Dr. Amir Manbachi (EngSci 0T8, BME MASc 1T0 & BME PhD 1T5) has been awarded the Research & Innovation Award. This prestigious accolade recognizes U of T engineering graduates who have developed, implemented, or discovered an innovative research program, process, or product that has made a significant impact on the profession, community, or society.
Dr. Amir Manbachi, currently an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University, has been a trailblazer in the fields of neurosurgery, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical and computer engineering. He leads a groundbreaking $13.48 million project funded by the Department of Defense, where he has assembled a world-class team of 60 pioneers from clinic, academia, and industry. As the co-founder and director of the HEPIUS Innovation Labs, Dr. Manbachi focuses on developing next-generation wearables and implantable medical ultrasound devices aimed at improving the lives of spinal cord injury patients.
Dr. Manbachi’s contributions to the field are extensive and impactful. He has authored 40 journal articles, 55 conference proceedings, and 20 inventions. His scholarly work includes three books and one audiobook. Over his career, he has mentored over 170 students, fostering a new generation of innovators and researchers. His remarkable achievements have been recognized by numerous awards, including the 2024 Terasaki Institute’s Young Innovator Award, the 2024 American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine’s Peter Arger Excellence in Medical School Education award, the University of Toronto’s Inventor of the Year award in 2015, and an Ontario Brain Institute fellowship in 2013.
In addition to his research accomplishments, Dr. Manbachi has been celebrated for his teaching excellence. He received the University of Toronto’s Teaching Excellence award in 2014 and the Robert B. Pond Sr. Excellence in Teaching Excellence Award from Johns Hopkins School of Engineering in 2018. His expertise in engineering design, medical imaging, and entrepreneurship has made him a revered educator and mentor.
This year’s Alumni Award celebration will feature an dinner hosted by Dean Yip at Hart House on September 26.
For more information about the Research and Innovation Award, and other awards hosted by the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, please visit: https://alumni.engineering.utoronto.ca/engineering-alumni-network/eanawards/ean-2024/