Not actually because I love my nursing field, but after today, I have a newfound interest in all that engineering does. We had two presentations in the morning, one about Saioa’s research and the other was Dr. Borovetz and his research.

Saioa presented her research on the Oreka Balance, a tool currently in development that measures pressure behavior during various tilt motion exercises. The goal is not only to diagnose a person’s balance capabilities but also to aid in future rehabilitation. Last year, I shadowed a physical therapist and saw a similar tool that helped patients maintain or improve their balance. This research sparked a deeper interest in me for the intersection between medicine and engineering. Currently, they are working with stroke patients, but the hope is that in the future, it could be used for other medical conditions or even to enhance strength in athletes. Most of their research funding comes initially from projects, sponsors, and partners, starting with public funding. We learned about the nine TRLs (Technology Readiness Levels), which outline a project’s progress. One of the more challenging phases is known as the “valley of death,” the period between public and private funding. Saioa has been working on this project for about seven years and has already reached TRL 7/8, which is incredibly impressive considering how time-consuming research can be. During their work, they also began developing a second device that focuses on stair and gait movement, which is currently at TRL 5/6. I found this entire presentation fascinating and am eager to follow how the project evolves. I can really see how this device could help patients understand the root of their balance issues or even help those who think they balance well to identify and improve areas that stress joints or other parts of the body.

Dr. Borovetz presented on Mechanical Circulatory Support for the Failing Heart. His slides began with some shocking statistics, like how over 800,000 people die from heart disease each year in the U.S. I knew it was a serious condition globally, but I didn’t realize the scale. Heart failure is usually caused by the heart’s inability to properly fill with and pump blood. The standard treatment is a cardiac transplant, but mechanical devices have been developed to bridge the gap between heart failure and transplant availability. The first generation of these devices was quite large and often didn’t work well for women, as their hearts are generally smaller than men’s. However, newer models have become smaller and more efficient, making them accessible to more patients. The hope is that in the future, these devices will not only assist heart function but also be implemented in a less invasive way to minimize bleeding during procedures. We also learned about differences and similarities in this field between Spain and the U.S., for example, 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 14 children receive heart transplants in Spain, making it a hub for related research and implementation. Another long-term goal is to use this technology for rehabilitation as well. I was especially intrigued because we just studied the heart in my anatomy class this year, and I understand the importance of the device. I was particularly interested in how nurses contribute to the research team and assist in the development process, as I learned that they learn all about the device and not only help in a patient care manner but also in the research. I really enjoyed the presentation and am excited to see where this research goes next.

After the presentations, we had lunch at the university and then visited the Guggenheim Museum. On the way, we took a detour through a beautiful park and saw more of the city. The museum building itself is a work of art, with many beautiful sculptures outside. My favorite exhibit was Masterpieces on Paper from Budapest. I loved seeing the variety of drawings, paintings, and images, each with different levels of detail and expression. I also really enjoyed the mirrored room with all the lights. I’m fascinated by the concept and all the reflections. Such a fun day in Bilbao, and I’m excited to find a great dinner spot tonight! We’ve got more hospital visits tomorrow, and I’m really looking forward to that too. Until then…

-Paige Colson