Robust Research Funding at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Leads to Breakthroughs

When it comes to research the University of Minnesota has a lot going for it. Their 4,000 faculty include members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine, as well as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. U of M ranks 8th among public universities in research spending, with more than $870 million spent annually. In 2016, over $243M of that research funding was awarded by the National Institute of Health.

(Image courtesy of August Schwerdfeger via Wikimedia Commons)

Life Science Research Breakthroughs at UMinn: 

• Their medicinal chemists developed Ziagen, one of the most effective AIDS drugs.
• Their medical staff pioneered the first open-heart surgery and first pancreas and human bone marrow transplants.
• In 2016 biomedical engineers pioneered a noninvasive way for people to control robots with their minds. 

This latest cutting edge technology has the potential to help millions of people who are paralyzed or have neurodegenerative diseases. Lead researcher on the study, Dr. Bin He, professor of biomedical engineering at the U of M stated in an article for the UMN news site that, “This is the first time in the world that people can operate a robotic arm to reach and grasp objects in a complex 3D environment using only their thoughts without a brain implant…Just by imagining moving their arms, they were able to move the robotic arm.”

Dr. He’s research was funded in part by several grants from the National Institute of Health totaling over $1.5M.  In this particular study, eight healthy human subjects were able to control a robotic arm to pick up objects in a fixed location successfully 80% of the time. They were then able to move the objects from the table to a three-level shelf more than 70% of the time. The subjects did this by utilizing a noninvasive technique that records weak electrical activity of the subjects’ brain through a specialized, high-tech EEG cap fitted with 64 electrodes and converts the “thoughts” into action by advanced signal processing and machine learning.

Professor He serves as director of U of M’s Institute for Engineering in Medicine and Center for Neuroengineering. He anticipates this research project will continue until 2021. The next step will be to further develop the brain-computer interface technology with the goal of realizing a brain-controlled robotic prosthetic limb attached to a person’s body.

University of Minnesota’s 2016 NIH Funding Stats:

Lab Suppliers Meet with U of M Researchers at Bioresearch Product Faire: 

During the first 90 days of 2017, NIH awards to UMinn total over $44M. $40M went to 112 different research project grants.  The researchers for these studies require the latest in innovative laboratory equipment and supplies.

Those wishing to sell lab equipment and supplies should plan on attending the 17tth Annual BioResearch Product Faire™ event at the University of Minnesota. This event will be held on Thursday, May 4th, 2017. It is an excellent opportunity to meet face to face with the U of M scientist and discuss their needs and educate them about your products. 

For more information on how to increase your lab product sales in 2017 by displaying at this event call (530) 272-6675 or click on the link below:

Life science professionals are invited to attend this on campus bioresearch product faire for free. Click the button below for additional information or to pre-register.