New medical technology centre to target artificial organs
Switzerland - An Artificial Organ Centre for Biomedical Engineering Research has been set up at the University of Bern, drawing together its established areas of expertise in medical technology.
Housed in the university’s Medical Faculty, the ARTORG Centre is active in interdisciplinary teaching and research and development, focusing especially on artificial organs. Research groups from units within the Medical Faculty and other faculties at the University of Bern and other university institutions and universities of applied sciences will work together in the new centre.
Medical technology has become an established high-profile discipline in the University of Bern’s Strategy 2012. The importance and excellent international reputation of Bernese medical technology is based on the traditionally high standards of Bern’s teaching hospitals, its contribution to the National Centre of Competence in Research Co-Me, the Technology for Humans research focus programme at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) and the commercially successful medical technology companies in the Espace region of central Switzerland.
Close co-operation between clinicians, technologists, and industry
According to Martin Täuber, Dean of the Medical Faculty, this new platform will co-ordinate existing projects and clinical approaches that involve artificial organs and medical technology, yield improved technological support and cross-fertilization of projects.
The scientific programme of the ARTORG Centre will be established and implemented by 11 newly created assistant professorships. The research groups will focus on the following artificial organs and specialist areas:
- Blood vessels
- Bladder
- Ear
- Eye
- Heart
- Kidney
- Liver
- Lung
- Pancreas
- Spine
- Implantation
technology of artificial organs
Medical technology research and development at the ARTORG Centre will involve close co-operation between clinicians, technologists, the medical technology industry and other Swiss technology institutions. In particular, the centre will work closely with the Technology and IT Faculty of Bern University of Applied Sciences. The ARTORG Centre’s involvement in the specialist Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering degree programme and PhD programme of the Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences will generate additional synergies between research and teaching.
The Director of the Institute for Surgical Technologies and Biomechanics at the Medical Faculty is responsible for the operational management of the centre. A scientific committee appointed by the university management is responsible for the strategic leadership of the ARTORG Centre and also for the quality of its science.
Details: http://www.unibe.ch
14.11.2007
