~ AIMBE Fellow Recognition~
April 2025
Dr. Godavarty was elected as a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) in Washington, D.C. This prestigious honor recognizes her for pioneering research from bench-to-bedside of near-infrared optical-based medical devices and translating to breast cancer and diabetes-related wound management.
March 2025
~ BME Graduate Research Day Award ~
Daniela Leizaola won first place in the BME Graduate Research Day Poster Presentation Competition for her project on the objective assessment of the healing status of diabetic foot ulcers of various skin colors using a smartphone-based NIRS device. – Congratulations Daniela!
March 2025
~AI-Driven Skin Tone Classification Publication ~
Advancing AI for Inclusive Skincare: A New Approach to Skin Tone Classification
– Cosmetic Design Press Release -06 Mar 2025
– Collaborative work by Anuradha Godavarty, Abderrachid Hamrani, Rob Kirsner, and Daniela L.
AI and machine learning continue to reshape industries, and skincare is no exception. A recent study explores a new AI-driven method for skin tone classification, aiming to enhance inclusivity and precision in dermatology and cosmetics. By moving beyond traditional models, this research could lead to more personalized skincare solutions and improved product formulations for diverse populations.
As AI-driven healthcare applications grow, interdisciplinary collaboration between engineers, data scientists, and dermatologists will be critical in ensuring ethical and effective implementation. Exciting times ahead for AI in personalized medicine and consumer products!
Read more about the study here: https://lnkd.in/eMseGE_T
February 2025
~ BME Heart Day Award ~
PhD Student Aasma Dahal won 1st place in the BME Heart Day poster presentation competition for her research on peripheral hemodynamic changes during leg elevation using near-infrared spectroscopic imaging – Congratulations Aasma!
January 2024
~ Coulter Undergraduate Research Excellence (CURE) Award ~
We are thrilled to announce that two of our undergraduate researchers, Shirel Belilty and Charles Policard, have been selected for the CURE (Coulter Undergraduate Research Excellence) program as Researchers for Spring 2025. Additionally, Karla Vasquez and Daniela Perez have joined the CURE program as Trainees for Spring 2025.
Congratulations to all for this achievement!
December 2024
~ U.S. Patent Achievement ~
Our research lab has a new patent issued “Skin Color Independent Flow-Based Diffuse Optical Imaging,” with Dr. Anuradha Godavarty and Dr. Kevin Leiva as co-inventors. Congratulations to Dr. Leiva for his first patent ! He graduated in Dec 2022 with a PhD from our lab and this patent is a reflection of his PhD research and innovation.
December 2024
~ Abstract Acceptance at WOCNext 2025 ~
Armando Caro and Daniela Leizaola’s abstract, “Development and Testing of a Clinical Tracing Tool to Demarcate Wound Tissue Types in Diabetic Foot Ulcers,” has been accepted for a poster presentation at the WOCNext 2025 conference in collaboration with Dr. Charles Buscemi from Nursing. Congratulations to Armando for his first first-authored abstract!
December 2024
~ Paper Published ~
A new publication in collaboration with Dr. Hamrani in Mechanical and Materials Engineering department at FIU and Dr. Kirsner at Univ of Miami. Congratuations to our second-author Daniela Leizaola (as second-author) from our lab, apart from all past lab members as co-authors.
December 2024
~ Paper Published ~
The paper “Breath-Holding as a Stimulus to Assess Peripheral Oxygenation Flow Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging” has been published inBioengineering. Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Leiva, who graduated in December 2022 with a PhD from our lab, as the first author, and to all co-authors on this achievement!
November 2024
~ SPIE Travel Award ~
PhD student Daniela Leizoala Perez has been awarded the SPIE Travel Award, which will support majority of her travel to the SPIE Photonics West Conference in San Francisco, CA, in January 2025. Congratulations, Daniela!
November 2024
~ BME Undergraduate Research Day Award ~
Charles Policard won second place in the BME Undergraduate Research Day Poster Presentation Competition for his project on the development of a smartphone compatible thermal imaging tool and app for biomedical applications.
October 2024
~ Opportunities for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS) Award ~
Undergraduate student Divina Campbell has been selected for the 2024-2025 OURS scholarship. We are excited to see her contributions to research this academic year. Congratulations, Divina!
https://cdssec.fiu.edu/undergraduate-and-pre-college-research/ours/
October 2024
~ PhD Proposal Defense ~
PhD student Daniela Leizaola has successfully defended her dissertation proposal. She now advances to the next stage of her doctoral journey. Congratulations, Daniela!
August 2024
~ Bachelor’s Degree Completion ~
Congratulations to Maria Hernandez, one of our undergraduate researchers, on her recent graduation! She will be starting her career as a Clinical Research Intern at Ophtec USA
June 2024
~ MCXStudio 2024 Workshop at Northeastern University ~
PhD student Daniela Leizaola was awarded with a travel grant to attend the MCXStudio 2024 workshop hosted by Qianqian Fang and his research team at Northeastern University in Boston.
May 2024
~ Norman Weldon Internship Awardees ~
Three of our undergraduate researchers (Sebastian Giraldo, Shirel Belilty, Charles Policard) were awarded the Dr. Norman R. Weldon Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Student Research Internship for the Summer of 2024
May 2024
~ PhD Qualifiers ~
PhD students Aasma Dahal and Himaddri Shakhal Roy successfully passed their PhD qualifiers
April 2024
~ Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW) ~
One of our PhD students (Aasma Dahal) won the second place for the Poster Competition at the 2024 Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW). Congratulations Aasma!.
February 2024
~ Coulter Undergraduate Research Excellence (CURE) Award ~
One of our undergraduate researchers (Maria Hernandez) was selected for the CURE (Coulter Undergraduate Research Excellence) program as Researcher for Spring 2024. And one undergraduate researcher (Ricardo Avila) joined CURE program as a Trainee for Spring 2024.
November 2023
~ Diabetes Awareness Day ~
One of our PhD students (Daniela Leizaola) won the first place for the Poster Competition at Diabetes Awareness Day 2023. Congratulations Daniela!
~ Doctoral Defense ~
Kacie Kaile, one of our PhD students, has successfully defended her PhD.
October 2023
~ Coulter Undergraduate Research Excellence (CURE) Award ~
One of our undergraduate researchers (Maria Hernandez) was selected for the CURE (Coulter Undergraduate Research Excellence) program as Researcher for Fall 2023. And one undergraduate researcher (Sonu Durgappa) joined CURE program as a Trainee for Fall 2023.
May 2023
~ Coulter Undergraduate Research Excellence (CURE) Award ~
Undergraduate student Maria Hernandez joined the Coulter Undergraduate Research Excellence program as trainee for Summer 2023.
April 2023
~ Sydni Spencer graduated as the Outstanding BME Undergraduate student Spring 2023 ~
Student Sydni Spencer graduated from the College of Engineering and Computing as the Outstanding BME Undergraduate student for Spring 2023. Congratulations Sydni!
March 2023
~ FIU BME Graduate Research Day ~
· Three of our Ph.D. students (Daniela Leizaola, Himaddri Shakhar Roy and Kacie Kalie) participated in FIU BME Graduate Research Day. Researcher Ph.D. student Kacie Kalie won the first place in oral talk for her presentation. Congratulations Kacie!
January 2023
~ Coulter Undergraduate Research Excellence (CURE) Award ~
· Two of our undergraduate students, Waleed Abusaif and Sydni Spencer won the Coulter Undergraduate Reasearch Experience (CURE) Researcher Award for Spring 2023.
December 2022
~ Dr. Kevin Leiva graduated as the Outstanding Ph.D. student October 2022 ~
· Dr. Kevin Leiva graduated from the College of Engineering and Computing as the Outstanding Ph.D. student. His research is related to a low-cost near-infrared optical scanner developed and tested on diabetic foot ulcers to assess their healing status.
October 2022
~ United States Patents ~
· Two US Patents issued to Optical Imaging Laboratory: – “Cellphone Based Tissue Oxygenation Measuring Device”, US 11,464,453 B2 (Oct. 2022) with Anuradha Godavarty and Kacie Kalie as inventors. – “Handheld Devices for Wound Assessment Using Multi-Modal Imaging”, US 11,471,696 B1 (Oct. 2022) with Anuradha Godavarty and Kacie Kalie as inventors.
~ Biomedical Engineering Society Conference ~
· Daniela Leizaola, our Ph.D. student, participated in the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society in San Antonio, Texas to celebrate the contributions made by the BMES members in research, education, and the workforce by presenting her poster on “A Low-Cost Non-Invasive Optical Technique to Assess Presence or Absence of Vascular Calcification via Peripheral Tail Imaging in Mice”.
September 2022
~ Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Research Day ~
· Our undergraduate student, Sydni Spencer won 3rd place in the Undergraduate Research Poster Competition at the Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Research Day. Congratulations Sydni!
· Noble Amadi, Faiza Nazir and Sydni Spencer participated in the Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Research Day which showcases the research our Biomedical Engineering undergraduate students are involved in our department.
~ Coulter Undergraduate Research Excellence (CURE) Award ~
· Three of our undergraduate researchers (Noble Amadi, Faiza Nazir, Sydni Spencer) were awarded the CURE scholarship as Researchers. And one undergraduate researcher (Jose Perez) joined CURE program as a Trainee.
August 2022
~ NIH Research Grant ~
· Dr. Anuradha Godavarty was awarded a National Institute of Health Research Study Grant for her project entitled “Smartphone-based optical scanner to physiologically analyze diabetic foot ulcers.”
July 2022
~ Doctoral Defense ~
· Kevin Leiva, our PhD student, has successfully defended his PhD and ready to graduate. May 2022
~ Norman Weldon Internship Awardees ~
· Three of our undergraduate researchers (Noble Amadi, Faiza Nazir, Sydni Spencer) were awarded the Dr. Norman R. Weldon Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Student Research Internship for the Summer of 2022
March 2022
~ Spotlight by FIU Magazine ~
· Dr. Godavarty was recently spotlighted by the FIU Magazine as an “Inspiring Inventor”. She has supported the creation of innovational technologies that help doctors reverse devastating medical conditions.
September 2021
~ Coulter Undergraduate Research Excellence (CURE) Award ~
· Three of our undergraduate researchers (Alexander Trinidad, Mariel Chavez, Haniyeh Alirezaei) were awarded the CURE scholarship as Researchers. And one undergraduate researcher (Nathaniel Alexander) joined CURE program as a Trainee.
May 2021
~ Norman Weldon Internship Awardees ~
· Five of our undergraduate researchers (Alexander Trinidad, Mariel Chavez, Isabella Gonzalez, Raquel Veiga Martin, Haniyeh Alirezaei) were awarded the Dr. Norman R. Weldon Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Student Research Internship for the Summer of 2021.
February 2021
~ NAI Senior Member Nomination ~
· Dr. Godavarty, was honorably named National Academy of Inventors Senior Member due to her research and innovations significantly advancing optical imaging technologies. Described as “health care hero” and “pioneer” in the optical imaging field.
September 2020
~ NIH F31 Fellowship ~
· Kevin Leiva, our PhD student, has been awarded the very prestigious National Institutes of Health F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for his extensive research in noncontact diagnostic imaging of diabetic foot ulcers.