MSTP Associate Director Welcome

Sherry Harbin

Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Basic Medical Sciences

Indiana University School of Medicine-Purdue MSTP Associate Director

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering
Purdue University

Most of you are familiar with the saying “Opportunities lie at the interface of disciplines.”  Well, biomedical engineering, which represents the intersection of engineering and medical sciences, is certainly no exception to this rule. Biomedical engineering education and discoveries have long been at the forefront of innovation in medicine and biomedical sciences. And, physician engineers, who are trained to integrate engineering design and clinical practice, are well positioned to contribute to this innovation pipeline by identifying and solving the complex global healthcare problems of today.

The Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and the Indiana University School of Medicine joined forces more than 10 years ago to train this next-generation MD-PhD BME workforce to

INNOVATE, ENGINEER, TRANSLATE, and CURE.

The Indiana University School of Medicine-Purdue MSTP program is invested in training its students to achieve success as physicians in the clinic, scientists/engineers in the laboratory, as well as entrepreneurs who assist in translating ideas from bench to bedside.

Purdue has been a recognized leader in medical innovation and translation for more than 50 years. Pioneering inventions include development of the first energy-efficient implantable cardiac defibrillator, a significant commercial success; the discovery of decellularized tissue grafts for repair and regeneration of human tissues that are in widespread clinical use; the invention of acoustic guidance systems for endotracheal tubes; the design and synthesis of novel controlled release devices for the localized delivery of drugs, peptides, and proteins; and the development of the first fully experimental techniques to design, test, and improve artificial knee joints in concert with regional industrial partners. Today, this translation pipeline continues to flow with next-generation diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, including electroceuticals, advanced tissue fabrication, targeted drug delivery, label-free diagnostic imaging, point-of-care diagnostics, and wearable health technology.

At the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering we are taking our research and discoveries to new levels with our open-concept laboratories, cross-cutting collaborations, dynamic partnerships with industry, and state-of-the facilities ranging from nanotechnology to biotechnology. Our academic curriculum provides a solid foundation of engineering and life science principles and features unique training opportunities in entrepreneurship and clinical translation. Collectively, this toolkit and training positions our students at the forefront of the field of medical research and practice. We welcome you to join this Boilermaker community and our collective and tireless effort to INNOVATE, ENGINEER, TRANSLATE, AND CURE.

BOILER UP!