Can we leverage research being conducted in engineering and medicine to create commercially viable solutions?
Discover how cutting-edge research at the intersection of engineering and medicine is paving the way for innovative, market-ready solutions. This exploration highlights collaborative breakthroughs, transformative technologies, and the pathways that turn scientific advances into products and services with real-world impact. Learn how bridging these fields is not only accelerating progress but also creating opportunities to address pressing healthcare challenges and meet commercial demands.
Showcasing Innovation: Current Projects at the Intersection of Engineering and Medicine
A Portable Lifesaving Surgery Kit for Any Environment
Imagine needing urgent surgery in a remote wilderness or disaster zone, far from any hospital. The WildOR Kit, created by Texas A&M’s School of Engineering Medicine, is a compact, phone book-sized surgical pack that brings the operating room to the patient. With its ART system for tool stabilization and precise procedures, it enables everything from chest tubes to amputations—even in extreme, resource-limited settings. Lightweight, affordable, and easy to use, the WildOR Kit delivers critical care where traditional surgery isn’t possible, saving lives when every minute counts.
Learn MoreFaculty List
Lance Black, MD, MBID
Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine
Raksha Raghunathan, PhD
Houston Methodist
Jiho Shin, PhD
Texas A&M College of EngineeringNew Nanoparticle Technology from Texas A&M Aims to Prevent Nerve Injuries in Surgery
EnMed medical students are developing a nerve detection system to help surgeons avoid accidental nerve damage during operations—a major cause of chronic pain and loss of function. Their method uses iron oxide nanoparticles that bind to nerves and can be detected by MRI or magnetic probes, allowing real-time mapping even deep within tissue. This technology makes nerve mapping faster, more accurate, and widely accessible, promising fewer complications, better recovery, and safer surgeries for millions.
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Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine is redefining how the next generation of physician engineers tackles healthcare’s toughest challenges. Central to this mission is EnGen, a dynamic innovation incubator designed to empower students, faculty, and industry partners to bring transformative ideas to life.
Publications and Grants
Our interdisciplinary research merges clinical insights with cutting-edge engineering to address some of the most pressing healthcare challenges. We are committed to translating innovative ideas into real-world solutions that enhance patient care and shape the future of medicine. By sharing our latest studies and celebrating funded projects, we highlight our dedication to progress and the broader advancement of healthcare.
For medical students, learning neuroanatomy from a textbook is like trying to learn to drive from photographs; it’s technically accurate, but far from enough. The brain’s complexity demands more than flat images to truly learn it.
Designing medical prototypes that are small enough to operate within the human body—strong and precise enough for surgical use—poses a unique challenge. This challenge gets even more difficult when working with metals such as stainless steel and nitinol wire. Both are stiff and hard to manipulate, requiring special tools for bending, cutting, or shaping.
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are some of the most common and serious birth abnormalities worldwide. They often demand complex surgeries that require highly specialized training.
However, in many low-resource areas, access to hands-on surgical education is limited, making it difficult for local surgeons to acquire the skills needed to perform life-saving procedures.