During the EnMed Student Innovation Symposium on June 28, Dr. Alessandro Grattoni, the Frank J. and Jean Raymond Centennial Chair Professor of Nanomedicine at Houston Methodist Hospital, announced the first recipients of the Craig Brown and Suzanne Smith & Frank and Jean Raymond Engineering Medicine Capstone Innovator Awards. Recipients of the capstone awards will work under the mentorship of faculty at Texas A&M University and the Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI).
“Capstone innovation projects address medical needs that have been identified by research investigators at the HMRI who may also be in collaboration with Texas A&M faculty,” said Dr. Michael Moreno, associate professor in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M and director of innovation for EnMed. “Students are required to complete innovation immersion experiences like the capstone projects to fill their EnMed innovation portfolios, the program deliverable for the Master of Engineering degree.”
In addition, students were informed that next year there will be a $5,000 award for each team member or individual selected for the most outstanding capstone project and an additional $5,000 award for the most outstanding faculty mentor.
Capstone project awardees
- Madeline Franke, EnMed class of 2024, was selected for her project, “Antisense Oligonucleotide-based Therapies for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis.”
- Cailin O’Connell, EnMed class of 2023, was selected for her project, “Metalloprotease Sensitive Nanoparticles in Early Ovarian Cancer Detection.”
- Johnny McMurray, EnMed class of 2024, was selected for his project, “Cellular Delivery of mRNA Using a Novel Electroporation Platform.”
- Ashmi Patel, EnMed class of 2023, was selected for her project, “Creation of RNA-Enhanced Scaffolds for Wound Healing.”
- Zachary Richards, EnMed class of 2023, was selected for his project, “A Slit Lamp Biomicroscope for Every Patient: An Inclusive Redesign.”