On July 18, 2025, Dr. Elliot Botvinck’s Bio-Engineering of Advanced Mechanical Systems (BEAMS) laboratory was selected by the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) to participate in a technology demonstration during the Congressional Tour of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB).  The event welcomed more than 56 congressional staff members to the NIH, where they observed cutting-edge technology demonstrations presented by NIBIB grantees. Staff members also toured laboratories of NIBIB intramural researchers to learn about groundbreaking biomedical research advancements supported by the Institute.

The BEAMS laboratory demonstration was led by Senior Scientist Dr. John Weidling alongside PhD students Toni Wilkinson and Emma Caudill.   The team presented their LifeStrip multi-analyte continuous sensor through a comprehensive large-scale demonstration of its operation, complimented by video microscopy to showcase the device’s remarkably compact size.

During the presentation, the team emphasized the multidisciplinary expertise essential for pioneering this technology and accelerating research efforts toward clinical studies.  They highlighted how each expert represented in their collaborative network (featured in the outer ring of the diagram) had completed more than 10 years of rigorous education and training, including earning PhD degrees.  These achievements have traditionally been supported by NIH and NIBIB funding.  The presentation illustrated how advancements across individual scientific fields (featured in the inner ring of the diagram) converged to develop this technology and demonstrated the project’s broader impact on the work of other investigators and companies.  The team also addressed the technology’s potential to create U.S. manufacturing jobs, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance patient care outcomes.

The BEAMS laboratory joined demonstrations from other prestigious institutions during the AIMBE Congressional Tour, including Carnegie Mellon University, The University of Chicago, and Boston University; as well as presentations from NIBIB’s Advanced Imaging and Microscopy (AIM) resource and the Center for Biomedical Engineering Technology Acceleration (BETA Center).

Click here to learn more about the AIMBE Congressional Tour om the NIBIB website.

Click here to visit the Bio-Engineering of Advanced Mechanical Systems (BEAMS) laboratory website.

Author: Gabrielle Comfort