Biomedical Engineering

Shriners Children’s to Establish Research Institute at Science Square

admin — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 12:58:49 +0000

Shriners Children’s to Establish Research Institute at Science Square admin Thu, 07/03/2025 - 08:58

Gov. Brian P. Kemp has announced a new world-renowned tenant for Science Square, signaling Georgia Tech's role in Atlanta and Georgia's expanding life sciences sector. According to the governor’s office, Shriners Children’s will establish a new pediatric medical research facility at Science Square, investing more than $153 million into the facility and creating 470 new jobs. The move by this nonprofit healthcare system, which has locations across North America and a global reach, shows the continued momentum in the region for this important area of research and development.

The Shriners Children’s Research Institute will be in Science Square Labs, positioned across from Georgia Tech’s North Avenue Research Area. The institute will serve as a multidisciplinary innovation hub focused on advancing healthcare for children. Areas of research will include cell and gene therapies, robotics, artificial intelligence, medical devices, biologics, and data informatics.

"Georgia Tech is excited to welcome Shriners Children’s to Science Square,” said Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera. “We developed Science Square to create a leading hub for life sciences research and innovation, and Shriners’ decision to be here will accelerate our progress to drive medical innovation, create high-impact jobs, and greatly strengthen Atlanta's thriving innovation ecosystem.”

Georgia Tech’s proximity and research strengths were key factors in the decision to locate the institute in Atlanta. The collaboration is expected to enhance the region’s growing reputation in life sciences and advanced research. Projected to be the largest tenant of Science Square, Shriners Children's would put the facility at 82% occupancy.

Shriners Children’s, founded in 1922 by members of the Shriners International fraternity, focuses on orthopedic and neuromuscular conditions, burn injuries, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, and cleft lip and palate. The organization also maintains a strong commitment to education and research. In 2024, Shriners Children’s served patients from all 50 U.S. states, every Canadian province, and 128 countries.

This news comes after Tech’s recent announcement regarding the move-in of about seven biomedical research labs into Science Square.

Science Square, a mixed-use development adjacent to Georgia Tech’s Midtown campus, continues to attract leading organizations in healthcare, technology, and research. The addition of Shriners Children’s further establishes the district as a hub for global innovation and community impact.

Subtitle

Governor’s office touts move that will create 470 new jobs.

Summary sentence

Shriners Children’s will open a $153 million pediatric medical research facility at Science Square, becoming the largest tenant in the development and contributing to Georgia Tech’s growing role in Atlanta’s life sciences sector.

Summary

Shriners Children’s will establish a new pediatric medical research facility at Science Square in Atlanta, investing more than $153 million into the project. Located across from Georgia Tech’s North Avenue Research Area, the facility will collaborate with Georgia Tech researchers and focus on advancing care in areas such as orthopedic and neuromuscular conditions, burn injuries, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, and cleft lip and palate.

Dateline

Thu, 07/03/2025 - 12:00

media@gatech.edu

Contact

Siobhan Rodriguez
Senior Media Relations Representative
Institute Communications

Keywords

Shriners Children’s

Georgia Tech

science square

pediatric research

medical research facility

atlanta

orthopedic conditions

neuromuscular conditions

spinal cord injury

burn injuries

cleft lip and palate

Biomedical Engineering

artificial intelligence

robotics

Gene Therapy

Medical Devices

biologics

data informatics

research collaboration

Life Sciences

healthcare innovation

research institute

North Avenue Research Area

investment

nonprofit healthcare

go-researchnews

News room topics

Campus and Community

Health and Medicine

Categories

Institute and Campus

Life Sciences and Biology

Research

Mercury ID

683000

Source updated

Thu, 07/03/2025 - 08:58

How New Information Triggers the Brain to Navigate Changing Environments

admin — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 15:54:41 +0000

How New Information Triggers the Brain to Navigate Changing Environments admin Tue, 06/24/2025 - 11:54

Stephanie Prince explains her research with a scenario many Atlantans can relate to.

Imagine you’re driving to the Atlanta airport to pick up a friend. They call to say they’re in the terminal — but they’re not sure which one. North, maybe? You head that direction through the maze of roads around the airport.

Then they call back. They’re actually in the South Terminal. So you make a quick mental adjustment and switch your route to arrive at the correct side of the airport.

You had a plan. You received new information. You quickly changed your destination.
The question Prince has studied is this: How does that process happen in the brain?

A new research paper in Nature Communications is offering insights into that decision-making. And it could help scientists as they work to better understand when brain disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s impair those processes.

Read the full story on the College of Engineering website.

Summary sentence

Biomedical engineers show how two brain regions quickly adapt to shift focus from one planned destination to another.

Summary

Biomedical engineers show how two brain regions quickly adapt to shift focus from one planned destination to another.

Dateline

Tue, 06/24/2025 - 12:00

jstewart@gatech.edu

Contact

Joshua Stewart
College of Engineering

Associated importer

Keywords

Annabelle Singer

Biomedical Engineering

go-researchnews

go-bio

go-neuro

News room topics

Health and Medicine

Categories

Research

Mercury ID

682871

Source updated

Tue, 06/24/2025 - 11:53

Georgia Tech Shines in 2025 ‘US News’ Graduate Program Rankings

admin — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 11:41:41 +0000

Georgia Tech Shines in 2025 ‘US News’ Graduate Program Rankings admin Tue, 04/08/2025 - 07:41

Georgia Institute of Technology has once again demonstrated its leadership and excellence in graduate education, as reflected in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report program rankings. The rankings highlight Georgia Tech's stellar performance across various disciplines, reaffirming its reputation as a first-rate institution.

Engineering Programs Remain Top Tier

In the realm of engineering, Georgia Tech continues to excel, with all programs holding top 10 spots. Industrial Engineering continues to lead the nation, holding first place. The Aerospace Engineering program maintained second place, tied with California Institute of Technology, while Biomedical Engineering also held steady at second place. Civil Engineering climbed to second place, tied with the University of California – Berkeley. Computer Engineering rose to fifth place, tied with the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign. Environmental Engineering moved up to fourth place, tied with the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor and Virginia Tech, while Chemical Engineering held its fifth place ranking. Mechanical Engineering remained in fifth place, tied with the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.

Business Programs Make Significant Moves

Georgia Tech's graduate business programs have seen significant advancements. The part-time MBA program jumped to 10th place, tied with Georgetown University (McDonough) and the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (Carlson). Production/Operations moved up to fifth place. Business Analytics climbed to third place. Information Systems remained strong at fifth place.

College of Computing Holds Top 10 Spots

The College of Computing also continues to excel, receiving top 10 rankings in multiple areas, including rising up to the sixth spot overall for computer science programs. Artificial Intelligence ranked sixth. Systems remained strong in fourth place, tied with Stanford University and the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign. These accolades underscore the College’s leadership in advancing research and developing cutting-edge curricula that prepare students for impactful careers in technology and innovation.

Public Affairs Programs Secure Top Recognition

Georgia Tech's public affairs programs from the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts have also maintained top 10 positions, with Information and Technology Management retaining second place and Environmental Policy and Management holding steady in eighth place.

*Please note that this summary includes the latest rankings issued by U.S. News & World Report for 2025. Not all Georgia Tech Colleges, Schools, and subjects are ranked every year by this organization.

Summary sentence

The advancements in various graduate programs highlight the dedication of Georgia Tech's faculty, students, and staff in achieving new academic heights.

Summary

These rankings reflect Georgia Tech's commitment to academic and research excellence. The advancements in various graduate programs highlight the dedication of Georgia Tech's faculty, students, and staff in achieving new academic heights.

Dateline

Tue, 04/08/2025 - 12:00

sar30@gatech.edu

Contact

Siobhan Rodriguez

Senior Media Relations Representative

Institute Communications

Associated importer

Keywords

Georgia Tech

US News Graduate Program Rankings

2026 rankings

Engineering programs

aerospace engineering

Biomedical Engineering

Civil Engineering

computer engineering

environmental engineering

industrial engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Business programs

Part-Time MBA

Production/Operations

Business Analytics

information systems

College of Computing

artificial intelligence

systems

Public Affairs programs

Information & Technology Management

Environmental Policy & Management

academic excellence

Research excellence

graduate education

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Education

Institute and Campus

Mercury ID

681650

Source updated

Tue, 04/08/2025 - 07:41

Growing Up at Georgia Tech

admin — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 15:52:41 +0000

Growing Up at Georgia Tech admin Fri, 04/26/2024 - 11:52

Many students meticulously plan their Commencement outfits, but Courtney Curtis sewed hers.

The Douglasville, Georgia, native got her first sewing machine when she was 9, taking inspiration from her seamstress grandmother. Despite sewing through her finger the first time she used the machine, Curtis kept at it.

"I am not someone who gives up or quits. If you sew through your finger once, that doesn't mean you'll do it again. Everything, whether it's a hobby or starting a new project, comes with a learning curve, and if I start something, I'm going to finish it," she said.

Around the time she started sewing, Curtis set foot on the Georgia Tech campus for the first time. Attending CEISMC events and K.I.D.S Club events, she remembers how expansive the 400-acre campus felt as a child. Over time, it became familiar as she returned often with her dad, who was earning a master's degree in civil engineering.

"When we were on campus with him, he would study in front of the same big tree on Tech Green. While he studied, I would do my homework, and that spot became one of my favorite study spots on campus," she said.

On one of her many weekend trips to campus as a high school student, she attended a biomedical engineering student panel and felt an instant connection to the program.

"As a high school sophomore, I listened to the panel talk about their experiences, what it meant to be in BME, and everything they do at Georgia Tech, and that was a primary reason why I gravitated toward it. I felt that it fit with who I was as a person, and in hindsight, getting my education here allowed me to pursue my passions," Curtis, a John Lewis Leadership Fellow, said.

After graduating, she will join Owens & Minor as an R&D product engineer focusing on medical apparel, combining her interests in sewing and helping others. Owens & Minor was the primary sponsor of Curtis' capstone project, in which her team created a more inclusive cleaning coverall.

"Unfortunately, the hoods currently used in cleaning coveralls don't accommodate the fact that people have heads and that those heads have hair. That was a glaring complaint we heard, especially from women who wear their hair in puffs or may have braids. Our coverall resolves that issue with an inclusive hood that covers your hair, keeps everything nice and sterile while you're working, and eliminates waste," she explained.

From the Flowers Invention Studio to the Salsa Club, Curtis will miss plenty of aspects of campus life, including one that she knows goes against the norm for most college students.

"I'm surprisingly going to miss the atmosphere and the vibes around final exams when everybody's super stressed and scrambling, and you see everyone cramming in the Library," she said.

When she crosses the Commencement stage, Curtis will be thinking of all those who helped her get to this point — her family, the Georgia Tech Society of Black Engineers, the Black Women’s Support Group, the Office of Minority Educational Development, and BME faculty members including James Blumling, Swati Gupta, Melissa Kemp, S. Balakrishna Pai, and Ankur Singh.

Subtitle

From K.I.D.S Club to the Commencement stage, Courtney Curtis prepares for the final step of her Georgia Tech journey.

Summary sentence

From K.I.D.S Club to the Commencement stage, Courtney Curtis prepares for the final step of her Georgia Tech journey.

Summary

From K.I.D.S Club to the Commencement stage, Courtney Curtis prepares for the final step of her Georgia Tech journey.

Dateline

Fri, 04/26/2024 - 12:00

Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu

Contact

Steven Gagliano - Institute Communications

Associated importer

Keywords

K.I.D.S. Club

Biomedical Engineering

CEISMC

Flowers Innovation Studio

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics

Community

Engineering

Student and Faculty

Mercury ID

674403

Source updated

Fri, 04/26/2024 - 11:51

BME Researchers Lead $24M Project Using mRNA to ‘Turn On’ Helpful Immune Responses

admin — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 15:26:31 +0000

BME Researchers Lead $24M Project Using mRNA to ‘Turn On’ Helpful Immune Responses admin Thu, 08/31/2023 - 11:26

President Joe Biden and the White House announced $24 million in support Aug. 23 for a team led by Georgia Tech and Emory University biomedical engineers who want to use mRNA to unlock new treatments for cancer and other chronic diseases.

Their project, called Curing the Uncurable via RNA-Encoded Immunogene Tuning (CUREIT), aims to use mRNA to essentially turn genes on or off in individual immune cells. The idea is to reverse the suppression or dysregulation of the immune system that is common in chronic diseases like cancer.

“By combining mRNA-encoded antigens with gene modulation technology, we will be able to radically enhance specific immune responses,” said Philip Santangelo, the project’s leader and a professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory. “This technology, which operates transiently without modifying DNA, can offer a potential breakthrough in treating cancers, autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases.”

Read the full story on the College of Engineering website.

Summary sentence

Philip Santangelo wants to build a toolbox of mRNA drugs to activate or shut off specific genes to help the immune system fight cancer and other disorders.

Summary

Philip Santangelo wants to build a toolbox of mRNA drugs to activate or shut off specific genes to help the immune system fight cancer and other disorders.

Dateline

Wed, 08/23/2023 - 12:00

jstewart@gatech.edu

Contact

Joshua Stewart
College of Engineering

Associated importer

Keywords

Philip Santangelo

Biomedical Engineering

mRNA

mRNA therapies

go-researchnews

News room topics

Health and Medicine

Categories

Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics

Engineering

Mercury ID

669157

Source updated

Thu, 08/31/2023 - 11:16

To Help Recover Balance, Robotic Exoskeletons Have to be Faster Than Human Reflexes

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 19:54:47 +0000

To Help Recover Balance, Robotic Exoskeletons Have to be Faster Than Human Reflexes admin Wed, 02/15/2023 - 14:54

Wearable robotics promise to help older people retain their mobility and paraplegic patients regain theirs. They could help make humans stronger and faster. But, so far, they’re not great at keeping people from falling.

Human balance is a complicated dance, and even the most advanced robots and wearables like robotic exoskeletons have trouble replicating how our brains and bodies work together to keep us upright. A new study from researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University is taking the first step toward addressing the balance problem.

In a paper published Feb. 15 in Science Robotics, the group showed an ankle exoskeleton must react faster than our bodies to improve balance. Participants didn’t recover any more quickly when the exoskeleton delayed applying power until the same time muscles in the leg and ankle activated to restore balance.

Read about the study on the College of Engineering website.

Summary sentence

Researchers at Georgia Tech and Emory found wearable ankle exoskeletons helped subjects improve standing balance only if they activated before muscles fired.

Summary

Researchers at Georgia Tech and Emory found wearable ankle exoskeletons helped subjects improve standing balance only if they activated before muscles fired.

Dateline

Wed, 02/15/2023 - 12:00

jstewart@gatech.edu

Contact

Joshua Stewart
College of Engineering

Location

Atlanta, GA

Associated importer

Keywords

cos-neuro

Greg Sawicki

Lena Ting

Biomedical Engineering

George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

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go-bio

go-irim

School of Biological Sciences

News room topics

Health and Medicine

Mercury ID

665803

Source updated

Wed, 02/15/2023 - 14:23

Biomedical Engineering

Shriners Children’s to Establish Research Institute at Science Square

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BME Researchers Lead $24M Project Using mRNA to ‘Turn On’ Helpful Immune Responses

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