Making Yourself Camera-Ready
A quick introduction to the do's and don'ts of giving a video message through news media or social media. Video is becoming the predominant form of human communication. We'll share a few quick pointers and then practice what we're learning. Sponsored by Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

AIMBE Leadership will provide an orientation about AIMBE, its programming and services, and mission. Learn about how candidates are nominated, reviewed, and elected to the College of Fellows. Meet new colleagues in the Class of 2026 and get insight on the induction ceremony. Sponsored by University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Join this dynamic AIMBE session and showcase your work in a rapid-fire format. Sign-up required to present. You'll have five minutes and one slide to introduce yourself, share your research, and showcase your impact on the field. This engaging event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with the AIMBE community, spark meaningful conversations, and expand your professional network. All Fellows are encouraged to attend. Co-sponsored by University of Florida, Biomedical Engineering and University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering, Bioengineering

• Cellular and Tissue Engineering: Moderated by Gulden Camci-Unal, Ph.D., UMASS Lowell
• Drug Delivery, Biotechnology, & Synthetic Biology: Moderated by Anita Shukla, Ph.D., Brown University
• Computational Bioengineering and Modeling, Medical Informatics, & Biosensors: Moderated by Sanjeev G. Shroff, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
• Biomaterials, Neural Engineering, & Molecular Engineering: Moderated by Ashley Brown, Ph.D., NC State & UNC Chapel Hill
• Imaging, Biosensors, & Biophotonics and Optics: Moderated by Shalini Prasad, Ph.D., University of Texas at Dallas
• Medical Devices: Moderated by John Zhang, Ph.D., John Y Zhang Consulting

Host hotel lobby

All Fellows are invited to advance medical and biological engineering and join us in the AIMBE President’s Circle. The President’s Circle is an exclusive group of AIMBE Fellows that voluntarily give a financial gift $250 or more to AIMBE’s mission. Join us at the historic Library of Congress for the invite-only President's Circle Reception. Bus transportation will depart from the host hotel lobby at 7 p.m. Sponsored by College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago. Special Guest: Rebecca M. Bergman, Retired Gustavus Adolphus College President and Medtronic Executive.

Presided by AIMBE Council of Societies Chair, Kristen Billiar, Ph.D.

Illuminating NIMHD Priorities on Minority Health and Health Disparities Research
Larissa Avilés-Santa, Ph.D, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), NIH
Panel: Lola Eniola-Adefeso, Ph.D., Daniel Gallego-Perez, Ph.D., Sharlene D. Newman, Ph.D.

Preparing for Public Engagement
What tools do you need and what problems do you have to solve to make an effective argument for your science in the public sphere?

Presided by AIMBE International Committee Co-Chairs, this session is open to all Fellows.

Each year, AIMBE will select ~20 emerging leaders who will be recognized during AIMBE’s Annual Meeting. Emerging leaders will have a unique opportunity to network and engage with AIMBE Fellows at the Annual Event and receive direct mentoring from current AIMBE Fellows.

AIMBE President Lola Eniola-Adefeso, Ph.D. will address the medical and biological priorities facing society and the Institute’s impact on these areas. College of Fellows Chair Stuart Cooper, Ph.D. will provide an overview of this year’s Annual Event.

Masters of the Scalpel: Gadgets, Engineering, and A Journey Through Space and Time from the Operating Room Table to the Laboratory Bench

Each year AIMBE hosts this most significant scientific lecture to kick off its Annual Event. See our previous Bakken Lecturers.

Cell and Gene Therapies Using MRNA
Moderator: Jeffrey Chalmers, Ph.D., Ohio State University
Jinjun Shi, Ph.D. Harvard University
Carrie D. Wolinetz, Ph.D., Lewis-Burke Associates

AI and Drug Targets for Therapeutics
Moderator: Samir Ghadiali, Ph.D., Ohio State University
Cesar de la Fuente Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Annie Saha, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Non-Animal Models (NAMs)
Moderator: Danielle Benoit, Ph.D., University of Oregon
Melissa Skala, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin–Madison
Nicole Kleinstreuer, Ph.D., National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Presided by AIMBE Academic Council Chair, Raj Rao, Ph.D., University of Arkansas. This session is open to all Fellows.
Sponsored by University of Arkansas Biomedical Engineering.
Speaker: Kate Hudson, JD, Association of American Universities

Presided by AIMBE Industry Council Chair, Utkan Demirci, Ph.D., Medtronic. This session is open to all Fellows.
Panel:
Shalini Prasad, Ph.D., University of Texas at Dallas
Sammy Datwani, Ph.D., Prisma
Kelly Coleman, Ph.D., Medtronic
Grace Colón, Ph.D., OmniPulse Biosciences

Sponsored by Department of Bioengineering at the University of Texas at Dallas

Sponsored by Marshall University, Biomedical Engineering

One of the highlights of each year’s event is AIMBE’s Award Banquet and the presentation of the Pierre Galletti Award and Professional Impact Awards.
Master of Ceremonies, Walt Baxter, Ph.D., Medtronic
Co-sponsored by Department of Bioengineering and George R. Brown School of Engineering, Rice University

Sponsored by Boston University Biomedical Engineering

Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Shaping the Future of Federal Research Policy: Funding, Infrastructure, and Innovation
Kelvin K. Droegemeier Ph.D., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Former White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Engineering Influence: Advancing Biomedical Innovation Through Policy

Inductees find their assigned seats for the Induction Ceremony

AIMBE Fellows 2026 Induction Ceremony
The highlight of each year’s Annual Event is the ceremony inducting the newest members of the College of Fellows. The Class of 2026 were peer-nominated, peer-reviewed, and peer-elected and now join a prestigious group of the most accomplished medical and biological engineers. Sponsored by Florida International University Department of Biomedical Engineering