UC San Diego’s New Bioengineering Labs Open Doors for Student Innovation

UC San Diego's Revolutionary Bioengineering Labs Transform Student Innovation with Cutting-Edge CRISPR and Tissue Engineering Capabilities

New 3,100-square-foot facility creates first-of-its-kind integrated workflow for medical device development in UC system

By Claude Anthropic

When bioengineering students at the University of California San Diego step into their newly opened instructional laboratories this fall, they enter more than just renovated classrooms—they walk into the future of biomedical innovation. The Bioengineering Instructional Lab, a state-of-the-art 3,100-square-foot facility housed in Powell-Focht Bioengineering Hall, represents a paradigm shift in how universities prepare the next generation of bioengineers to tackle humanity's most pressing health challenges.

A Revolutionary Integration of Design and Discovery

The facility's revolutionary design addresses a fundamental limitation in traditional bioengineering education: the artificial separation between theoretical learning and practical application. "Together, the two labs form a seamless pipeline where students can design a medical device in one space, test it with living cells in the culture room, and validate it in vivo," explains Adam Engler, professor and chair of the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering and holder of the Kenneth Bowles Endowed Chair. "This integrated workflow is the first of its kind in the UC system. Nowhere else in the UC system can a student accomplish this all in one place, on one floor."

The facility comprises two complementary spaces that mirror the modern bioengineering research pipeline. The Instructional Biotech Core Laboratory serves as the nerve center for undergraduate courses including Chemical & Molecular Bioengineering Techniques (BENG 160) and Biotechnology Laboratory (BENG 162), as well as the graduate-level Tissue Engineering Laboratory (BENG 277/BIOM 287). This space features 20 movable and reconfigurable benches designed specifically for biological experiments, along with dedicated rooms for cell and tissue culture, cold storage, and laboratory supplies.

Adjacent to the core laboratory, the BioElectronics and Innovation Laboratory functions as a high-tech workshop where students transform theoretical concepts into tangible medical devices. Equipped with 3D printers, electronics assembly stations, soldering areas, and precision power tools, the space provides every tool necessary for students to envision, prototype, and refine bioengineering solutions.

Modern Techniques for Contemporary Challenges

The new laboratories reflect the dramatic evolution of bioengineering education over the past two decades. "The lab experiments of today look nothing like those of 20 years ago," Engler notes. "Our students sequence DNA and RNA, perform CRISPR screens, create instruments to measure electrical activity in cells and so much more. This modern facility enables that training, and as our field advances, so too will this lab space—we built it recognizing the need to prepare for tomorrow's experiments today."

This forward-thinking approach directly addresses the needs of San Diego's booming biotechnology sector. Recent developments in gene editing have made CRISPR technology increasingly sophisticated. UC San Diego researchers have been at the forefront of these advances, with faculty like Prashant Mali helping pioneer CRISPR/Cas9 development and recent breakthroughs in small nuclear RNA base editing showing promise as safer alternatives to traditional CRISPR methods.

The timing couldn't be more crucial. As bioengineering Professor Kiana Aran's recent recognition with the Sony Women in Technology Award demonstrates, UC San Diego researchers are making breakthrough discoveries in CRISPR quality control—work that directly supports the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Her company, CRISPR QC, exemplifies how university research translates into commercial applications that improve gene therapy precision and reproducibility.

Training the Next Generation of Innovators

The facility's impact extends far beyond undergraduate coursework. With capacity to train more than 400 students annually, the laboratories also host summer programs for high school students through UC San Diego's Division of Extended Studies and the California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS). This pipeline approach ensures that students gain exposure to cutting-edge bioengineering techniques from an early age.

"This is now a space where we can feel as though it is made for us," says Kate Reimold, a rising senior majoring in Bioengineering: Biotechnology and president of UC San Diego's chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society. "Until now, bioengineering students have relied on campus makerspaces that felt more geared toward other engineering majors. This new lab removes so many barriers and opens up new doors for us."

The emphasis on student-centered design reflects broader trends in bioengineering education. Faculty members like Alyssa Taylor, who coordinates the senior design program and teaches bioinstrumentation, emphasize how the expanded capabilities will enable more ambitious interdisciplinary projects. "This will enable the interdisciplinary student projects that create solutions for life and health—developing skills they can carry into internships, research lab experiences, graduate education and careers," Taylor explains.

A Legacy of Innovation Continues

The new facilities honor the department's rich heritage while positioning it for future breakthroughs. Named the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering following a transformative $25 million gift from biotechnology entrepreneur Gene Lay, the department celebrates the contributions of two pioneering figures who helped establish bioengineering as a distinct discipline.

Shu Chien, who served as the founding chair of the Department of Bioengineering at UC San Diego in 1994, made groundbreaking contributions to mechanobiology—the study of how mechanical and physical forces affect living tissues. His work laid the foundation for understanding how blood flow regulates cardiovascular system function, directly relevant to preventing heart attacks and strokes. Gene Lay, founder and CEO of San Diego-based BioLegend (acquired by PerkinElmer in 2021), represents the entrepreneurial spirit that transforms academic discoveries into life-changing therapies.

Research Excellence Drives Innovation

The department's research excellence provides the scientific foundation for this educational transformation. UC San Diego bioengineering faculty include ten highly cited researchers whose work spans from genome sequencing technologies to nanomedicine. Kun Zhang develops ultra-accurate single-cell sequencing technologies that create 3D digital maps of human organs. Rob Knight leads groundbreaking research on the human microbiome, while Ludmil Alexandrov pioneered the discovery of mutational signatures in cancers linked to specific environmental exposures.

This research directly informs the laboratory curriculum. Students learn CRISPR techniques in facilities where faculty are simultaneously developing next-generation gene editing technologies. They study tissue engineering in spaces equipped for the kind of advanced biomaterial research conducted by faculty like Adam Engler, whose lab investigates how extracellular matrix properties influence cell behavior in cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Recent publications highlight the department's cutting-edge work. Studies on small nuclear RNA base editing published in Nature Chemical Biology demonstrate safer alternatives to traditional CRISPR methods. Research on hydrogels for treating genitourinary syndrome of menopause, published in Advanced Materials, showcases the department's commitment to addressing diverse health challenges. Collaborative studies with the Salk Institute on childhood malnutrition in Malawi exemplify the global reach of UC San Diego bioengineering research.

Strategic Investment in the Future

The laboratory project represents a substantial investment in bioengineering education infrastructure. Generous support from alumni and friends enabled the creation of named spaces throughout the facility, including the Peter and Annie Chen Collaboration Hub, the Robert Sah Instructional Support Room, the Nathan and Taylor Klarer Family Teaching and Learning Office, and the Edna Chow & Daniel C. Maneval Instructional Support Room.

Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla and Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth H. Simmons emphasized during the ribbon-cutting ceremony that the scale, flexibility, and capabilities of the laboratories will fundamentally change how UC San Diego educates bioengineering students. "In these new facilities, we will train the innovation workforce that powers the biotech economy of tomorrow," noted Albert P. Pisano, Dean of the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.

Looking Forward

As bioengineering continues to evolve at the intersection of biology, engineering, and medicine, UC San Diego's new laboratories position students to lead the next wave of biomedical innovation. The facility's modular design ensures adaptability as new technologies emerge, while its integrated approach to device design, biological testing, and validation provides students with comprehensive training in modern bioengineering practice.

The impact extends beyond individual student success. As these graduates enter the biotechnology and medical device industries, they carry with them hands-on experience with the latest techniques in CRISPR gene editing, tissue engineering, bioelectronics, and device prototyping. This practical knowledge, combined with UC San Diego's tradition of research excellence, positions them to address challenges ranging from personalized medicine to global health disparities.

The opening of these laboratories marks not just a milestone for UC San Diego, but a significant advancement in bioengineering education nationwide. As other institutions observe this integrated approach to training bioengineers, the model may well influence how universities worldwide prepare students for careers in biotechnology and biomedical engineering.

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Sources

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11. UC San Diego’s New Bioengineering Labs Open Doors for Student Innovation