Department of Biomedical Engineering
Cornell makes important contrubitions to the world from translational research: bringing discoveries from academia to the communities where they can improve lives. This contribution is a driving force for the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME).
BME research and techniques provide the basis to give hope to patients fighting illnesses and to those who seek better lives following acute injuries.
Within the next 5 years the department aims to become the recognized leader in cellular imaging and micro-and nanobiotechnology. The department also expects to be among the top 10 BME departments in biomaterials and drug delivery; molecular, cellular, and tissue engineering; and soft tissue biomechanics.
Collaborating with physicians at Weill Cornell Medical College and other clinical settings nationwide, BME’s faculty develop artificial organs and tissues, tiny molecules that deliver drugs to diseases cells, better surgical techniques, and imaging technologies that offer new ways of seeing the mechanisms underlying disease.
Thanks to Weill Hall, the department is housed in one building for the first time—allowing even more collaboration as well as access to specialized low-vibration spaces in the basement, for delicate imaging and instrumentation.
Types of Support
Cornell welcomes gifts of all sizes. Select named opportunities are described below.
BME excellence fund: gifts of any size
Gift of all sizes are welcome for this current-use discretionary fund. The fund provides immediate support for a wide range of needs, such as the cost of teaching laboratory operations, visiting speaker honoraria, MEng projects, and undergraduate research.
Faculty excellence fund: $500,000 or more
Named, endowed funds help BME recruit and retain outstanding faculty by supplying a secure, permanent resource for supporting and rewarding their work.
Named professorships: $3 million or more
Ten years ago, there were fewer than 40 BME departments in American universities. Today there are more than 100. Nine of the top 10 engineering schools have departments of biomedical engineering. The result of this growth is intense competition for the best faculty and graduate students. Endowed professorships are an important tool for recruiting and rewarding the best faculty.
Named lectureships: $1 million or more
As demand for undergraduate BME courses increases, the department must ensure that the best possible teachers are delivering these important introductory courses. Named, endowed lectureships will help make that possible.
Graduate fellowships: $100,000 and up for a partial fellowship; $1 million for a full fellowship
BME aims to be able to offer an endowed fellowship to all first-year PhD students in order to attract the strongest students and offer them focused learning and research experiences.
Laboratory and office space in Weill Hall: variable gift sizes
BME is one of three primary tenants in the newly opened Joan and Sanford I. Weill Hall. There are a variety of naming opportunities for the department in the building.
To discuss support for BME, contact Jim Mazza '88.