The goal of this project is to build a low-cost, multi-channel pump system that can be replicated by other labs. By designing and creating low-cost pump system elements, more researchers and scientists will be able to use the final system. This system will allow for more control over cell cultures in bioreactors for extended periods of time. It will provide the resources necessary to expand current research projects, and it will also open up areas for new research and exploration. The team’s hope is that this pump system will support further discovery into tissue engineering, to eventually find solutions that can be applied to patients in a clinical setting.

The design team working on this project is composed of four undergraduate senior students from Vanderbilt University, all pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees in Biomedical Engineering, and who are expected to graduate in May of 2019. Each team member comes from a different background with diverse experiences and provides a unique view of the problem. By working together to brainstorm and converge on the best idea, the team is able to create innovative solutions that can be used in a variety of settings.