Biomedical Engineering

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Hanna Nordwall — Thu, 21 May 2026 16:12:59 +0000

Target acquired Hanna Nordwall Thu, 05/21/2026 - 10:12 Charles Ferrer

NIH internship inspires student’s career interest in “new world” of cancer treatment

Janeth Marquez Rubio (BioMedEngr’25) always wanted to make a difference in the medical field.

Little did she know that journey would take her to the National Institutes of Health, one of the world’s leading research centers, where she spent a summer helping advance a promising new approach to treat cancer.

"Walking by Nobel Prize winners and having my office next to an esteemed physician was surreal."

During her NIH internship, Marquez Rubio worked with radiopharmaceuticals, a growing new class of drugs designed to deliver precise doses of radiation directly to cancer cells.

Unlike traditional radiation therapy that targets broad regions of the body, radiopharmaceutical therapy provides highly targeted doses of radioactive material — in this specific research case, Actinum-225 — that bind to cancer cells and destroy them.

“I didn’t know anything about radiopharmaceuticals,” Marquez Rubio said. “Learning about this new world of drugs and realizing how it could someday cure cancer was fascinating.”

Mentored by NIH medical physicist Roberto Maass-Moreno, she focused on the challenges of bioimaging and dosimetry — determining how to measure and deliver the right dose of radiopharmaceuticals for clinical trials — and compiled data for an upcoming clinical trial.

“We know you can’t use a one-size-fits-all method for doses,” she said. “Being able to measure the effects of the drug accurately is key for future clinical trials.”

Early experimental results showed improvement in cancer cells after treatment with radiopharmaceuticals and Actinum-225, giving scientists hope that this method could one day transform the future of radiation oncology.

Working alongside leading researchers and physicians gave Marquez Rubio a rare glimpse of research up close.

“It would be incredible to conduct clinical trials on the very radiopharmaceuticals I worked with,” Marquez Rubio said. “This internship has inspired me to one day work at the NIH again, so that is the hope.”

Marquez Rubio got her initial research experience in Assistant Professor Rob MacCurdy’s Matter Assembly Computational Lab in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. There, she explored microfluidics — how fluids behave at tiny scales — and co-authored a paper she later presented at an international conference, an experience she says was pivotal in building her confidence.

“Having those incredible research experiences as an undergraduate student made me prepared and competitive,” she said.

��ñ��’s biomedical engineering degree allowed Marquez Rubio to take courses in both mechanical and electrical engineering, helping her draw connections with bioimaging tools like CT and SPECT machines during her internship.

Her interest in radiopharmaceuticals is growing as she pursues her accelerated master’s. She chose the topic for multiple assignments and noted how some of her professors wanted to learn more about it, given how new it is in medicine.

“As a first-generation student, I still couldn’t believe I conducted research at the NIH that could one day cure cancer.”

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How ��ñ�� built a biomedical engineering powerhouse

Alexander Servantez — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:01:58 +0000

How ��ñ�� built a biomedical engineering powerhouse Alexander Servantez Wed, 03/25/2026 - 15:01

When the first biomedical engineering class graduated from ��ñ�� in 2023, about a dozen students walked across the stage. Today, that once-small start has evolved into a powerful engine for biomedical innovation and education. But how does a program go from modest beginnings to powerhouse in such a short time?

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Donated blood has a shelf life. A new test tracks how it's aging

Alexander James Servantez — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:20:27 +0000

Donated blood has a shelf life. A new test tracks how it's aging Alexander Jame… Wed, 01/21/2026 - 10:20

Associate Professor Xiaoyun Ding and medical collaborators at CU Anschutz have created a new chip device to help give blood centers and hospitals a reliable way to monitor the quality of red blood cells after they sit for weeks in storage.

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Xu selected to receive a 2025 Packard Fellowship award

Alexander James Servantez — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:35:51 +0000

Xu selected to receive a 2025 Packard Fellowship award Alexander Jame… Wed, 10/15/2025 - 10:35

Assistant Professor Nicole Xu has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering. The award provides some of the nation’s most promising early career scientists and engineers flexible funding to test novel ideas and lead research that drives real-world impact.

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Researchers pioneer fluid-based laser scanning for brain imaging

Charles Ferrer — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:29:16 +0000

Researchers pioneer fluid-based laser scanning for brain imaging Charles Ferrer Tue, 10/14/2025 - 12:29

Researchers explored a fluid-based optical device known as an electrowetting prism to steer lasers at high speeds for advanced imaging applications. This new frontier in miniature lasers opens the door to new technologies in microscopy, LiDAR, optical communications and even brain imaging.

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Biomedical engineering undergraduate helps uncover new treatment for respiratory syndrome

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 17:39:33 +0000

Biomedical engineering undergraduate helps uncover new treatment for respiratory syndrome Alexander Jame… Fri, 09/26/2025 - 11:39

The project, like something straight out of a health sci-fi movie, combines RNA-based gene therapy with tiny microrobots for drug transport to help treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

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A new way to fight allergies: Switch on the light

Susan Glairon — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 19:57:40 +0000

A new way to fight allergies: Switch on the light Susan Glairon Thu, 09/18/2025 - 13:57

Researchers in Professor Mark Hernandez's lab have discovered that a passive, generally safe ultraviolet light treatment can rapidly inactivate airborne allergens. They believe this approach could serve as an additional tool to help reduce allergens in homes, schools and other indoor environments.

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Biomedical engineering welcomes three new faculty members

Alexander James Servantez — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 22:29:03 +0000

Biomedical engineering welcomes three new faculty members Alexander Jame… Mon, 09/08/2025 - 16:29

The Biomedical Engineering Program (BME) at ��ñ�� is welcoming three new faculty members this fall semester. From responsive biomaterials and pedagogical research to quantum imaging, these talented scientists and engineers bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to our teaching and research missions.

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New bioimaging device holds potential for eye and heart condition detection

Charles Ferrer — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 16:22:57 +0000

New bioimaging device holds potential for eye and heart condition detection Charles Ferrer Wed, 08/13/2025 - 10:22

Researchers at ��ñ�� have developed a new bioimaging device that can operate with significantly lower power and in an entirely non-mechanical way. It could one day improve detecting eye and even heart conditions.

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Researchers testing next-generation ankle braces for stroke survivors

Alexander James Servantez — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 21:10:47 +0000

Researchers testing next-generation ankle braces for stroke survivors Alexander Jame… Tue, 07/15/2025 - 15:10

Nearly 80% of all stroke survivors experience walking issues and turn to ankle braces for increased support, but ankle braces are still very limited and many stroke survivors report no improvements when using them. Assistant Professor Cara Welker is leading a new, collaborative research project that aims to transform the way these assistive devices are designed.

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Biomedical Engineering

Target acquired

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How ��ñ���� built a biomedical engineering powerhouse

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Donated blood has a shelf life. A new test tracks how it's aging

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Xu selected to receive a 2025 Packard Fellowship award

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Researchers pioneer fluid-based laser scanning for brain imaging

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Biomedical engineering undergraduate helps uncover new treatment for respiratory syndrome

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A new way to fight allergies: Switch on the light

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Biomedical engineering welcomes three new faculty members

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New bioimaging device holds potential for eye and heart condition detection

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Researchers testing next-generation ankle braces for stroke survivors

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How ��ñ�� built a biomedical engineering powerhouse