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AIMBE Tour 2023

Congressional staff visited NIH on June 27, 2023, to see technology demonstrations presented by NIBIB grantees. The demonstrations showcased the breadth of research supported by the institute. Demonstrations were given by Johns Hopkins University, Georgia Institute of Technology/Emory University, North Carolina State University/University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and NIBIB’s Intramural Research Program MATRICES lab and BETA Center. The congressional staff visited at the invitation of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Photographs by Chia-Chi (Charlie) Chang.

NIBIB Director Bruce Tromberg welcomes congressional staff to NIH and provides an overview of NIBIB’s research portfolio and mission.
NIBIB Director Bruce Tromberg welcomes congressional staff to NIH and provides an overview of NIBIB’s research portfolio and mission.
Presenters from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discussed optical imaging and diagnostic phantom development. Presenters L-R: Anant Agrawal, Daniel Hammer, Sandhya Vasudevan, and William Vogt.
Presenters from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discussed optical imaging and diagnostic phantom development. Presenters L-R: Anant Agrawal, Daniel Hammer, Sandhya Vasudevan, and William Vogt.
Anant Agrawal discusses how retinal imaging phantoms can be used to model the human retina.
Anant Agrawal discusses how retinal imaging phantoms can be used to model the human retina.
Sandhya Vasudevan explains how oximetry readings can be affected by skin tone. Tissue phantoms that mimic different skin tones can aid in the regulatory assessment of medical devices.
Sandhya Vasudevan explains how oximetry readings can be affected by skin tone. Tissue phantoms that mimic different skin tones can aid in the regulatory assessment of medical devices.
Manu Platt of NIBIB’s BETA (for Biomedical Engineering Technology Acceleration) Center demonstrates a low-cost method to determine if HIV-positive individuals are taking their prescribed anti-viral medications.
Manu Platt of NIBIB’s BETA (for Biomedical Engineering Technology Acceleration) Center demonstrates a low-cost method to determine if HIV-positive individuals are taking their prescribed anti-viral medications.
Manu Platt demonstrates how a pipette can be used to accurately dispense tiny amounts of liquid for gel electrophoresis experiments.
Manu Platt demonstrates how a pipette can be used to accurately dispense tiny amounts of liquid for gel electrophoresis experiments.
Congressional staff had the opportunity to try pipetting for themselves.
Congressional staff had the opportunity to try pipetting for themselves.
Julie Sullivan (far right) from the Center for Advancement of Diagnostics for a Just Society explains how rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 were independently validated before seeking authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Julie Sullivan (far right) from the Center for Advancement of Diagnostics for a Just Society explains how rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 were independently validated before seeking authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Erika Tyburski (far right), CEO and co-founder at Sanguina, demonstrates how their smartphone app can predict anemia through the estimation of hemoglobin levels by analyzing an image of the fingernail bed.
Erika Tyburski (far right), CEO and co-founder at Sanguina, demonstrates how their smartphone app can predict anemia through the estimation of hemoglobin levels by analyzing an image of the fingernail bed.
A group from Johns Hopkins University stands with their surgical robotic system called STAR (for Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot). L-R: Michael Kam, Axel Krieger, Justin Opfermann, and Idris Sunmola.
A group from Johns Hopkins University stands with their surgical robotic system called STAR (for Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot). L-R: Michael Kam, Axel Krieger, Justin Opfermann, and Idris Sunmola.
Axel Krieger (far right) explains how their autonomous surgical robot can perform soft-tissue surgery to a group of congressional staff.
Axel Krieger (far right) explains how their autonomous surgical robot can perform soft-tissue surgery to a group of congressional staff.
He (Helen) Huang (center) describes how their technology can help to restore balance and stability among amputees with lower-limb loss.
He (Helen) Huang (center) describes how their technology can help to restore balance and stability among amputees with lower-limb loss.
Varun Nalam assists a legislative aide with a vest that provides haptic feedback to the user to improve balance.
Varun Nalam assists a legislative aide with a vest that provides haptic feedback to the user to improve balance.
NIBIB Director Bruce Tromberg and NIBIB Deputy Director Jill Heemskerk pose with the NIBIB grantees participating in the technology demonstrations. Front row L-R: Wilbur Lam, Erika Tyburski, Sandhya Vasudevan, Idris Sunmola, Jill Heemskerk, Bruce Tromberg, Michael Kam, He (Helen) Huang, and Varun Nalam. Back row L-R: Julie Sullivan, Manu Platt, Daniel X. Hammer, William Vogt, Anant Agrawal, Axel Krieger, Justin Opfermann, and Brendan Driscoll.
NIBIB Director Bruce Tromberg and NIBIB Deputy Director Jill Heemskerk pose with the NIBIB grantees participating in the technology demonstrations. Front row L-R: Wilbur Lam, Erika Tyburski, Sandhya Vasudevan, Idris Sunmola, Jill Heemskerk, Bruce Tromberg, Michael Kam, He (Helen) Huang, and Varun Nalam. Back row L-R: Julie Sullivan, Manu Platt, Daniel X. Hammer, William Vogt, Anant Agrawal, Axel Krieger, Justin Opfermann, and Brendan Driscoll.
A group photo from the event, including congressional staff, AIMBE leadership, NIBIB-supported demonstrators, and NIBIB staff.
A group photo from the event, including congressional staff, AIMBE leadership, NIBIB-supported demonstrators, and NIBIB staff.