The first ever Engineering and Medicine Joint Symposium brought together some of UCLA’s brightest minds from the fields of engineering and medicine to showcase transformative research and foster powerful new collaborations. Hosted jointly by the David Geffen School of Medicine and the Henry Samueli School of Engineering on April 22nd from 8:30 AM- 4:00 PM in Geffen Hall B36, the event was designed to break down disciplinary barriers and accelerate cross-campus innovation.
The day began with breakfast and registration, followed by welcoming remarks from Professors Song Li (Bioengineering) and Linda Demer (Medicine), who set the tone for a day focused on translational impact and scientific synergy. Deans Steven Dubinett (Medicine) and Alissa Park (Engineering) delivered opening remarks, highlighting the strategic importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to UCLA’s research mission.
The symposium featured three keynote sessions that spanned breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, immunotherapy, and biotechnology:
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Virtual Staining of Label-free Tissue Using AI
Dr. Aydogan Ozcan and Dr. Philip Scumpia showcased a revolutionary AI-driven imaging technique that eliminates the need for chemical stains, offering faster and more scalable diagnostic workflows. -
Function-first Discovery of T Cell Receptors for Engineered Cell Therapies
Dr. Dino Di Carlo and Dr. Owen Witte shared a novel approach for identifying TCRs optimized for next-generation cell therapies, with implications for cancer and infectious diseases. -
Next-Generation CAR-T Cell Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Dr. Sarah Larson and Dr. Yvonne Chen presented new advancements in CAR-T design, aiming to improve treatment response and durability for blood cancers.
The sessions also included special remarks from leaders of major research centers, including Dr. Thomas Rando (BSCRC) and Dr. Michael Teitell (JCCC), reinforcing UCLA’s integrated approach to scientific discovery.
Midday programming transitioned to a vibrant speed networking session, fostering new interdisciplinary relationships. During lunch, attendees joined roundtable discussions to brainstorm research ideas and funding strategies.
In a special moment, Dr. Dino Di Carlo honored the late Keith Terasaki, recognizing his enduring contributions to biomedical research and his legacy of mentorship and philanthropy.
The afternoon featured Lightning Talks, moderated by Dr. Song Li, where early-career researchers presented bold, high-impact concepts across fields such as synthetic biology, neural engineering, and regenerative medicine. In his closing remarks, Dr. Dino Di Carlo emphasized the importance of continued interdisciplinary engagement, calling on the UCLA community to stay curious, collaborative, and courageous in addressing the world’s most complex health challenges.
Below is a gallery of the event!
