Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering
The Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering (PPGEB - Engineering IV at Capes) has interdisciplinary characteristics. Its researchers work in engineering, health, mathematics, computing, physics, physical education and management. From this interdisciplinarity emerged the two main areas of activity of the program: Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics. These two areas make it possible to develop joint projects among the program researchers.
Researchers' research projects involve: biomedical instrumentation, health technology assessment, medical physics, health management, medical imaging, e-health, biosensors, bioprinting, biomaterials, prosthetics, orthoses, exoskeletons, forensic engineering, tissue engineering, computational systems applied to health, IoT in health, among others.
In addition, PPGEB recruits students with a diverse profile. Engineers, doctors, physiotherapists, dentists, nutritionists, nurses, managers, physical educators, radiology professionals, among others, have been recruited. This is a reflection of the very diversity of their professors' education. This diversity opens the possibility of working with a broader range of actors in society and industry in the field of biomedical.
The overall objective of UTFPR's Professional Master's Degree Course in Biomedical Engineering is the production of highly qualified human resources and applied research for the medical, dental and hospital areas. Thus, problems related to diagnosis, therapy and health of human beings or animals can be research objects of the program. The use and development of tools, techniques, processes and equipment using concepts of engineering, physics, computation and mathematics, applied to the solution of clinical or biological problems (animals, plants and environment) are also considered research topics in PPGEB.
The Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering seeks to identify problems in the Health sector (Industries, Hospitals, Clinics and Municipal and State Health Offices, among others) to be solved in partnership, while forming and titling a health professional of high competence. The professional is formed by the solution of a real problem of Industry or any service of any sector of Health or Biomedical Engineering. This approach enables the interaction between the productive sector and the University, aiming at improving the health landscape in the state of Paraná and the development of industry and related services.
The PPGEB has gone through an initial period of consolidation and is heading for a new phase characterized by the expansion of its performance, the improvement of its graduates' level of education and the increase of its intellectual production.
Research lines
PPGEB currently operates in three main lines of research:
(i) Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation,
(ii) Clinical Engineering and Management and
(iii) Medical Physics and Radiology.
In the line of Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation we conduct research, development and improvement of biomedical equipment and devices. We also develop projects for the acquisition and processing of medical signs and images. Within this line there are still biotelemetry projects underway.
A prominent area within this line of research is the assessment of health technologies. In addition to technology assessment itself, we develop or improve protocols for the application of these technologies in hospitals and clinics.
Within this line, the area of forensic engineering emerged, which aims at the application of Biomedical Engineering in the solution of problems related to criminalistics and applied criminology. This includes genetic, dental and trace analysis, among others.
Still in the line of Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation, we are structuring the areas of biomaterials, biomechanics, bioprinting and tissue engineering. In the area of biomaterials we are conducting research with metallic and ceramic materials, aiming at the development of implants, prostheses, orthoses and exoskeletons as well as the development of scaffolds for tissue culture. In the biomechanics area we work with the development of prostheses, orthoses and exoskeletons. Finally, in the area of tissue engineering, we develop equipment for bioprinting and tissue cultivation.
In the area of Clinical Engineering and Management we develop work in clinical and hospital engineering. These works include the analysis and development of health-related processes. These processes may involve the production of exam supplies or diagnostic reagents, the improvement of the patient screening process, the elaboration of support materials for health professionals activities, among others.
We still work on the application of informatics in health problems. This work involves the use of IT to improve hospital and clinic processes, the development of hospital equipment management software, the use of health data mining techniques. An emerging topic in the area is e-health, where we are developing a video consultation evaluation project. We are developing Machine Learning work for diagnosing disease in humans and animals.
In the area of Medical Physics and Radiology we develop works involving dosimetry, radiological protection, the development of phantons, the elaboration and evaluation of protocols for imaging exams, among others. In conjunction with the line of Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation, works involving radiographic images can be developed.