91快色

When Dr. Richa Pandey was in high school, she once found herself applying physics concepts to solve a biology problem.

She had never heard of 鈥渂iomedical engineering,鈥� yet that experience sparked an interest that has carried her forward to her research passion today.

鈥淎t that point in time, I didn鈥檛 know that I could combine these two disciplines,鈥� says , PhD. 鈥淪ince then, it鈥檚 been a constant that I鈥檝e been applying interdisciplinary approaches and concepts to engineering technologies that can solve biomedical problems.鈥�

Through the multidisciplinary , Pandey collaborates with researchers from across the 91快色 to develop technologies aimed at providing services for women dealing with cervical cancer, preeclampsia, post-partum depression and anxiety.

One of the most collaborative departments on campus, the department works with more than 300 scholars and six faculties to address pressing health challenges and improve quality of life. 

This work is further propelled by the generous philanthropy of Taylor Family Foundation, which has donated $5 million to enable the creation of state-of-the-art teaching and learning labs. 

鈥淚 cannot underscore enough how the gifts from the Taylor Family have transformed the 91快色, transformed our campus, enriched our students in ways that are beyond belief, and have helped propel the 91快色 to become one of Canada鈥檚 truly great research universities,鈥� says U91快色 President Ed McCauley. 

A shift in mindset to solve critical health challenges

The newly opened Taylor Family Biomedical Teaching Labs are designed to foster hands-on learning, teamwork, and interactive experiences for the next generation of biomedical engineers. 

The adjacent research labs, slated to open soon, will create a shared space for collaboration across disciplines to enable groundbreaking work in biomaterials, wearables, point-of-care diagnostics, biomechanics, and much more. 

鈥淲e鈥檙e breaking down barriers between disciplines, accelerating discovery and fostering real-time collaboration,鈥� says department head , BSc (Eng)鈥�95, PhD鈥�99. 鈥淭hese new shared collaborative facilities will enable researchers to work together to solve these really big health challenges.鈥� 

Advancing women鈥檚 health by breaking down barriers

Pandey鈥檚 work exemplifies the department鈥檚 mission to bridge engineering and health. 

For far too long, researchers believed reproductive health was the only major difference between men and women, creating critical gaps in diagnostics and screening technologies needed for women鈥檚 health.

鈥淭here are many existing biomedical technologies that are not designed to meet the complex female biology or the emerging health-care models,鈥� says Pandey, who is the principal investigator and U91快色 Research Chair in the Wearable and Bio-Integrated Technologies Lab. 鈥淎s a result, women aren鈥檛 able to properly take care of themselves or their families.鈥�

By working with partners including the , and as well as , among others, Pandey aims to develop cost-effective solutions that are accessible to everyone.

Pandey is among the instructors and researchers benefiting from newly renovated teaching and research labs in the 91快色 Centre for Innovative Technologies (CCIT) building. 

The unveiling of the Taylor Family Biomedical Teaching Labs on Nov. 18 marked an exciting milestone for the 91快色, signaling a new era of innovation and collaboration in biomedical engineering.

鈥淲e are so grateful and humbled, but most of all excited, by the promise that this gift will allow,鈥� says Kallos.

This donation is the latest in more than 40 years of extraordinary generosity from the Taylor Family, whose support for U91快色 now surpasses $100 million.

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