Curriculum
Required Courses and Electives
The pre-doctoral curriculum consists of 12 courses from the areas of mathematics/statistics, engineering, biology, physiology, and independent research based on the Biomedical Engineering Department policy. Students must take 2 mathematics/statistic courses, 2 biology and physiology courses, 1 quantitative sciences and engineering course, and 7 elective courses from science and engineering areas. The 7 elective courses may include up to 2 graduate independent research courses. These are quarter-based courses with each course equivalent to 1 credit. Trainees must complete 4 courses from the following 3 areas – Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Engineering, and Translational Medicine. These 4 courses are counted toward the 7-elective course requirement. Below are the courses in these 3 areas that will be offered.
1. Developmental and Stem Cell Biology
BIOL SCI 391 Development and Evolution of Body Plans
This course is focused on the molecular mechanisms underlying early embryonic development, morphogenesis of organ systems, and relationship between structure and function. Student performance will be assessed based on knowledge acquirement and completion of a research design project report. This is a required course for all trainees.
2. Regenerative Medicine and Engineering
BMD ENG 346 Tissue Engineering
This engineering course is focused on the fundamental principles behind tissue engineering, the matrix or scaffold, the cellular components, and the signaling that is required to grow tissues in the laboratory setting or in the body. It is taught via a student-directed learning methodology so that they can have an immersive experience into the aspects of the topic that they are most interested in understanding. This course has a significant discussion component that enables cross-fertilization of ideas and learning methods.
BMD ENG 347 Foundations of Regenerative Engineering
This engineering course covers the fundamentals of regenerative engineering, including embryonic development, stem cell biology, cell signaling systems, recombinant biotechnology, gene transfer, gene editing, gene silencing, stem and somatic cell preparation and transplantation, cell function assessment, and tissue scaffold construction, implantation, and functional assessment. Student performance will be evaluated based on knowledge acquirement and a research proposal addressing a regenerative medicine and engineering problem.
BMD ENG 348 Applications of Regenerative Engineering
This engineering course covers the pathogenic mechanisms (impact of environmental factors and gene mutations), pathology, pathophysiology, conventional interventions, and regenerative engineering strategies for selected human disorders, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve injury, hepatitis, cirrhosis, diabetes, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, arterial aneurysms, and skin injury. This course is a continuation of BMD ENG 347. The criteria for BMD ENG 347 will be used for evaluating student performance.
*BMD ENG 495 Experimental Regenerative Engineering Laboratory
The Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering has established an Experiential Learning Core Facility that will cater to the requirements of a regenerative engineering education. The facility is equipped with various experimental systems, including surgical instruments and equipment for animal model-based research, molecular imaging systems, protein and DNA analytical systems, histology and pathology processing and testing systems, polymer synthesis and characterization, and biomechanical testing. This is a graduate-level laboratory course, covering cell culture techniques, bone marrow stem cell identification and isolation, animal- based disease/tissue injury modeling (liver injury and regeneration, skin wound and regeneration, stroke and neuronal regeneration, and heart attack and myocardial regeneration). Students will complete an independent research project report addressing a topic in regenerative engineering. This report will be used to evaluate student performance. This is a required course for all trainees.
*TBD, the details of this course are currently under discussion
3. Translational Medicine
BMD ENG 495 Pharmaceutical Engineering: From Discovery to Therapeutics
This course will take students through the process of drug development from initial innovative concept and identified medical need, to proof of efficacy, clinical trials, and translation to ‘big pharma’. Professor Moskal will draw upon his experience from academia and industry to chart out each critical step of drug development; additional industry experts will present guest lectures.
MBiotech 410: Technology Commercialization Fundamentals
The aim of this course is to teach students the tools needed to evaluate, and potentially improve the clinical design of pipeline healthcare technologies for optimal commercial impact. The central focus of the class is market research: to gain insight into user population, customer demand, competitive landscape, market access, and marketing exclusivity, in addition to gaining insight into clinical design strategy and intellectual property. Upon learning these skillsets, students will develop effective target product profiles, sale forecast models, and will assess therapeutic value to make strategic go/no-go development decisions. Please note that this course will not count towards BME Ph.D. program course requirements.
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