On Friday, January 30, 2026, our lab organized the inaugural Banu Onaral Research Symposium at Drexel University, bringing together a vibrant community around biomedical innovations and life-saving solutions. The symposium was held at McAlister Building in Philadelphia.
The day opened with remarks from Dean Paul Brandt-Rauf and Hasan Ayaz. In his welcome, Dr. Ayaz shared why the symposium was created: to honor Banu Onaral’s legacy of rigorous science, bold ideas, and especially her rare ability to connect people with complementary strengths and turn those introductions into collaborations that help everyone excel.
The program featured invited talks spanning:
- Neuroengineering and optical brain monitoring
- Human-centered health innovation
- Advanced therapeutics, genomics, and cell and tissue engineering
- Translational biomedical engineering
- Global innovation partnerships
The symposium also included a poster session with approximately 30 poster presentations, followed by a networking reception to celebrate Dr. Onaral’s impact and continue building the community she always championed.
We are grateful to all speakers, presenters, attendees, and volunteers who made this inaugural event such a success.