Empowering the next generation in more ways than one.

Take a moment to review the essential takeaways from the February/March 2026 edition of the IEM Newsletter.

Features

• AI, Innovation, and Empowering the Next Generation: Read about Professor Papanikolopoulos's impact as a facilitator of innovation and his recent elevation to National Academy of Inventors in our most recent IEM Member interview.
• Celebrating 25 years of the DMD Conference: Join leaders from academia, industry, healthcare and government as they share insights and updates on emerging medical technologies, provide training and expert perspectives on entrepreneurship and regulatory topics, share funding opportunities, and more. Space is limited. Register for the Design of Medical Devices Conference today!

Engineering in Medicine Highlights

• Emil Lou tops TIME100 Health list: “In today's changing health landscape, these leaders are advancing care, shaping policy, and driving innovations that transform lives.” Read the TIME feature and Medical School article for more on IEM Member Emil Lou’s research.
• Medical School's 2025 Academies for Excellence: Along with many outstanding faculty, IEM Members Professor Lin Yee Chen (Health Research) and Professor Gregory Metzger (Team Science) were named to the 2025 Academies for Excellence.
• Flipping the Classroom with Victor Lai: Biomedical Engineering Professor and IEM Member Victor Lai (UMN Duluth) describes the impact that “flipping his classroom” has had on his students. Watch the Center for Educational Innovation video.
• Rhonda Franklin receives 2026 Rudolf Henning Distinguished Mentoring Award: This award recognizes individuals who perform exemplary service encouraging students and/or mentoring young engineers to advance their careers in the areas of RF/Microwave and/or Wireless Engineering.
• Michael Lotti joins the Medical School Research Office as a Sponsored Research Development Specialist to produce large, complex, team science grant proposals.
• Learn more about NSF ATP-Bio from Director John Bischof in the ‘State of the Center’.
• Science covers more about the 2025 NIH research grant funding rates.
• IEM Member Tay Netoff receives the inaugural Ronald L. and Janet A. Christenson Faculty Impact Fellowship!
• Northern News Now interviews IEM Member Detlef Heck about the 'Influence of Breathing on the Brain Lecture'.
• Medical School research team led by IEM Member Joseph Metzger launch heart health app.

Events

• March 31: How Government Investments Empower the Next Generation of Innovators and Entrepreneurs
• April 7: Masonic Cancer Center Research Symposium (Register by March 27)
• April 8: Convene Conference - AI for Appropriate Care
• April 15, 22, 29: Mini Medical School  
• April 16: Speaking Science Conference
• May 4: DeviceTalks Minnesota
• June 12-13: Global Cancer Consortium 
• June 20: SciPride at the Bell Museum 

Opportunities

• Apply to the Bakken MDC Innovation Fellows Program (Apply by May 11, 2026): Are you a creative engineer, scientist, or clinician interested in addressing large unmet medical needs with novel, commercially-viable solutions. Fellows learn by doing through a proven hands-on process for identifying needs, conceiving solutions, demonstrating feasibility, and mapping a path towards commercialization.
• Sign up for SciPride 2026 at the Bell Museum (Submit by April 20, 2026): The Bell Museum is recruiting LGBTQIA+ scientists, researchers, and allies interested in sharing their work with the public. If you sign-up, please let use know!

Printable version of the February/March 2026 IEM Newsletter (.pdf)