original presentation

Bruce Wheeler, Feb 10,2004Future of Bioengineering at UIUC

UIUC BioEngineeringUIUC BioEngineeringhttp://www.bioen.uiuc.eduhttp://www.bioen.uiuc.edu

The Future of Bioengineeringat the UIUC

University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignBruce Wheeler, Interim Head, Department of Bioengineering

http://www.bioen.uiuc.edu



Bioengineering at Illinois

• A regular department within the College of Engineering

• BS, MS, and PhD programs

• Will have biology as its root discipline

• To be created as soon as possible



Steady State Characteristics

• 16 faculty – mostly new hires• Many affiliates – 50 - 100??• 200-300 undergraduate students• 75-100 graduate students• New Building -- ??



Many Contributors• Current Advisory Committee

Bob Clegg (Physics), Bill O’Brien (ECE), Deborah Leckband (ChBME), Russ Jamison (MatSE),

David Clayton (Cell & Structural Biology), Matt Wheeler (Animal Science), Jim Zachary (Vet Pathobiology)

• StaffSandy Heibenthal (secretary)Elizabeth Stovall (50%, on loan from Engineering (Dir Ext. Relations)

• Past Program Chairs and LeadersFloyd Dunn, John Chato, Howard Ducoff, Charles Cain, Richard Magin,

Leon Frizzell, Eric Jakobsson, Shankar Subramaniam

• Formation, Advisory, and Search CommitteesDeborah Leckband, Russ Jamison, Bill O’Brien, Bob Clegg, Zhi Pei Liang,

Al Feng, Klaus Schulten, Phil Best, Vern Snoeyink, Steve Boppart, John Katzenellebogen



More Contributors

• Grad/Undergrad Curriculum CommitteesManssour Moeinzadeh, Bob Clarkson, Neil Kelleher, Bruce Litchfield, Jerry

Pijanowski, Jim Zachary, Leon Frizzell, Yoram Bresler, Mark Shannon, Sandra Rodriguez-Zas, Gerard Wong, Richard Braatz

• College Bioeng / Biotech Review CommitteesChet Gardner, Dave Beebe, Howard Birnbaum, Dick Blahut, Steve Bishop, Richard

Buckius, Bob Clegg, Jim Coleman, Steve Eckhoff, Leon Frizzell, Mike Heath, Russ Jamison, Ken Jenkins, Lutgarde Raskin, Mark Spong, Erik Wiener, Chip Zukoski, Robert Skeel

• OthersDave Gross, Martha Gillette, Bill Greenough, Ken Holmes, Pierre Wiltzius

• Patient Proposal Reviewers Roscoe Pershing, Rich Masel, Michael Loui, Barclay Jones, Lamar Murphy, Bill

Walker, Leon Frizzell, Fred Lawrence, Myron Salamon…and more to come …

• Help from the Life Sciences (especially): Charles Miller, Phil Best, Dave Clayton, Fred Delcomyn

• Deans Daniel, Schowalter, Schwartz, Whiteley, Delia



Today’s Talk

• Introduction• Thanks• Rationale and Mission• For Undergraduates• For Graduate Students• Research Areas• Prospects and Philosophy



Why a BioE Dept is Needed

• Students: high demand major, grad program• Research: bioengineering / biotechnology is a

major intellectual and economic frontier• Faculty: opportunities for graduate students and

collaboration• Institutional: virtually every major engineering

college has a bioengineering department• State of Illinois: part of our essential mission to

provide education, research, and service to the citizenry of the state



Trends In Undergrad Enrollment1979-99

Bioengineering

Source: Whitaker Foundation

All Engineering



Trends in Graduate Enrollment1979-99

Source: Whitaker Foundation

Bioengineering All Engineering



Job Growth

• ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 2, 2002 --- The number of biomedical engineering jobs will increase by 31.4 percent through 2010---double the rate for all other jobs combined, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.



Mission Statement

• Intellectually rigorous undergraduate education – emphasizes fundamental engineering and life sciences– prepare students for

• further education in medicine or bioengineering• successful careers in businesses related to medicine and biology

• Graduate education of highest quality– fully integrated with research from molecular to system levels– graduates to have distinguished careers in academe or business

• Research admired by peers and deemed important by the employers of our students.

• Service in the bioengineering related fields to state, national and international entities



Bioengineering Definition

• “Bioengineering integrates physical, chemical, or mathematical sciences and engineering principles for the study of biology, medicine, behavior, or health. It advances fundamental concepts, creates knowledge for the molecular to the organ systems levels, and develops innovative biologics, materials, processes, implants, devices, and informatics approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, for patient rehabilitation, and for improving health. It is the application of a systematic, quantitative, and integrative way of thinking about and approaching the solutions of problems important to biology, medical research, and population studies.”

• From HR 1795 establishing the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the National Institutes of Health. Signed by President Clinton December, 2000.



Bioengineering Vision

• Biology is the science core;

Engineering is the framework for inquiry • Education integrates biology and engineering• Focus research to either

– build on campus strength, or – create synergy with biology and engineering

• Teams to solve problems of significance• Engage industry



Governance

• Department Head (not a rotating Chair)• Full Time Faculty

– 50% or greater appointments

• Partial Appointments– To cover teaching or other needs

• Affiliate Faculty– Most current Bioengineering Faculty– Periodic review– Rights: graduate students– Responsibilities: committees, teaching



Building on Existing Strength

• Bioengineering dates to the 1950’s at Illinois• Currently: 60 faculty, 250 interested students (minors in life

science or engineering)• Research Strengths:

– Strongest in imaging: MRI, ultrasound, optical coherence, fluorescence dynamics

– Other areas: biomaterials, neuroscience, computational biology, microanalytical chemistry

• Demand has outstripped the capabilities of our administrative structure



Timetable

• 2003-2004: – many Faculty affiliates– Approvals of department, grad and undergrad programs

• 2004-2005: – 3 new faculty + affiliates– First graduate students enter – 2004– First undergraduates enter – fall 2004

• 2005-2006: – 5 new faculty + affiliates

• 2006-2009: – 8 new faculty + affiliates– ABET; First PhDs; New building

• 2009-2012: – Steady state student levels



For Undergraduates

• Timetable– Fall 2004: first freshman class (~25 students)– Fall 2005: fully engaged undergrad curriculum

• Preparation from High School– Excellent analytical, mathematical, and verbal

skills – same as now– Excited by biology and engineering



For Undergrads

What is Bioengineering?Any Area of Biology mixed with

Any Area of Engineeringin Any Proportion

What do you Study?Strength in Math, Physics, Chem, Biol

Engineering Approach in BioE Coursework

Strong Elective Concentration



UIUC Bioen Curriculum Basic Science/Math (approved 12/03)

• Mathematics (17 hours)– Math 120, 130, 242, 285 Calculus thru Dif EQ– Industrial Eng 230 Analysis of Data

• Physics (12 hours)– Phycs 111,112,113,114 (Mechanics, E&M, Thermal,

Waves and Quantum Physics)• Chemistry (16 hours)

– Chem 101/105; 102/105 General Chemistry– Chem 231/234 Organic Chemistry– Bioch 350 Biochemistry



UIUC Bioen Curriculum Basic Science/Math (approved 12/03)

• Life Sciences (12 hours)– MCB 150 Molecular/Cellular Basis of Life– Bioph 301 Introduction to Biophysics– Physl 302,304 Systems/Integrative Physiology, Lab

• Computer Science (3 hours)– CS 101 Intro Computing

General Education / Free Electives (28 hours)– Rhet 105 – Soc Sci / Humanities– Free Electives (6 hours)



UIUC Bioen CurriculumBioengineering Classes (approved 12/03)

• Introductory Course Work (6 hours)– Bioen 120 (1 hour) Introduction to Bioengineering– Bioen 201 (3 hours) Bioengineering Fundamentals– Bioen 202 (2 hours) Cell and Tissue Laboratory for

Bioengineers• Bioinstrumentation (8 hours):

– ECE 205 (3 hours) Introduction to Electric and Electronic Circuits,

– Bioen 314 (3 hours) Biomedical Instrumentation– Bioen 315 (2 hours) Biomedical Instrumentation

Laboratory



Thermodynamics, Biomechanics, Biomaterials, Fluid Dynamics (6 hours). Take 2 of:– Biomechanics, either/or

• Bioen 321 (3 hours) Physiol. System Biomech.• TAM/Bioen 307 (4 hours) Cellular Biomechanics

– Thermodynamics, either/or• Ch E 370 (4 hours) Chem Eng Thermodynamics• MatSE 301 (4 hours) Thermodynamics of Materials

– Biomaterials (3 hours)• MatSE 371 (3 hours) Biomaterials

– Fluid Mechanics (3 hours)• Ch E 371 (3 hours) Fluid Mech and Heat Transfer





Capstone Bioengineering (9 hours)• Bioen 331 (3 hours) Cellular / Systemic Reactions to Injury• Bioen 335 (4 hours) Bioengineering Design/Research• Bioen 336 (2 hours) Bioengineering Professionalism

Concentration Tracks (15 hours in one of the following)• Student Designed Track: “Coherence, focus, and purpose”• Preapproved tracks: Biosignals, Electronics, Imaging,

Microengineering, Computational biology and bioinformatics, Biomaterials, Biomechanics, Biomolecular, Cell and Tissue, Premedical



Undergrads are Prepared For

• Graduate school in bioengineering• With some remediation, graduate school in the

engineering or life science program closest to their concentration track

• Medical School• Technical work place, relying on strong science

and engineering background• Other related careers



For Graduate Students

• Timetable:– Fall 2004: a very few on campus transfers– Fall 2005: first recruited graduate students

• Grad Study is Preparation for– Advanced bioengineering positions in industry – Research positions in industry or academia



Graduate Student Preparation

• Undergraduate Preparation– We will assume either:

• Major in Engineering, Minor in Life Science• Major in Life Science, Minor in Engineering

– Remediation for Students with Demonstrated Potential



Graduate Student Preparation

• Biology Minor (example)Physl 301/3: Cell & Membrane Physiology / Lab (5 hours)

Physl 302/4 Systems & Integrative Physiology / Lab (5 hours)

Chem 231/4 Organic Chem/Lab (5 hours)

Biochem 350 Intro Biochem (3 hours)

• Engineering Minor (example)ECE 205/206 Electronic Circuits (4 hours)

CS 101, 300 Programming, Data Structures (7 hours)

TAM 150, 212 Statics & Dynamics (5 hours)

ME 205 or MATSE 301 Thermodynamics (4 hours)



Graduate Student Requirements

• MS Degree (thesis; 9 units)– 1 unit – seminar, journal club, ethics– 2 units – thesis– 2 units – 400 level, engineering or life science– 1 unit – 400 level, life science or engineering– 3 more units

• Coursework approved by Advising Committee with oversight approval from Graduate Committee



Graduate Student Requirements

• MS (non-thesis/coursework only; 10 units)– 1 unit – seminar, journal club, ethics– 2 units – 400 level, engineering or life science– 1 unit – 400 level, life science or engineering– 6 more units

• Coursework approved by Individual Advising Committee with oversight approval from Graduate Committee



PhD Requirements

• MS with thesis or equivalent• PhD Entrance Based On

– Research, academic records, qualifying exam• Qualifying Exam

– Individualized per student– Written responses to questions over 2 weeks– Oral exam– Topics:

Undergrad major, undergrad minor,Grad major, grad minor

• Thesis Prelim / Defense as per Graduate College



Graduate Supervision

• Individual Committee (both engineering and life science faculty) for each student

• Committee recommends coursework, administers Qualifying Exam

• Strong Graduate Committee Oversight

• Patterned after the Neuroscience Program



Possible Sources of Graduate Student Support

• Teaching Assistants:– Bioengineering will have a very limited number of positions– Neuroscience Model: agreements with Chem, Psych, Biology for

some TA positions• Research Assistants:

– Dominant mode, especially at beginning• Fellowships, Training Grants

– Must be sought by department• Pay Your Own Way

– Likely for MS students at the start– How many MS students?



Target Faculty Hiringby Teaching Need

• Bioinstrumentation Lecture / Lab• Introductory Bioengineering Lecture• Cell/Tissue Lab• Senior Design Lab• Capstone Bioeffects Lecture• Capstone Professionalism Course



Target Faculty Hiringby Research Areas

• Bioimaging

• Computational Bioengineering

• Micro and Molecular Technologies in Bioengineering

• Cell and Tissue Engineering



Bioimaging• MRI

– Adequate facilities for a BioE hire need– Base level of faculty on campus– Great interest from Psychology, Biology, Computation,

Engineering– Should be campus-wide area of coordination

• Ultrasound• Optical Imaging

– brain imaging, optical coherence tomography• Microscopies• Fluorescence dynamics• Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy• Image Processing• Need: Strong biomedical applications faculty to coalesce

research efforts



Micro and Molecular Technologies in Bioengineering

• Examples:– Lab on a Chip – fluidics, integrated sensors– DNA, genomic, proteomic microarrays– Novel chemical sensors– Implantable devices

• Nano/Micro Fabrication– “milli” scale – tissues– “micro” scale – cells– “nano” scale – molecules

• Other Players– ME, ECE, ChemE, GE, MatSE, Physics, Chemistry;

Nano/Micro Lab-- addition earmarked for “Bio Nano”



Computational Bioengineering

BioinformaticsCreation and searching genomic data basesCross between CS and molecular genetics

Computational Molecular ChemistryMolecular modeling, prediction of receptor–ligand

binding, folding, ion channel conduction, rational drug design

Dynamical ModelingHodgkin-Huxley modeling of Excitable CellsIn silico cell biology – modeling of kinetics of metabolic

pathwaysOverlaps Metabolic Engineering (ChemE)

Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing



Computational Bioengineering

Job Demand in BioinformaticsUndergrads: strong CS plus chem/biochem/biologyPharmaceutical companies consistently cite this area for hiring

Campus Needs in BioinformaticsSignificant Opportunities in Conjunction with Institute for Genomic

BiologySignificant Difficulties in Recruiting in this Area. Coordination is needed. Neither BioE nor any other department

can do this alone.



Cell & Tissue Engineering

• Tissue engineering– Artificial skin, bone, cartilage, liver, brain …– Resorbable materials for orthopedic implants– Scaffolds for growing cells for later implantation, tissue

models for research– Understanding cell – surface interactions

• Drug delivery and gene therapy• Closely linked to Biomaterials• Greatest opportunity for linkage to the Life Sciences

(LAS, Vet Med, Medicine)• Least developed base on campus



Other Notes

• Lack of research hospital, but unusual and strong MD / PhD program

• Campus is weak in medical disease and organ system oriented research

• Recent initiatives at UIUC Medical School• Carle: Midwest Breast Institute --newly proposed• Neuroengineering: Campus strength in study of the

nervous system – the Neuroscience Program has 60 faculty in 6 colleges – fits into all four themes.

• Veterinary College expertise is underutilized• Best match to national interest in disabilities is with

collaboration with Speech & Hearing Sciences (in ALS College), building on hearing aid project



Faculty Hiring Priorities

1. Best people

2. Initial focus on a subset of our target areas

3. Imaging is starting now

4. Senior people• clear understanding of a biomedical research problem• exploiting quantitative, design oriented engineering

methodologies and tools

5. Collaborate with other campus units, especially in areas where hiring is difficult



Leading BioE ProgramsRank(USN)

School No. of Faculty

Med. School

Focus

1 Johns Hopkins(est. 1970)

20 primary (16 affil.), 23 affil. faculty

Johns Hopkins Med. School

Virtually Everything Biomedical: Vascular, Tissue, Cardiac, Optics, Biomaterials, Imaging, Computational, Neurophysiology, etc.

2 Duke 19,27 affil. faculty

Duke Med. Center

Biomechanics of Cells & Tissue, Cellular & Biosurface Engrg., Bio-Electrical, Imaging, & Bioinformatics

3 UCSD(est. 1994)

13,10 affil. faculty

UCSD Med. Center

Cardiac Mech., Biomolecular, Genetic Circuits, Microhemodynamics, Vascular Bioengrg., Biosensors, Tissue Engrg., etc.

4 MIT(est. 1998)


Transport, Imaging, Biomaterials, Cell & Tissue Engrg., Computational Bioengineering, Genetics

5 Case Western(est. 1968)


Case Hospital (plus others)

Biomaterials, Tissue Engrg., Implants, Imaging, Sensing, Cardiac Bioelectricity, Neural Engrg. & Prostesis, Medical Transport Phenomena



Leading BioE Programs

6 Ga. Tech(est. 1997)

8,1 split apt.,

24 affil.

Emory Univ. Med. Sch.

Cardiovascular Biomechanics, Cell & Tissue Engrg., Neuroengrg., Imaging, Biomedical Computing, Cancer Tech.

6 U. Wash. 6,11 split & 24 affil.

U. of Wash. Med. Sch.

Biomolecular Enrgr., Nanobiology, Computational Bioengrg., Biomaterials, Imaging

8 U. of Penn. 4,15 split & 60 affil.

U. Penn. Med. School

Cell & Tissue Engrg., Imaging, Biofluid Mech., Injury Biomech., Neoroengrg., Orthopaedic Engrg.

9 U. Michigan 3,30 split & 26 affil.

U. of Mich. Med. Sch.

Biotech., Biomaterials, Imaging, Bioelectrical, Rehab., & Biomechanics

10 UC-Berkeley(est. 1998)

4,9 split & 5

affil.

UCSF Med. School

Biomechanics, Tissue Engrg., Bioinformatics, Micromachines, Imaging, Biomedical



History of Science & TechnologyLite

1864 Maxwell’s Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field Wait 40 years: wireless telegraph, early radioWait 40 more years: television is dominant communications medium

1913 Bohr model of atomWait 40 years: transistorsWait 40 more years: electronics dominate

1953 Watson & Crick describe structure of DNAWait 40 years: human genome sequencedWait 40 more years: biotechnology dominates



The Nature of Engineering Disciplines

• ME: the application of the science of mechanics to diverse problems

• EE: the application of the science of electricity to diverse problems

• ChemE: the application of the science of chemistry to diverse problems

• BioE:– Until now: the application of diverse engineering

disciplines to problems in biology and medicine– Future: the application of the science of biology to

solve diverse problems



What does it mean to have Biology as a Root Science?

• A major aspect of biology is emerging that is quantifiable, repeatable, and manipulable so as to be usable in designing solutions to diverse problems – molecular biology

• Impact on Education and Research:– Undergraduate education: conservative – application of

engineering to biology– Research: radical – changing over the next two decades to the

application of biology

• Implementation at the UIUC– Must hire quantitative, design oriented life scientists and

hypothesis savvy engineers – people motivated by the biological and biomedical problems



Next Steps

• Recruit senior faculty to lead in linking biology and engineering

• Implement educational programs• Get a building• Build partnerships with industry



Prognosis• Multiple Programs will Flourish

– Biomaterials option in MatSE– Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Dept– Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering– Bioinformatics (ChemE/CS initiative; MS degree)– LAS Molec. & Cell. Biol. Major with emphases in

bioinformatics, …– Biophysics and Computational Biology Center, PhD program– Civil and Environmental Engineering– Agricultural and Biological Engineering

• … and BS, MS, PhD in Bioengineering

original presentation

Documents