NCCU Fab Lab Awarded Over $1.2 Million NIH Grant

North Carolina Central University(NCCU) has received a grant of $1,273,500 from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant will launch the NCCU Biomedical Engineering, Imaging, and Technology Acceleration (BEITA) Initiative.

The BEITA program's vision is to establish NCCU as a hub for bioengineering research and education. The goal is to create an interdisciplinary ecosystem that merges biology, chemistry, computational science and engineering to solve complex health problems, particularly in cancer research.

Under the direction of Principal Investigators, Nicole Salazar Velmeshev, PhD., and Eric Saliim, NCCU Fab Lab manager, the grant focuses on establishing critical research projects, academic curricula and the necessary infrastructure to prepare for a successful transition to a full-scale implementation phase. The grant runs 09/01/2025 - 08/31/2028.

"This initiative expands NCCU's research capacity in bioprinting and imaging while enriching our undergraduate and graduate training," said Salazar, assistant professor in the biological and biomedical sciences department. "It positions our students to excel in fast-growing biomedical engineering and technology fields."

This technology gives our students real-world experience in a field that is rapidly evolving," said Eric Saliim, instructor in the biological and biomedical sciences department and program manager of NCCU Fab Lab.

Expanding NCCU's Innovation Ecosystem

The BEITA Initiative accelerates NCCU's growing innovation infrastructure, including the NCCU Fab Lab, which serves as a creative hub for advanced design, digital fabrication and research collaboration. The Fab Lab, directed by Saliim, supports a k-12 student science project.

Vision and Strategic Goals: Driving research, academic excellence and sustainability

The program is built on three strategic pillars:

1. Innovative Research: Developing advanced 3D tissue models (e.g., breast and liver cancer) to serve as alternatives to animal models for drug discovery and disease progression studies. Research will also focus on creating novel biomaterials, potentially from locally sourced materials, and refining bioprinting protocols.
2. Workforce Development: Expanding NCCU's academic offerings by embedding bioengineering concepts into existing courses and developing new interdisciplinary curricula. This includes training students in high-demand skills like CAD design, 3D bioprinting and machine learning for image analysis, ultimately preparing them for advanced studies and careers in the biotech sector.
3. Sustainable Infrastructure & Networks: Establishing an on-campus bioengineering resource center equipped with state-of-the-art bioprinters and imaging systems. A key objective is to build a collaborative network with R1 institutions and corporate partners to create academic pathways (e.g., dual-degree or certificate programs) and career opportunities for students.

Learn more about the NCCU Fab Lab and its innovation initiatives by visiting nccu.edu/cas/fab-lab