BioE News – UC Berkeley Department of Bioengineering

In Memoriam: Prof. David Rempel

head and shoulders photo of Rempel, laughing

It is with great sadness that we recognize the passing of Dr. David Rempel, MD, MPH, CPE. A versatile expert in occupational health and long-time member of the Bioengineering Graduate Program, he was a Professor Emeritus of Medicine at UCSF and Bioengineering Berkeley. He will be missed.

How One Simple Change Can Make Lipid Nanoparticles Safer for Gene Editing and Other Applications

figure from the publication, drawings of an SNP with no cytokine release vs a traditional LNP with cytokine release

In a new paper out in Nature Nanotechnology, researchers in Niren Murthy’s lab show that there is a simple way to remove the toxicity of lipid nanoparticles while maintaining their ability to effectively deliver therapies to specific cells in the body.

Overton wins SCP Best Poster

Overton stands before her poster at conference

Congratulations to PhD student Maya Overton of Herr Lab, winner of Best Poster at the Single Cell Proteomics Conference (SCP2026)!

Aris and Lowet receive Jane Coffin Childs Fellowships

Congratulations to two postdoctoral scholars in BioE lab who have been named 2026 Jane Coffin Childs Fellows! The charitable fund supports brilliant postdoctoral fellows conducting fundamental research on cancer and human disease. Kevin Aris, PhD, works in Aaron Streets’ lab on tools to measure DNA supercoiling in living cells, to build a genome-wide map of DNA shape. Adam Lowet, PhD. works with Michael Yartsev to explore the computational and biological mechanisms underlying social decision-making in the Egyptian fruit bat.

Student Profile: Esha Ananth

Esha Ananth was selected for the 2026 Bioengineering Chair’s Award, which honors one graduating senior for their outstanding achievements in an area of personal passion, in addition to maintaining the highest academic performance. She graduated in May 2026 from the Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology (MET) Program, giving her dual degrees in Bioengineering and Business.

Student Profile: Chimkasinma Mbakwe

Congratulations to Chimkasinma Mbakwe, May 2026 graduate and recipient of the 2026 Bioengineering Service Award! This award recognizes one graduating senior for exceptional achievements and dedication to serving the community, in addition to maintaining high academic performance. An international student from Nigeria, Chimkasinma loves people, loves giving back, and found that bioengineering is where all…

Two new PhD CEND Fellows

round cropped head and shoulders photos of August and Maria

Congratulations to PhD students Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna and Maria Astolfi, both named to the 2026-27 cohort of CEND Fellows.

Banerjea and Krish named Goldwater Scholars!

Head and shoulders photos of Banerjea and Krish with text "New Goldwater Scholars"

Congratulations to undergraduate bioengineers Arul Banerjea and Devon Krish, both new recipients of the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. Banerjea is a double major in Bioengineering and Molecular & Cellular Biology, works in the Tjian-Darzacq lab on single-molecule imaging and live-cell assays for Rett syndrome, and devotes time to raising funds for children affected by…

Herr Lab and partners receive grant to study biology in time and space

Our researchers have received a new grant from the Biohub non-profit research organization, looking to advance the field of Spatiotemporal omics – the ability to sample biomolecules at different locations and times to watch disease processes unfold. Amy Herr and her UCSF partners Jennifer Rosenbluth and Amrita Basu will be studying integrated organoid systems for immunotherapy toxicity.

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