Biomedical Engineering

Engineers are playing an increasingly important role in developing healthcare solutions and biomedical systems. Biomedical engineering researchers at the University of Alberta adapt and develop engineering methods and technology to improve quality of life for people all over the world. By combining traditional medical knowledge with ground-breaking engineering, our researchers are able to develop new ways to deliver medicine, monitor patients, remotely operate on patients, and perform minimally invasive procedures successfully. Much of the current research in biomedical engineering revolves around nanotechnology and miniaturization, allowing our researchers to take advantage of the great resources offered by the U of A, such as the Nanofabrication Facility and the National Institute for Nanotechnology.

 

Current research:

Biomedical imaging technologies:

  • ultrasound imaging
  • magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • image processing and analysis
  • minimally-invasive microscopy of live patients for virtual biopsy
  • development of new imaging technologies

 

Diagnostic testing and monitoring

  • improvement of laboratory methods
  • lab-on-a-chip systems
  • micro- and nano-mechanical systems

 

Technologies for therapy and intervention

  • microneedle arrays and implantable pumps for sustained and controlled systemic drug delivery
  • image-guided therapy
  • medical Robotics for remote or minimally-invasive surgery
  • mobility and recovery
  • energy-triggered drug or gene delivery

 

Biomedical nanotechnology

  • nanoparticles as contrast agents for imaging or drug delivery vesicles for therapy
  • miniaturized biomedical transducers

Biomedical Engineering researchers: 

Jie Chen  
Lukasz Kurgan
Mrinal Mandal
Mahdi Tavakoli
Vien Van
Roger J. Zemp