Research news

Learn more about the latest discoveries and innovations from the U of T Engineering community. Our researchers are developing new ways of capturing and storing clean energy, medical devices that can save and extend lives, smarter ways to design and build cities and much more.

A new way to deliver therapeutic proteins to the body, developed at U of T Engineering, could help treat degenerative eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration. (Photo: Mark_Kuiken, via iStock)

New strategy for delivery of therapeutic proteins could help treat degenerative eye diseases

Professor Molly Shoichet (ChemE, BME, Donnelly) and her team have created a hydrogel that slowly releases multiple therapeutic proteins at independently controlled rates

Oseremen Ebewele

This grad student is developing solar-powered bioreactors to clean water and produce sustainable products

Oseremen Ebewele is one of two recipients of this year’s IBET Momentum Fellowships

Professor Molly Shoichet (ChemE, BME), Laura Bahlmann (BME PhD candidate) and Dr. Alexander Baker (ChemE, BME) stand together at the Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research. (Photo: Safa Jinje)

U of T Engineering team designs new hydrogel that opens pathways to more targeted cancer treatments

The bio-inspired material enables lab-grown cells to emulate the complex processes found in the human body

Composite image of an ECG readout over image from pediatric ICU at SickKids. (Courtesy Laussen Labs)

Physiological earthquakes: Researchers aim to leverage experience in analyzing seismic data to predict cardiac events

Professor Sebastian Goodfellow (CivMin), in partnership with researchers at SickKids, aims to apply AI methods used in geology to the analysis of data from ECG scans

Professor Jeff Brook (Dalla Lana School of Public Health, ChemE). (Photo: Marit Mitchell)

‘Look after each other’: Professor Jeff Brook on the threat posed to cities by extreme heat – and how to respond

Extreme weather events have dominated the headlines this week as dangerous heat waves hit the United Kingdom, central United States and parts of Canada while fires rage in Spain, Portugal and Greece. The severe weather events that climate scientists have long predicted are now here and it will only get worse, says Professor Jeff Brook (Dalla Lana School of […]

Left: Fish such as tilapia can disperse and collect pigment granules in their skin to change their colour and shading. Right: An optofluidic cell created by U of T Engineering researchers achieves the same effect by mixing two immiscible fluids, one of which contains a dye. (Image credits: left, Richard Wheeler (licensed under Creative Commons); right, Raphael Kay.)

Dynamic building facades inspired by marine organisms could reduce heating, cooling and lighting costs

A U of T Engineering team used carefully controlled fluid injections to design active materials that can help reduce energy usage for buildings

This model heart ventricle, made with real living heart cells, beats strongly enough to pump fluid inside a tube. It can be used to study heart disease and test out potential therapies, without the need for invasive surgery. (Photo: Sargol Okhovatian)

Reverse engineering the heart: U of T Engineering team creates bioartificial left ventricle

U of T Engineering researchers have grown a small-scale model of a human left heart ventricle in the lab. The bioartificial tissue construct is made with living heart cells and beats strongly enough to pump fluid inside a bioreactor.  In the human heart, the left ventricle is the one that pumps freshly oxygenated blood into […]

ECE Professor Parham Aarabi has developed an artificial computer memory that mimics several properties of human recall, which could enhance artificial intelligence applications and support tools to help people with memory loss. (Photo: Eugene Mymrin/Getty Images)

ECE professor uses ‘fuzzy’ computer algorithms to help people with memory loss

Professor Parham Aarabi has set up a tool using a simple email-based interface to remind participants of important information based on algorithmic priority and a relevant index of keywords

mosquito in the dark on a vertical surface

Mosquito-repellent paint among five projects funded by CGEN seed grant program

Global Engineering Seed (GESeed) supports engineering projects that address major challenges to Indigenous populations and marginalized communities in the Global South