If the physical and chemical laws that govern the biology of living systems are the same as those that govern inanimate objects, isn’t it logical that the quantitative skills engineers bring to the table can substantially add to the biological revolution taking place today?

There’s an old saying: “Two heads are better than one.” And, it’s true. For years while ethicists, theologians, human rights groups, and the medical and insurance professions have been debating when life starts, how it should end, or even the quality of life, engineers and physicians -- often with biologists -- have been quietly working in teams to solve some of the most pressing physical needs of society. The keyword the media uses to describe these efforts is bioengineering.

Bioengineering is the generic term that attempts to encompass the newest, and potentially most far-reaching, technological revolution. In fact, the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health have identified bioengineering as “an essential underpinning field for the 21st century.” Combining the traditional strengths of engineers -- analytical and experimental methods, a knowledge of materials, experience in the design and control of systems, and expertise in the processing and control of information -- with those of biologists, who work on the molecular and cellular levels to understand biological functions and phenomena, the scope of bioengineering is as vast, and as intricate, as life itself.

For instance, in the field of biomedical engineering, there are already well established specialty areas, such as: biomechanics, the study of motion and devices in the body; biomaterials, which includes living tissue as well as synthetic materials for use in implants; and bioinstrumentation, the development of electronics and measurement devices for diagnostic and treatment applications.

Another field within bioengineering, bioinformatics employs algorithms and mathematical methods to model and analyze biological behavior. Often called computational biology, bioinformatics uses computers to mimic the movements and “thought patterns” of simple life forms in order to better understand, interpret, and predict real-life actions and functions. Bioinformatics also includes imaging systems and devices which aid in medical diagnoses and treatment plans. Imaging technologies that deal with vision identification or face recognition are in the field of biometrics.

Engineers and biologists also collaborate in the field of bioremediation, the use of biological systems to promote environmental stewardship.

Researchers in Notre Dame’s College of Engineering are focusing their bioengineering efforts in the areas of biomechanics, biomaterials, bioinformatics, and bioremediation. Their successes promise to be at the forefront of innovations in medical treatment plans and surgical procedures, the development of chemical and optical sensors for medical applications, the creation of a synthetic blood with a longer shelf life than whole blood, and the invention of new drug-delivery systems.