On March 11, UCI hosted a groundbreaking Joint Faculty Research Retreat, collaborating for the first time between the Samueli School of Engineering and the School of Medicine. Themed “Advancing the Frontiers,” the event aimed to foster thrilling partnerships and inspire future collaborations in medicine and engineering.

The day’s program kicked off with insightful talks from Engineering Dean Magnus Egerstedt and School of Medicine Dean Michael J. Stamos, setting an ambitious tone for the retreat by highlighting current achievements and future aspirations for their respective schools. A highlight was the keynote address by Bruce Tromberg, director of the NIH’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, emphasizing the power of collaborative innovation in tackling healthcare challenges.

Attendees engaged in a variety of activities, from an icebreaking exercise to exploring resource tables packed with information from across campus to attending in-depth scientific presentations on topics like neurorehabilitation, brain-computer interfaces, and rapid antibody evolution. These sessions underscored the transformative potential of merging engineering and medicine.

Breakout sessions delved into critical themes such as funding opportunities across schools, accelerating research from the laboratory to the marketplace, and educational strategies in a changing environment. A reflective town hall with Deans Stamos and Egerstedt, along with faculty members from both schools, wrapped up the discussions, reiterating the retreat’s success in laying the groundwork for future interdisciplinary innovations.

Read more on the UC Irvine Samueli School of Engineering website.