Sunday, July 15, 2007

Biomedical Books & Journals

  • Biofluid Dynamics & Biofluidics
  • A First Course in Fluid Dynamics
    A. R. Paterson
    Description:
    How can the drag coefficient of a car be reduced? What factors govern the variation in the shape of the Earth’s magnetosphere? What is the basis of weather prediction? These are examples of problems that can only be tackled with a sound knowledge of the principles and methods of fluid dynamics. This important discipline has applications that range from the study of the large-scale properties of the galaxies to the design of high precision engineering components. This book introduces the subject of fluid dynamics from the first principles. The first eleven chapters cover all the basic ideas of fluid mechanics, explaining carefully the modelling and mathematics needed. The last six chapters illustrate applications of this material to linearized sound and water waves, to high speed flow of air, to non-linear water waves on channels, and to aerofoil theory. Over 350 diagrams have been used to illustrate key points. Exercises are included to help develop and reinforce the reader’s understanding of the material presented. References at the ends of each chapter serve not only to guide readers to more detailed texts, but also list where alternative descriptions of the salient points in the chapter may be found. This book is an undergraduate text for second or third year students of mathematics or mathematical physics, who are taking a first course in fluid dynamics.
  • A Gallery of Fluid Motion
    M. Samimy, K. S. Breuer, L. G. Leal, P. H. Steen
    Description:
    The visualization of fluid flow has played a major role in the development of fluid dynamics and its applications, from the evolution of flight to tracking weather, and understanding the flow of blood. The Fluid Dynamics Division of the American Physical Society sponsors an annual competition for outstanding images of fluid flow. This volume includes a selection of winners from 1985 to the present. Each image is accompanied by some explanatory text, making the volume an important acquisition for anyone involved in fluid flow research.
  • An Introduction to Fluid Dynamics
    G. K. Batchelor
    Description:
    First published in 1967, Professor Batchelor’s classic text on fluid dynamics is still one of the foremost texts in the subject. The careful presentation of the underlying theories of fluids is still timely and applicable, even in these days of almost limitless computer power. This re-issue should ensure that a new generation of graduate students sees the elegance of Professor Batchelor’s presentation.
  • Bénard Cells and Taylor Vortices
    E. L. Koschmieder
    Description:
    This book describes the research done on the problems of Bénard convection, as well as its modern offspring the Rayleigh–Bénard problem, and Taylor vortices. Bénard convection differs from Rayleigh–Bénard convection by the presence of surface tension, whilst Bénard convection is characterized by parallel rolls. Toroidal vortices characterize Taylor vortex flow. Convection and Taylor vortex flow deal with the consequences of the presence of infinitesimal disturbances in a fluid layer. Both problems are classical examples in the theory of hydrodynamic stability and share many features. Linear theory describing the onset of instability for both problems is practically completed; nonlinear problems have been at the forefront of research during the last 30 years. The impressive progress that has been made in the theoretical and experimental investigation of the nonlinear problems is described and the remaining basic problems are outlined.
  • Hydrodynamics
    Horace Lamb
    Description:
    This reissue of the classic 1932 edition of Lamb's Hydrodynamics is an indication of the lasting value of the work. Constantly in use since its first publication in 1892, this book is the definitive reference work for all fluid dynamicists. The new foreword by Professor R. Caflisch highlights the prominence of this treatise in the field and outlines the development of fluid mechanics that led to its publication. He also resolves possible conflicts with modern notation. Despite the rapid pace of research in modern fluid mechanics study and the advent of high-speed computers, Lamb's work remains a relevant, timeless classic.
  • Journal of Fluid Mechanics
    Stephen H. Davis, T. J. Pedley
    Description:
    Journal of Fluid Mechanics is the leading international journal in the field and is essential reading for all those concerned with developments in fluid mechanics. It publishes authoritative articles covering theoretical, computational and experimental investigations of all aspects of the mechanics of fluids. Each issue contains papers on both the fundamental aspects of fluid mechanics, and their applications to other fields such as aeronautics, astrophysics, biology, chemical and mechanical engineering, hydraulics, meteorology, oceanography, geology, acoustics and combustion.
  • Transport Properties of Fluids
    Jürgen Millat, J. H. Dymond, C. A. Nieto de Castro
    Description:
    This book describes the most reliable methods available for evaluating the transport properties, such as viscosity, thermal conductivity and diffusion, of pure gases and fluid mixtures. Particular emphasis is placed on recent theoretical advances in our understanding of fluid transport properties in all the different regions of temperature and pressure. In addition to the important theoretical tools, the different methods of data representation are also covered, followed by a section that demonstrates the application of selected models in a range of circumstances. Case studies of transport property analysis for real fluids are then given, and the book concludes with a discussion of various international data banks and prediction packages. Advanced students of kinetic theory, as well as engineers and scientists involved with the design of process equipment or the interpretation of measurements of fluid transport properties, will find this book indispensable.
  • Bioinformatics & Genomics
  • Biological Sequence Analysis
    Richard Durbin, Sean R. Eddy, Anders Krogh and Graeme Mitchison
    Description:
    Probabilistic models are becoming increasingly important in analyzing the huge amount of data being produced by large-scale DNA-sequencing efforts such as the Human Genome Project. For example, hidden Markov models are used for analyzing biological sequences, linguistic-grammar-based probabilistic models for identifying RNA secondary structure, and probabilistic evolutionary models for inferring phylogenies of sequences from different organisms. This book gives a unified, up-to-date and self-contained account, with a Bayesian slant, of such methods, and more generally to probabilistic methods of sequence analysis. Written by an interdisciplinary team of authors, it aims to be accessible to molecular biologists, computer scientists, and mathematicians with no formal knowledge of the other fields, and at the same time present the state-of-the-art in this new and highly important field.
  • DNA Microarrays and Gene Expression
    Pierre Baldi, G. Wesley Hatfield
    Description:
    Massive data acquisition technologies, such as genome sequencing, high-throughput drug screening, and DNA arrays are in the process of revolutionizing biology and medicine. Using the mRNA of a given cell, at a given time, under a given set of conditions, DNA microarrays can provide a snapshot of the level of expression of all the genes in the cell. Such snapshots can be used to study fundamental biological phenomena such as development or evolution, to determine the function of new genes, to infer the role individual genes or groups of genes may play in diseases, and to monitor the effect of drugs and other compounds on gene expression. This inter-disciplinary introduction to DNA arrays will be essential reading for both biology and computer science researchers wanting to take advantage of this powerful new technology.
  • Essential Bioinformatics
    Jin Xiong
    Description:
    Essential Bioinformatics is a concise yet comprehensive textbook of bioinformatics, which provides a broad introduction to the entire field. Written specifically for a life science audience, the basics of bioinformatics are explained, followed by discussions of the state-of-the-art computational tools available to solve biological research problems. All key areas of bioinformatics are covered including biological databases, sequence alignment, genes and promoter prediction, molecular phylogenetics, structural bioinformatics, genomics and proteomics. The book emphasizes how computational methods work and compares the strengths and weaknesses of different methods. This balanced yet easily accessible text will be invaluable to students who do not have sophisticated computational backgrounds. Technical details of computational algorithms are explained with a minimum use of mathematical formulae; graphical illustrations are used in their place to aid understanding. The effective synthesis of existing literature as well as in-depth and up-to-date coverage of all key topics in bioinformatics make this an ideal textbook for all bioinformatics courses taken by life science students and for researchers wishing to develop their knowledge of bioinformatics to facilitate their own research.
  • Fundamental Genetics
    John Ringo
    Description:
    Fundamental Genetics is a concise, non-traditional textbook that explains major topics of modern genetics in 42 mini-chapters. It is designed as a textbook for an introductory general genetics course and is also a useful reference or refresher on basic genetics for professionals and students in health sciences and biological sciences. It is organized for ease of learning, beginning with molecular structures and progressing through molecular processes to population genetics and evolution. Students will find the short, focused chapters approachable and more easily digested than the long, more complex chapters of traditional genetics textbooks. Each chapter focuses on one topic, so that teachers and students can readily tailor the book to their needs by choosing a subset of chapters. The book is extensively illustrated throughout with clear and uncluttered diagrams that are simple enough to be reproduced by students. This unique textbook provides a compact alternative for introductory genetics courses.
  • Genetical Research
    W. G. Hill, D. J. Finnegan, Trudy F. C. Mackay
    Description:
    Genetical Research is a prestigious, well-established journal which publishes original work of high quality and wide interest on all aspects of genetics. Major areas of research covered include population and quantitative genetics (both theoretical and experimental), QTL mapping, molecular and developmental genetics of eukaryotes. The breadth and quality of papers, reviews and book reviews make the journal invaluable to professional geneticists, molecular biologists, plant and animal breeders and biologists involved in evolutionary and developmental studies.
  • International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care
    Egon Jonsson, Stanley J. Reiser
    Description:
    The International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care serves as a forum for the wide range of health policy makers and professionals interested in the economic, social, ethical, medical and public health implications of health technology. It covers the development, evaluation, diffusion and use of health technology, as well as its impact on the organization and management of health care systems and public health. In addition to general essays and research reports, regular columns on technology assessment reports and thematic sections are published.
  • Microarray Bioinformatics
    Dov Stekel
    Description:
    This book is a comprehensive guide to all of the mathematics, statistics and computing you will need to successfully operate DNA microarray experiments. It is written for researchers, clinicians, laboratory heads and managers, from both biology and bioinformatics backgrounds, who work with, or who intend to work with microarrays. The book covers all aspects of microarray bioinformatics, giving you the tools to design arrays and experiments, to analyze your data, and to share your results with your organization or with the international community. There are chapters covering sequence databases, oligonucleotide design, experimental design, image processing, normalization, identifying differentially expressed genes, clustering, classification and data standards. The book is based on the highly successful Microarray Bioinformatics course at Oxford University, and therefore is ideally suited for teaching the subject at postgraduate or professional level.
  • Bioinstrumentation & Devices
  • Clinical Engineering Handbook
    Joseph Dyro
    Description:
    As the biomedical engineering field expands throughout the world, clinical engineers play an evermore-important role as translators between the medical, engineering, and business professions. They influence procedure and policy at research facilities, universities, as well as private and government agencies including the Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization. The profession of clinical engineering continues to seek its place amidst the myriad of professionals that comprise the health care field.

    The Clinical Engineering Handbook meets a long felt need for comprehensive book on all aspects of clinical engineering that is a suitable reference in hospitals, classrooms, workshops, and governmental and non-governmental organization. The Handbook's thirteen sections address the following areas: Clinical Engineering; Models of Clinical Engineering Practice; Technology Management; Safety Education and Training; Design, Manufacture, and Evaluation and Control of Medical Devices; Utilization and Service of Medical Devices; Information Technology; and Professionalism and Ethics. The Clinical Engineering Handbook provides the reader with prospects for the future of clinical engineering as well as guidelines and standards for best practice around the world. From telemedicine and IT issues, to sanitation and disaster planning, it brings together all the important aspects of clinical engineering.
  • Design of Medical Electronic Devices
    Reinaldo Perez
    Description:
    The design of medical electronics is unique because of the background needed by the engineers and scientists involved. Often the designer is a medical or life science professional without any training in electronics or design. Likewise, few engineers are specifically trained in biomedical engineering and have little or no exposure to the specific medical requirements of these devices. Design of Medical Electronic Devices presents all essential topics necessary for basic and advanced design. All aspects of the electronics of medical devices are also covered. This is an essential book for graduate students as well as professionals involved in the design of medical equipment.
  • Introduction to Biomedical Engineering, Second Edition
    John Enderle, Susan Blanchard, Joseph Bronzino
    Description:
    Under the direction of John Enderle, Susan Blanchard and Joe Bronzino, leaders in the field have contributed chapters on the most relevant subjects for biomedical engineering students. These chapters coincide with courses offered in all biomedical engineering programs so that it can be used at different levels for a variety of courses of this evolving field.

    Introduction to Biomedical Engineering, Second Edition provides a historical perspective of the major developments in the biomedical field. Also contained within are the fundamental principles underlying biomedical engineering design, analysis, and modeling procedures. The numerous examples, drill problems and exercises are used to reinforce concepts and develop problem-solving skills making this book an invaluable tool for all biomedical students and engineers.
  • Biology
  • An Introduction to Genetic Engineering
    Desmond S. T. Nicholl
    Description:
    Des Nicholl presents a new, fully revised, and expanded edition of his popular undergraduate-level textbook. The book retains many of the features of the original edition and still offers a concise technical introduction to the subject of genetic engineering. It is divided into three main sections: basic molecular biology, methods of gene manipulation, and modern applications of genetic engineering. Applications covered in the book include genomics, protein engineering, gene therapy, cloning, transgenic animals and plants, and bioethics. An Introduction to Genetic Engineering is essential reading for undergraduate students of biotechnology, genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry.
  • Biotechnology
    John E. Smith
    Description:
    In this expanded fourth edition of his popular textbook, John Smith once again demystifies biotechnology--especially genetic manipulation--by clearly and accessibly explaining the history, techniques, and applications of modern biotechnology for students and the general reader. All aspects of biotechnology are covered, and a positive stance is taken concerning the potential benefits to human society. Greater emphasis is also given to the public perception of biotechnology and the ethical and safety questions raised. The book is ideal for short introductory biotechnology courses at the university level.
  • Mechanics of the Cell
    David Boal
    Description:
    Aimed at senior undergraduates and graduate students in science and biomedical engineering, this text explores the architecture of a cell’s envelope and internal scaffolding, and the properties of its soft components. The book first discusses the properties of individual flexible polymers, networks and membranes, and then considers simple composite assemblages such as bacteria and synthetic cells. The analysis is performed within a consistent theoretical framework, although readers can navigate from the introductory material to results and biological applications without working through the intervening mathematics. This, together with a glossary of terms and appendices providing quick introductions to chemical nomenclature, cell structure, statistical mechanics and elasticity theory, make the text suitable for readers from a variety of subject backgrounds. Further applications and extensions are handled through problem sets at the end of each chapter and supplementary material available on the Internet.
  • Biomechanics
  • Cardiology in the Young
    Robert H. Anderson
    Description:
    Cardiology in the Young is devoted to cardiovascular issues affecting the young, and the older patient suffering the sequels of congenital heart disease, or other cardiac diseases acquired in childhood. The journal serves the interests of all professionals concerned with these topics. By design, the journal is international and multidisciplinary in its approach, and members of the editorial board take an active role in the its mission, helping to make it the essential journal in pediatric cardiology. All aspects of pediatric cardiology are covered within the journal. The content includes original articles, brief reports, editorials, reviews, and papers devoted to continuing professional development. High-quality color figures are published on a regular basis, and without charge to the authors. Regular supplements are published containing the abstracts of the annual meetings of the Association for European Paediatric Cardiology, along with other occasional supplements. These are supplied free to subscribers.
  • Skeletal Function and Form
    Dennis R. Carter and Gary S. Beaupré
    Description:
    The intimate relationship between form and function inherent in the design of animals is perhaps nowhere more evident than in the musculoskeletal system. In the bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and muscles of all vertebrates there is a graceful and efficient physical order. This book is about how function determines form. It addresses the role of mechanical factors in the development, adaptation, maintenance, aging, and repair of skeletal tissues. The authors refer to this process as mechanobiology and develop their theme within an evolutionary framework. They show how the normal development of skeletal tissues is influenced by mechanical stimulation beginning in the embryo and continuing throughout life into old age. They also show how degenerative disorders such as arthritis and osteoporosis are regulated by the same mechanical processes that influence development and growth. Skeletal Function and Form bridges important gaps among disciplines, providing a common ground for understanding, and will appeal to a wide audience of bioengineers, zoologists, anthropologists, paleontologists, and orthopedists.
  • Biomaterials & Biopolymers
  • An Introduction to Polymer Physics
    David I. Bower
    Description:
    Assuming no previous knowledge of polymers, this book provides a general introduction to the physics of solid polymers. Covering a wide range of topics within the field of polymer physics, the book begins with a brief history of the development of synthetic polymers and an overview of the methods of polymerization and processing. In the following chapter, David Bower describes important experimental techniques used in the study of polymers. The main part of the book, however, is devoted to the structure and properties of solid polymers, including blends, copolymers and liquid crystal polymers. With an approach appropriate for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of physics, materials science or chemistry, the book includes many worked examples, and problems with solutions. It will provide a firm foundation for the study of the physics of solid polymers.
  • Biofilms
    Michael Wilson
    Description:
    Biofilms aims to be the most important forum for the publication of articles on biofilms and the journal of choice for researchers in the biofilm field. Published quarterly, Biofilms contains original research articles and review articles covering the structure, formation and growth of biofilms, gene expression and transfer in biofilms, human and animal diseases involving biofilms, biofilms in the food, oil and pharmaceutical industries, biofilms associated with soil, water, waste treatment, corrosion and marine environments. It also publishes reviews of books and internet sites, and contains announcements of interest to the biofilm community.
  • Medical Implications of Biofilms
    Michael Wilson, Deirdre Devine
    Description:
    Human tissues often support large, complex microbial communities growing as biofilms that can cause a variety of infections. Due to an increased use of implanted medical devices, the incidence of these biofilm-associated diseases is increasing: the non-shedding surfaces of these devices provide ideal substrata for colonization by biofilm-forming microbes. The consequences of this mode of growth are far-reaching. As microbes in biofilms exhibit increased tolerance towards anti-microbial agents and decreased susceptibility to host defense systems, biofilm-associated diseases are becoming increasingly difficult to treat. Not surprisingly, therefore, interest in biofilms has increased dramatically in recent years. The application of new microscopic and molecular techniques has revolutionized our understanding of biofilm structure, composition, organization and activities, resulting in important advances in the prevention and treatment of biofilm-related diseases. The purpose of this book is to bring these advances to the attention of clinicians and medical researchers.
  • Biomedical Imaging & Optics
  • Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging: Inside Out
    Thomas Szabo
    Description:
    Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging provides a comprehensive introduction to and a state-of-the-art review of the essential science and signal processing principles of diagnostic ultrasound. The progressive organization of the material serves beginners in medical ultrasound science and graduate students as well as design engineers, medical physicists, researchers, clinical collaborators, and the curious.

    This it the most comprehensive and extensive work available on the core science and workings of advanced digital imaging systems, exploring the subject in a unified, consistent and interrelated manner. From its antecedents to the modern day use and prospects for the future, this it the most up-to-date text on the subject.

    Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging provides in-depth overviews on the following major aspects of diagnostic ultrasound: absorption in tissues; acoustical and electrical measurements; beamforming, focusing, and imaging; bioeffects and ultrasound safety; digital imaging systems and terminology; Doppler and Doppler imaging; nonlinear propagation, beams and harmonic imaging; scattering and propagation through realistic tissues; and tissue characterization.
  • Fundamentals of Medical Imaging
    Paul Suetens
    Description:
    This book explains the mathematical and physical principles of medical imaging and image processing. Beginning with an introduction to digital image processing, it goes on to cover the most important imaging modalities in use today: radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonic imaging and nuclear medicine imaging. Each chapter includes a short history of the imaging modality, physics of the signal and its interaction with tissue, image formation or reconstruction process, image quality, different types of equipment, examples of clinical applications, biological effects, safety issues, and future expectations. The remainder of the book deals with image analysis and visualization for diagnosis, therapy, and surgery after images are available. A CD packaged with the book includes the text, all the images in color, and some animated images. Both students and beginning biomedical engineers will welcome this well-balanced, copiously illustrated treatment of medical imaging.
  • Introduction to Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Book
    R. B. Buxton
    Description:
    In Introduction to Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Richard Buxton, a leading authority, provides an invaluable introduction to how fMRI works, from basic principles and the underlying physics and physiology, to newer techniques such as arterial spin labeling and diffusion tensor imaging. The supplementary CD-ROM contains all the figures from the book as PowerPoint files, together with movies of cross-sectional anatomical MR images and a library of all the MR images used in the movies as individual Tiff files. These comprise the following sets: high resolution volume imaging sets in three orientations; T1-weighted spin-echo (transverse); T2-weighted spin-echo (transverse); and T1-weighted true inversion recovery (sagittal). As a supplement to the book, and a resource for teachers and researchers, this combination of text and dual platform CD is invaluable.
  • Pattern Recognition in Medical Imaging
    Anke Meyer-Baese
    Description:
    Medical Imaging has become one of the most important visualization and interpretation methods in biology and medecine over the past decade. This time has witnessed a tremendous development of new, powerful instruments for detecting, storing, transmitting, analyzing, and displaying medical images. This has led to a huge growth in the application of digital processing techniques for solving medical problems. The most challenging aspect of medical imaging lies in the development of integrated systems for the use of the clinical sector. Design, implementation, and validation of complex medical systems requires a tight interdisciplinary collaboration between physicians and engineers because poor image quality leads to problematic feature extraction, analysis, and recognition in medical application. Therefore, much of the research done today is geared towards improvement of imperfect image material.

    This important book by academic authority Anke Meyer-Baese compiles and organizes a complete range of proven and cutting-edge new methods, which are playing a leading role in the improvement of image quality, analysis and interpretation in modern medical imaging. These methods offer fresh tools of hope for physicians investigating a vast number of medical problems for which classical methods prove insufficient.

    Each chapter in Pattern Recognition for Medical Imaging provides a chapter summary and bibliographic remarks for in-depth study. Each presented classification approach is elucidated by a flow-diagram and highlighted with practical medical imaging applications. This is an essential tool for the serious student and professional working with Medical Imaging.
  • Cell and Tissue Engineering
  • An Introduction to Genetic Engineering
    Desmond S. T. Nicholl
    Description:
    Des Nicholl presents a new, fully revised, and expanded edition of his popular undergraduate-level textbook. The book retains many of the features of the original edition and still offers a concise technical introduction to the subject of genetic engineering. It is divided into three main sections: basic molecular biology, methods of gene manipulation, and modern applications of genetic engineering. Applications covered in the book include genomics, protein engineering, gene therapy, cloning, transgenic animals and plants, and bioethics. An Introduction to Genetic Engineering is essential reading for undergraduate students of biotechnology, genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry.
  • Mechanics of the Cell
    David Boal
    Description:
    Aimed at senior undergraduates and graduate students in science and biomedical engineering, this text explores the architecture of a cell’s envelope and internal scaffolding, and the properties of its soft components. The book first discusses the properties of individual flexible polymers, networks and membranes, and then considers simple composite assemblages such as bacteria and synthetic cells. The analysis is performed within a consistent theoretical framework, although readers can navigate from the introductory material to results and biological applications without working through the intervening mathematics. This, together with a glossary of terms and appendices providing quick introductions to chemical nomenclature, cell structure, statistical mechanics and elasticity theory, make the text suitable for readers from a variety of subject backgrounds. Further applications and extensions are handled through problem sets at the end of each chapter and supplementary material available on the Internet.

Universities in Singapore

Master Program in Biomedical Engineering
  • National University of Singapore, http://www.bioeng.nus.edu.sg/
  • Nanyang University of Singapore, http://www.ntu.edu.sg/mae/academic/graduate/MSC/MSc(BiomedEng)/

Thursday, July 12, 2007

India, Stanford to collaborate on biomedical innovators

Suman Guha Mozumder in New York June 22, 2007 15:38 IST


Stanford University in California has launched a partnership with the Indian government to establish a new training programme.

The Stanford-India Biodesign will help create the next generation of biomedical technology innovators in India.

"India is on the move," said Harry Greenberg, senior associate dean for research at the Stanford University School of Medicine, who described the partnership as a plan to meet the future needs of India's medical technology industry, which is poised to grow dramatically

"India represents a huge part of the population of the globe that is likely to benefit from medical innovation and technology over the next 20 years," he said.

The Indian government will allocate $4.8 million over the next five years to help fund the joint venture between Stanford and India's department of biotechnology to train future medical device inventors and catalyse the expansion of the medical technology industry in India.

"By sharing our teaching methods with our Indian partners, we expect similar biodesign training programs to spring up around India fueling the development of exciting new technologies within the next decade," said Paul Yock, director of Stanford's Programme in Biodesign. "We hope this will parallel the extraordinary growth of the medical technology industry in Silicon Valley over the past 25 years."

Initiated in 2001, the Biodesign Programme at Stanford is dedicated to training tomorrow's leaders in medical technology using an experiential approach to technology innovation. The focus of the Biodesign Programme has been to train the next generation of medical technology innovators, taking advantage of the wealth of experience of Biodesign faculty and affiliated industry advisors.

Under the partnership programme, the plan is to bring the Stanford programme's method of 'teaching innovation' to Indian engineering, business and medical students through a two-year fellowship pilot project.

The fellowship will start with hands-on innovation training at Stanford and progress to immersion in health clinics and hospitals in India where students will identify unmet medical needs specifically targeted for the Indian heath-care environment and create cost-effective solutions to meet those needs.

At the end of the programme, the fellows will remain in India and lead the further development and testing of these solutions in either a university programme, a start-up company or a new unit of an existing company.

The $4.8 million in funding from the Indian government should cover about half the cost of the programme, which means Stanford must raise the additional funding.

While Stanford's Biodesign Programme has successfully trained medical innovators with its unique methods of immersion in clinical settings and hands-on innovation for years now, the new partnership will emphasise the cost-effectiveness of the technology more than it has in the past.

This is a new emphasis that the Stanford leaders hope to promote for their Stanford students as well.

"The purpose is to eventually help meet the medical needs of the people at the bottom of the economic pyramid in India," said Balram Bhargava, the India-based executive director of Stanford-India Biodesign and a professor of cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, one of two educational institutions involved in the first stage of the Stanford-India Biodesign initiative. The Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi is the other.

"With a population over 1 billion strong, along with emerging medical and engineering fields and an exploding need for a stronger medical device industry, India is poised for explosive growth of its nascent medical technology industry," said Raj Doshi, a Stanford graduate in both engineering and medicine who has been named the US-based executive director of Stanford-India Biodesign.

"There's a huge opportunity to do a lot of good. The potential in India is limitless. What's needed is a catalyst. We are hoping the combined efforts of the three educational institutions will be this catalyst," Doshi said.

While this initial partnership is based on Stanford bringing its training skills to India, Yock emphasised that Stanford is hoping to cultivate long-term benefits from the programme. The hope is that the five-year pilot project will develop into an ongoing collaboration between Stanford and key institutions in India.

"The global health marketplace for biomedical technology innovation is going to be important in a way that it never was before," Yock said. "Inventors and developers of new medical technologies will need to understand the global applications. The best way for our students to train for this new era is to jump in and experience first-hand the process of innovation in a developing-world setting," he said.

Other expected benefits to Stanford will be the new emphasis on creating cost-effective technology, Yock said.

"Ninety per cent of Indian citizens lack medical insurance and many live in rural areas without access to decent health care. We think cost-effective technology has a really important role in bridging the gap to these underserved patients," he said.

India has already developed several examples of cost-effective medical devices that reach underserved patients such as the Jaipur limb, a lower leg prosthesis that can be manufactured and fitted in a matter of a few hours and is provided free to those who can't afford it. At the Aravind Eye Institutes, a custom-designed and manufactured intra-ocular lens is implanted in tens of thousands of patients a year, free for those who can't afford it.

In the United States, medical technology is often blamed for much of the runaway costs of health care expenditure, Yock said. "We think there is a kind of technology innovation that we don't understand at all in the US that is cost-efficient, cost-effective and still high quality. We want to expose our students to its implications in the context of the developing world," he said.

Stanford's Biodesign has bridged the gap between academia and industry by partnering with the local and national medical technology industry. The programme has established teaching methods that provide innovation tools to engineers, physicians and business people, allowing them to create and develop innovative healthcare solutions.

The programme will be developed in conjunction with Stanford's newly announced International Initiative and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford.

The SIB Fellowship Programme that will begin in January 2008 will initially be centered in New Delhi and administered as a collaboration between Stanford, the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. In subsequent years, the fellowship and associated teaching programmes will be developed in other centres in India.

Singapore Manufacturing Output Rises On Biomedical Sector

6/26/2007 5:18:17 AM Singapore manufacturing output rose 17.7% from the previous year in May, though at a slightly slower pace, on the back of solid performances from biomedical and transport engineering sectors, the government data indicated Tuesday. Last month, the growth was 18.8% on year.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, manufacturing output rose 4.0%, down from 8.0% growth posted in the prior month. The three-month moving average index for May rose 10.6% on year compared to 5.1% growth previously.

The biomedical-manufacturing sector continued to post solid gains in May, with a 76.2% jump in output, following a 98.5% spike last month.

The transport engineering sector expanded 39.5% in May, for the fourth consecutive month, boosted by 69.6% growth in the marine & offshore segment. Last month, marine & offshore segment expanded 32.0%, contributing significantly to the 24.4% overall gain in the sector.

Meanwhile, the general manufacturing industries grew 6.7% in May, due mainly to higher production in the food, beverages and tobacco industries.

In contrast, production in chemical and precision engineering industries fell 5.5% and 2.3% respectively from last year.

The annual growth in electronic sector came flat in May, as expansions in semiconductor and electronic components were offset by contractions in other segments like infocomms and consumer electronics.

Cumulatively, manufacturing output in the first five months rose 9.9% from a year ago period, the report said.

Biomedical Engineer in UK

Job description
Biomedical engineers apply engineering principles and materials technology to healthcare. This can include researching, designing and developing medical products, such as joint replacements or robotic surgical instruments; designing or modifying equipment for clients with special needs in a rehabilitation setting; or managing the use of clinical equipment in hospitals and the community.
Biomedical engineers can be employed by health services, medical equipment manufacturers and research departments/institutes.
Job titles can vary depending on the exact nature of the work: as well as biomedical engineer you are likely to come across bioengineer; design engineer; clinical engineer (in a hospital setting/clinical situation); and rehabilitation engineer.

Typical work activities
Work activities vary, depending on where you work and the seniority of the post, but typically involve:
using computer software and mathematical models to design, develop and test new materials, devices and equipment. This can involve: programming electronics; building and evaluating prototypes; troubleshooting problems; and rethinking the design until it works correctly;
assessing the potential wider market for products or modifications suggested by health professionals or others;
approaching marketing and other industry companies to sell the product;
liaising with technicians and manufacturers to ensure the feasibility of a product in terms of design and economic viability;
conducting research to solve clinical problems using a variety of means to collate the necessary information, including questionnaires, interviews and group conferences;
liaising closely with other medical professionals, such as doctors and therapists, and with end-users (patients and their carers);
discussing and solving problems with manufacturing, quality, purchasing and marketing departments;
arranging clinical trials of medical products;
writing reports and attending conferences and exhibitions to present your work and latest designs to a range of technical and non-technical audiences;
meeting with senior health service staff or other managers to exchange findings;
dealing with technical queries from hospitals and GPs and giving advice on new equipment;
testing and maintaining clinical equipment;
training technical or clinical staff;
investigating safety-related incidents;
keeping up to date with new developments in the field, nationally and internationally.

Salary and Conditions
Typical starting salary: around £23,000 for a trainee in The National Health Service (NHS).
Range of typical salaries for biomedical engineers working as state registered clinical scientists in the NHS: £28,000 - £36,000.
More senior biomedical engineers may be paid on the same scale as consultants and may earn between £36,000 and £88,000.
The above figures relate to clinical scientists working in the NHS and are only a guide as actual pay rates may vary depending on the employer and location. Those working in or near London receive an additional allowance.
Salaries in the private sector may be higher.
Working hours are mainly nine to five-thirty, with local variations. Those involved in research often work in a flexible environment and longer hours may be necessary at certain stages of a project. Extra hours may also be worked when there are deadlines to meet or research reports to produce. On practical grounds, safety and maintenance work on hospital equipment is likely to be performed out of hours.
The workplace may be an office, laboratory, workshop, manufacturing plant, clinic or other medical setting.
Self-employment is unlikely, although there may be scope to work as a consulting engineer or a contractor to a hospital. However, you would need to have a good network of contacts due to the collaborative nature of the work; biomedical engineers rarely work alone.
The gender balance is approximately 55:45 male to female, but the number of women entering the field is increasing. It can be up to 50% in the NHS and in universities.
Jobs are quite widely available across the UK, particularly in NHS trusts. Flexibility in preferred geographical location may be necessary, both to obtain an initial training post and when seeking to move to a higher grade.
Local travel within the working day may be required, for example where the job involves the regional management and maintenance of medical equipment in hospitals, GP surgeries and patients' homes. Travel to meetings, conferences or exhibitions both in the UK and abroad is also possible. Some jobs in the private sector may involve extensive travel to introduce products and clinical trials to hospitals.
NHS employees are less likely to travel abroad than private sector or research staff, who are more commonly involved in international collaboration.

Planning a career in Biomedical Engineering

What is a biomedical engineer?
What are some of the specialty areas?
Where do biomedical engineers work?
What does the future demand look like for biomedical engineers?
How can I reach a biomedical engineer to discuss career issues?
How should I prepare for a career in biomedical engineering?
How do I select a biomedical engineering academic program?
Biomedical engineering programs offer BS, BA, BSE, and BE undergraduate degrees. What is the difference between the various degrees offered in this field?
How important is ABET accreditation?
What are some little known facts about biomedical engineering?


What is a Biomedical Engineer?
A Biomedical Engineer uses traditional engineering expertise to analyze and solve problems in biology and medicine, providing an overall enhancement of health care. Students choose the biomedical engineering field to be of service to people, to partake of the excitement of working with living systems, and to apply advanced technology to the complex problems of medical care. The biomedical engineer works with other health care professionals including physicians, nurses, therapists and technicians. Biomedical engineers may be called upon in a wide range of capacities: to design instruments, devices, and software, to bring together knowledge from many technical sources to develop new procedures, or to conduct research needed to solve clinical problems.

What are Some of the Specialty Areas?
In this field there is continual change and creation of new areas due to rapid advancement in technology; however, some of the well established specialty areas within the field of biomedical engineering are: bioinstrumentation; biomaterials; biomechanics; cellular, tissue and genetic engineering; clinical engineering; medical imaging; orthopaedic surgery; rehabilitation engineering; and systems physiology.
Bioinstrumentation is the application of electronics and measurement techniques to develop devices used in diagnosis and treatment of disease. Computers are an essential part of bioinstrumentation, from the microprocessor in a single-purpose instrument used to do a variety of small tasks to the microcomputer needed to process the large amount of information in a medical imaging system.
Biomaterials include both living tissue and artificial materials used for implantation. Understanding the properties and behavior of living material is vital in the design of implant materials. The selection of an appropriate material to place in the human body may be one of the most difficult tasks faced by the biomedical engineer. Certain metal alloys, ceramics, polymers, and composites have been used as implantable materials. Biomaterials must be nontoxic, non-carcinogenic, chemically inert, stable, and mechanically strong enough to withstand the repeated forces of a lifetime. Newer biomaterials even incorporate living cells in order to provide a true biological and mechanical match for the living tissue.
Biomechanics applies classical mechanics (statics, dynamics, fluids, solids, thermodynamics, and continuum mechanics) to biological or medical problems. It includes the study of motion, material deformation, flow within the body and in devices, and transport of chemical constituents across biological and synthetic media and membranes. Progress in biomechanics has led to the development of the artificial heart and heart valves, artificial joint replacements, as well as a better understanding of the function of the heart and lung, blood vessels and capillaries, and bone, cartilage, intervertebral discs, ligaments and tendons of the musculoskeletal systems.
Cellular, Tissue and Genetic Engineering involve more recent attempts to attack biomedical problems at the microscopic level. These areas utilize the anatomy, biochemistry and mechanics of cellular and sub-cellular structures in order to understand disease processes and to be able to intervene at very specific sites. With these capabilities, miniature devices deliver compounds that can stimulate or inhibit cellular processes at precise target locations to promote healing or inhibit disease formation and progression.
Clinical Engineering is the application of technology to health care in hospitals. The clinical engineer is a member of the health care team along with physicians, nurses and other hospital staff. Clinical engineers are responsible for developing and maintaining computer databases of medical instrumentation and equipment records and for the purchase and use of sophisticated medical instruments. They may also work with physicians to adapt instrumentation to the specific needs of the physician and the hospital. This often involves the interface of instruments with computer systems and customized software for instrument control and data acquisition and analysis. Clinical engineers are involved with the application of the latest technology to health care.
Medical Imaging combines knowledge of a unique physical phenomenon (sound, radiation, magnetism, etc.) with high speed electronic data processing, analysis and display to generate an image. Often, these images can be obtained with minimal or completely noninvasive procedures, making them less painful and more readily repeatable than invasive techniques.
Orthopaedic Bioengineering is the specialty where methods of engineering and computational mechanics have been applied for the understanding of the function of bones, joints and muscles, and for the design of artificial joint replacements. Orthopaedic bioengineers analyze the friction, lubrication and wear characteristics of natural and artificial joints; they perform stress analysis of the musculoskeletal system; and they develop artificial biomaterials (biologic and synthetic) for replacement of bones, cartilages, ligaments, tendons, meniscus and intervertebral discs. They often perform gait and motion analyses for sports performance and patient outcome following surgical procedures. Orthopaedic bioengineers also pursue fundamental studies on cellular function, and mechano-signal transduction.
Rehabilitation Engineering is a growing specialty area of biomedical engineering. Rehabilitation engineers enhance the capabilities and improve the quality of life for individuals with physical and cognitive impairments. They are involved in prosthetics, the development of home, workplace and transportation modifications and the design of assistive technology that enhance seating and positioning, mobility, and communication. Rehabilitation engineers are also developing hardware and software computer adaptations and cognitive aids to assist people with cognitive difficulties.
Systems Physiology is the term used to describe that aspect of biomedical engineering in which engineering strategies, techniques and tools are used to gain a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the function of living organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. Computer modeling is used in the analysis of experimental data and in formulating mathematical descriptions of physiological events. In research, predictor models are used in designing new experiments to refine our knowledge. Living systems have highly regulated feedback control systems that can be examined with state-of-the-art techniques. Examples are the biochemistry of metabolism and the control of limb movements.
These specialty areas frequently depend on each other. Often, the biomedical engineer who works in an applied field will use knowledge gathered by biomedical engineers working in other areas. For example, the design of an artificial hip is greatly aided by studies on anatomy, bone biomechanics, gait analysis, and biomaterial compatibility. The forces that are applied to the hip can be considered in the design and material selection for the prosthesis. Similarly, the design of systems to electrically stimulate paralyzed muscle to move in a controlled way uses knowledge of the behavior of the human musculoskeletal system. The selection of appropriate materials used in these devices falls within the realm of the biomaterials engineer.
Examples of Specific Activities
Work done by biomedical engineers may include a wide range of activities such as:
Artificial organs (hearing aids, cardiac pacemakers, artificial kidneys and hearts, blood oxygenators, synthetic blood vessels, joints, arms, and legs).
Automated patient monitoring (during surgery or in intensive care, healthy persons in unusual environments, such as astronauts in space or underwater divers at great depth).
Blood chemistry sensors (potassium, sodium, O2, CO2, and pH).
Advanced therapeutic and surgical devices (laser system for eye surgery, automated delivery of insulin, etc.).
Application of expert systems and artificial intelligence to clinical decision making (computer-based systems for diagnosing diseases).
Design of optimal clinical laboratories (computerized analyzer for blood samples, cardiac catheterization laboratory, etc.).
Medical imaging systems (ultrasound, computer assisted tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, etc.).
Computer modeling of physiologic systems (blood pressure control, renal function, visual and auditory nervous circuits, etc.).
Biomaterials design (mechanical, transport and biocompatibility properties of implantable artificial materials).
Biomechanics of injury and wound healing (gait analysis, application of growth factors, etc.).
Sports medicine (rehabilitation, external support devices, etc.)

Where do Biomedical Engineers Work?
Biomedical engineers are employed in universities, in industry, in hospitals, in research facilities of educational and medical institutions, in teaching, and in government regulatory agencies. They often serve a coordinating or interfacing function, using their background in both the engineering and medical fields. In industry, they may create designs where an in-depth understanding of living systems and of technology is essential. They may be involved in performance testing of new or proposed products. Government positions often involve product testing and safety, as well as establishing safety standards for devices. In the hospital, the biomedical engineer may provide advice on the selection and use of medical equipment, as well as supervising its performance testing and maintenance. They may also build customized devices for special health care or research needs. In research institutions, biomedical engineers supervise laboratories and equipment, and participate in or direct research activities in collaboration with other researchers with such backgrounds as medicine, physiology, and nursing. Some biomedical engineers are technical advisors for marketing departments of companies and some are in management positions.
Some biomedical engineers also have advanced training in other fields. For example, many biomedical engineers also have an M.D. degree, thereby combining an understanding of advanced technology with direct patient care or clinical research.


What Does the Future Demand Look Like for Biomedical Engineers?
The United States Department of Labor reports that “the number of biomedical engineering jobs will increase by 31.4 percent through 2010---double the rate for all other jobs combined.” Overall job growth in this field will average 15.2% through the end of the decade. The U.S. Department of Labor report attributed the rapid rise in biomedical engineering jobs in part to an aging U.S. population and the increasing demand for improved medical devices and systems. Specific growth areas cited in the report included computer-assisted surgery, cellular and tissue engineering, rehabilitation, and orthopedic engineering.


How Can I Reach a Biomedical Engineer to Discuss Career Issues?
Individuals interested in a career in biomedical engineering should contact the program director or faculty member at a nearby college or university with a program in biomedical engineering. A list of academic programs is available at http://www.whitaker.org/. If students are not aware of any schools in their state or region, they can also contact BMES headquarters for this information at http://www.bmes.org/.


How Should I Prepare for a Career in Biomedical Engineering?
The biomedical engineering student should first plan to become a good engineer who then acquires a working understanding of the life sciences and terminology. Good communication skills are also important, because the biomedical engineer provides a vital link with professionals having medical, technical, and other backgrounds.
High school preparation for biomedical engineering is the same as that for any other engineering discipline, except that life science course work should also be included. If possible, Advanced Placement courses in these areas would be helpful. At the college level, the student usually selects engineering as a field of study, then chooses a discipline concentration within engineering. Some students will major in biomedical engineering, while others may major in chemical, electrical, or mechanical engineering with a specialty in biomedical engineering. As career plans develop, the student should seek advice on the degree of specialization and the educational levels appropriate to his or her goals and interests. Information on sources of financial aid for education and training should also be sought. Many students continue their education in graduate school where they obtain valuable biomedical research experience at the Masters or Doctoral level. When entering the job market, the graduate should be able to point to well defined engineering skills for application to the biomedical field, with some project or in-the-field experience in biomedical engineering.

How Do I Select a Biomedical Engineering Academic Program?
There is no easy answer to this question, but potential biomedical engineering students can begin their search by first looking into programs in their own state or region. Due to the growth of academic programs in this profession, many individuals can find a good program nearby. One question to consider is the philosophy or focus of the academic program. Some programs emphasize research while others may emphasize more design projects with an orientation toward industrial careers. Students should ask about the curriculum as well as the placement experience of recent graduates.


Biomedical Engineering Programs Offer BS, BA, BSE, and BE Undergraduate Degrees. What is the Difference Between the Various Degrees Offered in this Field?
The different degree names offered in biomedical engineering reflect more a preference of the academic institution rather than any substantive difference in the curriculum or academic credential. Each of these degrees has essentially the same value as an academic credential aside from the reputation of the biomedical engineering program and the university.


How Important is ABET Accreditation?
Another issue to consider is accreditation. Accreditation is a process involving conformity assurance by an independent review body verifying that academic programs or institutions have met agreed upon standards of quality and performance in a specific profession. The American Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) is the official accreditation body for biomedical engineering programs in the United States. A current list of accredited undergraduate programs (29 as of November 2003) can always be found at the ABET web site http://www.abet.org/. Prospective students can review ABET accreditation criteria and determine whether they want to limit their search to accredited programs. Accreditation is always desirable in any academic program geared toward training professionals. Also, current licensure requirements require graduation from an accredited program as a prerequisite requirement for the Professional Engineer (PE) license. It should be noted however, that licensure issues are currently not as important in biomedical engineering as they are in other areas such as civil engineering where permits and legal documents require signatures from a PE. The importance of licensure for Biomedical Engineers could, however, become more important in the future.It should be noted that BMES is an official ABET participating body and the lead society for biomedical engineering and bioengineering.


What are Some Little Known Facts About Biomedical Engineering?
Biomedical engineers play a significant role in mapping the human genome, robotics, tissue engineering, and in nanotechnology.
Biomedical engineering has the highest percentage of female students in all of the engineering specialties.
30% of biomedical engineering graduates are employed in manufacturing.
Many biomedical engineering graduates go on to medical school. The percentage of students applying to medical school is as high as 50% in some programs.
There are 15 chapters of the national biomedical engineering honor society, Alpha Eta Mu Beta, located on college campuses throughout the United States.
BMES has more than 87 student chapters on college and university campuses.
Judith A. Resnick, PhD, a U.S. astronaut who died when Challenger exploded in 1986, was a biomedical engineer working at NIH from 1974 to 1977.
Willem Kolff, MD PhD, a biomedical engineer and physician, designed early artificial hearts and the first kidney dialysis machine. He supervised the first implanted artificial heart into Barney Clark, and his latest work is on a portable artificial lung.
The National Institutes of Health has a new institute for biomedical engineering and imaging. The Institute (NIBIB) coordinates with the biomedical imaging and bioengineering programs of other agencies and NIH Institutes to support imaging and engineering research with potential medical applications and facilitates the transfer of such technologies to medical applications.
A single U.S. foundation, the Whitaker Foundation in Arlington, Virginia, has made significant contributions to the development of this profession. Whitaker Foundation grants more than doubled the number of biomedical engineering academic programs in the United States by adding 38 new departments in this field.

For More Information
Accredited Programs: Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET), 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, 410-347-7700 or www.abet.org/accredited_prgs.htmlGraduate Programs: Available on the Internet at www.bmenet.org and Peterson's Guide to Graduate Programs at http://iiswinprd01.petersons.com/gradchannel/ Biomedical Engineering Academic Program Annual Report. Available on the Internet at http://www.bmenet.org/

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ROLE OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

The Role of Biomedical Engineering in Biomedical Researchand Industrial Development
Dov Jaron Ph.D.
Calhoun Distinguished Professor of Engineering in MedicineSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health SystemsDrexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaU.S.A.President, International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering


The 21st century has been labeled as the "Biological Century" with the expectation of profound implications to future technological breakthroughs both in the medical and other industrial sectors. In particular, we are on the threshold of a revolution in biology and medicine with the completion of the sequencing of the human genome, research to relate sequence to expression and eventually to cell and organ function. These enormous changes signify critical transformation for many segments of industry and for the profession of biomedical engineering. While some of the traditional areas of biomedical engineering and its technology innovations will continue to flourish, we will face new challenges and greatly enhanced opportunities. Meeting these challenges and capitalizing on the new opportunities will make biomedical engineering the cornerstone for future technological advances with applications to research in biology and medicine, to health and to the delivery of health care.
The biomedical engineer is becoming essential to understanding the enormous amount of information that is being generated by basic research, to using quantitative approaches, to integrating disparate components in order to understand complex living systems, to providing truly innovative solutions and to translating these to commercial products. The biomedical engineer is playing a critical role in research and in its applications to improving quality of life, and in implementing cost-effective solutions for delivery of health care.
Major funding agencies and Foundations in the United States have recognized the importance of biomedical engineering to the future of health and health care and have taken steps to increase support and promote the field. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has increased its funding allocation to the bioengineering programs and to special initiatives that encompass many of the divisions and directorates of the Foundation. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) established in 1997 the Bioengineering Consortium (BECON) to coordinate and enhance funding for biomedical engineering research among the many NIH institutes. BECON initiated a number of special programs aimed at closely integrating engineers with biological and medical scientists. The Whitaker Foundation embarked on building the infrastructure for biomedical engineering in the US by supporting young researchers and by funding the establishment of new academic departments in many universities. The United States now has more than 80 academic departments and more than 100 programs in biomedical engineering. While overall engineering enrollment has been declining in the last two decades, enrollment in biomedical engineering programs, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels has increased dramatically, reflecting the revolution in the scientific basis for industrial development and the changes in technologies for health care delivery. More recently NIH launched the Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.
The mission of the new Institute is “to improve health by promoting fundamental discoveries, design and development, and translation and assessment of technological capabilities in biomedical imaging and bioengineering, enabled by relevant areas of information science, physics, chemistry, mathematics, materials science, and computer sciences. The Institute plans, conducts, fosters, and supports an integrated and coordinated program of research and research training that can be applied to a broad spectrum of biological processes, disorders and diseases and across organ systems. The Institute coordinates with … other agencies and NIH Institutes to … support research with potential medical applications and facilitates the transfer of such technologies to medical applications.” Funding by NIH for biomedical engineering research and development, leading to new medical technologies with eventual commercialization potential is on the rise.
In the industrial sector of the United States, the compound annual return of the biomedical technology industry has been more than 40% since 1980 while the S&P 400 index advanced by a much slower rate of only slightly over 16% annually over the same period. The spectacular increase in the medical technology index is driven by a number of factors such as the increase in life expectancy and the aging population, the increased expectations for improved quality of life and the increased demand for improved medical devices and systems.
New technologies that are likely to reach commercial stage in the next decade will be based on research in a variety of new areas such as functional genomics, imaging at the molecular and cellular levels, new imaging at the organ level, computational applications in bioinformatics and medical informatics, functional biomaterials, bionanotechnology, new instruments and devices for clinical medicine, and rehabilitation and assistive technologies. Employment in the medical technology sector has increased steadily and projections by the U.S. department of Labor suggest that it will continue to increase significantly in the next decade. More importantly, while employment of engineers in general is projected to increase by under 20%, the demand for biomedical engineers will grow by more than 30% in the next 10 years, demonstrating the importance of the biomedical engineering profession to future technological innovations and advances.
In summary, medical technology companies must be aware that new medical technologies are going to evolve in this century and that these technologies will be based on fundamental biological discoveries. It is clear that there exists a tremendous potential in the health care sector for both established and for new companies. Biomedical engineering is increasingly critical for the future of basic research and for the translation of research results to the commercial health care sector. Finally, because of the projected increase in the health care sector there is a pressing requirement for accelerated development of human resources to meet the demands of new industries. This calls for an increase in the number of educational programs world-wide. In addition, since biomedical engineering is a truly interdisciplinary field, there is a need for a new approach to the educational process of the young generation of biomedical engineers that will fully integrate engineering, biology and medicine.

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FUTURE OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

Prognosis Positive for Biomedical Engineering Grads
by Shayna Sobol

The employment outlook for biomedical engineering graduates is, in a word, good. So say three professors who are tops in the field, from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., to Clemson University in South Carolina.
"The outlook is good and getting better as employers recognize the value of the specialty of biomedical engineering," notes Dr. Scott Delp, associate professor of biomedical engineering and rehabilitation at Northwestern University, as well as a research scientist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. "The more biomedical engineers who go out into industry, the more I see that trend continuing."
Currently, Delp estimates that about half of Northwestern's biomedical engineering undergrads go on to medical school, while 25 percent head to grad school and the remaining 25 percent, roughly 20 students, go on to jobs in industry right out of college.
"Biomedical engineers have unique skills," Delp says. "Often they are needed to bridge traditional engineering skills with medical applications. For someone to have a formal education in both disciplines is very helpful."
Delp asserts that the U.S. dominates the world in the healthcare marketplace, which translates into an optimistic view of the future for his field.
"We have a strong export/import balance," he says. "The growth of the healthcare industry and the domination of the U.S. healthcare industry worldwide are strong indicators that biomedical engineers will be doing well in the coming years."
As vast as the field is, all areas of biomedical engineering represent good employment prospects for today's graduates, according to Dr. Larry Dooley, professor of bioengineering and director of the School of Chemical University. Dooley notes that both the medical device marketplace and the diagnostics marketplace are expanding in the U.S. in terms of new production capability. That translates into a wealth of opportunities for grads possessing bioengineering skills.
WORKERS NEEDED, STAT!"Industry went through a downsizing period," Dooley relates, "but now the economy is booming, healthcare is an important issue and industry is looking to expand. It's a good, dynamic time."
Dr. David Kelso, professor of biomedical engineering at Northwestern University, is an expert in the emerging area of biosensor technology. He says the employment outlook is upbeat, ranging from the hiring patterns of large diagnostic companies such as Abbott Laboratories and Hoffman-La Roche to a number of small start-ups pursuing technological development in the biosensor area. Among the exciting avenues available to graduates is exploring new ways of doing blood tests, from infectious diseases to genetic screening to hormones, says Kelso.
"There are opportunities at all levels," he adds. "With the population in this country aging and with people's growing concern for healthcare, there's very little on the down side these days. Issues of cost-containment and cost-control associated with the healthcare industry simply represent more engineering problems that need to be solved."
While the interest in and need for new, cost-effective technologies is high, Kelso says the demand is equally strong for biomedical engineers to work in large systems areas, such as designing and testing in large, centralized manufacturing environments.
"What makes a biomedical engineer so valuable," Kelso says, "is that they understand the medical problem, the chemistry, the biochemistry involved in doing the sensing, yet they also understand the engineering that goes into developing the devices. They have a great ability to interface with all of the specialties that come together in the field."
Dooley of Clemson University points out another area related to health biomedical engineering grads.
"Information technology application in healthcare is changing the way medical centers and hospitals are approaching the management of clinical information," Dooley explains. "That includes billing, radiographic information and clinical information. Merging all of this into a clinical database is changing the way information is used. Doctors are wanting the most up-to-date clinical information at the [hospital] bedside and in the operating room."
Device capability is another strong area, according to Dooley. "We know more now about the way materials behave inside the body and so we're changing the way we think about implantable devices," he says. "This represents new opportunities in design."
DIVERSE DISCIPLINES DESIREDDelp highlights some burgeoning areas of opportunity in his field of expertise. "Biomaterials, rehab engineering, computer-assisted surgery and medical imaging are all areas that draw on engineering, science and medical applications," Delp says.
Other than the good news they have to offer, the common thread expressed by these professors is the list of traits employers appear to be demanding from today's graduates. Delp notes that for undergraduates, "employers are looking for people with native intelligence, drive and the capacity to learn. Quantitative skills and the ability to analyze a problem in detail are also valued."
Dooley adds that a solid foundation in engineering is essential, even for students looking to enter medically dominated areas. "Of course they should also have math skills and teamwork skills," he notes.
And though biomedical engineering programs are growing by leaps and bounds in this country, there doesn't seem to be any fear of oversaturating the industrial marketplace any time soon. The bottom line? A biomedical engineering graduate can look forward to a dynamic career ahead.


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BME University Ranking

US News BME Rankings

1. Johns Hopkins University (MD)
2. Duke University (NC)
3. Univ. of California–San Diego
4. Case Western Reserve Univ. (OH)
5. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology
6. Georgia Institute of Technology
7. University of Pennsylvania
8. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
9. Northwestern University (IL)
10. Boston University
11. University of Washington
12. Rice University (TX)
13. University of Virginia
14. Stanford University (CA)
15.Vanderbilt University (TN)
16. University of California–Berkeley
17.University of Texas–Austin
18. Purdue Univ.–West Lafayette (IN)
19.University of Utah
20.Univ. of Wisconsin–Madison
21. Columbia University (NY)
22.Pennsylvania State U.–University Park
23.Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. (NY)
24.Tulane University (LA)
25. U. of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign

Master Program in United States and Canada

1) Arizona State University - http://www.asu.edu/

2) University of Minnesota Biomedical Engineering InstituteGraduate ProgramBox 368 UMHC; 420 Delaware St. SEMinneapolis, MN 55455 U.S.A.
Click to send E-mail to:

3) University of Iowa Graduate CollegeBiomedical Engineering347 Jessup Hall, 2222 Old Hwy 218 SIowa City, IA 52240-9810 U.S.A.
Click to send E-mail to:
Phone: 1-319-335-3500

4) University of Nevada, Reno Biomedical EngineeringBiomedical Engineering / 400Reno, NV 89557 USA
Click to send E-mail to: Phone: 1-775-784-4952Fax: 1-775-327-5257

5) Colorado State University Department of Chemical EngineeringBio-Chemical EngineeringDepartment of Chemical Engineering, 1370 Campus Delivery, Colorado State UniversityFort Collins, CO 80523-1370 U.S.A.
Click to send E-mail to:
Phone: 1-970-491-5252Fax: 1-970-491-7369

6) University of Toronto
Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering
Rosebrugh Building164 College Street, Room 407University of TorontoToronto, OntarioM5S 3G9Fax: (416) 978-4317

7) Dalhousie University Faculty of Architecture and PlanningBiomedical Engineering5981 University AvenueHalifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3J5 Canada
Click to send E-mail to:
Phone: 1-902-494-3427Fax: 1-902-494-2527

8) McGill University Centre for Drainage StudiesBiomedical EngineeringLyman Duff Medical Bldg., Rm. 316, 3775 University St.Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B4 Canada
Click to send E-mail to:
Phone: 1-514-398-6736Fax: 1-514-398-7461

9) University of Calgary Faculty of Graduate StudiesSchulich School of EngineeringBiomedical Engineering2500 University Drive N.W.Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada
Click to send E-mail to: Phone: 1-403-220-4818Fax: 1-403-282-7026

MASTER PROGRAM IN DENMARK, FINLAND & BELGIUM

1) Aalborg University, Denmark - Master Degree in Biomedical Engineering http://studyguide.aau.dk/programmes/program?id=4345

2) Ragnar Granit Institute, Finland - Master Degree in Biomedical Engineering http://www.rgi.tut.fi/

3) University of Antwerp, Belgium - Master Degree in Bioengineering and Technologyhttp://www.ua.ac.be/main.aspx?c=.ENGLISH&n=42714