Brief report on Workshop on Biomedical Engineering Perspectives, April 2015, Georgia

Two Workshops on «Biomedical Engineering Perspectives», one at Georgia Technical University, and another one at Tbilisi State Medical University in Tbilisi, Georgia, were held in April 2015.

These scientific events were organized with the occasion of the Coordinator (UPAT) visit to Georgian Partner Universities within the framework of the TEMPUS IV BME-ENA: Biomedical Engineering Education Tempus Initiative in Eastern Neighbouring Area” Project.

During both presentations, Prof. Nicolas Pallikarakis, UPAT, had shown based on the survey performed in the framework of the TEMPUS IV CRH-BME Project that the Biomedical Engineering educational sector is booming. Biomedical Engineering programs are experiencing rapid grow after the year 2000, most of which were created during last five years. This leads to an increased number of Biomedical Engineers available on the market today.

He also presented Biomedical Engineering profession and its international perspectives. Biomedical engineering is one of the fastest growing technological areas in the developed world, in part due to population ageing and the related increased needs, the increasing awareness of the importance of health in human productive life and the high added value of BME products and services. Only EU Medical Devices Market has an important place in medical technology, accounting for 30% of global sales (in 2009). The future of biomedical engineering as a profession is in a high demand. In a recent study, the US Dept. of Labor predicts that the BME profession will be among the “hottest” jobs by the end of this decade, with large added value in products and services. 

Prof. Pallikarakis presented Medical Device Life Cycle, which starts with the innovative idea. In order to become a prototype it should pass the Development-Testing-Evaluation-Specifications cycle and then the product undergoes the preclinical testing. During the next step of Clinical Studies which should pass the stage of e.g. Standards and Directives in order to get to the manufacturing stage and then to appear on the market. The Clinical Engineers are playing an essential role while the device is being used through e.g. Vigilance, Management, Health Technology Assessment etc. The last stage is the obsolescence of Medical Device. 

He also presented the TEMPUS IV BME-ENA project, its objectives, goals and importance of design, development and implementation of four interdisciplinary joint MSc degree programs in BME between the participating universities in each one of the ENA countries: Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Through these MSc programs, the ENA countries will be able to face the challenges of biomedical technology through capacity building measures and establish close collaboration links with the EU project partners providing the possibility to link local educational institutions with high experience EU Universities.  

At Georgian Technical University the workshop on “Biomedical Engineering Perspectives” was held on 22 April 2015. Welcome addresses were given by Prof. Dadunashvili, who officially opened the Workshop. 

At Tbilisi State Medical University, the workshop on “Biomedical Engineering Perspectives” was held on 23 April 2015. Welcome addresses were given by Prof. Sanikidze, Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, who officially opened the Workshop.

Both workshops were attended by students and academic staff of the universities, and concluded with fruitful discussions among all the participants. The presentations have been considered very useful for the audience and the feedback received showed great success.