Muyinatu A. Lediju Bell, a Johns Hopkins engineering professor who designs medical imaging systems that link light, sound, and robotics to produce clearer pictures, was honored today by MIT Technology Review, which placed her on its prestigious 2016 list of 35 Innovators Under 35. The list annually spotlights the nation’s most promising young scientists.
The magazine recognized Bell for her innovative work in the fields of biotechnology and medicine. She is one of nine “Inventors” on the list who are “building the stuff of the future.”
The honor places her in lofty company.
“Over the years, we’ve had success in choosing young innovators whose work has been profoundly influential on the direction of human affairs,” said Jason Pontin, the magazine’s editor in chief and publisher. “Previous winners include Larry Page and Sergey Brin, cofounders of Google; Mark Zuckerberg, cofounder of Facebook; and Jonathan Ive, chief designer of Apple. We’re proud of our selections and the variety of achievements they celebrate, and we’re proud to add Muyinatu Bell to this prestigious list.”
At Johns Hopkins, Bell founded and directs the Photoacoustic and Ultrasonic Systems Engineering Lab, or PULSE Lab, where she is designing the next generation of medical imaging systems using fiber optics, lasers, ultrasound systems, and robot-assisted surgical tools. The goal is to generate clearer live views of a patient’s internal anatomy to help surgeons avoid injuring critical features such as blood vessels and nerves while performing delicate procedures.