Pitt Bioengineering

Founded in 1998, Pitt's Dept of Bioengineering is nationally recognized for biomaterials, biomechanics, regenerative medicine & translational research.

[ABME @ABMEjournal]

Arthritis pain often persists because inflammation in affected joints can heighten the sensitivity of the nerves that carry pain signals.

To interrupt that nerve-sensitizing process, researchers used CRISPR-based epigenome editing to suppress an inflammatory receptor in nerve cells that serve the knee and jaw joints.

In lab models, the approach prevented osteoarthritis cartilage from heightening nerve sensitivity in knee-innervating neurons and substantially reduced sensitization-related responses in jaw-innervating neurons, although additional biological pathways appeared to contribute in the jaw. The findings also highlight that osteoarthritis pain is not driven by identical mechanisms across different joints.

Targeting the biological processes that amplify pain signals, rather than simply masking symptoms, may open the door to longer-lasting relief tailored to the affected joint.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: https://t.co/kRPSeRwTER

𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: CRISPR Epigenome Editing of IL1R1 Expression of Neurons that Innervate the Temporomandibular Joint or Knee Causes Reduced Sensitization to Osteoarthritic Environment

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Joshua D. Stover, Robby D. Bowles, @Yenisel_CruzA, Robert M. Caudle, Kyle D. Allen, REJOIN Consortium Investigators, and Alejandro J. Almarza

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𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: https://t.co/Gyz8DNneUg

[Swanson School of Engineering @PittEngineering]

Engineering in the 412 since 1846 - long before it was the 412.

[Swanson School of Engineering @PittEngineering]

A Pitt team led by Mostafa Bedewy (@PittMEMS) and Tracy Cui (@PittBioE) has developed a new manufacturing strategy that reveals where and how laser-induced graphene forms on polymers, opening new opportunities for flexible biosensors. https://t.co/iPy1gjvTCC

[Swanson School of Engineering @PittEngineering]

Our students shined at the Fall 2025 Design Expo, solving real-world industry problems collaboratively and creatively. Congratulations to all the teams for their amazing designs! https://t.co/Opebuj9UOa

[Pitt Neurosurgery @PittNeurosurg]

Great Good Morning America report on the ground breaking technological advancements at @PittTweet giving patients with spinal cord injuries ability to move. https://t.co/xnna6YPQRQ via @GMA @ABC @UPMC

[TVST Journal @ARVOtvst]

Jonathan P. Vande Geest @vandegeestLabH2P et al.
@PittEngineering utilize a two-photon fabrication technique to fabricate a model of the human lamina cribrosa (mLC) to scale.

[Swanson School of Engineering @PittEngineering]

What if the tiny vessels once blamed for aneurysm growth are also key to preventing a rupture? Pitt’s Anne Robertson will explore this question and share her recent research at Purdue University’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering on October 29. https://t.co/HYmi0XcQit

[Swanson School of Engineering @PittEngineering]

Congratulations to Amir Alavi! The National Institutes of Health awarded a $352,213 R21 grant to Alavi, Nitin Agarwal, and D. Kojo Hamilton to develop and test novel, wireless, metamaterial spinal implants in vivo. https://t.co/alJzTsl4ws

[Dan Shiwarski, Ph.D. @ShiwarskiLab]

First paper from @ShiwarskiLab at @PittVMI & @PittBioE in @PittDeptofMed and @Andrew_Hudson3D in Feinberg group @CMUEngineering on the cover of @ScienceAdvances! Check out our #FRESH #Bioprinting of perfusable scaffolds pancreatic tissue scaffolds. https://t.co/iBCdM4cEod

[Swanson School of Engineering @PittEngineering]

Congratulations to our newest Goldwater Scholar, Satyaj Bhargava, a @PittBioEjunior and @FrederickHonors scholar! https://t.co/XklhhqzpzY

[Swanson School of Engineering @PittEngineering]

Today we celebrate our 2025 @NSF Graduate Research Fellows! Heather M. Phillips (Engineering Science/@PittECE) and Katelin Rahn (@PittBioE), as well as alumna Annette Thompson (@ChemePitt)! Congratulations as well to our Honorable Mentions! https://t.co/xBPp8tRmUh

[Pitt Alumni Association @PittAlumni]

What if your startup failed right out of the gate? For @PittEngineering alum Blake Dubé, it led to a life-saving product now helping thousands of pets.

�� See how this Big Idea Competition winner went from campus research to global impact:https://t.co/qiQifraeaK

[Swanson School of Engineering @PittEngineering]

The numbers are out - and the Swanson School is ranked #24 among public graduate engineering programs by @usnews. https://t.co/b1QLh5zH5A

[Dr. Steve Little @think_little]

Excited to welcome @Joseph_DeSimone as our 2025 @covestro Distinguished Lecturer @ChemePitt @PittEngineering @PittTweet !

[Pitt Bioengineering @PittBioE]

Big news for @PittEngineering! Dr. Pratap Khanwilkar is back—this time leading Master’s Programs to shape the next generation of innovators. With 40+ years in medtech & startups, he's focusing on developing BioE grad students for success! https://t.co/VEXoNHUm5I

[Dr. Steve Little @think_little]

Congratulations to (now) Dr. @lizzyybentley on successfully defending her PhD Thesis from @PittBioE @PittTweet @PittEngineering . Kudos Lizzy!

[Office of the Dean, Swanson School of Engineering @PittEngrDean]

Congratulations to our @PittECE RK Mellon Chair Professor Fang Z Peng who today was elected to @theNAEng for "contributions to the development of high-power electronics technologies for advanced power grid control and energy conversion." https://t.co/wiXceEgV2g #H2P #NAE

[Pitt Bioengineering @PittBioE]

Shop now! https://t.co/Wu5QbV4WWu

[Pitt Bioengineering @PittBioE]

🛍️ Save the Date: BioE Pop-Up Store opens Jan 13!

Grab t-shirts, North Face jackets, sweatpants & more to rep BioE in style! 🎉

🗓️ Open: Jan 13–26
📦 Orders arrive in early Feb
🔗 Link drops next Monday – stay tuned!

[Pitt Bioengineering @PittBioE]

💡 Failure can be a powerful teacher, and Helen Schwerdt is diving into why! With a $2.5M NIH grant, her team is uncovering how dopamine shapes learning from rewards and punishments. 🧠🔬
Read more about this groundbreaking research: https://t.co/s70O2tTdu9

[Pitt Bioengineering @PittBioE]

Bioengineering Professionals - We want YOU at our Spring Career Fair! 💼

Come represent your company Thursday, February 14 (virtual) or Friday, February 15 (in person).

Register: https://t.co/hPljwnFXMk