Biomedical engineering research offers a pathway to economic recovery Print this article

Dr John Gleeson provides a ‘snapshot’ of some of the research groups fueling Innovation Ireland and extending the boundaries of global biomedical engineering

Since the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI) was set-up, biomedical engineering research has made a real impact on the international stage. Launched in 1998, PRTLI has given €1.22bn to strengthen national research capabilities.

That vision was the beginning of over a decade of biomedical research within third level institutions that has been globally recognised, with Ireland now ranking in the top 20 nations for quality of scientific publications. In some areas, such as immunology and nanotechnology, we are now world leaders. This has led to the development of a number of world-class research institutions attracting both national and international funding awards.

Based on continued levels of R&D investment in third level institutions, access to start-up capital and a strategic focus on financial allocation to Technology Transfer (TT) activities, these research centres could play a large role in helping the country claw its way out of economic recession.

Tissue Engineering Research Group, RCSI
Extensive research in the field of bioengineering is ongoing in The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in the areas of tissue engineering to develop cell, construct and living system technologies to restore the structure and functional mechanical properties of damaged or degenerated tissue.

The Tissue Engineering Research Group TERG group carries out research in a wide variety of areas including tissue engineering of bone and cartilage, regenerative medicine, stem cell biology, drug delivery, gene therapy and angiogenesis. They have active collaborations with the Trinity Centre for Bioengineering and REMEDI (NUIG) among other national and international partners. They are also developing translation technologies, which are at different stages of commercialisation. The group is multidisciplinary with physical, material and life scientists, engineers, medics and veterinary surgeons working together.

The group has published extensively in some of the top journals in the field (over 80 publications) and has attracted over €8m in funding.

Trinity Centre for Bioengineering
The Trinity Centre for Bioengineering (TCBE) in Trinity College combines research with translation to clinical practice. Established in 2002, TCBE plays a key role in both the School of Engineering and the School of Medicine. TCBE has been successful in attracting research funding, receiving over €18m from national and international agencies.

It has 19 principal investigators driving biomedical research, clinical and industry collaborations. The centre has five research themes: cardiovascular, neural, musculoskeletal, biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Recent medical device innovations include a flexi-cutting sheath and a product called Artistent. The former is a unique device, developed by Dr Bruce Murphy, a principal investigator in TCBE, to clear blockages in arteries, for which he received the Enterprise Ireland ‘One-to-Watch’ award in 2009.

Arising from research by Dr Daniel Kelly, Artistent is designed to help overcome issues of stenting peripheral blood vessels. Artistent allows cardiologists to insert several small, unconnected stents through a catheter into a diseased artery in one go. The patented technology has started preclinical trials.

UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research
The UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research is a multidisciplinary centre for research funded by the PRTLI. It brings together over 550 research staff from all over the university and its associated teaching hospitals. Founded in 1999, the Institute was named after the first professor of biochemistry and pharmacology in UCD, Professor Edward J. Conway FRS (1894-1968).

It aims to support a community of biomedical researchers exploring cell and systems biology for creative solutions in human disease, and to become a global leader in biomedical research and through partnership will translate this knowledge to benefit patients.

University of Limerick
The University of Limerick has a reputation for being Ireland's leading university in industry-led research. This has resulted in significant research commercialisation activities and collaboration between researchers and industry. The following priority research areas have been identified where the University has internationally recognised strengths: materials and surface science (composite materials, nano-materials, solid-state pharmaceutical materials, catalysis and clean technologies, and bio-mimetic materials) and bioengineering and biosciences (micro-fluidics and biomedical engineering).

NUIG Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Department
Currently, 28 Ph.D students, eight mechanical engineering research students and eight post-doctoral researchers work in the department. In the period 2003-2005, it published 56 peer-reviewed journal articles and 113 conference papers, and attracted over €3.7m in research funding from state agencies, the EU, industry and other sources.

The department is closely linked with the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science (NCBES), an interdisciplinary centre on the NUIG campus. The Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials, the Energy Research Centre, the Composites Research Unit, the Micromechanics Research Unit and the Aerospace Research Centre are focal points for other major research activities.

Dr John Gleeson, MIEI, BA, BAI, PhD, is a Trinity Engineering graduate and is currently a PI within the RCSI Tissue Engineering Research Group (TERG). John is lead investigator with the Cartilage Advanced Regenerative Therapies section of TERG, whose research focuses on bone and cartilage mechanobiology and degenerative joint disease damage and repair strategies. John is also project and business development manager for the TERG, with responsibility for the commercialisation of the suite of common platform technologies developed.

For an informative overview of the biotechnology, biomedical device and life science engineering sectors, read the Special Report at http://www.engineersireland.ie/sector_papers/Biomedical_Report.pdf