On June 3, 2024, the inaugural Upstate New York MPS Symposium (UNY-MPSS 2024) was held at the University of Rochester. The event was a tremendous success, with nearly 100 attendees from over a dozen institutions from across Northeast America, including some representation from as far as the West Coast.

The symposium featured 5 lectures from invited guest speakers, 4 presentations from MPS trainees, 3 clinical problem workshops, STEM outreach panel session, and a poster session with over 30 abstract submissions received. Topics discussed included microphysiological systems, organoids, tissue engineering, biomaterials, sensors and diagnostics, and rigor/reproducibility for clinical applications. (UNY-MPSS 2024  Schedule) 

The entire event was planned, coordinated, and executed by BME student leaders (Kevin Ling, Azmeer Sharipol, Kaihua Chen, Joseph Bucukovski, Chiao Yun Chen, Isabelle Linares, Katie Daniel & Esteban Avendaño-Fernández), and volunteers from the Microphysiological Systems (MPS) Network group.  Motivated by their shared vision of a bigger and better MPS Network, they managed to raise over $3,000 from both academic and industry sponsors, and an additional $600 for exceptional oral and poster presentation awards.

Awards Recipients Exceptional Abstract Award Winners Aly March, University of Rochester Alisa Ugodnikov, University of Toronto Lily Takeuchi, University of Toronto Sadia Khan, Binghamton University   Exceptional Poster Presentation Award Winners Ana Strat, Upstate Medical University Kaihua Chen, University of Rochester Joe Bucukovski, University of Rochester

Microphysiological Systems Network 

The Microphysiological Systems Network exists for students studying and/or interested in learning about microphysiological systems (MPS). Members include students, technicians, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty from a litany of different departments including Biomedical Engineering, Pathology, Dermatology, Microbiology & Immunology, Material Science, Data Science, and more.  

The MPS Network and UNY-MPSS team would like to sincerely thank the following sponsors:

• • The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), UR
  • The Center for Musculoskeletal Research, URMC
  • SiMPore, Inc.
  • Emulate, Inc.
  • Aline, Inc.
  • The Translational Center for Barrier Microphysiological Systems (TraCe bMPS)
  • The Office of Graduate Education and Post-Doctoral Affairs for Arts, Sciences, and Engineering (GEPA), UR
  • The Department of Dermatology, URMC
  • The Greene Center for Career Education and Connections, UR
  • The Department of BME, RIT
  • The BME Graduate Student Council     

Related Links...

• UNY-MPSS Event Page 
  • 2024 UNY-MPSS Photo Gallery
  • 2024 Schedule (PDF)
• MPS Network 
  • LinkedIn
  • CCC page
• MPS Member LinkedIn Pages
  • Kevin Ling
  • Azmeer Sharipol
  • Kaihua Chen
  • Joseph Bucukovski
  • Chiao Yun Chen
  • Isabelle Linares
  • Katie Daniel
  • Esteban Avendaño-Fernández

• _{BME Department's social media accounts:}