Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University
The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering uses biological design principles to develop new engineering innovations that will transform medicine and create a more sustainable world. At the Wyss Institute, we leverage recent insights into how Nature builds, controls and manufactures to develop new engineering innovations - a new field of research we call Biologically Inspired Engineering. By emulating biological principles of self assembly, organization and regulation, we are developing disruptive technology solutions for healthcare, energy, architecture, robotics, and manufacturing, which are translated into commercial products and therapies through formation of new startups and corporate alliances.
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University
201 Brookline Ave. Boston, MA 02215
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University is currently seeking investment
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University is seeking a investment in the range of
What We Do
Molecular biomarkers hold great promise for diagnosing diseases at earlier, more treatable stages, but their full potential has not yet been realized. We are changing that by combining powerful biological, chemical, engineering, and computational tools to create novel diagnostics that can detect biomarkers down to the single-molecule level, both in the lab and at the point-of-care. Some of these technologies are developed in partnership with Brigham and Women's Hospital through the Wyss Diagnostics Accelerator.
We are using a multifaceted strategy to advance the development of better therapeutics and the discovery of new ones, using diverse approaches including predictive bioanalytics, machine learning, synthetic biology, and new preclinical models like human Organ Chips.
The future of medicine is inextricably linked with broad-ranging technological innovations. From biological materials to medical devices to new approaches in regenerative medicine, we are developing cutting-edge technologies to redefine healthcare by tackling urgent in-hospital, at-home, and point-of-care needs.
We leverage insights into how Nature builds to develop world-changing technologies and get them to market to help address the mounting challenges confronting the health our planet. By emulating biological principles, we are applying our successful innovation model to develop disruptive solutions to decarbonize industries, protect and restore biodiversity, mitigate the damaging effects of climate change, and repair our planet to make it habitable for future generations.
Women experience disease, manifest symptoms, and respond to drugs differently than men, yet research into women’s health remains deprioritized, underfunded, and sidelined. The Women's Health Catalyst at the Wyss Institute was founded to support the research and innovation addressing critical gaps in therapeutics, diagnostics, and medical devices for women’s healthcare. The Wyss Institute leads with 15+ years of translational research excellence, and now, the Women’s Health Catalyst is channeling our ambitious community to develop the solutions that will improve women’s health in the near-term. We’re focused on diseases that are unique to women, affect them disproportionally, or differently. Groundbreaking advances are not distant goals; they’re within reach when we break down silos and work collaboratively.
Application Area
Show More (3)Medical Devices
Drugs
Regenerative Medicine
Key People
News & Updates
Harvard holds 5,322 patents as of July 1, 2023, showcasing its commitment to innovation and research.
Protein-based nanoparticles can effectively deliver DNA, RNA, proteins, and gene editors directly into multiple cell types while avoiding toxicity
Code to Cure is a newsletter co-hosted by the Wyss Institute at Harvard University and Milad Alucozai on the intersection of AI, biology, and healthcare transforming medicine.
In a process similar to traditional metal-casting used to make jewelry or sculptures, researchers at Boston University and Wyss Institute at Harvard University have found a way to use the silvery metal gallium to produce accurate constructions of living tissues. Being able to engineer complex tissues (like tiny air sacs in the lungs) has the potential to reveal biological insights and may lead to new therapeutics.
Diagnostics aren't just for humans; we can also apply these technologies to our environment. Algal blooms, which have become more prevalent due to climate change, produce toxins that are harmful to both humans and animals. Researchers at the Wyss Institute are working to develop inexpensive sensors that could detect dangerous algae species earlier, without the need for sophisticated lab equipment, to help mitigate the harmful effects of these algal blooms.
There are currently more than 100,000 people on the U.S. national transplant waiting list, and unfortunately, the demand outweighs the available supply. With a new patient added to the waiting list about every eight minutes, this shortage leads to an average of 13 people dying each day while waiting for a donor organ. Wyss startup eGenesis, Inc. is working to change that. They're developing safe and effective pig organs for transplantation into human patients using CRISPR, and they're making great progress. After two successful transplants, the FDA authorized eGenesis and another company to begin clinical trials with modified pig kidneys into people with kidney failure. They're also developing liver and heart solutions to help patients with other organ failures.