News

The NSERC CREATE Training in Global Biomedical Technology Research and Innovation program hosted its second annual Summer School and Bio-Hackathon from the 25th to the 27th of July 2022, with support from The Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology (CBB).

[CBB NSERC CREATE 2022 Summer School and Bio-Hackathon]

"Congratulations to NSERC CREATE Training in Global Biomedical Technology Research and Innovation program trainee, Ala Eldin Omer who has completed his training in the program and PhD at the University of Waterloo"

[Graduating student profile - Ala Eldin Omer]

Media Releases

Health technology is a growing industry and research priority in Canada. From pacemakers to implants to prosthetic limbs, we’re surrounded by medical innovations that improve our lives.

To be truly effective, these innovations must be designed by a special type of engineer – one who can identify medical technology needs, solve challenging engineering problems, and manage partnerships at the interface of engineering and health.

Catherine Burns, professor of systems design engineering and executive director of the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, has been awarded a Collaborative Research and Training Experience Program (CREATE) grant to establish a biomedical engineering graduate program that will help produce this type of engineer. The $1.65 million grant awarded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) will help fund a new program in global biomedical technology research and innovation at Waterloo starting in the fall of 2018, the only one of its kind in Canada.

"Most students come out of biomedical engineering graduate programs as great researchers, but not necessarily with a good understanding of how the industry works. This program will produce students who know both the research side and the business side of the industry"

Focusing on a unique “needs first” approach to research, the program will encourage students to understand problems in a real-world setting before developing solutions. To understand the needs of medical technology users, students will get out into the field to work alongside clinicians and patients.

At Grand River Hospital (GRH), a partner in the program, students will work in settings relevant to their area of research which will inform the inquiry and development stages of their work with results that will provide immediate value not only to students but also to care provided at GRH. Other partners include Starfish Medical and Synaptive Medical.

The curriculum at Waterloo will include clinic and industry internships, commercialization courses, international exchanges, and professional skills workshops. Students will graduate knowing how to work with patients and clinicians, and understanding medical device regulation. They will also have the skills and industry contacts in place to help secure jobs in the biomedical industry or commercialize their own inventions.

[Extract from CBB Stories]

"Canadian researchers connect with business and international peers to train next generation of science and engineering leaders"

[NSERC Announcement] 

"Waterloo faculty member awarded NSERC CREATE Grant"

[Waterloo Stories] [CBB News] [OOR]

"GRH partners with UW on new biomedical technology graduate program, the first of its kind in Canada"

[Grand River Hospital News]

Complete list of 2018 CREATE grant recipients

[2018 CREATE grant recipients]