Fall 2001

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The human genome project. The creation of a cochlear implant that enables children to hear. Those are just two recent examples of the rapid biomedical developments that are dramatically changing health and medical care. There exists an urgent need for more biologists who have the technical knowledge to achieve the next major medical breakthroughs in pharmaceuticals, gene therapy or non-invasive surgery.

The excitement related to biomedical advancements has significantly increased student and faculty interest in biology and biomedical engineering at Rose-Hulman. Enrollment in biomedical engineering courses grew five-fold in a recent three-year period. Last year, 68 students graduated with a minor in biomedical engineering. Twenty-seven alumni have earned a master’s degree in biomedical engineering since 1993. Seven faculty teach in the Department of Applied Biology and Biomedical Engineering, which was created two years ago.

As a result of the interest on campus and society’s need for biotechnologists who can continue improvements in health care, Rose-Hulman launched a bachelor’s degree program in applied biology this fall after several years of planning.

"The difference between our program and the traditional biology major is illustrated by the word applied," stated Lee Waite, head of the applied biology and biomedical engineering department and associate professor. "Rose-Hulman is preparing graduates who will have the ability to apply their biological sciences knowledge to solve practical problems. The undergraduate program is not focused on theoretical research."

Waite said a strength of the program will be the interdisciplinary nature of a student’s courses: "The applied biology program will produce biologists who will have the chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics background needed to increase discoveries in gene therapy, create new pharmaceutical compounds and advance tissue engineering."

"Electrical engineers are designing implantable devices for muscle stimulation, mathematicians are involved in computational biology discoveries, and physicists are creating new ways to use lasers in medical technologies," he explained "Graduates will be versatile and very employable," Waite commented.

Seventeen students including 14 freshmen have already selected the new degree program as their major, according to Waite.

Andy Ham says a biology class his freshman year at Rose-Hulman triggered his interest in pursuing a career in molecular biology.

"That’s when I started to think about what I could do with a biology degree," says the sophomore from Toledo, Ohio. "I got interested in DNA. I’d like to attend graduate school and maybe do research in the area of molecular biology and genetic diseases," he said.

Ham didn’t have to wait for graduate school to get a chance to do research. He’s working with applied biology and biomedical engineering professor Ric Anthony on research related to the genetics of yeast cells.

The faculty in the department bring a variety of expertise to the program. Their interests range from tissue engineering to the design and evaluation of orthopedic prosthetic devices to cell and molecular biology, neuroscience, and the use of lasers and optics in surgery.

Another asset for the program has been the Lilly Applied Life Science Research Center in Olin Hall. The Center is an important laboratory-based program that enables faculty and students to engage in multi-disciplinary projects. The Center has been funded by two gifts totaling $275,000 from Eli Lilly and Co. The second gift of $150,000 was received this spring.

New scholarships for students interested in the life sciences will be created through two recent $150,000 gifts. The donations were received from the Guidant Foundation in Indianapolis and matched by Ronald Dollens, president and chief executive officer of the Guidant Corp.

In the early 1970s, a biological engineering degree program was offered at Rose-Hulman for about 10 years. Key faculty members departed the program and student interest declined. Alumni who received degrees during that period have become successful as the founders of medical device companies, medical school faculty and developers of new surgical procedures.

"Graduates of our program will continue the important advancements in biological sciences that many of our alumni have pioneered," Waite stated. "I’m excited that we’re teaching students today who will significantly improve medical care in the future."