Serving Notre Dame's vibrant biomedical research community
The Notre Dame Bioengineering & Life Sciences Initiative (BELS) advances human health and wellness through interdisciplinary biomedical research and training—from fundamental discovery through the detection, prevention, and treatment of disease. Launched in 2024 as a joint initiative of the College of Engineering and College of Science and a key priority in the University’s Strategic Framework, BELS is organized around three strategic pillars—health foundations, health technologies, and health equities—with particular attention to conditions and populations that have historically received less research investment.
By creating “digital twins” that predict how cells will behave, this research aims to advance the development of treatments for wounds, cancer, and other diseases.
As part of its mission to supercharge research at the interface of engineering and science at Notre Dame, the BELS initiative has aquired a Thermo Fisher Glacios 2 cryo-transmission electron microscope and built a new facility to house the instrument in McCourtney Hall East.
Center for Biomedical Discovery
A BELS-directed center that delivers cutting-edge capabilities, instrumentation, and training for improved health outcomes
Through the BELS Initiative, Notre Dame demonstrates an unprecedented commitment to advancing human health through multidisciplinary biomedical research.
John P. Fisher
Sabey Family Director and Arthur J. Schmitt Professor of Bioengineering
