Bioengineering Research Center

Researchers, including Zach Seeley (doctoral student), Susmita Bose, Vamsi K. Balla (postdoc), and Amit Bandyopadhyay, hope to develop new structures for bone implants with their new LENS machine.

The College of Engineering and Architecture has established the new Bioengineering Research Center. The research center came about with the gathering of interested faculty members in the spring of 2002.

By joining efforts collaboratively, researchers are hoping to attract grants, particularly from agencies not traditionally associated with engineering, such as the National Institutes of Health, says Amit Bandyopadhyay, center director and professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

Research focus:

Musculoskeletal disease and functional restoration

Bio-processing

Bio-computing

The college has traditionally strong research programs in these areas.

Grant support:

• W. M. Keck Foundation Grant. Researchers in the laboratory will work to develop biomaterials for use as bone implants.
• Office of Naval Research on Porous Materials Program. Study of Bio-ceramic coatings to cover metal implants in the body. Researchers include Bandyopadhyay, Susmita Bose, and Howard Hosick. The researchers are working to develop calcium phosphate based ceramics coatings that are about 1 to 100 microns thick with nano to micro-porosity that would help metal implants bond well with surrounding tissue.
• The center has also received support from the College of Engineering and Architecture, the College of Sciences, and WSU’s Office of Research.

Watch for more information on the new Bioengineering Research Center!