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.

When seeded with heart cells, the flexible polymer scaffold contracts with a regular rhythm, just like real heart tissue. (Image: Boyang Zhang)

‘Person-on-a-chip’ — U of T engineers create lab-grown heart and liver tissue for drug testing and more

Professor Milica Radisic and her team have developed unique methods for manufacturing small, intricate scaffolds for individual cells to grow on

Tangy the personal assistive robot (credit: Liz Do).

Meet three robots engineered at U of T that could improve — or save — your life

Group of international journalists visits Mechanical & Industrial Engineering labs to learn about U of T Engineering research in robotics and automation

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The past, present and future of flight: Q & A with Professor David Zingg

From the rise of drones to the push for greener planes, the world of aeronautics and space has changed dramatically in the past decade, and Professor David Zingg has had a front-row seat

Brian Mech (UTIAS PhD 9T7) is the CEO of eSight, a Toronto-based company that builds wearable devices that restore nearly normal vision to people with a wide range of sight-damaging conditions. (photo courtesy: Brian Mech)

Brian Mech: Artificial vision pioneer

Brian Mech is a U of T Engineering alumnus and CEO of eSight, a Toronto-based company that builds wearable devices which restore nearly normal vision to people with a wide range of sight-damaging conditions.

Three innovative startups from U of T Engineering students are leveraging modern technology to address important challenges in the healthcare industry.

Three health-focused student startups

Three U of T Engineering startups — MedTek Devices, Pillsy and MedChart — are addressing important challenges, from managing medical information to detecting falls among the elderly.

Professor Milica Radisic (IBBME, ChemE) and her team grow heart cells outside the body. The technology could help pharmaceutical companies detect negative side effects in drugs. It is being commercialized by TARA Biosystems, a New York City-based company co-founded by Radisic. (Photo: NSERC)

Lab-grown heart cells to improve drug safety

A company co-founded by Professor Milica Radisic (IBBME, ChemE) is helping pharmaceutical companies detect negative side effects in drugs by testing them on lab-grown tissues.

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The link between air quality and human health

When it comes to air quality, most people think car exhaust, industrial emissions and smog pose the biggest dangers. But Professor Jeffrey Siegel says it’s the environment inside our homes and offices that should concern us most.

Professor Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng (IBBME, ECE) researches ways to improve MRI scans, which could allow for earlier cancer detection or accelerate the development of personalized medicine. (Photo: Roberta Baker)

Smarter scans could detect cancer earlier

Professor Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng was working as an electrical engineer in the aerospace and defence industry when she had an epiphany: she realized the signal-processing techniques she was using to improve radar for remote sensing could also enhance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Professor Eric Diller (MIE) and his team build tiny robots that could eventually be used inside the human body to improve drug delivery, surgery and other medical procedures. (Photo: Tyler Irving)

Tiny, swimming robots could improve surgery

Professor Eric Diller (MIE) and his team build miniature robots designed to be used inside the human body.