The University of Florida’s Department of Biomedical Engineering is excited to announce a collaboration with LifeLink Tissue Bank, a division of LifeLink Foundation, a globally recognized nonprofit organization. LifeLink Foundation honors donors and saves lives through organ and tissue donation, facilitating lifesaving and life-enhancing transplants.
This partnership is part of UF BME’s Industry Partners Program, which connects academia and professionals to tackle healthcare challenges and prepare the next generation of biomedical engineers with real-world experience.
Through this initiative, UF BME students and faculty will work closely with LifeLink Tissue Bank’s research and development staff on senior design projects and research initiatives. They will also visit the LifeLink campus, participate in research days, and engage with Brad Bassler, associate executive director and vice president of operations, who will serve on UF BME’s external advisory board.
LifeLink Foundation is strengthening ties between education and the critical field of organ and tissue donation while honoring its unique history of innovation with UF. LifeLink Foundation founder Dr. Dana Shires attended medical school at UF and, during a research fellowship in nephrology, was a key member of the team that developed Gatorade in 1965.
“We are excited to join forces with the University of Florida’s Biomedical Engineering Department to create meaningful opportunities for innovation and growth,” said Dr. Hynu Ju Lim, director of research and development at LifeLink Foundation. “This partnership will allow us to work closely with UF’s bright students and faculty, combining our expertise and resources to tackle challenges in tissue engineering. By fostering hands-on experiences and research initiatives, we hope to inspire novel ideas, contribute to advancements in healthcare, and help shape the future of biomedical engineering.”
Established in 1985, LifeLink Tissue Bank is the largest nonprofit tissue bank in the Southeast and one of the largest in the nation. Each year, it transforms the generous gifts of tissue donors into lifesaving and life-enhancing tissue grafts, helping thousands of patients. With a strong reputation for compassionate care for donor families and a commitment to patient-centered solutions for healthcare providers, LifeLink Tissue Bank has provided hundreds of thousands of allografts for transplants over its 40-year history.
“We look forward to building a strong partnership with LifeLink Tissue Bank in the coming year,” said Dr. Cherie Stabler, chair of UF’s J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering. “Together with our faculty, students, and staff, we anticipate impactful and collaborative endeavors that will drive meaningful progress and success.”
About LifeLink Tissue Bank:
LifeLink Tissue Bank (Tampa, Fla.) is dedicated to providing lifesaving and life-enhancing tissue allografts through tissue recovery, respectful care of donors, compassion for donor families, and commitment to innovation and excellence. LifeLink collaborates with leading organizations in regenerative medicine to honor the legacy of tissue donors by benefiting as many patients as possible. Individuals who wish to help save lives through organ and tissue donation can register at DonateLifeFlorida.org. For more information, visit lifelinktissuebank.org.