Grand Challenges 2.0: Engineers Partner to Unlock Solutions
Faculty members from the A. James Clark School of Engineering are leading or participating in seven of the 11 high-impact, interdisciplinary research projects funded by Grand Challenges Grants 2.0. The Grand Challenges program brings together researchers from across the University of Maryland (UMD) to work together on solutions for pressing global concerns, ranging from community wellness and literacy to nutritional safety, aquatic resource management, ecological durability, and the advancement of principled, reliable innovations.
On June 25, 2026, UMD announced an investment of $15 million over three years across 11 projects with faculty representing more than 40 disciplines across campus—including 14 engineering researchers in the Clark School.
“The Grand Challenges program allows our talented researchers to focus on creating solutions to hard problems that have a big impact on society. Regardless of the kind of challenge, we partner with colleagues across disciplines to find the most effective solutions, and winners of the Grand Challenge 2.0 grants reflect this philosophy,” said Clark School Dean Samuel Graham. "I am proud of my engineering colleagues who will be working with others from across our campus to innovate for the public good. We look forward to the impact that these projects will have on the people of Maryland, and our country and world.”
Gut Healing Smart Pill
- Grant type: Team Grant
- Colleges represented: AGNR, ENGR
- PI: Assistant Professor Younggeon Jin, Animal and Avian Sciences
- Co-PIs: Distinguished University Professor Reza Ghodssi, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Institute for Systems Research; Assistant Research Scientist Justin Stine, A. James Clark School of Engineering; Associate Professor Katharina Maisel, Bioengineering
The Gut Healing Smart Pill team brings a unique approach to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by activating the gut's own built-in repair system. The challenge is delivering the right treatment to exactly the right location within the intestine to avoid off-target effects on healthy areas. The team will address this challenge by building a smart swallowable capsule, about the size of a large vitamin, that can sense damaged sections of the gut as it travels through the intestine, using a technology called bioimpedance, which measures the electrical properties of the gut wall, and deliver healing therapy to the areas that need it.
More information can be found on the UMD ECE News (25 - June / 2026)