Salter Medical Device Design Lab Opens

On March 3, BME faculty members and students, university leadership, and friends and supporters of the College of Engineering gathered to celebrate the opening of the Peter and Nancy Salter Medical Device Design Lab.

The space will give BME students access to advanced equipment for developing medical devices, and was made possible by a $1.5 million gift from Peter and Nancy Salter. University alumnus Peter Salter founded Salter Labs, a private company which has developed more than 150 respiratory and anesthesia products, in 1976.

The longtime supporters of the University of Arizona are members of the 1885 Society, President’s Club and Founders Society. Peter Salter has served on the UA Foundation Board of Trustees, the Eller College of Management Board of Advisors and the National Leadership Council.

“I’ve been around labs, and I’ve been around what we call ‘shops’ in the industry,” Peter Salter said. “This would have to be called a lab, as sophisticated as this place is.”

In tandem with the lab – which houses a laser cutter, water jet, 3D printer, electrical analysis tools, and biosafety and chemistry hoods – associate professor Urs Utzinger and assistant professor Philipp Gutruf developed a biomedical engineering course for juniors. The course is part of the four-year Craig M. Berge Engineering Design Program, which launched in 2019.

“Anyone who knows Pete and Nancy knows how much they love innovation, education and the opportunity to impact the student experience,” said David W. Hahn, College of Engineering Craig M. Berge Dean. “We envision that ultimately this will serve all engineering students in the college – regardless of major – who have an interest in biomedical devices.”