IEM Centers of Excellence

Launched in September 2020, the Engineering Research Center for Advanced Technologies for the Preservation of Biological Systems (ATP-Bio), supported by the National Science Foundation (Grant No. EEC-1941543), is a collaborative network of experts and partners advancing technologies for the storage and distribution of living biological materials.

ATP-Bio’s innovations have far-reaching impact across healthcare, bioconservation, and global food sustainability. The Center connects academia and industry to accelerate the creation, translation, and education of cryopreservation and biopreservation techniques that make living systems more accessible to all.

ATP-Bio is a world-class partnership among six premier research institutions: University of Minnesota (UMN) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) serve as co-leads, with core collaborators Texas A&M University (TAMU) and University of California–Riverside (UCR), and affiliated partners University of California–Berkeley (UCB) and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).

The Center for Neuroengineering is a campus-wide research center to promote interdisciplinary research and training in the field of neuroengineering. Participating faculty come from various departments and colleges including biomedical sciences and engineering and physical sciences.

The mission of the Center for Neuroengineering is to advance neuroengineering research, foster collaborations between neuroscience and engineering faculty at the University of Minnesota and with industrial partners, and training of the next generation of leaders in this exciting field.

The Earl E. Bakken Medical Device Center (Bakken MDC), works with College of Science and Engineering and Medical School researchers and clinicians to   create technology-based solutions that solve significant clinical problems and trains the next generation of medical device innovation leaders. Visit the Bakken MDC website to learn more!

The Visible Heart® Laboratories (VHL) is led by Dr. Paul Iaizzo in collaboration Medtronic and 12 other departments at the University. VHL performs translational systems physiology research, ranging from cellular and tissue studies to organ and whole body investigations, in five main areas: 3D modeling, cardiac physiology, patient care, skeletal muscle, and medical devices. They offer tours and provide education to industry experts, medical practitioners, and college and high school students using virtual reality, 3D printing technology, and anatomic models.