Bridging a gap for better healthcare
A new interdisciplinary center at The Ohio State University is helping researchers and clinicians tackle the healthcare challenges of today and tomorrow.
The Center for Medical and Engineering Innovation (CMEI) is focused on the intersection of the two disciplines.
“The most impactful solutions to solve problems arising in medicine are, and will continue to be, the result of interdisciplinary collaboration,” said Dr. David Eckmann, CMEI director and a professor in the Department of Anesthesiology. “In the past few years, health college personnel across campus have expressed interest in partnering with those in engineering to improve patient care and healthcare delivery. The vast pool of resources and connections at Ohio State makes each of our initiatives possible.”
Beyond its existing culture of collaboration and interconnectivity, Ohio State has distinct advantages for being a national leader at the medicine-engineering interface. Its College of Engineering and seven health sciences colleges—Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Public Health and Nursing—are within walking distance of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and only a short drive from Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Additionally, the recently launched President’s Research Excellence program provides seed support for cross- and interdisciplinary research projects that have the potential to attract external funding.
“By enabling faculty, students, trainees and staff to establish interdisciplinary partnerships, CMEI is a pioneer in promoting the cross-college participation that’s essential to solving the clinical challenges of today and in the future,” said College of Engineering Dean Ayanna Howard. “Engineers working in tandem with health professionals will alter the landscape for patient care.”
Howard, a renowned roboticist, delivered the keynote address at CMEI’s “Robotics in Healthcare Symposium” in April 2021. Presentations featured experts from across the country speaking on a wide array of topics—from how robotics can enhance dental and veterinary medicine to robotic integration with 3D printing and tissue engineering. Recordings of presentations are available online at go.osu.edu/2021roboticsinhealthcare.
Along with educational opportunities, CMEI hosts a number of research activities intended to form new connections between clinicians and engineers, including lectures, facility tours and demonstrations, workshops and collaborative interactions.
“We recognize that major advancements in medicine will involve a multitude of engineering-related disciplines such as nanotechnology and artificial intelligence,” said Eckmann. “We’re expecting developments in areas such as targeted drug delivery, biosensors, and implantable and wearable devices.”
CMEI recently announced its second round of Interdisciplinary Pilot Grant funding, which supports collaborations between Ohio State researchers that initiate promising ventures at the medicine-engineering interface. Proposed projects must involve at least one faculty member from the College of Engineering and one from a health sciences college. Special consideration is being given to applications addressing the topics of aging, artificial intelligence, neuroengineering and a One Health collaborative approach that spans disciplines. The $25,000 grants will assist faculty in obtaining preliminary data that can lead to a collaborative grant application for the NIH, or another agency or foundation, or lead to an entrepreneurial endpoint such as a patent. Future requests for pilot funding applications will be announced.
Faculty holding an appointment in one of Ohio State’s health science colleges or in the College of Engineering are encouraged to apply for membership in CMEI. Applicants must be involved in transdisciplinary academic work (education, research, entrepreneurship, innovation) that involves aspects of both engineering and medicine. To apply, faculty should email CMEI@osumc.edu with a brief statement of qualification describing their engineering/medicine academic activities.
Visit medicine.osu.edu/departments/cmei to learn more.
by Meggie Biss, College of Engineering Communications | biss.11@osu.edu
