Department of Biomedical Engineering launches with new name
Images of biomedical research at Virginia Tech, including students and faculty in labs.
The Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics has officially changed its name to the Department of Biomedical Engineering, effective Jan. 1.
For the department, part of the College of Engineering, the move reflects not only a more targeted academic focus, but alignment with peer institutions to match the structure of other biomedical engineering programs.
"The change in name reflects a departmental recommitment to our mission of advancing innovation, enhancing our student's experience, and continuing the life-changing research we've become known for," said department head Miguel Perez.
A clarified disciplinary identity
Created in 2015 through the merger of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Engineering Science Mechanics, the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics became the home for the burgeoning study of biomedical sciences, along with the foundational study of engineering mechanics.
The organization continued to evolve in 2024 as engineering mechanics migrated to the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Since then, Miguel Perez was named department head in the fall of 2025. The department has adopted a new strategic focus on the rapidly growing field of biomedical engineering, which encompasses a clear academic emphasis in support of preparing students as well as a commitment to innovation within the field.
Building on a strong foundation and collaborative environment
The department's name may be changing, but the impact of robust research in signature areas of strength in biomedical engineering remains strong — and growing.
The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, led by Department of Biomedical Engineering Professor Steve Rowson, recently released its first ratings for construction helmets and youth hockey helmets, the latest in its efforts to move the helmet industry to produce safer products.
Research on a type of focused ultrasound known as histotripsy by Associate Professor Eli Vlaisavljevich, Kendall and Laura Hendrick Junior Faculty Fellow in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, is being used to treat cancer in humans and animals.
Faculty and students are also exploring the impact of chemotherapy on the brain, the effects of athletic movement and injury on the body, and systems for making roadways safer.
Notable transdisciplinary partnerships include collaborations with:
The department also operates the School of Biomedical Sciences (SBES), a joint graduate program with Wake Forest University, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, offering master's, doctoral, and combination degrees at both universities.
Building on these relationships with meaningful research collaborations positions the Department of Biomedical Engineering to increase enrollment and solidify its reputation at the university and beyond.
“Health-related research and innovation is one of the college’s strategic growth areas and holds tremendous potential for societal impact,” said David Knight, interim dean of the College of Engineering. “Our biomedical engineering faculty collaborate across disciplines to improve lives in the commonwealth and beyond, and this focused identity strengthens our ability to attract top talent prepared to address today’s most pressing health challenges.”
