Artificial organs targeted in medical technology venture

Nov 5 2007

The University of Bern is bringing together its established areas of expertise in the field of medical technology. The outstanding international reputation of medical technology teaching and research in Bern is to be further enhanced in the long term by the creation of new assistant professorships.

Medical technology has become an established high-profile discipline in the University of Bern's Strategy 2012. The importance and excellent international reputation of Bernese medical technology is based on the traditionally high standards of Bern's teaching hospitals, its contribution to the National Centre of Competence in Research Co-Me, the Technology for Humans research focus programme at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) and the commercially successful medical technology companies in the Espace region of central Switzerland.

In order to consolidate its national and international position in the medical technology field in the long term, the University of Bern has now set up the Artificial Organ Center for Biomedical Engineering Research (ARTORG Center). Housed in the Medical Faculty of the University of Bern, the ARTORG Center is active in interdisciplinary teaching and research and development, focusing especially on artificial organs. Research groups from units within the Medical Faculty and other faculties at the University of Bern and other university institutions and universities of applied sciences will work together in the new center.

A close cooperation between clinicians, technologists, and the industry

According to the Dean of the Medical Faculty, Martin Täuber, this new platform will coordinate existing projects and clinical approaches that involve artificial organs and medical technology, yield improved technological support and cross-fertilization of projects, and thereby significantly raise the profile of the faculty and the University of Bern.

The scientific program of the ARTORG Center will be established and implemented by 11 newly created assistant professorships. The research groups will focus on the following artificial organs and specialist areas:

• Blood vessel
• Bladder
• Ear
• Eye
• Heart
• Kidney
• Liver
• Lung
• Pancreas
• Spine

Implantation Technology of Artificial Organs

Medical technology research and development at the ARTORG Center will involve close cooperation between clinicians, technologists, the medical technology industry and other Swiss technology institutions. In particular, the center will work closely with the Technology and IT Faculty of Bern University of Applied Sciences. The ARTORG Center's involvement in the specialist Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering degree program and the PhD program of the Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences will generate additional synergies between research and teaching.

The Director of the Institute for Surgical Technologies and Biomechanics at the Medical Faculty is responsible for the operational management of the center. A scientific committee appointed by the university management is responsible for the strategic leadership of the ARTORG Center and also for the quality of its science.

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