Bioengineering Devices and Techniques

The study of engineering principles in human and animal life is a key focus of the E3. Mechanical and electrical principles influence all stages of the life cycle, from development and maturation, to the process of aging. The physical forces experienced by living organisms as they interact with their environments are key determinants in their adaptation to their environment. Sensory and cognitive function must also be accounted for in any holistic understanding of animal behaviour. Within the Trinity Centre for Bioengineering (TCBE), interchange between engineers, developmental biologists and zoologists is well established. The E3 will support this propensity, bringing together bioengineers, animal behaviourists, ecologists and evolutionary experts to understand how life adapts to its environment. This venture will rebound to the benefit of engineering, inspiring progress with biomimetics, and with technology interventions that mediate human interactions with our environment in the pursuit of sustainable living, notably in the context of aging and disability. The E3 will accelerate current inter-School research into techniques for mechanical stimulation of tissue in regenerative medicine, and optimized design of biomechanical implants based on modelling and analysis of fracture propagation. Ireland's medical device industry is a vital constituent of our national enterprise landscape, with annual exports of over €7.2 billion, and it is one of the most competitive players in this space internationally. The E3 will support this industry through joint teaching and training initiatives in areas such as biomimetic design for next-generation medical devices and implants.