About the Centre

Introduction 

BMERC was established in January 1998 as an inter-school joint effort within NTU to conduct multi-disciplinary research activities. Researchers in the centre come from Schools of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering as well as Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering. The centre also has collaboration work with the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, National Institute of Education as well as School of Biological Sciences.

Based on a synergised thrust to apply engineering principles, technologies and systems to solve problems in medicine and biology and make contributions to improve health care. Thus far, the centre has a successful history of biomedical engineering research that has significant industrial and clinical impact. With the state-of-the-art facilities and the formation of strategic extramural alliances, the centre encourages and fosters highly interdisciplinary research that spans modern biomedical engineering with a dedicated emphasis on educating as well.

Mission

To be the premier source of scientific discoveries and of well-educated biomedical engineers in the broad fields of medical devices, systems, materials and tissue constructs to foster strong academic, industrial and clinical ties.

Vision

Our vision is to improve quality of life through pioneering scientific discoveries and the education of future leaders in the medical device and biotechnology fields. Within one decade (1998-2008), we will move BMERC from having no formal academic programs in biomedical engineering to a vibrant and highly visible centre with ground-breaking research, top graduating students and cutting-edge facilities.

Goals

To realise this vision and thereby significantly impact healthcare, we have set the following primary goals:

1. Establish an outstanding, diverse and research-intensive faculty through strategic recruitment in the overlapping areas of biomaterials, bio-nanotechnology, cellular engineering, and tissue engineering, under our overarching research theme of implantable medical devices and tissue constructs;

2. Plan, fund and construct an integrative biomedical engineering that fosters interdisciplinary instruction, learning and research;

3. Expand the curriculum and student body of our graduate programs including  Masters and PhD program that is a partnership with the various Schools in NTU;

4. Facilitate a unique and rigorous undergraduate program that stresses engineering science, analysis and design in the context of biology, physiology and clinical problems.

Collaborations

Besides the BPE Cluster, BMERC works closely with the BioInformatics Research Centre (BIRC) of NTU, BioRobotics Group Laboratory of NTU as well as the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) in our research and development work.