Where engineering meets medicine, scientists are using AI to decode Crohn's disease and bioinformatics to repair spinal cords.
The human body is one of the most complex systems in existence. For decades, engineering and medicine advanced on parallel but separate tracks—one dedicated to building and problem-solving, the other to healing and understanding life. The Institute of Engineering in Medicine (IEM) at UC San Diego was founded on the revolutionary idea that uniting these two fields could accelerate the journey from scientific discovery to real-world cures.
Established in 2008, the IEM was built upon UC San Diego's long-standing commitment to interdisciplinary research3 . Its mission is to "accelerate the discoveries of novel science and technology to enhance health care through teamwork between engineering and medicine"3 . By creating a framework where engineers and clinicians can collaborate seamlessly, the IEM facilitates the translation of innovative technologies from the lab bench to the patient's bedside. This article explores how this powerful synergy is not just advancing medicine, but fundamentally redefining what is possible in human health.
The IEM is not merely a building or a single department; it is a dynamic hub designed to break down the traditional silos between disciplines.
It connects the Jacobs School of Engineering with the School of Medicine, two institutions that have consistently ranked among the top 15 in the nation3 . This proximity and fostered collaboration are the lifeblood of the institute.
The Galvanizing Engineering in Medicine program promotes collaboration between engineers and physicians to develop new medical technologies5 .
This initiative funds faculty technology projects that address specific health-related needs within the community5 .
Programs like GEMINI promote diversity, equity, and inclusion through outreach and mentoring5 .
Accelerating the journey from laboratory discoveries to clinical applications and patient care.
The IEM creates a synergistic environment where engineering and medical expertise converge to solve complex health challenges.
The work at the IEM relies on a sophisticated arsenal of tools that blend biology with high technology.
| Research Solution | Function | Application Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bioinformatics | Uses computational tools to analyze complex biological data, such as genetic patterns4 . | Identifying existing drugs that can trigger neuronal regeneration4 . |
| Machine Learning/AI | Applies algorithms to find patterns in large datasets that are too complex for human analysis6 . | Decoding the genetic signature of different macrophage cells in Crohn's disease6 . |
| Neural Stem Cell Grafts | Uses stem cells to replace or repair damaged neurons in the nervous system4 . | Helping restore function after spinal cord injury in animal models4 . |
| Fluorescent Proteins | Protein tags that glow, allowing scientists to track and visualize biological processes in real-time. | Illuminating cancer growth, brain circuitry, and gene expression in living cells. |
| Advanced Brain Implants | Next-generation devices that record neural activity with high precision2 . | Developing new treatments for epilepsy, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's2 . |
Developing advanced interfaces between technology and the nervous system for treating neurological disorders.
Using genetic information to develop personalized treatments and understand disease mechanisms.
Applying artificial intelligence to analyze medical images and data for earlier and more accurate diagnoses.
One of the most compelling examples of the IEM's approach is a recent study that used artificial intelligence to crack a long-standing medical mystery.
For over two decades, since NOD2 was first linked to a heightened risk for Crohn's, scientists have debated its exact function. The IEM-led team developed a novel strategy that integrated AI with advanced molecular biology to finally provide an answer6 .
Researchers first used a powerful machine learning tool to analyze gene expression patterns from thousands of macrophages—critical immune cells in the gut—from both healthy colon tissue and tissue affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)6 .
The AI identified a specific signature of 53 genes that could reliably distinguish between inflammatory macrophages (which fight microbes) and non-inflammatory macrophages (which repair tissue)6 .
Among these 53 genes was one that codes for a protein called girdin. Further biochemical analysis revealed that in healthy states, the NOD2 protein binds to girdin, which promotes a balanced, tissue-repairing state in macrophages6 .
The team confirmed their findings using mouse models of Crohn's disease that lacked the girdin protein. These mice developed gut inflammation and often died from sepsis, mirroring the dangerous immune imbalance seen in the disease6 .
This breakthrough, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, was only possible through the convergence of AI, biochemistry, and genetics. It not only solves a 25-year-old debate but also opens the door to new treatments aimed at restoring the critical relationship between NOD2 and girdin6 .
The IEM's collaborative mission extends beyond the laboratory to education, ensuring that the next generation of scientists is trained in both engineering and medicine.
The Outreach Program for Advancing Learning in STEM (OPALS) offers high school students a 6-week internship to gain hands-on experience in a research laboratory. Interns learn to analyze experimental data and present their own research talk or poster5 .
The IEM also offers pre-college courses, such as "Fundamentals of Neurosciences," to introduce high school students to cutting-edge topics1 .
At the graduate level, the IEM administers prestigious awards like the Siebel Scholars program, which rewards academic excellence and leadership in bioengineering. These programs prepare Ph.D. students to become leaders at the intersection of technology and medicine5 .
Graduate students benefit from interdisciplinary mentorship, cutting-edge research facilities, and opportunities to translate their discoveries into clinical applications.
IEM Founded
Interdisciplinary Programs
Faculty Members
Students Trained Annually
The work happening at the IEM is a testament to the power of collaborative science.
From using bioinformatics to repurpose a drug for spinal cord injury4 to developing next-generation brain implants2 , the institute is consistently at the forefront of medical innovation.
Fields Involved: Bioinformatics, Neuroscience, Cell Biology
Potential Impact: Restored hand function in animal models; poised for clinical trials4 .
Fields Involved: Artificial Intelligence, Molecular Biology, Genetics
Potential Impact: New treatment strategies for a chronic autoimmune condition6 .
Fields Involved: Electrical Engineering, Neurology, Materials Science
Potential Impact: Improved treatments for epilepsy, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's2 .
Fields Involved: Chemical Engineering, Pharmacology, Neurology
Potential Impact: New drug candidate (CNDR-51997) in preclinical development2 .
The future of medicine lies not in a single discipline, but in the spaces between them. The Institute of Engineering in Medicine at UC San Diego has built a bridge across that space, creating an environment where a biologist's insight can guide an engineer's design, and an algorithm can reveal a secret of human biology. As this collaboration continues to deepen, it promises a new era of breakthroughs that will change lives and redefine health for generations to come.