University of Rochester Starts Medical Device Program

Professors at the University of Rochester created a new program to teach students about the development of medical devices. Students in the university's biomedical engineering school can take on the new program as part of their master's degree.

Under the program, students will be able to follow physicians to determine which devices benefit patients and doctors. Based on this, students can research the feasibility of a new medical device. If a prototype demonstrates pre-trial safety and efficacy, university officials may decide to commercialize an idea.

The new program is part of the university's Center for Medical Technology and Innovation (CMTI). This center connects students, biomedical engineering faculty and physicians to develop medical devices. The center is also developing relationships with medical device companies. With the right relationships, the center hopes that some student prototypes could be commercialized.

"The University of Rochester Medical Center is a treasure trove of ideas," stated Greg Gdowski, director of CMTI. "There are 1,400 clinicians, all of whom likely have novel ideas based on what they do in their practices." CMTI is a joint initiative between the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the School of Medicine and Dentistry.

As of now, three students have gone through an early version of the program over the last two years. To date, the university has already attained two provisional patent applications for student-developed devices designed for cardiac operations.

Over the past few months, enrollment in the program has increased to nine students. These students will be given the opportunity to visit operating rooms, clinical settings and local biomedical companies to learn from medtech industry experts.

Based on this industry exposure, students will brainstorm different devices that could prove beneficial. Once students choose a medical device, they will separate into different teams. For the next 36 months, the students will work to develop their prototype medical device.

For medical device companies, this type of program could prove very beneficial. Instead of internships and co-ops, medical device companies will have access to students who are intimately familiar with the medtech industry. Students will have a significant knowledge of regulatory processes, medical device development and product lines. In addition, students will have a better understanding of patient and physician needs.

In part, the program was created as a response to cuts in research budgets. While many university research groups have seen funding cuts in the past few years, the National Institutes of Health is still willing to provide some types of funding. Instead of providing capital for research-oriented projects, the NIH is refocusing on research that has short-term, real-world applications.

Researchers and professors at the school also noted that the program can be altered as medtech industry needs change over time.

"The majority of what we develop here at the university, at both the River Campus and at the Medical Center, does not have a good champion to take those great ideas and get them through the commercialization process to something that can actually be sold that can be marketed," noted Dr. Ankur Chandra, CMTI medical director.

Under this program, that may change.