Expert committee briefed on CityU's biomedical engineering-related research

On the second day of a three-day visit, the expert committee met with members of the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) to gain a greater understanding of the college’s biomedical engineering strengths and research capabilities, as well as related courses currently on offer.

The committee was invited to provide advice to CityU on establishing biomedical engineering-related programmes to further enhance professional education and research.

It is chaired by Professor Wang Lihong, Gene K. Beare Distinguished Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St Louis and comprises three other members, namely Professor Walter H Hsu, Professor of Pharmacology of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University; Professor Zhang Yantian, Programme Director of Division of Applied Science and Technology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institute of Health, and local expert Professor Lo Yuk-lam, Director of The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong and Member of the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong University Grants Committee.

The meeting began with an introduction of CSE by Professor Chan Chi-hou, Dean of the college. Besides outlining the vision, mission and developmental strategies of CSE, Professor Chan briefed the committee on the college’s existing strengths, highlighting its worldwide ranking in terms of overall performance and publication of scientific papers.

Professor Chan then focused on CSE’s initiatives in connection with biomedical engineering, for example, the undertaking of nano-bioinformatic engineering, implementing Life Science as a prerequisite foundation year course, and the acquisition of funding for the purchase of equipment necessary for high-quality research.

In the sessions that followed, college members heading research in the six biomedical-related areas delivered presentations to the committee, highlighting a selection of research projects. This enabled the advisors to better understand CSE’s biomedical engineering capabilities. The six biomedical engineering-related groups encompass biomedical materials, bioinstrumentation, bioimaging and bioinformatics, biomolecular and tissue engineering, biomedical physics and robotics-assisted biomedical engineering.

Members of the committee were also briefed on a newly introduced biomedical engineering study stream. The Biomedical Physics and Engineering stream, under the Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics programme, was introduced last year in response to an increased need for locally-trained medical physicists. The committee also discussed the attraction of the new stream with a student.

Tomorrow’s final day will see the experts present their concluding recommendations as to how CityU should move forward in this area.