Biomaterials and biomechanics within Engineering Health primarily focuses on degenerative diseases and regeneration of musculoskeletal tissues, cells and biomaterials that replace them either temporarily to stimulate tissue regeneration or permanently, as implants, as well as developing and using natural and synthetic biomaterials as drug delivery systems.

Here also, mechanical properties as well as physical properties, such as permeability and diffusivity, become critical, which are connected and described in advanced computational models.

Biomedical imaging within Engineering health focus on

• multimodal imaging – simultaneous production of signals for more than one imaging technique
• minimization – to make modalities portable or to decrease the energy needed
• faster acquisition – that enables novel applications and improved image quality
• quantitative imaging – extraction of quantifiable features from medical images for the assessment of status of a disease, injury, or chronic condition relative to normal
• super resolution imaging – techniques that increase the resolution of an image system beyond the physical boundaries

Recent developments also cover scientific breakthroughs on novel nanoparticle agents for magnetomotive contrast enhancement in high performance ultrasound imaging. 

Digital and data-driven health has only taken the first steps towards what will be possible in the future. We envision that research in tailored algorithms for extracting information from health data using domain-specific expertise together with explainable AI, will be of strategic importance. Our goal is to take a leading position on all steps from how medical data is generated to how large databases can be combined with intelligent algorithms to provide novel data-driven health services and solutions both for clinical research but also supporting the development of future medical devices.

The micro- and nanobiotechnology research front within Engineering Health extends from fundamental physics of fluids and light-nanostructure interactions, to clinical applications and basic biology, where fluid handling, biomarker detection, cell and extracellular vesicle separation, bioanalysis, and processing explores and benefits from miniaturization and scaling laws in confined space.

Common goals are improved health and patient care by the development of precision diagnostics and to contribute to the development of novel therapeutic modalities such as advanced personalized cell therapies.

Advanced biomolecular and cellular technologies as well as computational methodologies to assess complex life science data have transformed our ability to define biomolecular processes of life and of disease states. This focus area within Engineering Health primarily focuses on biomolecular and cellular technologies and their implementation through which we can translate biomolecular and cellular research into a diversity of biomolecular, cellular, and computational solutions to diagnose and treat disease.