Lazaro “Laz” Castano, a biomedical engineering undergraduate in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, is making significant strides in cancer research through his honors thesis on targeted drug delivery.

Originally from Cuba and raised in Naples, Florida, Castano chose Florida State University for its history and proximity to home while pursuing his passion for applying engineering to healthcare challenges.

Inside millions of stomachs around the country are tiny corkscrew-shaped bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). More than 13% of Americans carry this unwelcome guest, which can cause serious health issues, including painful ulcers and stomach cancer.

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers are leading a National Science Foundation-funded study examining how H. pylori navigate through the thick, gel-like mucus found in human stomachs—research that could help develop methods to block the microorganisms and prevent the diseases they cause.

Five FAMU-FSU College of Engineering professors will be honored by the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL) for their groundbreaking contributions to engineering research and innovation.

The November 2025 induction ceremony at the ASEMFL Annual Meeting will recognize these faculty members’ achievements across materials science, power electronics, plasma engineering and advanced manufacturing. All five inductees have also earned membership in the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), underscoring their impact on transformative research.

Two postdoctoral scholars from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering swept the top prizes at Florida State University’s 13th annual National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week research competition, showcasing breakthrough work in aerospace engineering and biomedical applications.

Breakthrough bioreactor technology could make experimental age-related disease treatments more affordable and accessible

Researchers at the joint FAMU-FSU College of Engineering are pioneering a groundbreaking method to mass-produce tiny healing particles derived from lab-grown blood vessel tissues. This innovation could revolutionize experimental therapies for age-related diseases, making them more affordable and accessible to patients worldwide.