Case Summary:

An expert in biomedical engineering with a proposed endeavor to work on the design of technological infrastructure for new, cost-effective, industry-grade tools came to us for his National Interest Waiver (NIW) application. His work aimed to interface with and house human tissue in order to advance the development of novel disease treatments. It was clear to our team that he and his work were both valuable for the field and the U.S. So we decided to work on his petition by collecting information that would further support and showcase his talents for the adjudicating bench at the USCIS.

Some of the information we collected is as follows:

• His work was of great importance because it enabled researchers to conduct large-scale studies on cell tissue that is difficult or impractical to observe in a real-world setting including, but not limited to, neural and cardiac tissue.
• At the same time, his proposed endeavor also has broad implications for the United States since in addition to providing invaluable tools for researching, diagnosing, and treating various cardiac and neural conditions, his technology is useful in the development of necessary vaccines to reduce the threat of viruses like COVID-19 through the modeling of human tissues, their susceptibility to disease, and their response to vaccination agents.
• Due to its clear national importance, his work has found support and funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
• This is why one of his 4 recommenders wrote:

“[The client] is uniquely suited to the task, combining biomedical engineering experience with knowledge of fabrication and 3D printing methods to develop novel models and approaches to investigating intractable diseases, their molecular etiology, and their effective treatments. For example, he has proposed new methods for developing peripheral nerve interfaces that target specific organs, thus enabling the advancement of more effective therapeutic approaches. His research skills are an asset to the progress of intractable disease research in the U.S. and therefore are wholly deserving of this country’s support.”

Another one of his recommendations contained the following passage praising his work and the need for its continuation here in the U.S.:

“[The client’s] work mitigates the financial risk and burden of such investments by optimizing costs and methodology at the initial cell culture test stage, minimizing the chance of later clinical trials failing which ensures greater financial returns and patient safety. His work on two-photon lithography is also applicable to a range of fields outside biomedicine. For example, its suitability to producing light materials with high mechanical functionality makes it ideal for developing durable materials for use in military uniforms, automobile parts, or sports gear. It is clear that [the client’s] extensive research experience is a necessity to the ongoing research efforts of the U.S.”

• His work has also resulted in 6 peer-reviewed journal articles (1 first-authored), 2 U.S. patents (1 first-authored), 2 U.S. patent applications (1 first-authored), and 2 provisional U.S. patent applications.
• And these publications have been cited a total of 130 times according to Google Scholar, thereby demonstrating that these publications are widely recognized and relied upon in the field of biomedical engineering.
• Not only this but he has also pursued research directly related to his proposed endeavor of designing technological infrastructure for new, cost-effective, industry-grade tools for 3 years.

Having included these facts in his petition, we waited for the adjudicating bench to give its decision. It wasn’t a surprise when his case was approved in less than 4 months. We are glad that we could be of aid to him in the process. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.