Mark Borden

How CU Boulder built a biomedical engineering powerhouse

Alexander James Servantez — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:35:35 +0000

How CU Boulder built a biomedical engineering powerhouse Alexander Jame… Mon, 03/23/2026 - 15:35

Alexander Servantez

When the first biomedical engineering class graduated from CU Boulder in 2023, about a dozen students walked across the stage.

They weren’t just earning degrees—they were laying the foundation for a degree program on the rise.

Today, that once-small start has evolved into a powerful engine for biomedical innovation and education. With robust industry partnerships, national accreditation and a potent local research pipeline, the Biomedical Engineering Program (BME) has quickly ballooned into the College of Engineering and Applied Science’s fourth-largest degree-granting program.

But how does a program go from modest beginnings to powerhouse in such a short time? Director Corey Neu believes it was only ever a matter of time.

“We’ve had biomedical research in our laboratories for years,” said Neu. “We’ve had individual course offerings and other opportunities for people to learn about biomedical engineering. However, it was never organized into a formal degree-granting program.”

That is, until 2018, when a conversation amongst faculty began to spark some lofty ideas.

The early journey

At the time, CU Boulder only offered a biomedical engineering minor. The program featured just one course, Introduction to Biomedical Engineering, dedicated specifically to the field.

Professor and inaugural Program Director Mark Borden (right) with a student in his lab.

Of course, there were other classes offered in various departments in the college where students could learn biomedical engineering principles. But without any real structure, faculty members realized they were starting to fall behind.

“We were hearing reports from the dean that students were choosing to go to other universities simply because we didn’t offer a degree in biomedical engineering,” Neu said. “The time was right. A lot of people came together from many different units and entities on campus to finally design a true program.”

The group’s program proposal was accepted by the CU Board of Regents in spring 2019.

In spring 2020, Professor Mark Borden was elected as the inaugural director and the program was launched. But the challenge ahead was immense. COVID shutdowns quickly tested the program’s early momentum.

Borden said a strong network of campus resources and key contributors helped keep the program on track.

“I was very lucky to have experienced people like Rob Davis in my corner. He volunteered his services as undergraduate chair early in the process and he helped solve so many problems,” said Borden. “Dean Keith Molenaar was also extremely helpful when he first started, too. He instituted a leadership program with outside consultants that really gave our program a voice and brought us together.”

Breaking ground

Despite its early obstacles, the newly established BME program welcomed roughly 20 total students—all of them transfers—during its first semester. That number surged to 122 students in fall 2020 with the help of the program's first undergraduate and graduate classes.

Students working together in a BME classroom.

Now, the program is home to nearly 466 students, including 396 undergraduates and 70 graduate students.

In addition to building the program, Borden said they also focused on building community and collaboration amongst the undergraduate cohort.

“We structured courses strategically so that students could easily get to know each other as they moved through our curriculum,” he said. “Then, we helped the students invigorate the Biomedical Engineering Society student chapter. They introduced a career symposium, built a peer mentorship program and helped lead programming and events throughout the academic year.”

New classes and opportunities were piloted nearly every semester with significant input from existing students in the program.

And finally, in spring 2023, Borden and his team turned to one final step: earning national accreditation.

“At that time, I was already looking to pass leadership to someone who can build off our foundation. However, I made a promise to our first graduating class that I would get the program accredited before I step down,” said Borden. “We got to work, received a strong review and were officially accredited in fall 2024.”

A maturing program

With his goal accomplished, Borden handed the program’s leadership to Neu. But the momentum and achievements continued to mount.

Today, the program matriculates over 100 students every year. Its undergraduate program ranks among the top 50 biomedical engineering programs in the nation, while its graduate program is ranked No. 21 among public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report.

A graduate student working in the Neu lab.

The program has also emerged as a leader in representation and inclusivity. Nearly 56% of BME’s students are women, a rare milestone for engineering programs.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the program’s growth, though, is its development of strong industry partnerships. Colorado features the highest concentration of biomedical-related jobs in the country, with over 90 companies based in the region.

Major companies like Terumo BCT and Medtronic, who recently entered a research agreement with the university, play an active role in the program. They support undergraduate senior design projects and collaborate with graduate researchers in university labs—something Neu says is crucial to student outcomes.

“We work with companies all around the state and even beyond. They advise us on our curriculum and help guide our direction forward,” Neu said. “These partnerships help us educate students optimally and they also help our students secure fantastic jobs and internships.”

He also believes expanding the program’s research enterprise is the key to unlocking its full potential.

Similar to the program’s healthy industry relationships, Neu’s goal is to unlock more research and educational opportunities with CU Anschutz, the University of Colorado system’s medical school.

“It’s important for our students to participate in clinical rotations and interface with medical doctors,” said Neu. “We’re not just trying to create excellent engineers—we want our engineers to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with medical professionals, too.”

But most of all, Neu and his team remain focused on the program’s founding mission: cultivating the next generation of engineers capable of tackling the world’s most pressing health challenges.

When the first biomedical engineering class graduated from CU Boulder in 2023, about a dozen students walked across the stage. Today, that once-small start has evolved into a powerful engine for biomedical innovation and education. But how does a program go from modest beginnings to powerhouse in such a short time?

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Borden, Rentschler inducted into the AIMBE College of Fellows

Alexander James Servantez — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:13:09 +0000

Borden, Rentschler inducted into the AIMBE College of Fellows Alexander Jame… Mon, 03/31/2025 - 10:13

Alexander Servantez

Two faculty members in the Biomedical Engineering Program (BME) at CU Boulder have etched their names amongst some of the most successful medical and biological engineers in the world.

Professors Mark Borden and Mark Rentschler have been inducted into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows. The program is among the highest professional distinctions given to medical and biological engineers, representing the top 2% of these engineers around the world.

Professor Mark Borden (right) talking to a student in his lab.

“I am honored to be selected into the AIMBE College of Fellows,” said Borden, also a faculty member in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. “It’s an exciting achievement and a great opportunity to promote the important research we do here at the university.”

AIMBE College of Fellows membership honors engineers who have made significant advancements in the field of medical and biological engineering. But it also recognizes engineers who have made outstanding contributions to the future of bioengineering education.

Borden has done both. His novel research focuses on developing microbubbles and nano droplets for use in ultrasound imaging.

These little particles are safe to inject into the body and can be used as contrast agents to indicate or predict diseases. They can also be used as a non-invasive technique for drug or oxygen delivery, targeting rare pediatric brain tumors and helping hypoxemic patients struggling to get oxygen through normal respiration.

“It’s quite an interdisciplinary field,” Borden said. “We have to pull knowledge from many different domains—acoustics, ultrasonics, biology. But the main core of our research is the development of new microbubbles and nano droplets. That’s what we are known for.”

Borden has also left his mark in the classroom. He played a key role in the creation of CU Boulder’s BME program, even serving as its inaugural director in 2018. He stayed in the position for five years, during which time the undergraduate program grew significantly and earned ABET accreditation.

Rentschler’s impact transcends both research and education, as well. In 2018, he helped launch Aspero Medical, a startup company that develops micro-textured balloon overtubes used to enable more efficient and less invasive surgical procedures in the small bowel region.

Professor Mark Rentschler showcasing current and upcoming Aspero Medical devices.

These devices have proven to be successful, receiving clearance from the Food and Drug Administration in 2023. Since then, Rentscher and his team have been working to expand on their vision, announcing the development of two new surgical products powerful enough to transform endoscopy procedures even further.

“The first product was an improvement to the tools currently available to physicians,” said Rentschler, who is also a faculty member in mechanical engineering. “The next generation of devices we’re introducing are poised to make significant contributions to physicians and completely shift how they can treat aggressive cancers and precancerous lesions within the gastrointestinal tract.”

Rentschler also helped kickstart a mechanical engineering graduate design program back in 2010. Under his guidance, the program led to dozens of patents on graduate students’ design projects—some of them later going on to be used on patients or implemented by companies across the nation.

AIMBE inductees are also expected to serve as advocates for research by engaging with legislators and promoting public policies that foster continued advancement in medical and biological engineering fields.

It’s a hallmark of the AIMBE College of Fellows program, and both Borden and Rentschler believe they have the experience and expertise to be strong advocates for the future.

“I think we bring some interesting perspectives to these conversations, considering we’ve been in the academic research arena as well as the industry side of things,” Rentschler said. “I am honored to receive this distinction, and I am excited for these new opportunities to make a strong impact going forward.”

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CU Engineering announces inaugural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 16:43:19 +0000

CU Engineering announces inaugural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows Alexander Jame… Fri, 02/14/2025 - 09:43

CU Engineering has named the inaugural recipients of its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows program, which supports faculty, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students in bringing research to market. The fellows, selected for their work in fields like robotics, biomedical devices and advanced materials, receive funding, mentorship and entrepreneurial support to accelerate commercialization.

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