Engineering

We develop programmable therapeutic platforms that combine biomaterials, vesicle engineering, cell-free systems, synthetic biology, and design-build-test-learn workflows. The platforms are translated to address urgent needs in various biomedical fields, including biomanufacturing, immunotherapy, chronic disease therapy, and regeneration.

UC Davis is launching the AggieBrain Initiative—an interdisciplinary effort that brings together expertise from UC Davis Health’s Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the UC Davis College of Engineering. Our goal is to modernize and accelerate how neurodegenerative diseases that cause dementia are identified, measured, and studied. This includes Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal degeneration, and mixed-etiology dementia.

The Bioastronautics and eXploration Systems (BXS) Laboratory at the UC Davis Center for Space Flight Research (CSFR) is a hub of innovative research dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of human adaptation to space environments. Led by Assistant Professor Richard Whittle, the lab is at the forefront of addressing the challenges posed by the physiological changes induced by space travel.

The CoMIT project is testing the impact of fortified bouillon use, compared to that of control bouillon, on micronutrient status among women and young children in northern Ghana in a randomized, controlled trial. The project is also assessing the effective coverage, costs, cost-efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of this new micronutrient delivery vehicle vis à-vis other (traditional) vehicles and micronutrient programs at national and regional levels.

The Global South Center for Clean Transportation at the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies supports advancement of clean transportation and energy transitions in developing countries.

We are a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers working to advance tissue optical imaging and spectroscopic technologies to the frontline of clinical practice. We develop optical imaging tools—like fluorescence lifetime imaging and Raman spectroscopy—for label-free, real-time tissue diagnostics. Focusing on gastrointestinal health, our lab bridges engineering and medicine to improve the detection of colorectal inflammation and cancer.

The Advanced Materials Characterization and Testing (AMCaT) Laboratory is a multidisciplinary facility located in Kemper Hall that supports a wide variety of materials characterization tools for hard and soft materials. Access to the AMCaT laboratory is based on hourly recharge fees that vary depending on the equipment or service. Our professional staff is also available for consultations and design assistance for projects being carried out in the laboratory. These services can be used by both UC Davis researchers and off-site customers. 

Our mission is to advance agricultural safety and health through applied research and Extension activities focused on engineering solutions for injury prevention and the protection of farmers. We address critical issues in agricultural incidents by collaborating with researchers across the U.S. and with global partners from several countries. With funding from state and federal agencies and partnerships with multiple research centers, our work emphasizes practical innovations that enhance safety and well-being for those in the agricultural sector.

Seeking design and/or fabrication services? Whether your project is simple or complex, you've found your destination for expert support and state-of-the-art prototyping hardware access. Your project need not be in the biomedical field—we welcome projects from any discipline.