http://www.biodevices.org/cfp.htm
More information on the Congress and Satellite Event topics and important dates can be found at:http://www.biodevices.org/http://www.biostec.org/AMMD.htm
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Engineering the biomedical future
The new head of a collaborative university biomedical engineering department hopes to transform it into a world leader in education and research.
Renowned biotechnology expert Larry McIntire became the chairman of the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University in July. In the next five to 10 years, McIntire hopes to transform the institution into the world's leader in biomedical engineering education and research. Whether he's successful could play a significant role in the future of medicine and patient care.
To understand why McIntire chose to come to Atlanta, you must understand where the future of medicine is headed. Modern medicine will be completely driven by technology, McIntire said. In particular, developments in medical imaging will play a critical role in diagnosing illness and computer- assisted surgeries will play an increasingly important part in providing effective treatment.
"In the medical world, we like to use the phrase 'from the bench (science) to the bedside (patient),' " McIntire said. "There has to be a bridge between science and patients, and technology is that bridge."
Unique partnership
In 1997, the Emory School of Medicine joined with the Georgia Tech College of Engineering to form the Georgia Tech/Emory Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME). There are only a handful of other institutions around the country that have formed such partnerships, McIntire said. There is a similar collaboration between Harvard and MIT, but the venture between Emory and Georgia Tech is noteworthy because it is one of the few formed between a public and private institution.
More important than the anomaly of the collaboration is that Emory and Georgia Tech are committed to raising funds to increase the size and scope of the program. This is what lured McIntire from his position in Houston.
Prior to coming to Atlanta, McIntire served as the chairman of Rice University's Department of Bioengineering as well as Rice's Institute for Biosciences and Bioengineering. The Rice program consisted of 12 full-time faculty members, with plans to increase that number to 15 in the coming years, McIntire said. The Georgia Tech and Emory program already has 21 staff members, with plans to grow to 35 in the next three to five years.
"The size of your staff plays an important role in the areas you can cover," McIntire said. "At Rice, our focus was largely on cell studies and engineering. In Atlanta, that will be one of five areas we will focus on. You need critical mass to expand your areas of interest."
Don Giddens, the former BME chairman, now serves as dean of the Georgia Tech College of Engineering. Two of the program's main research areas will be cardiovascular research and brain imaging, Giddens said. BME is currently developing a tissue engineered vascular graft that could be used to help bypass surgery patients whose own arteries are unavailable for use.
Improved diagnostics
"In the field of imaging, we are working to be able to identify areas in the brain that would allow us to diagnose neurological problems before they become problems," Giddens said. "If we can find the trouble spots earlier, we can treat cancer, Alzheimer's and seizures at a much earlier stage."
In addition to his own research, McIntire is charged with recruiting faculty members and increasing communication between the two institutions.
Part of that goal will be accomplished by bringing faculty at both institutions geographically closer. The department of Biomedical Engineering at Emory and Georgia Tech recently moved into the new U.A. Whitaker Building for Biomedical Engineering on the Georgia Tech campus. The building is in a quadrangle that includes the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience and the new Environmental Science and Technology Building. There are plans for a fourth building, which will be called the Molecular and Materials Science and Engineering Building. The schools have raised $10.8 million of the $60 million the new building is expected to cost, said Georgia Tech information specialist Larry Bowie.
McIntire plans to organize a number of faculty retreats and to bring in influential speakers to encourage staff at the two institutions to interact more frequently.
"I think there is a great deal of overlap taking place that people don't even know about," McIntire said. "A big part of my job is to find ways to increase communication."
McIntire is the perfect man for the job, Giddens said.
"Larry's what we refer to in the business as a hard-core engineer," Giddens said. "He has a tremendous background in all of the sciences. But because of his work at Rice, he also knows how to run a medical school from an administrative standpoint."
McIntire is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. From hiring new staff to conducting research to graduating the first undergraduate class, he seems to be enjoying his stay in Atlanta so far.
"I'm probably one of the few people who don't think Atlanta summers are very hot," said McIntire, who moved here with his wife, also a scientist. "We have a chance to make this partnership something very special."
Sonny Lufrano is a contributing writer for Atlanta Business Chronicle. Reach him at atlantatechbiz@bizjournals.com.
Beyond Research Non-research careers in biomedical sciences
A career in biomedical sciences is not just limited to research. In fact, jobs in non-research areas far outnumber the available research positions. Senior managers from Lonza Biologics tell us more about these career possibilities.
By John Yip
Singapore has made significant progress in its biomedical industry in recent years. Manufacturing output grew to S$18 billion in 2005, and provided employment for 10,200 people, a new record for the industry.
Plans are in place to strengthen the industry’s ability to translate clinical discoveries into actual drugs for the global marketplace. This will require further expansion in the scope of research and manufacturing operations in Singapore.
As such, the recently announced joint venture between Lonza Biologics and Singapore’s Bio*One Capital to build a US$250 million large scale mammalian cell culture plant at Tuas Biomedical Park represents a significant milestone for the local industry.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new plant was held on 15 February this year. The facility will include up to four mammalian bioreactor trains, each with a fl exible capacity of 1,000 to 20,000 litres inclusive of their respective purifycation units, and is expected to provide employment for more than 300 people when completed in 2009. It will be Lonza’s second large-scale mammalian manufacturing plant, and Singapore’s first commercial-scale biopharmaceuticals manufacturing facility.
Lonza BiologicsLonza Biologics, part of the Lonza Group based in Switzerland, specialises in microbial fermentation and mammalian cell culture starting from strain or cell line construction, through process development to manufacture for clinical or commercial supply.
It has been a leading participant of the global biotechnology industry since 1980. Lonza currently operates three 20,000 litre stirred bioreactors in Portsmouth, New Hampshire (USA) and Slough (UK). A fourth 20,000 litre bioreactor will be put on stream in 2006. Together with the announced project in Singapore, Lonza is well placed to keep up with the increasing number of biopharmaceuticals being launched globally, and it expects the business sector is to deliver strong growth in the years to come.
That growth also means more job opportunities for aspiring engineers. This year, Lonza has been actively seeking to place local undergraduates on training attachment programmes at either one of its manufacturing facilities in Portsmouth or Slough.
In fact, a few of Lonza’s senior managers came to Singapore in early April to interview more than 130 students from local universities who applied for the attachment programme. “I was personally very impressed by their background and their confidence levels. There were very few applicants we would reject outright,” says John McGrath, VP Global Operations (Mammalian).
A wide mix of talents needed“We like dynamic people who are flexible and team-orientated,” says Ann Taylor, Head of Human Resources – LBP. Even though there are no firm plans at the moment, Lonza will be looking to hire people for its production, engineering, maintenance and validation operations by early next year. Potential employees need not necessarily have an academic background in engineering or chemicals, but they will need to demonstrate a wide mix of talents.
“In a company like Lonza, there will always be opportunities for internal movement into other departments, even across international borders,” says Ann. “These openings can be openly viewed at the company’s website (www.lonza.com) — anyone within the company is free to apply for those positions.”
John is also keen to point out that a career in biomedical sciences is not limited to research and development alone. A lot of students have the mistaken perception that R&D is the only exciting area to work in. In truth though, manufacturing can turn out to be just as exciting and dynamic as research.
“Aspiring candidates need to be aware that research only makes up a small percentage of the available jobs at Lonza,” says John. “The career opportunities in the non-research areas are very broad and very diverse. We have jobs in manufacturing, quality assurance and regulatory affairs — there are more than 20+ career choices available. To think only of a career in research would very much limit your choices.”
Training and developmentBesides its attachment programme, Lonza provides a wide range of internal and external training to support an employee’s career development.
Core training in cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) will be especially important. cGMP consist of guidelines, recommendations and agreements that are often derived from government regulations. Anyone involved in the planning, construction, validation and maintenance of modern pharmaceutical facilities will need to keep up with advances in technology, and be aware of how external regulation will affect biochemical production.
In this respect, both John and Ann are pleased to see that tertiary institutions in Singapore have begun to place a greater emphasis on practical training. “cGMP is a very good example,” says Ann. “It used not to be taught at universities. But now, they realise that students need to be taught about it before they get into the commercial world.”
“It used to be that students would have just done biology, microbiology or genetic engineering,” says John. “These are very specialized disciplines. In contrast, the graduates that are now coming out of Europe, the US and Singapore are taught enough about each area to be very adaptable.”
John further observes that most courses focused on biotechnology today include industrial placements to give students much needed hands-on experience. “These developments tie in very closely with the types of operations at Lonza.”
The future looks goodIn closing, those who are interested in biomedical sciences should take note that there are definite signs that the industry is starting to mature. In other words, long-term career prospects in the industry are looking better than ever before, especially for fresh graduates.
“There has been a lot of media attention on new products, on the new class of drugs that are being brought to market. We’re starting to see a lot more entry-level graduates who’ve studied courses directly related to biotechnology all around the world,” says John. “The industry is growing, and is projected to grow into the next decade.”
Indeed, as long as they are willing to explore the full range of job opportunities available, the future looks good for capable young graduates in biomedical sciences.
By John Yip
Singapore has made significant progress in its biomedical industry in recent years. Manufacturing output grew to S$18 billion in 2005, and provided employment for 10,200 people, a new record for the industry.
Plans are in place to strengthen the industry’s ability to translate clinical discoveries into actual drugs for the global marketplace. This will require further expansion in the scope of research and manufacturing operations in Singapore.
As such, the recently announced joint venture between Lonza Biologics and Singapore’s Bio*One Capital to build a US$250 million large scale mammalian cell culture plant at Tuas Biomedical Park represents a significant milestone for the local industry.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new plant was held on 15 February this year. The facility will include up to four mammalian bioreactor trains, each with a fl exible capacity of 1,000 to 20,000 litres inclusive of their respective purifycation units, and is expected to provide employment for more than 300 people when completed in 2009. It will be Lonza’s second large-scale mammalian manufacturing plant, and Singapore’s first commercial-scale biopharmaceuticals manufacturing facility.
Lonza BiologicsLonza Biologics, part of the Lonza Group based in Switzerland, specialises in microbial fermentation and mammalian cell culture starting from strain or cell line construction, through process development to manufacture for clinical or commercial supply.
It has been a leading participant of the global biotechnology industry since 1980. Lonza currently operates three 20,000 litre stirred bioreactors in Portsmouth, New Hampshire (USA) and Slough (UK). A fourth 20,000 litre bioreactor will be put on stream in 2006. Together with the announced project in Singapore, Lonza is well placed to keep up with the increasing number of biopharmaceuticals being launched globally, and it expects the business sector is to deliver strong growth in the years to come.
That growth also means more job opportunities for aspiring engineers. This year, Lonza has been actively seeking to place local undergraduates on training attachment programmes at either one of its manufacturing facilities in Portsmouth or Slough.
In fact, a few of Lonza’s senior managers came to Singapore in early April to interview more than 130 students from local universities who applied for the attachment programme. “I was personally very impressed by their background and their confidence levels. There were very few applicants we would reject outright,” says John McGrath, VP Global Operations (Mammalian).
A wide mix of talents needed“We like dynamic people who are flexible and team-orientated,” says Ann Taylor, Head of Human Resources – LBP. Even though there are no firm plans at the moment, Lonza will be looking to hire people for its production, engineering, maintenance and validation operations by early next year. Potential employees need not necessarily have an academic background in engineering or chemicals, but they will need to demonstrate a wide mix of talents.
“In a company like Lonza, there will always be opportunities for internal movement into other departments, even across international borders,” says Ann. “These openings can be openly viewed at the company’s website (www.lonza.com) — anyone within the company is free to apply for those positions.”
John is also keen to point out that a career in biomedical sciences is not limited to research and development alone. A lot of students have the mistaken perception that R&D is the only exciting area to work in. In truth though, manufacturing can turn out to be just as exciting and dynamic as research.
“Aspiring candidates need to be aware that research only makes up a small percentage of the available jobs at Lonza,” says John. “The career opportunities in the non-research areas are very broad and very diverse. We have jobs in manufacturing, quality assurance and regulatory affairs — there are more than 20+ career choices available. To think only of a career in research would very much limit your choices.”
Training and developmentBesides its attachment programme, Lonza provides a wide range of internal and external training to support an employee’s career development.
Core training in cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) will be especially important. cGMP consist of guidelines, recommendations and agreements that are often derived from government regulations. Anyone involved in the planning, construction, validation and maintenance of modern pharmaceutical facilities will need to keep up with advances in technology, and be aware of how external regulation will affect biochemical production.
In this respect, both John and Ann are pleased to see that tertiary institutions in Singapore have begun to place a greater emphasis on practical training. “cGMP is a very good example,” says Ann. “It used not to be taught at universities. But now, they realise that students need to be taught about it before they get into the commercial world.”
“It used to be that students would have just done biology, microbiology or genetic engineering,” says John. “These are very specialized disciplines. In contrast, the graduates that are now coming out of Europe, the US and Singapore are taught enough about each area to be very adaptable.”
John further observes that most courses focused on biotechnology today include industrial placements to give students much needed hands-on experience. “These developments tie in very closely with the types of operations at Lonza.”
The future looks goodIn closing, those who are interested in biomedical sciences should take note that there are definite signs that the industry is starting to mature. In other words, long-term career prospects in the industry are looking better than ever before, especially for fresh graduates.
“There has been a lot of media attention on new products, on the new class of drugs that are being brought to market. We’re starting to see a lot more entry-level graduates who’ve studied courses directly related to biotechnology all around the world,” says John. “The industry is growing, and is projected to grow into the next decade.”
Indeed, as long as they are willing to explore the full range of job opportunities available, the future looks good for capable young graduates in biomedical sciences.
Tianjin banking on biomedical future
A high-profile biomedicine research institute is under construction in Tianjin, and several projects are expected to be developed there, Cheng Jinpei, vice-minister of science and technology, said yesterday.
Most of the construction work will be completed by the end of this year in the rising North China economic power-house, he said.
Developed at a cost of 1 billion yuan ($140 million), the Tianjin International Biomedicine Research Institute has already recruited two deputy directors to manage the operation, Cheng told China Daily on the sidelines of 11th NPC.
The two are from multinational pharmaceutical companies and have been tasked with bringing the very latest biomedical technologies and projects to Tianjin, he said.
"The institution is designed to research and convert biotechnology into usable drugs and, more importantly, integrate biomedicine resources within the coastal city of Tianjin," Cheng said.
The research center will differentiate itself from Beijing's Zhongguancun and Daxing institutes by focusing on the commercialization of biomedical research, he said.
Rao Zihe, president of Nankai University in Tianjin and director of the research institute, said the top priority for the lab is to commercialize biomedical technologies.
Although the main focus for projects has yet to be decided, research into cancer treatments and the development of stem cell bio-drugs are two promising options, Rao said.
Members of the research institute will also seek to broaden the scope of existing research, he said
Most of the construction work will be completed by the end of this year in the rising North China economic power-house, he said.
Developed at a cost of 1 billion yuan ($140 million), the Tianjin International Biomedicine Research Institute has already recruited two deputy directors to manage the operation, Cheng told China Daily on the sidelines of 11th NPC.
The two are from multinational pharmaceutical companies and have been tasked with bringing the very latest biomedical technologies and projects to Tianjin, he said.
"The institution is designed to research and convert biotechnology into usable drugs and, more importantly, integrate biomedicine resources within the coastal city of Tianjin," Cheng said.
The research center will differentiate itself from Beijing's Zhongguancun and Daxing institutes by focusing on the commercialization of biomedical research, he said.
Rao Zihe, president of Nankai University in Tianjin and director of the research institute, said the top priority for the lab is to commercialize biomedical technologies.
Although the main focus for projects has yet to be decided, research into cancer treatments and the development of stem cell bio-drugs are two promising options, Rao said.
Members of the research institute will also seek to broaden the scope of existing research, he said
The future is bright for biomedical industry
Medical tourism is flourishing in the country. And awareness on the root cause: Biomedical Engineering, is catching up albeit gradually.
A fusion of engineering, medicine, biology, basic sciences, mathematics and communication engineering, biomedical Engineering is the foundation for the reputation that India has earned for its advancements in Neuro Sciences, Cardiac Sciences, Orthoped ics, Gastroenterology, Ophthalmology, Oncology and Cardio Thoracic Surgeries, points out S. Raghavan, Senior Faculty, Electronics and Communication Engineering, National Institute of Technology – Tiruchi. He predicts a high demand for this discipline in future owing to the mushrooming of ultra modern hospitals.
With mathematical models, statistics and simulations, biomedical engineers have made advances in understanding many of the physiological signals generated by organs such as heart, skeletal muscle, retina and brain to make out how the body functions and how biological systems work. Expansion
Study of biomaterials is a must for development of artificial organs, and BioMEMS (Biomedical Micro Electro Mechanical Systems), a science representing an expansion into a host of new polymer materials, microfluidic physics, surface chemistry and modification, and bio compatibility provides cost effective solutions to biomedical problems by bringing together the creative talents of electrical, mechanical, optical and chemical engineers, material specialists, clinical laboratory specialists and physicians.
BioMEMS devices are the platform on which nanomedicine can be delivered. BioMEMS promises delivery of sensitive, selective, low cost, fast, less invasive and robust methods of diagnosis and pathogen detection. The need for designing, modelling and fabricating microdevices is poised to increase enormously in the coming years, and biomedical engineers will be looked upon to solve problems at the cellular and molecular level by developing nanotechnology and micro machines to repair damage inside the cell and alter gene function, explains Dr. Raghavan. Research
Biomedical engineers are in demand at research and development organisations, medical equipment manufacturing companies, state of art hospitals, teaching institutions, and well established corporates like GE, Wipro, Siemens, L & T, ECIL, SCL, and BEL. There are also ample opportunities for carrying out advanced research in universities abroad.
The IITs at Delhi, Bombay and Chennai have exclusive department for biomedical engineering.
In Tamil Nadu, Post graduation in Biomedical Engineering is offered in Anna University, SASTRA, VIT, and Amrita Institute of Engineering. Undergraduate programmes are also available in many affiliated engineering colleges of Anna University.
But, while choosing the institution, one should check for the availability of well equipped laboratory, qualified faculty, and tie-up with state-of-art health care hospitals.
A fusion of engineering, medicine, biology, basic sciences, mathematics and communication engineering, biomedical Engineering is the foundation for the reputation that India has earned for its advancements in Neuro Sciences, Cardiac Sciences, Orthoped ics, Gastroenterology, Ophthalmology, Oncology and Cardio Thoracic Surgeries, points out S. Raghavan, Senior Faculty, Electronics and Communication Engineering, National Institute of Technology – Tiruchi. He predicts a high demand for this discipline in future owing to the mushrooming of ultra modern hospitals.
With mathematical models, statistics and simulations, biomedical engineers have made advances in understanding many of the physiological signals generated by organs such as heart, skeletal muscle, retina and brain to make out how the body functions and how biological systems work. Expansion
Study of biomaterials is a must for development of artificial organs, and BioMEMS (Biomedical Micro Electro Mechanical Systems), a science representing an expansion into a host of new polymer materials, microfluidic physics, surface chemistry and modification, and bio compatibility provides cost effective solutions to biomedical problems by bringing together the creative talents of electrical, mechanical, optical and chemical engineers, material specialists, clinical laboratory specialists and physicians.
BioMEMS devices are the platform on which nanomedicine can be delivered. BioMEMS promises delivery of sensitive, selective, low cost, fast, less invasive and robust methods of diagnosis and pathogen detection. The need for designing, modelling and fabricating microdevices is poised to increase enormously in the coming years, and biomedical engineers will be looked upon to solve problems at the cellular and molecular level by developing nanotechnology and micro machines to repair damage inside the cell and alter gene function, explains Dr. Raghavan. Research
Biomedical engineers are in demand at research and development organisations, medical equipment manufacturing companies, state of art hospitals, teaching institutions, and well established corporates like GE, Wipro, Siemens, L & T, ECIL, SCL, and BEL. There are also ample opportunities for carrying out advanced research in universities abroad.
The IITs at Delhi, Bombay and Chennai have exclusive department for biomedical engineering.
In Tamil Nadu, Post graduation in Biomedical Engineering is offered in Anna University, SASTRA, VIT, and Amrita Institute of Engineering. Undergraduate programmes are also available in many affiliated engineering colleges of Anna University.
But, while choosing the institution, one should check for the availability of well equipped laboratory, qualified faculty, and tie-up with state-of-art health care hospitals.
R. KRISHNAMOORTHY
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Online Faculty Position
Sub: Invitation for becoming faculty of "Thesis Correction Service" or "Online English Correction Service"
We are happy to inform that "Sevas Educational Society", which is dedicated for the development of villages, has started "Thesis correction service" & "Online English Correction Service". Interested faculties can join this service by sending their profile. Payments will be given as per your terms and conditions or "SEVAS Society" norms.
Eligibility: All academicians are eligible.Joining is completely free. No hidden charges.
Thanking you
DirectorR.R.Siva KiranSEVAS EDUCATIONAL SOCIETYKomatipalliVizianagaram (dt)Andhra PradeshIndiaPh: +91 - 9986-795754
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