New Biomedical Engineering Department Primed for Growth

The new department of biomedical engineering (UCBME) could become one of UC's largest departments in a very short time, predicts William Ball, MD, the department's first head.

Ball, a professor of radiology and pediatrics and founder of the Imaging Research Center at Children's Hospital Medical Center, said the department was a "natural evolution" of his career and the long-time collaborations across UC's campuses.

"We're actually not starting from scratch," said Ball. "There's about 25 rich years of biomedical engineering at the university in various department and colleges. It was scattered about. Now, we're taking a more organized and focused approach. We need this type of structure to move forward."

And Ball believes the new department will move forward very quickly. He said UCBME could eventually become one of UC's largest departments in term of facilities, faculty, students, research funding, and its contribution to UC's intellectual property.

"It's going to pay for itself and then some. There's no risk at all. It's just waiting for the right structure."

Ball's predictions might sound a bit optimistic for a department which was only approved by UC's Board of Trustees in late November and is still awaiting final approval for the various undergraduate and graduate degrees to be offered. However, he bases his predictions on his experience with the Imaging Research Center, a collaboration which began with researchers at CHMC and UC engineers and medical researchers in 1993.

"When the center opened, I used to worry about who would use it. Now, we're busier than I ever imagined we could be."

Ball uses advanced medical imaging techniques to understand brain metabolism and neurodegenerative diseases in children. "Pathology is a very complex process. It involves changes in anatomy, blood flow, water distribution, and metabolism. Before 1990, we could only look at anatomy. With advanced imaging, we can begin to look at other pieces of the puzzle. We can learn more about the disease."

The center at Children's eventually spawned a related adult medical imaging center in the College of Medicine further increasing the opportunities for medical breakthroughs. "What is exciting...between the two centers, we can study diseases from birth to death without interruption. No other centers have such an active collaboration."

Medical imaging is just one of the three primary focus areas for the new department of biomedical engineering, but Ball says it's a perfect example of why the department is essential to biotech growth. "Medicine is moving to a greater reliance on technology. It's a natural marriage between the two. We have bright and strong talent on both campuses. You'll get a lot more out of the talent when you get them to talk to each other and collaborate.

An example of the broad range and depth of research in medical imaging is the work of Christy Holland (College of Medicine) in bio-effects of diagnostic ultrasound and the potential for ultrasound to treat stroke"

The other focus areas are in bio-informatics and tissue engineering. Ball emphasized that the department will make contributions beyond basic research. "For example, no one is teaching bio-informatics to the next generation. We can combine education, research, and practical use."

Tissue engineering is likely to benefit from the combined department as well. "The field needs medical input to put good ideas into practice," said Ball. "Ed Grood and David Butler (College of Engineering) have been pioneers in bioengineering as has Steven Boyce (College of Medicine) with his work on aritifical skin."

Ball also hopes to create a smooth interface for industry. The proposal to form the department included the ambitious prediction that five start-up companies would be formed by 2006. Ball said that's a reasonable goal, especially with the biotech incubator BioStart nearby. "They just need people to have ideas and to create projects."

So, despite the challenges ahead in the new year, Ball remains energetic, optimistic and confident that UCBME will be one of UC's greatest success stories in the years ahead.

"It's going to be successful, because the momentum is building. It's going to be a winner."