NIBIB - Biomedical Engineering: Technologies to Improve Health

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Biomedical Engineering: Technologies to Improve Health

The discipline of biomedical engineering lies at the forefront of the medical revolution. Advances in biomedical engineering are accomplished through interdisciplinary activities that integrate the physical, chemical, mathematical, and computational sciences with engineering principles in order to study biology, medicine, and behavior.

Examples of research that might be conducted by a biomedical engineer include:

The design and development of viable replacement tissues that are biologic rather than synthetic, as well as implantable artificial materials
Automated technologies for patient testing and care
Medical imaging systems
Biological sensors capable of monitoring blood chemistry or environmental toxins or hazards
Biomechanics of injury or wound healing
Prosthetic development
Novel systems for drug screening and development

The goal of bioengineering is to promote biomedical advances to diagnose and treat disease and to prolong a healthy and productive life.

Last reviewed on: 12/22/2006

Department of Health
and Human Services

National Institutes
of Health