Mechanical Engineering

Universities Involved	Trinity College Dublin University of Ulster, Jordanstown University of Limerick Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Department(s)	Mechanical Engineering
Project Title / Description	All­Ireland MSc course in Biomechanical Engineering. The development of the medical devices industry over the last fifteen years has seen employment in the sector grow to nearly 15,000 people. A large number of companies in the sector have identified a need to increase their capability for product development and innovation to ensure that they retain a market advantage. In this context approximately 50 companies now have a research or a research and development type function at their plants in the Republic of Ireland. Similar developments are taking place within Northern Ireland. The new emphasis on research has created a need for engineers and scientists who have a deeper knowledge of bio­medical engineering. Already there are a range of undergraduate programmes available to meet this need but many companies have indicated that a post­graduate qualification in Bio­medical engineering was very desirable. To meet this need the universities have jointly developed a MSc course in Bio­medical engineering. The MSc course is being jointly taught by the three universities and the RCSI. The joint nature of the course brings together the world class expertise available at the participating institutions in a novel way. The course includes the following modules: Biomechanics Biomaterials I and II Bioinformatics And a Research project The overall aims of the course are: To give students a broad understanding of the key subjects of bioengineering. By way of case studies, to give students a familiarity with bioengineering applied in the main surgical disciplines. To give students the ability to exploit information technology for monitoring the performance of medical devices and related issues. To give students a sound understanding of how to apply the scientific method to research in an industrial context. The course is a unique programme involving collaboration between Institutions of Higher Education at four sites on the island of Ireland. It focuses on an industrial sector in which the island of Ireland has developed a global reputation for quality and excellence. This biomedical sector has also been identified as a key technology for the future development of the economies of the Republic (Technology Foresight Group and the IDA Ireland) and of Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Growth Challenge (NIGC) and Industrial Research Unit). The Republic of Ireland now has exports valued at $1.6 Billion in the medical device sector and the sector is growing at 5% per annum. Contact first made through the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland, Section of Bioengineering. Course now running with ten students. Funding entirely from fees
Contacts	Prof. Patrick J Prendergast pprender@truxal.tcd.ie