Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering

Engineering the Future of Medicine

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A glucose monitor is pictured on a white background.

September 28, 2020

Johns Hopkins researchers develop system for using everyday glucose monitors to detect COVID-19 antibodies

A trio of Johns Hopkins scientists—a pharmacologist, a biomedical engineer, and a biophysicist—are pooling their knowledge to design a device that can detect whether a person has antibodies linked to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

An artist rendering of sepsis under a microscope.

September 24, 2020

Septic shock starts earlier than understood and develops distinct levels of patient risk, study suggests

A new study from Johns Hopkins biomedical engineers finds that hospitals could categorize patients based on risk and develop early monitoring systems to detect early stages of septic shock.

September 10, 2020

New genetic analysis method could advance personal genomics

Geneticists could identify the causes of disorders that currently go undiagnosed if standard practices for collecting individual genetic information were expanded to capture more variants that researchers can now decipher.

A woman is resting her head on her desk with a cup of coffee in her hand.

August 26, 2020

Got fatigue? Study further pinpoints brain regions that may control it

Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine using MRI scans and computer modeling say they have further pinpointed areas of the human brain that regulate efforts to deal with fatigue.

The graphic representing the Johns Hopkins solution to imaging scan problems from metal implants.

Johns Hopkins researchers solve imaging scan problems caused by metal implants

Engineers at Johns Hopkins have solved the problem of distorted imaging scans that plague surgeons who need to use them to assess the placement of metal implants.

Scientists use nanoparticle-delivered gene therapy to inhibit blinding eye disease in rodents

In experiments in rats and mice, two Johns Hopkins scientists — an engineer and an ophthalmologist — report the successful use of nanoparticles to deliver gene therapy for blinding eye disease.

The image shows a drawing of the COVID-19 virus and an arrow.

SARS-CoV-2 is mutating slowly, and that’s a good thing

Johns Hopkins scientists studying the virus that causes COVID-19 say the pathogen has few variations, a promising observation that boosts the chances of developing an effective vaccine.

Dialysate Bag Almost Filled from Dialysis Machine

Johns Hopkins team develops new method to make kidney dialysis fluid for patients with COVID-19

A team of researchers and students at Johns Hopkins are working to replenish the diminishing reserve of kidney dialysis fluid to help those with acute kidney injury, including COVID-19 patients who develop the disorder.

The photo shows a microscope image representing a virus amongst red blood cells.

Researchers urge clinical trial of blood pressure drug to prevent lethal complication of COVID-19

Johns Hopkins researchers report they have identified a drug treatment that could—if given early enough—potentially reduce the risk of death from the most serious complication of COVID-19, also known as SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A computer image shows numbers and a drawing of a person to represent the concept of machine learning.

Johns Hopkins researchers to use machine learning to predict heart damage in COVID-19 victims

Johns Hopkins researchers recently received a $195,000 Rapid Response Research grant from the National Science Foundation to, using machine learning, identify which COVID-19 patients are at risk of adverse cardiac events such as heart failure, sustained abnormal heartbeats, heart attacks, cardiogenic shock and death.

Gene variant in noncoding DNA linked to heart failure

When scientists scour the genome for disease-causing culprits, they wouldn’t ordinarily look in so-called noncoding regions, areas of repetitive DNA that do not code for proteins. Yet, that’s exactly where Johns Hopkins scientists found genomic variations in a new study of people with heart failure.

A microscope view of a red blood cell coated nanoparticle.

Researchers create nanoparticle with ‘look and feel’ of red blood cells to soak up toxins

Johns Hopkins biomedical engineer Jordan Green and his colleagues have developed a nanoparticle that has the shape and “skin” of red blood cells. The red blood cell mimics can be injected into the bloodstream and circulate within vessels for long periods to absorb toxic substances.

A red circular image shows many parts that make up MemoSYS.

Scientists develop free computer program to map blood flow ‘landscape’ in tumors

Johns Hopkins researchers have created a computer program for scientists at no charge that lets users readily quantify the structural and functional changes in the blood flow networks feeding tumors.

A rocket ship blasts off with text overlay reading, "Heart cells are going on a trip..."

Little tissue, big mission: Beating heart tissues to ride aboard the ISS

Launching no earlier than March 6, Johns Hopkins University will send heart muscle tissues, contained in a specially-designed tissue chip the size of a small cellphone, up to the microgravity environment of the International Space Station for one month of observation.

A microscopic image of the nanoparticles used in the study.

February 26, 2020

Nanosize device ‘uncloaks’ cancer cells in mice and reveals them to the immune system

Scientists at Johns Hopkins report they have designed and successfully tested an experimental, super small package able to deliver molecular signals that tag implanted human cancer cells in mice and make them visible for destruction by the animals' immune systems. The new method was developed, say the researchers, to deliver an immune system "uncloaking" device directly to cancer cells.

A nanopore sequencer is shown on a black background.

February 25, 2020

CRISPR gene cuts may offer new way to chart human genome

In search of new ways to sequence human genomes and read critical alterations in DNA, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have successfully used the gene cutting tool CRISPR to make cuts in DNA around lengthy tumor genes, which can be used to collect sequence information.

The image shows green and blue blobs as seen through a microscope.

December 9, 2019

Little Size Holds Big Impact: Johns Hopkins Scientists Develop Nanocontainer to Ship Titan-Size Gene Therapies and Drugs Into Cells

Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine report they have created a tiny, nanosize container that can slip inside cells and deliver protein-based medicines and gene therapies of any size — even hefty ones attached to the gene-editing tool called CRISPR.

August 19, 2019

Personalized simulations lead to more accurate, successful treatment for common heart rhythm disorder

Natalia Trayanova and other scientists at Johns Hopkins have successfully created personalized digital replicas of the upper chambers of the heart and used them to guide the precise treatment of patients suffering from persistent irregular heartbeats. These simulations accurately identified where clinicians need to destroy tissue to restore the heart’s normal rhythm.

Test shown to improve accuracy in identifying precancerous pancreatic cysts

In a proof-of-concept study, an international scientific team led by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers has shown that a laboratory test using artificial intelligence tools has the potential to more accurately sort out which people with pancreatic cysts will go on to develop pancreatic cancers.

A snapshot in time: Study captures fleeting genetic mutations that can alter disease risk

A study examines stem cells as they differentiate into heart muscle cells, finding that small, fleeting genetic mutations can affect disease risk over time.

Drug crystals to prevent medical device fibrosis

Working with researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Joshua Doloff has devised a new way to prevent medical device fibrosis.

The image shows a sketch of a human head and brain.

Brain changes linked with Alzheimer’s years before symptoms appear

In a records review of 290 people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, scientists at Johns Hopkins say they have identified an average level of biological and anatomical brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease that occur three to 10 years — some even more than 30 years — before the disease’s first recognizable symptoms appear.

maps of tumors grown in mice.

‘Google Maps’ for cancer: Image-based computer model reveals finer details of tumor blood flow behavior

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers develop an image-based computer model of tumor behavior that captures more of the complexity of cancer growth.

A computer image comparing the sizes of different plant genomes.

Johns Hopkins teams up with U.C. Davis and Save the Redwoods League to sequence the first coast redwood genome

Steven Salzberg, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University, collaborated with researchers from the University of California, Davis and Save the Redwoods League to successfully sequence the coast redwood and giant sequoia genomes.

Scientists advance creation of ‘artificial lymph node’ to fight cancer, other diseases

In a proof-of-principle study in mice, PhD candidate John Hickey and scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine report the creation of a specialized gel that acts like a lymph node to successfully activate and multiply cancer-fighting immune system T-cells.

After returning from space, astronaut has no lingering, major epigenetic differences from earthbound twin brother

In a landmark study, a group of U.S. scientists from Johns Hopkins, Stanford University and other institutions has found no long-lasting, major differences between the epigenomes of astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent a year in space aboard the International Space Station, and his twin brother, Mark, who remained on Earth.

Experimental drug delivers one-two punch to vision loss

In studies with lab-grown human cells and in mice, Aleksander Popel and other Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have found that an experimental drug may be twice as good at fighting vision loss as previously thought.

Three different images of the brain are showed from the mini microscope.

Mini microscope is the new GoPro for studies of brain disease in living mice

Working with mice, a team of Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers has developed a relatively inexpensive, portable mini microscope that could improve scientists’ ability to image the effects of cancer, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions in the brains of living and active mice over time.

February 6, 2019

New computer program reduces spine surgery errors linked to “wrong level” labeling

Researchers at Johns Hopkins report that a computer program they designed may help surgeons identify and label spinal segments during real time operating room procedures and avoid the costly and potentially debilitating consequences of operating on the wrong segment.

January 16, 2019

Study defines differences among brain neurons that coincide with psychiatric conditions

In a new study focusing on four regions of normal human brain tissue, Johns Hopkins scientists have found about 13,000 regions of epigenetic differences between neurons in different brain regions that vary by at least 10 percent.

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