UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Center for Biodevices in the College of Engineering at Penn State hosted its second annual Faculty Xchange on Feb. 10. More than 165 researchers and clinicians attended the virtual event.
“The goal of Faculty Xchange is to bring researchers and clinicians together to share ideas and spark collaborations,” said Mary Frecker, center director and professor of mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering. “We were happy to welcome participants from across the University as well as from industry.”
Following opening remarks, the event began with a keynote lecture from Jeremy Rawlinson, distinguished scientist and technical fellow in the applied research group of Medtronic Spine. Highlighting the event’s theme of innovation, the talk, “Getting Things Done in Healthcare Innovation,” focused on the process of developing new ideas into products and practices that can be used to treat patients.
Faculty Xchange also featured rapid-fire presentations on research developments, as well as other virtual activities. Industry-led breakout discussions and a panel discussion on technology transfer and innovation pathway resources further evoked the theme of innovation, according to Frecker.
The final session of the day centered on funding opportunities available through the College of Engineering and the College of Medicine, including seed grants and other collaboration-intensive awards. Led by Frecker and Sarah Bronson, associate dean for interdisciplinary research in the College of Medicine, this session provided information on next steps for researchers interested in pursuing interdisciplinary research through the Center for Biodevices. In September, the center will host its annual Outcomes Day to highlight the research work supported by these and other funding opportunities.
Established in 2020, the Center for Biodevices aims to bridge foundational science and clinical applications of biodevices, while enabling success of faculty, clinicians and students across multiple disciplines.