$8.6 millions awarded for biomedical engineering research

Research at Clemson that paves the way for earlier detection of osteoarthritis is among 38 biomedical engineering projects receiving grants from The Whitaker Foundation. A total of $8.6 million was awarded to 34 universities and research institutions to solve medical problems and improve human health.

The Clemson project is led by assistant physics professor Huabei Jiang. He is developing a noninvasive imaging system that can pinpoint and track early changes in osteoarthritis. Research has shown that early intervention can significantly reduce the severity of the degenerative joint disease affecting more than 40 million Americans. Jiang's research is being funded with a $225,300 grant.
Whitaker's biomedical engineering research grants are designed to help promising new investigators establish their research careers. The foundation holds three competitions each year and currently supports 350 researchers at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.