, 2025Biomedical engineering research at USC has unraveled a mystery of motor control that could be a game-changer for disorders like Parkinson's and could aid in the development of bio-inspired systems.

USC Researchers Develop Plastic Substitute from Mineral Found in Seashells

Apr 15, 2025Biomedical engineers at USC Viterbi have created a new biocompatible material that is safe for marine life and avoids harmful microplastics.

Nurture More Important than Nature for Robotic Hands

Apr 06, 2025New paper from the ValeroLab shows that tactile sensors are less important than the order of learning experiences for embodied artificial intelligence.

New “Smart” Immune Cells: A Breakthrough for Long-Lasting Tumor Destruction

Apr 02, 2025USC Viterbi researchers have engineered a new immune cell that when activated by ultrasound can continuously sense and destroy cancer cells for extended periods.

Eun Ji Chung Elected as a 2025 AIMBE Fellow

Mar 31, 2025The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering recognized Chung for her extensive body of research in nanobiomaterials for drug delivery, diagnostics, and tissue restoration for disease applications.

The USC Sophomore Whose Algorithm is Helping Pediatric Cancer Patients

Mar 27, 2025New undergraduate research from biomedical engineering student Arjun Karnwal is being used by Children's Hospital Los Angeles to improve cancer radiation treatments.

A Long Sleep for a Long Life

Mar 12, 2025New USC Viterbi assistant professor Yaoheng Yang studies how safely induced artificial hibernation could improve our longevity.

Qifa Zhou to Receive Prestigious Golden Axon Leadership Award

Feb 10, 2025The Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics and World Brain Mapping Foundation will honor Zhou, an expert in high-frequency ultrasound imaging technology.

Revolutionizing Heart Care for Newborns

Dec 17, 2024Ellis Meng's team pioneers non-invasive shunt monitoring to improve survival rates for young patients with congenital heart defects

Three USC Viterbi Professors Named 2024 Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors

Dec 16, 2024Francisco Valero-Cuevas, Wei Wu and Theodore Tsotsis received the prestigious honor in recognition of their exceptional contributions to innovation, invention and technology.

New CRISPR Toolkit to Allow Remote-Controlled Genome Editing

Dec 02, 2024USC Viterbi biomedical engineers harness focused ultrasound to revolutionize CRISPR's capabilities to treat countless diseases.

Turning Memory Loss into a Distant Memory

Oct 30, 2024USC Viterbi and Keck School of Medicine of USC have been collaborating on human trials for a revolutionary brain prosthesis to repair and restore lost memories.

New Maker Space Helping Students Craft Life-Changing Medical Devices

Oct 24, 2024The Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering's new Innovation Space will be an incubator for the future of medical technology.

In Memoriam: George Bekey 1928 – 2024

Oct 18, 2024Legendary roboticist helped spark USC Viterbi’s rise to global prominence.

From Blood Tests to Brain Scans: How AI is Revolutionizing Alzheimer’s Research

Sep 19, 2024How advanced technology offers new hope in the fight against a devastating disease.

How Are Stretch Reflexes Modulated During Voluntary Movement?

Sep 18, 2024New computational theory sheds light on a longstanding question

Safeguarding Mental Health: USC team develops at-home test for lithium toxicity

Jul 17, 2024New low-cost test could be a game-changer for individuals with bipolar disorder and depression who rely on the drug for mental health

Forging Research Partnerships for Future Medical Breakthroughs

Jul 16, 2024New Mann Engineering in Medicine Pilot Grants program will build ongoing research collaborations between USC Viterbi School of Engineering and Keck School of Medicine of USC.

A Sound Revolution: How USC Viterbi Engineers Are Using Ultrasound To Restore Vision

Jun 27, 2024A USC research team utilizes non-invasive technologies to target degenerative visual impairments.

Unraveling the Mysteries of Stem Cells

Jun 18, 2024New research harnesses machine learning and imaging to give unprecedented insight into stem cell behavior that could enable future lifesaving therapies.

Shanechi-led USC Center for Neurotechnology Boosted by Grant From NIH BRAIN Initiative

May 21, 2024$5 million grant will develop multimodal AI and sensing technology for mental state tracking.

From Dreams to Degrees: USC Viterbi Class of 2024 Graduates Shape Tomorrow, Today

May 11, 2024At the forefront of engineering and technology, graduates like Christian Bryan redefine potential with degrees in cutting-edge fields and a commitment to lifelong exploration.

Master’s Class of 2024: “The Best So Far”

May 11, 2024At the USC Viterbi master’s commencement ceremonies, Dean Yannis C. Yortsos praised graduates’ resilience, ingenuity and integrity

Rachel.Amir Chatman’s Mission for Ethical Technology

May 10, 2024The BME Class of 2024 graduate who wants to make medical technology fairer for all patients.

Like Mother, Like Son

May 09, 2024Anthony Mouchawar Hopes to Realize His Mother's Dream And Attend Medical School

No More Needle Phobia: Personalized Medicine Just Got More Flexible

May 01, 2024Hangbo Zhao presents findings on highly stretchable and customizable microneedles for application in fields including neuroscience, tissue engineering, and wearable bioelectronics.

Turning a Tumor’s “Shield” into a Weapon Against Itself

Apr 22, 2024USC Viterbi biomedical engineers have designed a new protein that targets and disables tumor cells' defenses while marking cancer cells for death.

The Rotisserie-Inspired Device That Could Revolutionize Cancer Surgery

Apr 04, 2024USC Viterbi biomedical engineers have built an imaging device that harnesses nanoparticles to ensure a tumor has been entirely removed.

The Future of Health Research and Innovation at Grodins Symposium

Apr 01, 2024The 26th annual showcase featured the latest student research from the Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering.

A Green Light to Build Muscle Cells on Command

Mar 25, 2024USC Viterbi and Keck USC researchers, aided by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative grant, seek to control how cells grow into tissue, with game-changing applications in neuromuscular diseases and more.

New Prototype for Wearable Ultrasound Device to Measure Stiffness Changes in Deep Organs

Feb 15, 2024The device, developed by USC and MIT researchers, could be used to help monitor for prevention of acute liver failure

Nanoparticles “Hitchhike” on Immune Cells to Catch Cancer Metastasis Early

Feb 12, 2024USC Viterbi researchers have designed particles that can light up the lymph node cancer cells otherwise undetectable by MRI.

Being There

Jan 18, 2024While his friends went to high school football games, biomedical engineering student Dominic De La Torre cared for his ailing grandmother. He has no regrets.

Medical Wearables are All Sewn Up

Nov 20, 2023Researchers in the Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering use embroidery and lasers to create affordable, cutting-edge sensors for wearables and personalized healthcare.

Illiuminating Cancer

Nov 20, 2023Longwei Liu joins USC Viterbi and the Wang Lab to uncover the secret interactions between immune cells and cancer cells with the help of fluorescent trackers.

She Missed Over 200 Days of High School Due to Illness. It Never Stopped Her From Serving Others.

Nov 20, 2023The first-year student's experience with empathy and chronic pain shaped Holly Rose's path to biomedical engineering.

Eun Ji Chung Elected BMES Fellow

Nov 02, 2023Chung was recognized for pioneering drug delivery innovations and commitment to fostering diversity in biomedical engineering.

Hangbo Zhao Receives Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program Award

Nov 01, 2023The highly competitive program supports outstanding early career researchers developing innovative solutions to challenges faced by the Navy and Marine Corps.

Stacey Finley Co-Chairs 2023 Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting

Oct 26, 2023USC Viterbi research and thought leadership was highlighted in 25 research and panel sessions at the leading event for biomedical engineering research and innovation.

Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering Honored by BMES

Oct 04, 2023The student organization has been recognized by the Biomedical Engineering Society for its leadership and contributions.

“You’re Never Alone:” Leveraging Technology to Prevent Sexual Assault

Sep 12, 2023A USC Viterbi-led startup is developing a bracelet to send a distress signals, along with a map of the sender's location, to groups of friends at parties to keep people safe and connected

Origami-Inspired Strain Sensors for Stretchable Soft Robotics

Aug 29, 2023USC researchers have developed an innovative solution to measure the motion of soft components in robotics.

Qifa Zhou appointed Zohrab A. Kaprielian Fellow in Engineering

Aug 25, 2023Zhou is an expert in the field of ultrasound imaging.

OSEM Wins Nucleate L.A. Pitch Competition

Jul 21, 2023The USC Viterbi-led startup is creating a 3D printer to produce nanoparticles more efficiently and accurately

Student Excellence Takes Center Stage at Grodins Symposium

Jun 26, 2023The Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of its student research showcase.

Wide Awake and Dreaming: USC Viterbi’s 2023 Master’s Commencement Ceremonies

May 13, 2023The class of 2023 is "the best educated, the most representative in our history."

“At Heart, We’re Problem Solvers:” USC Viterbi Undergraduate Commencement 2023

May 13, 2023This year’s ceremony at Alumni Park was headlined by alumnus and venture capitalist, Mark Stevens, who praised the power and versatility of an engineering degree

The BME Grad Championing Gender-Affirming Healthcare

May 12, 2023Senior Sabrina Sy reflects a unique interdisciplinary marriage between biomedical engineering and gender and sexuality studies.

“Attention is All You Need”: New Ph.D.s Urged to Attend to “Challenges of Earth’s Eight Billion People.”

May 12, 2023The 2023 Ph.D. Hooding and Awards Ceremony honors 133 new graduates and Jiaoyang Li, winner of this year's best Ph.D. thesis.

From Creating Medical Devices for Heart Disease to Helping at International Basketball’s Biggest Event

May 11, 2023Originally from Lebanon, Serge Nasr is pursuing his dreams in the United States.

Her Body May Feel Weak, But This Trojan CEO is Fighting On for Brain Health

Apr 14, 2023No June gloom: Alumna Samantha Scott's start-up, JuneBrain, seeks to deliver the tele-health services she once desired for herself.

The Quiet Revolution of AI on the Edge

Apr 10, 2023AI is running on mobile phones, sensors, and home appliances thanks to the engineering innovations that make the most of the limited memory, reduced computational power, and little energy available in these devices.

Biomedical Engineering at USC Welcomes a New Name and a Bright Future

Apr 06, 2023USC President Carol L. Folt was among the attendees at the naming ceremony for the Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Megan McCain Inducted as 2023 AIMBE Fellow

Mar 30, 2023McCain is an expert in organ on a chip technology for human disease modeling.

USC Hosts Leaders in Neurorehabilitation at National Science Foundation Conference

Mar 20, 2023A national conference supported by the NSF examined ways for computational modeling to help change the game for persons with disabilities and neurological conditions.

BME Postdoc Megan Rexius-Hall awarded NIH Pathway to Independence Award

Mar 10, 2023Rexius-Hall is a postdoc in the McCain Laboratory using "Heart-on-a-Chip" technology to research cardiac damage post-heart attack.

BME Postdoc Isabella Suzuki Awarded Agilent Fellowship

Feb 23, 2023Suzuki is a postdoc in the Chung Laboratory, researching nanomedicine for atherosclerosis.

Photographing an Invisible Frog and what it Reveals About Blood Flow

Feb 21, 2023USC Viterbi engineers harnessed ultrasonic waves to capture extraordinary images of glass frogs, which dodge predators by making themselves transparent.

Francisco Valero-Cuevas Named Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors

Feb 21, 2023The USC professor is a leader in the application of fundamental engineering principles to aid human welfare.

“I’ve Fallen, and I Can’t Get Up.” Not If These Engineering Students Can Help It.

Feb 17, 2023At the ASBME 2023 Make-a-thon, teams were given 36 hours to build devices to prevent seniors from dangerous falls.

Synthetic Touch: Haptic Data is Revolutionizing Consumer Products

Jan 26, 2023SynTouch, spun off from USC research, is using robot touch to improve everything from cars to toilet paper to online shopping.

Catching Some Z’s is a Challenge for Millions. Can Wristbands Help Solve the Problem?

Jan 19, 2023Professor Michael Khoo and his SleepHuB partners look at a range of technologies to uncover sleep problems

Saving Lives: Heart Attack On A Chip

Dec 07, 2022Megan McCain and postdoc Megan Rexius-Hall have engineered a microscale model that might one day serve as a testbed for personalized heart drugs

AI4Health: A Collab for the Future of Health Care

Nov 22, 2022USC's Information Sciences Institute launches the Center on AI Research for Health.

Department of Biomedical Engineering News

Department of Biomedical Engineering
News