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Jan 22 10:00 am

BME Seminar Series: Brittany Hartwell at Uncas A. Whitaker Hall

Feb 5 10:00 am

BME Seminar Series: James D. Sterling at Uncas A. Whitaker Hall

Mar 5 10:00 am

BME Seminar Series: Dion Khodagholy at Uncas A. Whitaker Hall

Biological condensates are clumps of molecules that condense, and scatter apart based on the surrounding chemical and electrical environment in a cell. They can appear like oil droplets in water but lack a membrane. Recent work from WashU researchers shows how to design and embed these proteins into living systems to serve as electron generators. (AI generated image courtesy Dai lab)

Condensate engines could power bioelectrochemical devices

Biomedical engineers at Washington University in St. Louis have outlined how properties of biological condensates may serve as engines to power electrochemical reactions at a microscale.

01.15.2026

The image above is from a 63-year-old woman with targeted-ultrasound demonstrated an irregular mass detected by a screening mammogram. The total hemoglobin concentration (HbT) map (inset) showed high HbT levels, which raises suspicion for cancer. The calculated blood oxygen saturation level was at the lower end. The HbT and blood oxygen saturation levels were presented to the radiologists in the study, which increased the confidence of a malignant diagnosis. The biopsy results revealed grade 3 triple-negative breast cancer, measuring 2 centimeters. (Credit: Zhu lab)

Imaging technique can reduce benign breast biopsies by 25%

Ultrasound-guided diffuse optical tomography reduces breast biopsies in WashU study.

01.15.2026

Reviving antibiotics with two-faced nanoparticles

A team led by Yan Yu develops a double-pronged approach to fighting antibiotic resistance.

01.13.2026

Yifan Dai and his team designed a method based on directed evolution to create synthetic intrinsically disordered proteins that can facilitate diverse phase behaviors in living cells. Intrinsically disordered proteins have different phase behaviors that take place at increasing or decreasing temperatures, as shown in the image above. The intrinsically disordered proteins on the left are cold responsive, and those on the right are hot responsive. The tree image in the center depicts the directed evolution process with the reversible intrinsically disordered proteins near the top. Feeding into the process from the bottom are soluble intrinsically disordered proteins. (Credit: Dai lab)

Harnessing evolution: Evolved synthetic disordered proteins could address disease, antibiotic resistance

Yifan Dai’s lab designs directed evolution-based method to program synthetic intrinsically disordered proteins.

01.09.2026

Rohit V. Pappu, the Gene K. Beare Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Min Kyung Shinn, a former postdoctoral researcher in his lab, investigated some of the physical features of nuclear speckles that were inconsistent with the type of uniform droplets one expected to see if they formed via liquid-liquid phase separation. Their microscopy images revealed that the speckle-associated proteins were distinct in the types of structures they formed. [Credit: Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 4, 605–612 (2003).]

Microphases are targets for therapeutic intervention for neurodegenerative disorders

Min Kyung Shinn, Rohit Pappu investigate nuclear speckles.

12.19.2025

Hong Chen, professor of biomedical engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering and of neurosurgery at WashU Medicine, and Jan Kubanek, associate professor of psychiatry in the Division of Clinical Neuroscience and Behavioral Health at WashU Medicine, have been named director and co-director of the Focused Ultrasound Center of Excellence at Washington University in St. Louis. (Credit: Douglas Garfield)

Washington University in St. Louis named Focused Ultrasound Center of Excellence

Hong Chen, Jan Kubanek named director and co-director of the new center, respectively.

12.19.2025

Chen named finalist for Sony Women in Technology Award

Hong Chen is a renowned expert in focused ultrasound.

11.20.2025

Clockwise from top left: Alfaro, Barnett, Cher, Xue and Cox

Five McKelvey Engineering graduate students selected for Olin-Chancellor’s Fellowships

Program recognizes second-year doctoral students with exceptional academic and research accomplishments.

11.18.2025

Clockwise from top left: faculty members Pappu and Zhang, students Treiman, Najjuuko and Kim

McKelvey Engineering faculty, students receive Provost’s Research Excellence Award

Honor recognizes exemplary researchers and scholars across the university.

11.13.2025