Biomedical Engineering - Technische Universiteit Eindhoven

Profile
Education
Research
There is an endless demand in modern healthcare for technologies to improve the diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of health problems. To meet this demand, the Eindhoven University
of Technology (TU/e) focuses a great deal of its research and education on health technologies
and has a department devoted entirely to this socially vital area: Biomedical Engineering.
Biomedical engineers improve human health through cross-disciplinary activities that integrate
the engineering sciences with the biomedical sciences and clinical practice.
Biomedical Engineering (BME) is a familiar discipline around the world, but there are many
different types of programs. In 1997 TU/e was one of the first universities to introduce an integrated
five-year BME program leading to a master’s degree. From the outset, the curriculum integrates
the natural sciences and engineering disciplines with cell biology and pathophysiology.
It is also designed to meld seamlessly with the research in our own department.
Research ranges from regenerative medicine to image anaylsis to molecular
engineering. The research is performed in eight specialized research groups that
cooperate in several mutual projects, such as developing an artificial human
kidney and designing personalized medicines.
Synergy of education and research
The Department of Biomedical Engineering provides
high-quality academic education and cutting-edge research.
• Education
One bachelor’s track, Biomedical Engineering, and two
master’s tracks, Biomedical Engineering and Medical
Engineering.
• Research
performed in eight specialized research groups and covers
everything from regenerative medicine to image analysis
to molecular engineering.
Contact between the 300 undergraduate students, 200
graduate students and 180 researchers is open and personal.
This allows the students to have good interaction with the
scientists and medical specialists. As a result, our students
are capable of performing and coordinating basic and applied
scientific research in the field of biomedical engineering from
a very early stage in their careers. The close collaboration
between our researchers also fosters cooperation between
research groups in numerous shared projects, such as the
development of an artificial human kidney and the design of
personalized medicines.
“To discover why these diseases develop is a
key driver for me.” Prof.dr.ir. Luc Brunsveld, Chemical Biology /
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Partners in health
The Department of Biomedical Engineering collaborates
closely with other health-oriented departments at TU/e, other
universities, academic hospitals and industrial partners. Much
of this collaboration occurs through international contacts in
countries such as China, the U.S.A., Australia and European
countries.
Bachelor’s program
The three-year bachelor’s program focuses on research and
development and offers a broad range of knowledge and skills.
Students take courses on mathematics, physics, chemistry,
electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer
science, physiology and biology. From day one, they work
together in teams on state-of-the-art biomedical problems,
so that they also develop such valuable skills as cooperation,
communication and reporting. The students are guided by
graduate students, post-docs and academic staff, including
professors, in these projects.
Besides the fixed parts of the bachelor’s program, students
choose their own track. Many students choose to broaden
their scope by studying another field of research, perhaps
at another university or even abroad. Popular tracks are
Medicine and Management Sciences.
Master programs
When it comes time to move on to a master’s degree program,
there are plenty of appropriate ones to choose from at other
universities. Students who have taken specific medical
elective courses are eligible to the admission procedure of
the Selective Utrecht Medical Master (SUMMA) program at
Utrecht University, the Arts-Klinisch Onderzoeker program
(AKO) of the University at Maastricht, and the Medical Masters
programs in Groningen (ZIG) and Amsterdam. However, most
students decide to follow a master program that belongs to
the Life Sciences and Engineering graduate program. This TU/e
graduate program includes the master program Biomedical
Engineering and the master program Medical Engineering.
Biomedical Engineering
The Master in Biomedical
Engineering is strongly
research focused and aims to
develop general solutions for
a patient group. Biomedical
engineers specialize in one
particular field relevant to
clinical problems.
Medical Engineering
The Master in Medical
Engineering aims to
integrate advanced medical
technologies into clinical
practice. Medical engineers
develop solutions to clinical
problems. They solve patient
specific problems, through
models and technologies.
At the start of both master programs, students become a
member of one of our eight research groups. They design their
own personal curriculum in cooperation with a professor. Most
students go abroad for a three-to-four-month internship as part
of the program, with popular destinations being the U.S.A. and
Australia. In fact, the study materials for both the bachelor’s
and master programs are in English, so all students are wellprepared
for an international career.
Careers for a biomedical engineer
Most graduates will start working as a researcher after
finishing their master Biomedical Engineering or Medical
Engineering. But some of them become: developer, project
manager, lecturer, salesman, advisor...
The sectors and companies that graduates (after their master)
work in can be found in the diagram below.
• Universities (PhD students) (30%)
• (Academic) Hospitals (22%)
• Development of medical
products (16%)
• Pharmaceutical companies (10%)
• Small companies (10%)
• National research institutes (5%)
• Organisation and finances (5%)
• Other (2%)
As there is always more to learn, graduates may continue
studying. They often choose for an education program at
the School for medical Physics and Engineering to become a
clinical physicist, a qualified medical engineer or qualified
medical Informatics professional. Or they choose a four year
research program to become a PhD.
“In my biomedical engineering study, I learned
to discuss with all kind of engineers at a high
level and to quickly identify the innovative
aspects of inventions. This boosted my career
as a consultant and enables me to efficiently
translate technical ideas into commercial
products.” Jasper Levink, Business development
consultant, ttopstart
Soft Tissue Biomechanics and
Engineering
Prof.dr.ir. Frank Baaijens &
Prof. dr. Carlijn Bouten
Through experimentation and numerical
modeling, we study how living tissues
adapt to mechanical loading. We apply
the knowledge of tissue proliferation
and differentiation thus obtained to
biomedical problems such as prosthesis
design, pressure ulcers and the
engineering of living tissues and organs
(e.g., heart valves and intervertebral
discs).
Cardiovascular Biomechanics
Prof.dr.ir. Frans van de Vosse
We develop experimental and
computational models of the cardiovascular
system for the purpose of
supporting medical decision making
in clinical practice. The models can be
used in the development of methods
for quantitative measurements (e.g.,
pressure, flow, and tissue deformation)
and to predict the outcome of medical
intervention (e.g., surgery and
medication).
Orthopaedic Biomechanics
Prof.dr. Keita Ito
We combine engineering and biology
to expand our understanding of the
biomechanical function of musculoskeletal
tissues, as well as their adaptive
developmental and physiological nature.
Our investigations of degenerative
diseases and regenerative treatment
strategies target the three tissues bone,
articular cartilage and intervertebral disc.
Biomedical Image Analysis
Prof.dr.ir. Bart ter Haar Romenij
We develop new robust image analysis
algorithms for computer-aided diagnosis
and interactive 3D visualization to help
in extracting quantitative information
from medical images. We apply these
techniques to practical clinical problems,
with an emphasis on the cardiovascular
system (3D deformation, ablation,
4D flow, interventions) and the brain
(tractography, surgery navigation).
Biomodeling & Bioinformatics
Prof.dr. Peter Hilbers
We investigate and apply molecular
modeling methods, machine learning,
systems biology and parameter
estimation techniques to construct
computational models. With these
models, we improve our qualitative and
quantitative knowledge of biomedical
processes and structures, such as
biomembranes, protein interactions
and complex biochemical networks, and
diseases, such as metabolic syndrome
and diabetes mellitus.
Chemical Biology
Prof.dr.ir. Luc Brunsveld
We apply novel chemistry techniques to
biology to enhance our understanding
of diseases on the molecular level and
develop new or personalized drugs.
Our targets of interest are studies of
the nuclear receptors that play a role
in cancer and the visualization and
assembly processes of proteins, such as
disease relevant membrane proteins.
Biomedical Chemistry
Prof.dr. Bert Meijer
Our aim is to develop new molecular
tools and biomaterials for biomedical
research using supramolecular
interactions. We create new materials
for tissue engineering (e.g., an artificial
kidney), novel peptide-based scaffolds
for drug delivery, and proteins with
attractive biomedical properties for
molecular imaging. We focus on artificial
structures that are indistinguishable
from their natural counterparts.
Biomedical NMR
Prof.dr. Klaas Nicolay
We develop non-invasive imaging
techniques to improve the diagnosis and
treatment of cardiovascular diseases,
metabolic disorders and cancer. Our
research focuses on expanding the
capabilities of Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI) and Spectroscopy (MRS).
Following initial validation in preclinical
studies, we aim to translate promising
methods into clinical use.