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2024 NIH Hosts Congressional Visitors

Fifty congressional staff visited NIH on August 7, 2024, to see technology demonstrations and visit laboratories presented by NIBIB intramural researchers and grantees. The demonstrations showcased the breadth of research supported by the institute. Demonstrations were given by NIBIB’s Intramural Research Program and included the Section on Immunoengineering, Section on Mechanobiology and the MATRICES lab, and two NIBIB grantee presentations from Duke University, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Xander Medical. The congressional staff visited at the invitation of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Photographs by Chia-Chi (Charlie) Chang.

A group photo from the event, including congressional staff, AIMBE leadership, NIBIB-supported demonstrators, and NIBIB leadership.
A group photo from the event, including congressional staff, AIMBE leadership, NIBIB-supported demonstrators, and NIBIB leadership.
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.
Kaitlyn Sadtler of NIBIB’s Section on Immunoengineering shows a biomaterial that is commonly used to heal traumatic injuries.
Kaitlyn Sadtler of NIBIB’s Section on Immunoengineering shows a biomaterial that is commonly used to heal traumatic injuries.
Kaitlyn Sadtler (r) demonstrates on implants made of plastics can break down in weight-bearing joints which can lead to inflammation and corrective surgeries.
Kaitlyn Sadtler (r) demonstrates on implants made of plastics can break down in weight-bearing joints which can lead to inflammation and corrective surgeries.
Manu Platt (l), Julia Frank (m), and Harris Ebrahim (r) of NIBIB’s BETA (for Biomedical Engineering Technology Acceleration) Center and MATRICES (Mechanics and Tissue Remodeling Integrating Computational & Experimental Systems) lab demonstrates a low-cost method to determine if HIV-positive individuals are taking their prescribed anti-viral medications.
Manu Platt (l), Julia Frank (m), and Harris Ebrahim (r) of NIBIB’s BETA (for Biomedical Engineering Technology Acceleration) Center and MATRICES (Mechanics and Tissue Remodeling Integrating Computational & Experimental Systems) lab demonstrates a low-cost method to determine if HIV-positive individuals are taking their prescribed anti-viral medications.
Congressional staff had the opportunity to try pipetting, a common lab technique, for themselves.
Congressional staff had the opportunity to try pipetting, a common lab technique, for themselves.
Alex Cartagena-Rivera (l) and post-doctoral fellow Andrew Massey stand next to an atomic force microscope, a cutting-edge technology that helps them study the progression of cancer.
Alex Cartagena-Rivera (l) and post-doctoral fellow Andrew Massey stand next to an atomic force microscope, a cutting-edge technology that helps them study the progression of cancer.
Alex Cartagena-Rivera (front, r) explains how his lab develops advanced atomic force microscopy technologies to study the biomechanical properties of tissues.
Alex Cartagena-Rivera (front, r) explains how his lab develops advanced atomic force microscopy technologies to study the biomechanical properties of tissues.
Ali Bisaccia, CEO of Xander Medical, stands alongside her brother and co-founder of Xander Medical, Jackson Bisaccia, preparing to demonstrate their technology.
Ali Bisaccia, CEO of Xander Medical, stands alongside her brother and co-founder of Xander Medical, Jackson Bisaccia, preparing to demonstrate their technology.
Ali and Jackson Bisaccia demonstrate how the interlock screw can be inserted and removed into phantom bone.
Ali and Jackson Bisaccia demonstrate how the interlock screw can be inserted and removed into phantom bone.
A group from Duke University, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital stands with their 3D-printer. L-R: Yu (Shrike) Zhang, Junjie Yao, Ziwen Wang, Nanchao Wang, Xiao Kuang and Colton McGarraugh.
A group from Duke University, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital stands with their 3D-printer. L-R: Yu (Shrike) Zhang, Junjie Yao, Ziwen Wang, Nanchao Wang, Xiao Kuang and Colton McGarraugh.
Junjie Yao (front, l) and Shrike Zhang (front, l) explain how focused ultrasound can solidify a bioink in a specific part of the body to create 3D objects, which can be used to repair heart defects and other tissues.
Junjie Yao (front, l) and Shrike Zhang (front, l) explain how focused ultrasound can solidify a bioink in a specific part of the body to create 3D objects, which can be used to repair heart defects and other tissues.