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new grant award to The University of Arizona is bringing the possibility of a "bionic" human closer to reality.Advances combining biology and engineering have resulted in new artificial body parts planned for use in nearly every part of the human body. In the future, people with vascular or heart disease, cancer, arthritis or diabetes will benefit from this new generation of biomedical implants.
Helping narrow the gap to the future of biomedical implants is a $1 million grant from The Whitaker Foundation to the UA's new Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Engineering.
Recently approved by the Arizona Board of Regents, the innovative program offers a master's of science degree, as well as a Ph.D. The three-year Whitaker grant will help establish this program by funding teaching facilities, salaries, internships and course development.
Biomedical engineering programs have experienced dramatic growth during the past 20 years and have led to the development of a wide variety of medical devices and procedures. They also have contributed to increased understanding of biological processes and improved treatment of medical problems. A major focus of the new UA program will be biomedical implants.
"One of the biggest obstacles to the success of implants has been the body's own defense systems," says Stuart K. Williams, Ph.D., chairman of the new program. "The body perceives implants as foreign entities and attacks them. Our research examines the use of different materials for these implants and strives to identify a material that has the right chemistry. The body will recognize the material as something it will work with, instead of something to destroy, and it will form a natural symbiotic relationship with it."
UA students and faculty have been involved in biomedical engineering research programs for years. The grant helps formalize this research and offers opportunities for students to gain experience in combining biological, engineering and medical aspects into one focus. The new program involves the collaboration of faculty members from the Colleges of Medicine, Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, and Engineering and Mines. Admission criteria include a bachelor's degree in engineering, physical or life sciences, or mathematics.
—By Vicki Gaubeca
Bionic Man:
The University of Arizona's biomedical engineering program focuses on biomedical implants that will benefit people with medical conditions such as vascular or heart disease, cancer, arthritis or diabetes.
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