Community members go behind-the-scenes at the BIO5 Institute

Tuesday
Caroline Mosley Bartelme, BIO5 Institute

Guests experienced the collaborative nature of research through conversations, hands-on demos, and real-world applications at the annual public event.

A group of people listening to a scientist in a laboratory filled with equipment.

A group tours the lab of BIO5 member Travis Sawyer, assistant professor of optical sciences, and hears about his work on biomedical optics including cancer screening, surgical guidance, and brain imaging.

Emilia Gazman, BIO5 Institute

Dozens of Arizona community members visited the University of Arizona BIO5 Institute on April 3 to tour innovative research spaces, hear from passionate researchers, and engage in conversations about their work. 

The annual event, Behind BIO5, opens the doors of the institute’s state-of-the-art labs and facilities to a wide range of guests, from first-time community visitors to U of A staff and students. It offers guests a chance to connect with researchers and learn how interdisciplinary collaboration at BIO5 is tackling grand challenges in health. 

“I attended the Behind BIO5 event for the second time, and it was just as captivating as the first. The cutting-edge research showcased had impressive real-world applications,” said James Allerton, a community member. “What struck me most was all the researchers' genuine passion for their projects and their potential to positively impact people's lives – their enthusiasm was truly infectious.” 

Three individuals engaged in a friendly interaction outside a building, with one person showing at something on a clipboard to the others.

Community member James Allerton (left) has attended the event for the past two years and enjoys hearing researchers share their passion for real-world scientific applications.

Deanna Sanchez, BIO5 Institute

The 2025 event featured more than 14 lab and core facility tours throughout the Thomas W. Keating Bioresearch and Biosciences Laboratory Building. Guests also explored 15 interactive demonstration tables and 16 research posters presented by outstanding alumni of the BIO5 Institute’s KEYS Research Internship. 

Throughout the evening, guests listened to intimate fireside chats, where five faculty members shared what drives their research, from biomedical engineering and data science to public health and agricultural innovation. 

Two individuals engaged in a discussion on stage at a University of Arizona event, with an audience in the foreground and a backdrop featuring the BIO5 Institute banner.

BIO5 member Judith Su, associate professor of biomedical engineering and optical scienes, was one of the featured guests for the fireside chat portion of the Behind BIO5 event.

Lily Howe, BIO5 Institute

“It was interesting to hear about so many different research areas,” said Sylvia Hillmann, a community member and retired pediatrician. “I especially enjoyed the findings on brain aging, the intricacies of plant root systems and their effect on crops, and advances in women’s reproductive health. The ten-minute interview format was the perfect length—it puts personality and humanity into science.” 

Meet the Scientists at Fireside Chats

U of A researchers also value these opportunities to open their spaces and share their work with the public and colleagues. 

“As a cardiovascular researcher and department head, I truly appreciate opportunities like this that link our work to broader biomedical goals and highlight its real-world impact,” said Sakthivel Sadayappan, BIO5 member and department head of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Arizona, who led a lab tour.  

“Behind BIO5 provides a vibrant platform for us to share our basic and translational research, connect with colleagues from diverse disciplines, and build collaborations extending beyond departments and institutions," added Sadayappan.

Group of adults engaging in a discussion in a University of Arizona classroom, with banners reading "College of Medicine - Tucson" and "Cellular & Molecular Medicine" in the background.

BIO5 member Sakthivel Sadayappan, department head of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Arizona, describes his work on cardiac health during a lab tour.

Deanna Rodriguez, BIO5 Institute

At interactive research demonstration tables, scientists engaged guests by sharing insights and answering questions about their tools, discoveries, and services. 

“Events like this allow us to connect one-on-one with students, staff, faculty, and the public,” said Doug Cromey, manager of imaging facilities at the U of A Research, Innovation & Impact, as his team manned a research demonstration table featuring stunning image data captured with their microscopes “We get to talk about our capabilities—and who knows, we might even meet a new user for our services.” 

Two people are discussing at a booth with a sign labeled "Biological Transmission Electron Microscopy" at the BIO5 Institute. The monitor displays a microscopic image alongside QR codes.

University of Arizona researcher Paula Tonino discusses her work at the imaging core with a Behind BIO5 guest.

Deanna Rodriguez, BIO5 Institute

Behind BIO5 also offers valuable opportunities for KEYS Research Internship alumni, many of whom continue research at the University of Arizona, to hone their science communication skills and deepen connections with the research community. 

See photos from KEYS Research Internship Alumni Showcase  

To stay up to date on BIO5 news and upcoming events, sign up for the monthly BIO5 Connection newsletter. 

Two individuals are engaged in conversation at an information booth, which features a microscope and various educational materials on display, including maps and images of cells at an outdoor public event.
Group of five individuals walking through a modern lobby, carrying notebooks and wearing lanyards.
A group of students participates in a hands-on demonstration led by an scientist in a laboratory setting.
Two individuals discussing a scientific poster presentation at an event. Other attendees are visible in the background.
Five individuals engaged in a conversation in a laboratory, with shelves filled with boxes in the background.
Two individuals using a microscope at an outdoor science exhibit, with one person assisting the other in viewing a sample. There are trees and a building in the background.
Three individuals engaging in conversation at an informational booth with brochures and promotional items on the table.
Audience members sitting attentively in a conference room with ambient lighting.
Two individuals conversing beside a large cylindrical scientific apparatus at a public display.
A group of individuals engaged in conversation at an outdoor educational booth with various items displayed on the table, including a monitor and some mechanical parts.
A group of people attentively listens to an instructor at a desk filled with technical equipment and tools.
Person demonstrating a microscope at a science fair booth with educational materials and model organs on display.

BIO5 member featured in event