The International Institute for BioSensing (IIB) at the University of Minnesota is building a globally connected ecosystem dedicated to advancing biosensing science and technology to improve human and animal health, environmental resilience, agriculture, food systems, and community well-being.
At IIB, we work across the entire biosensing innovation pipeline — from biosensor development and material discovery to data collection, AI-enabled multimodal sensing, data interpretation, real-world application, and commercialization. Our interdisciplinary ecosystem brings together expertise in biology, engineering, materials science, medicine, agriculture, environmental science, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and data science to create integrated solutions for complex global challenges.
We believe that creating real-world impact requires more than technological innovation alone. It also depends on strong collaborative partnerships that can move discoveries from the laboratory into communities, industry, healthcare systems, and policy. To support this mission, IIB actively builds national and international networks connecting academia, industry, nonprofits, healthcare organizations, and government agencies to strengthen the broader biosensing ecosystem and accelerate translational innovation.
Our vision extends beyond technology itself. We see biosensors as only one part of a much larger system. Our research and initiatives focus on precision sensing and proactive, personalized solutions that help us better understand how environmental, biological, behavioral, and social exposures shape health and resilience over time. From wearable and point-of-care technologies to advanced environmental sensing platforms, we are developing tools that support earlier detection, adaptive responses, and more resilient systems for both people and the planet.
This systems-level perspective is also reflected in our work in exposomics, where we study how the totality of environmental and biological exposures influences health throughout life. By integrating biosensing, artificial intelligence, and systems thinking, IIB aims to better understand the complex interactions between humans, ecosystems, and the environments they inhabit.
A central goal of IIB is helping researchers translate discoveries into scalable, real-world applications. We actively support commercialization and startup efforts by connecting innovators with scientific expertise, entrepreneurial mentorship, industry partnerships, and translational resources. Given our unique interdisciplinary capabilities, IIB is also well positioned to contribute to SBIR and STTR initiatives by supporting sensing-related innovation, collaborative proposal development, technical validation, and technology advancement.
Beyond promoting sensing-related expertise, IIB is committed to fostering a culture that integrates scientific discovery with entrepreneurship, innovation, and community impact. We believe transformative ideas emerge when disciplines intersect — when engineers work alongside clinicians, environmental scientists collaborate with data scientists, and researchers engage directly with industry, policymakers, and communities.
At IIB, we see biosensing not simply as a technical field, but as a transformative platform for understanding life, environments, and the interconnected systems that shape our future.
Meet the IIB Team
Patricia Khashayar
Director of International Institute for Biosensing
James (Jim) Wilgenbusch
Director of Research Computing in the Research & Innovation Office at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Sang-Hyun Oh
Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Sanford P. Bordeau Chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
