News & Events: Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering

Your skin is breathing. This new wearable device can measure it.

April 2025 First wearable device to gauge health by sensing gases coming from, going into skin

from Northwestern Now

Novel ‘Scaffolding’ Biomaterial Improves Bladder Regeneration and Function

January 2025 A team of Northwestern scientists has developed an electroactive “scaffolding” material that improves bladder tissue regeneration and organ function better than current techniques, as detailed in a recent study published in Nature Communications.

from Northwestern Medicine News Center

Applewhite Receives Travel Award at BMES CMB Conference

January 2025 Brandon Applewhite was one of six postdoctoral researchers who received travel funding to present at the conference

CITREPORE Synthetic Bioactive Bone Void Filler Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance

November 2024 Biomaterial technology developed in Ameer Lab to receive FDA clearance for bone regeneration

Guillermo Ameer to Receive Percy L. Julian Award

September 2024 The award is for significant contributions in pure and/or applied research in science or engineering

from McCormick Engineering News

Bladder buzz: technologies to improve bladder surgery and monitoring

June 2024 Studies evaluating bioresorbable scaffold and bioelectronic sensor show promise in animal models NIH Science Highlights, June 25, 2024

from National Institute of Health

Xinlong Wang Receives Ryan Family Research Acceleration Fund Award

June 2024 Strategic seed funding aims to propel projects with high-impact societal potential

from Engineering News

3D Printing and Citrate Biomaterials Could Allow Dissolvable Stents

June 2024 Professors Guillermo Ameer and Cheng Sun developed a stent showing similar efficacy to commercial versions

from Engineering News

Antioxidant Gel Preserves Islet Function after Pancreas Removal

June 2024 New approach could enable patients to live pain-free without complications of diabetes

from Engineering News

Smart Bandages That Heal Wounds Faster and Talk to Your Doctor Are on the Way

May 2024 Researchers are working on bandages that allow remote monitoring and deliver treatment with zaps of light or electricity From the Wall Street Journal

from Wall Street Journal

Sensor monitors bladder fullness

April 2024 With NIH support, Drs. Guillermo Ameer, John Rogers, and Arun Sharma have developed a biodegradable sensor for simple, ongoing bladder function monitoring following surgery (Story on NIH Website)

from National Institute of Health

Urinary Implant Helps Alert When Patients 'Gotta Go'

March 2024 New soft, flexible, battery-free implant co-developed at CARE helps patience with illness-related urinary incontinence (External Article Link: US News and World Report)

from US News and World Report

Gotta Go? New Bladder Device Lets You Know

March 2024 Implant and app enables patients to monitor bladder function

from Engineering News

Developing citrate-based biomaterials: an interview with Guillermo Ameer

February 2024 Speaking with RegMedNet, Professor Ameer discusses the development, translation, and widespread adoption of the citrate-based biomaterials his lab has developed, upcoming projects, and his commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in regenerative medicine

from RegMedNet

Taylor Brown receives AHA fellowship

January 2024 Fourth-year PhD student and Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering’s T32 Regenerative Engineering Training Program “graduate” Taylor Brown received an American Heart Association Predoctoral fellowship for 2 years for her project titled “Effects of sympathetic nerve signaling on vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype during vascular graft remodeling.” She will continue working with her T32 mentors, Drs. Bin Jiang and Mark Eskandari on this project. Congratulations Taylor!

Guillermo A. Ameer Elected a Biomaterials Science and Engineering Fellow

December 2023 With his election, Ameer joins a group of fewer than 500 biomaterials scientists worldwide

from Engineering News

‘Super Melanin’ Heals Skin Injuries from Sunburn, Chemical Burns

November 2023 Synthetic cream also protects skin from sun damage

from Engineering News

Ameer, CARE Alumni Honored at BMES Annual Meeting

October 2023 Ameer received the Athanasiou Medal, Jian Yang the Wallace H Coulter Award, and Eun Ji Chung was recognized as a BMES Fellow

Ameer Wins BMES Athanasiou Medal of Excellence in Translational Bioengineering

October 2023 The medal honors an individual who has made contributions to the field with particular focus on translation

from Engineering News

Acuitive Technologies Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for CITRELOCK DUO

September 2023 CITRELOCK DUO is a new sports medicine fixation device for biceps tenodesis and tendon transfer procedures

from Acuitive Technologies Press Release

Ameer Wins 2023 Excellence in Biomaterials Science Award

August 2023 The award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the science of biomaterials

from Engineering News

CARE Highlighted on Cover of Biomaterials Forum

July 2023 The First Quarter 2023 edition of the newsletter features the the center and its work

from Biomaterials Forum

Acuitive Technologies Launches New Tendon Fixation Device for Sports Medicine

July 2023 This marks the first commercial use of the biomaterial technology, developed by Professor Guillermo Ameer, in a fixation device for knee surgery

from Yahoo Finance

Designing Surfaces to Improve Bone Grafts

June 2023 New research demonstrates a concept to create more bone

from Engineering News

House of Wellness Segment Highlights Ameer Lab Electronic Bandage

May 2023 In an interview with Guillermo Ameer, the Australian TV program touched on the bandage's effects, the target audience, and the next steps for the project

Guillermo Ameer Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

April 2023 Three members of the Northwestern Engineering faculty have been elected members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies.

from Northwestern Engineering

Northwestern Engineering Leads at AIMBE Annual Meeting

March 2023 AIMBE Chair of the College of Fellows Guillermo Ameer honored with organization's Professional Impact Award for Leadership at AIMBE Annual Meeting

from Engineering News

Using electricity to treat wounds

February 2023 Many people with diabetes can develop wounds that are difficult to heal, and in severe cases can lead to amputation. Some new research from Northwestern University applies electricity to the wounds, which has shown to speed up the healing process. To learn more about these new "electronic bandages," Radio Active's science columnist, Torah Kachur, is here

from CBC Radio- Radio Active

Debuta primer vendaje electrónico que acelera la cicatrización

February 2023 El nuevo vendaje ofrece una promesa a pacientes diabéticos que se ocupan de úlceras

from digitaltrends ES

First transient electronic bandage speeds healing by 30%

February 2023 Bandage also monitors the healing process, alerting clinicians to issues in real time

from Northwestern Now

Repair, Regrow, Regenerate

February 2023 Scientists and engineers unlock the body’s healing powers.

from Northwestern Magazine

B1G Broadcasts Highlight Ameer Lab's Diabetic Wound-Healing Bandage

February 2023 The segment is currently being broadcast during Northwestern basketball games

RE-Practice School Partner Dimension Inx Completes Series A Round

February 2023 The $12 million raised will be used to expand the company's research and manufacturing capabilities related to organ restoration therapeutics

Stryker launches Citrefix Suture Anchor System

December 2022 Stryker announced the launch of Citrefix, a suture anchor system for foot and ankle surgical procedures. The new system uses Citregen, an award-winning bioresorbable material designed to mimic the chemistry and structure of native bone.

from Society for Biomaterials

Ameer, Cao Named 2022 Researchers to Know

November 2022 Annual list compiled by the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition spotlights state leaders in innovation

from Engineering News

Recent PhD Graduate from Ameer Lab Has Paper Selected as Cover Article for Nano Select, October 2022

October 2022 Samantha Huddleston's paper “Azo polymerization of citrate-based biomaterial-ceramic composites at physiological temperatures” is featured on the cover of the most recent issue of Nano Select and discusses her work in the development and material characterization of a thermoresponsive, degradable bone cement.

from Nano Select, Wiley Online Library

Dr. Yonghui Ding Awarded NIBIB Grant

August 2022 The grant supports research in bioprinted scaffolds

Ameer Wins 2022 Innovation Commercialization Award

July 2022 The award recognizes the application of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine that benefits patients

from Engineering News

Ameer Wins 2022 Bioactive Materials Lifetime Achievement Award

May 2022 The honor recognizes excellence in research and development in the field of bioactive materials

from Engineering News

Researching the disease I live with every day

March 2022 Living with Type 1 diabetes put Jacqueline Burke on a path to success

from Northwestern Now

Guillermo Ameer Receives Global Biomaterials Leadership Award

March 2022 The recognition comes courtesy of the Chinese Association for Biomaterials

Ameer Receives Technology Innovation and Development Award

January 2022 The Society for Biomaterials honored Ameer for his development of Citregen biomaterial technology.

Nanotherapy offers new hope for the treatment of Type 1 diabetes

January 2022 Researchers have opened new paths to islet transplantation by using nanoparticles to deliver immunosuppressive drug regimen

from Northwestern Now

T32 Grant for CARE One of First in Field of Regenerative Engineering

January 2022 RE-Training is designed to educate the next generation of regenerative engineers

from Engineering News

John Rogers Receives Prestigious Washington Award

January 2022 The award is conferred annually upon an engineer whose attainments have promoted the well-being of humanity

from Engineering News

Congratulations to Guillermo Ameer for His Election to the National Academy of Medicine

October 2021 National Academy of Medicine Elects 100 New Members

CARE Affiliated Faculty Jonathan Rivnay Receives DARPA Funding for Implantable 'living pharmacy'

May 2021 Implantable ‘living pharmacy’ could control body’s sleep/wake cycles Project receives DARPA contract worth up to $33 million over four-and-a-half years

from Northwestern Now

Ameer Named Fellow of Materials Research Society

April 2021 Northwestern Engineering’s Guillermo A. Ameer has been named a fellow of the Materials Research Society for his contributions to regenerative engineering through pioneering work developing antioxidant citrate-based polymers that are useful for musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, dermal, and urological applications, rendering them enabling technologies to improve health.

from Northwestern Engineering

Ameer Named 2021 Honoree, Academy of Distinguished Chemical Engineers

March 2021 Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering Director, Guillermo Ameer, has been named a 2021 Honoree in the Academy of Distinguished Chemical Engineers at the University of Texas at Austin, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering. He received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and his doctoral degree in chemical and biomedical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Academy of Distinguished Chemical Engineers, established in 2017, recognizes alumni, faculty and friends of the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering. Considered the highest honor bestowed by the department, Academy honorees have provided leadership and technical contributions that have helped transform economies, improved quality of life and benefited society. The Academy and its members also support the department in preparing and empowering the next generation of world-class engineers to go out and change the world.

Ameer Receives Clemson Award

December 2020 Northwestern Engineering’s Guillermo Ameer has been named the recipient of the 2021 Clemson Award for Contributions to the Literature from the Society for Biomaterials. The Clemson Award for Contributions to the Literature is given to someone who has made significant contributions to the literature on the science or technology of biomaterials. The importance of the contributions is evidenced by systematic publications in technical journals, significant critical analyses and/or reviews, frequent citations and referencing of the contributions by independent writers, and/or the publication of major works.

from McCormick Engineering News

Acuitive Technologies, CARE's partner in new tendon interface screw system, receives FDA clearance

October 2020 Read details about this milestone for CARE and Acuitive Technologies as covered by Financial Times.

from Financial Times

Medical device created in CARE receives FDA clearance

October 2020 The Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering, led by its director Guillermo Ameer, has pioneered an innovative orthopedic medical device fabricated from a novel biomaterial, and has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in surgeries to attach soft tissue grafts to bone.

from Northwestern News

Two professors named to National Academy of Inventors

December 2019 Guillermo Ameer and Sir Fraser Stoddart are among 167 new fellows in the 2019 class

from Northwestern Now

John Rogers Elected to the National Academy of Medicine

October 2019 Rogers becomes one of only 25 people ever to be named to all three National Academies

from Northwestern Engineering

Guillermo Ameer receives University’s annual Walder Award

June 2019 Guillermo Ameer receives University’s annual Walder Award: Regenerative engineering pioneer recognized for research excellence

from Northwestern Now

Dr. Bin Jiang awarded a Transformational Project Award

May 2019 Dr. Bin Jiang received a Transformational Project Award from the American Heart Association for her project titled “Autologous Vascular Regeneration for Peripheral Artery Disease Patients.” Congratulations, Dr. Jiang!

Yonghui Ding to discuss Design and 3D printing of Hydrogels

April 2019 Younghui Ding to present a talk about his work in the design and manufacturing of hydrogels for engineering vascular tissue models.

Dr. Bin Jiang received a Career Development Award

March 2019 Dr. Bin Jiang received a Career Development Award from the American Heart Association for her project titled “Restoring vascular endothelial functions for diabetic patients with peripheral artery disease.” Congratulations, Dr. Jiang!

Jonathan Rivnay named Sloan Research Fellow

February 2019 Northwestern Engineering’s Jonathan Rivnay has been awarded a prestigious 2019 Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

from Northwestern Engineering

CARE Research in the News

January 2019 Care research pertaining to regenerative dressing was recently highlighted on international TV.

Professor Jian Yang elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors

December 2018 The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has named Jian Yang, professor of biomedical engineering, as an NAI Fellow. Election to NAI Fellow status is the highest professional distinction accorded to academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.

Guillermo Ameer elected as a 2018 fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

November 2018 Three Northwestern University faculty members have been elected 2018 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society. Guillermo Ameer, Jian Cao and Frederic Rasio have been recognized for their distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. They will be honored on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the 2019 AAAS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

from Northwestern Now

Xinlong Wang awarded Postdoctroal Fellowship

November 2018 Post-doc Xinlong Wang was awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship by the American Heart Association. Congratulations Xinlong!

Honors: Guillermo Ameer presented the Key to Panama City

October 2018 Northwestern Engineering’s Guillermo Ameer, a pioneer in the field of regenerative engineering, was presented the Key to Panama City, Panama, by Vice Mayor Raisa Banfield last week. The event was covered by Telemetro, a national Spanish-language television network based in Panama City.

from Northwestern Engineering

Guillermo Ameer awarded EFRI grant for Chromatin Engineering Research

September 2018 Professor Guillermo Ameer, Daniel Hale Williams Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Surgery and director of the Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering (CARE), has been awarded an EFRI grant from the NSF for his research studying chromatin as it relates to regenerative engineering. Ameer said, “New knowledge on how we regulate chromatin structure could help create new strategies for tissue regeneration. The EFRI grant that was awarded through CARE will enable us to study how to prevent further scarring in the heart after a heart attack and possibly how to promote the regeneration of healthy heart tissue.”

from Northwestern Engineering

CARE's research cited in Nature Reviews Endocrinology

July 2018 CARE's research cited in Nature Reviews Endocrinology regarding wound healing in diabetics

from Nature Reviews Endocrinology

Shape-conforming Bandage Accelerates Healing in Diabetic Wounds

July 2018 For a person with diabetes, every wound is a potential health concern. Ignoring a cut or not treating it the right way can slow healing, lead to infection and, in the worst cases, result in amputation. A new liquid bandage that conforms to the shape of a wound may offer a solution. Developed by a Northwestern University team to treat hard-to-heal diabetic sores and wounds, the bandage leverages the body's own healing mechanisms, rather than releasing drugs or biologics. Once applied and exposed to body temperature, the liquid rapidly solidifies into a gel, ensuring that it fills the space of the wound and stays put.