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At the forefront of personalized medicine, Elizabeth is engineering biomaterials to transform how people recover from bone injuries.

While completing her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Guelph, she worked as a student researcher in the ��ݮ��Ƶ Composite Biomaterial Systems Lab under the supervision of Dr. Thomas Willett. She began her graduate program as a master’s student in Dr. Willet’s lab and is now continuing her research in the Biomedical Engineering PhD program.

Elizabeth’s research is creating new materials that can be used to repair or replace damaged bone. These materials can be 3D-printed to fit a patient’s body perfectly, offering a more personalized option than traditional metal implants or donated bone. The new material must be strong enough to support healing and slowly break down as the body builds new bone in its place.

“What drew me to this work is how it brings together so many areas of engineering: design, chemistry, materials science, mechanics, and biology,” Elizabeth says. “It’s incredibly rewarding to apply all of these fields to solve a problem that impacts real people.”

Her groundbreaking research has earned her the NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral, a testament to the quality and promise of her research to improve human health.

Alyson completed her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ, where she discovered a passion for bone health and tissue regeneration. Early in her studies, she was fascinated by the idea of 3D-printed organs and the potential for creating tissues that could regenerate themselves.

Osteoporosis, a condition that disproportionately affects women, became a personal and professional focus for Alyson. Having seen family members suffer from bone-related conditions, she was motivated to explore how technology could help. She obtained co-op work experiences to explore bone health from different perspectives. At a hospital, she observed knee and hip replacements from a nursing and patient-centred perspective. Later, while working at Intellijoint Surgical, she gained insight into the challenges surgeons face and how medical technologies can support them.

For her master’s research, Alyson is working in the Regenerative Biomaterials Innovation Group (RBIG), supervised by Dr. Liza-Anastasia DiCecco. The team is developing bone implants made from titanium that are designed to precisely fit each patient. This lab brings together her passion for women’s health, regenerative medicine, and technological innovation.

Alyson is committed to improving outcomes for those living with osteoporosis and pushing the boundaries of personalized, regenerative medicine.

“I hope I can make an impact in helping those with osteoporosis improve their quality of life. I also hope to raise awareness and inspire future students to explore opportunities in biomaterials and regenerative medicine, particularly here at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ,” says Alyson.