A group of researchers participates in a discussion at the Center for Biodevices’s FacultyXchange event in February. IMAGE: FRANK SCARAMUZZO
First Outcomes Day to connect, educate researchers on biodevices
9/9/2020
By Gabrielle Stewart
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Center for Biodevices, led by the College of Engineering, will hold its first Outcomes Day on Sept. 24. The virtual event will serve as a follow-up to the center’s FacultyXchange event held in February, which fostered collaboration opportunities for Penn State researchers interested in biodevice research and development.
Established in early 2020, the Center for Biodevices aims to bridge foundational science and clinical applications of biodevices, while also enabling successful collaboration among faculty, clinicians and students across multiple disciplines.
“A big part of the center’s mission is to bring people together,” said Mary Frecker, director of the Penn State Center for Biodevices and professor of mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering. “Our goal for Outcomes Day is to highlight the work of the center and help researchers connect with potential collaborators across disciplines.”
During Outcomes Day, two research teams awarded Center for Biodevices Seed Grants, which were first announced at FacultyXchange, will present their preliminary findings on fundamental biodevice research with medical applications, such as wearable devices and diagnostic tools. Other awardees, including Leighton Riess Graduate Fellows and Grace Woodward Collaborative Research in Engineering and Medicine grantees, will also present their current research.
In addition to these research updates, Outcomes Day will also facilitate opportunities for students and professionals to connect research interests through interactive discussions, Q&A sessions and a concluding set of networking sessions on focused research topics.
Brent Craven, a research scientist for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Penn State mechanical engineering alumnus, will kick off the event with a keynote lecture on the FDA’s regulation process for medical devices. In the afternoon, Gregory Lewis, assistant professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation and assistant professor of mechanical engineering; bioengineering; biomedical sciences; and engineering science and mechanics, will lead a panel discussion on how to secure funding for National Institutes of Health grants.
“The center’s goal is to facilitate interdisciplinary research related to biodevices,” Frecker said. “With this event, where attendees can learn about ongoing research work, identify prospective team members and educate themselves on topics like FDA regulation and NIH grantsmanship, we hope to achieve that goal through a variety of pathways.”
The 2020 Outcomes Day event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24. Registration is required and closes on Friday, Sept. 18. The event is free and open to interested members of the University community. Participants are not required to attend the web conference in full and may select sessions to accommodate their schedules. For more information and to register, visit the event webpage.
Share this story:
Brent Craven, a research scientist for the Food and Drug Administration and Penn State mechanical engineering alumnus, will present a keynote lecture on the FDA’s regulation process for medical devices.
Gregory Lewis, assistant professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation and assistant professor of mechanical engineering; bioengineering; biomedical sciences; and engineering science and mechanics, will lead a panel discussion on how to secure funding for National Institutes of Health grants.
