National biomedical engineering centre plans announced

Calgary, AB – The University of Calgary says it will expand its work in the rapidly growing field of biomedical engineering with the creation of the National Biomedical Engineering Innovation Centre. The purpose of the centre is to develop and commercialize technologies to be used in the healthcare sector that will help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses.

“The National Biomedical Engineering Innovation Centre will be a Canadian-first by bringing together university, government and private sector researchers and commercialization experts to accelerate the development and commercialization of biomedical engineering medical devices,” said Harvey Weingarten, the university’s president.

Economists predict that the field of biomedical engineering will be an $8-billion industry in Alberta in the next 10 years, employing 50,000 people. The new centre builds on work already being done at the university as more than 100 researchers from the Schulich School of Engineering and the faculties of science, nursing, medicine, kinesiology and veterinary medicine are currently engaged in leading edge biomedical engineering research.

Priority areas for the centre will include bone and joint health; cardio-respiratory health; the brain; medical devices; enhanced imaging technologies; and robotics.

“The University of Calgary is recognized nationally and internationally for our strengths in this field,” said Dr Rosie Goldstein, vice-president (research). “The new centre will further push the boundaries of health care discovery.”