Bree Aldridge Joins AIMBE College of Fellows

Bree Aldridge, professor of molecular and microbiology at Tufts University School of Medicine, has been elected to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows. This prestigious recognition is a testament to her remarkable contributions to the fields of engineering and medical research. Aldridge's election stems from her innovative efforts in applying engineering methodologies to advance tuberculosis (TB) therapies.

Aldridge leads a pioneering research group that combines quantitative single-cell measurements and mathematical modeling to shorten and simplify treatment regimens for tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for TB, is thought to infect approximately one-third of the world's population, sickening 10 million people a year and killing 2 million. Despite efforts to simplify treatment strategies, tuberculosis still requires months of multi-drug therapy to cure. The Aldridge Laboratory at Tufts University School of Medicine merges engineering and molecular approaches to characterize single-cell determinants of mycobacterial drug tolerance, understanding how growth heterogeneity is controlled, and engineering combination therapy.

“This national recognition of Dr. Aldridge's scholarship is a well-deserved honor that speaks volumes about her contributions to medical and biological engineering," said Helen Boucher, dean of Tufts University School of Medicine. "Her interdisciplinary approach to tackling the challenges of tuberculosis exemplifies the innovative mindset we strive for at our School of Medicine.”

Aldridge received bachelor’s degrees in computer engineering and molecular & cellular biology in 2002 from the University of Arizona, Tucson. She went on to receive her PhD in biological engineering in 2008 from MIT. She was the recipient of the U.S. Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship and completed her graduate studies at MIT. Aldridge joined Tufts in 2012 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Aldridge holds a secondary appointment as a professor of biomedical engineering at Tufts University School of Engineering and is a member of the immunology and molecular microbiology program faculty at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. She is also the associate director of the Stuart B. Levy Center for Integrated Management of Antimicrobial Resistance (CIMAR).

"The recognition of Bree Aldridge as a fellow of AIMBE underscores the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing medical science," said Kyongbum Lee, dean of Tufts University School of Engineering. "Her research, which integrates engineering, computational science, and cell biology, exemplifies the transformative potential of cross-disciplinary approaches in addressing complex global public health challenges."

Election to the AIMBE College of Fellows is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to medical and biological engineers and is comprised of the top two percent of engineers in these fields. College membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to “engineering and medicine research, practice, or education” and to “the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of medical and biological engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to bioengineering education.”

AIMBE’s mission is to recognize excellence, advance public understanding, and accelerate medical and biological innovation. The organization brings together academic, industry, government, and scientific societies to form a highly influential community advancing medical and biological engineering.

Learn more about Bree Aldridge's Research

• Tufts Scientists Use Artificial Intelligence to Improve Tuberculosis Treatments
• What Is Combination Drug Therapy?
• New cell profiling method could speed TB drug discovery
• Taking on TB