Greg Ayers, John DeFord, and Ben Hillberry were named to the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

Richard Borgens will receive the Indiana Health Industry Forum's 2006 "Outstanding Contribution of Scientific Commercialization Award" on June 13. The award is given to individuals who make significant contributions to converting research to commercial use. Borgens is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, is the Mari Hulman George Professor of Applied Neurology in the School of Veterinary Medicine, and a founder of Andara Life Science, Inc.

More information on Borgens and his research into the treatment of spinal injuries and paralysis can be found here, here, here, and here.

Derick Miller, who just recently finished his doctorate in BME at Purdue, was recently showcased at a Spring Open House hosted by Inspired Fire, a local glass studio and gallery.

Jason Bazil, Aaron Kyle, and Silas Leavesley were recently selected to receive Purdue's College of Engineering Magoon Award for Excellence in Teaching.

A recent article on developments in brain-computer interfaces (BCI) in the online "Wired News" quoted BME professor Pedro Irazoqui.

Dr. Peixuan Guo, a professor in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and Director of the Purdue Bionanotechnology Graduate Program, has been unanimously selected to receive the 2006 Lion's Club Award. This award honors a member of the Purdue Cancer Center faculty for their cancer research, with nominations coming from fellow Cancer Center participants and selection by a committee composed of former recipients.

The Purdue Board of Trustees has approved the promotion of Sherry Voytik-Harbin to Associate Professor with tenure effective August 14, 2006. Dr. Voytik-Harbin came to Purdue in 1987 to pursue graduate studies, and has built on that foundation to advance tissue engineering research and development pertaining to the extra-cellular matrix.

George Wodicka, head of the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering states, "This well-deserved promotion reflects Sherry's seminal research and educational impact on our School and beyond, and recognizes her tireless efforts on so many important fronts."

"It's the South, except it snows."

This is how Lester Smith describes the similarities in hospitality and kindness between Purdue and his hometown of New Orleans.

The expansion and augmentation of research and education efforts
within the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering is off to an
outstanding start with the hiring of 9 new faculty members over the past year.

"The implementation of our strategic plan to add 20 new faculty
members within 5 years is transformational for our School," states George Wodicka.
"These nine individuals are an outstanding start to the effort, and
immediately advance both our education and research capacity. I ask
that you join us in welcoming these new members of the BME family."

Family is important to Sherry Voytik-Harbin (on right in photo), and two different but complementary families share this dynamic researcher. The first is her nuclear family, which is the most important part of her life. The second is the larger family of faculty, staff, and students at the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering who are helping her advance understanding of the complex multi-dimensional interactions of cells with the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). From that understanding comes the possibility of engineering ECM-based biomaterials that better interface with cells for improved repair and regeneration of damaged tissues.