Helping Veterans

Doctoral Student Targets Bone Density

After his strenuous service in the Marine Corps, Tim Eastep ('23 MS, '21 BS, Bioengineering) now finds it challenging to walk or stand for long periods.

“Every step, I feel it in my knees,” he says. “I can't even think of playing sports or doing much physical exercise because I would have to deal with pain for days.”

Eastep, a veteran pursuing his doctorate in bioengineering, founded T7 Biotech, a research and development company aimed at building devices to reduce the stress and strain on military members' bodies. He is also developing a medicine that could increase bone density to prevent other service members from going through what he has.

“The amount of equipment we carry on us and the missions we handle take a toll on your body. In general, an infantry job will have someone carrying at least 40 pounds. That just destroys the joints,” Eastep says. “Humans naturally experience bone loss, so for us veterans, that is accelerated.” ₪