Biomedical Engineering

• ENG BE 571: Introduction to Neuroengineering
  This course covers current and future neurotechnologies for analyzing the brain and for treating neurological and psychiatric diseases. It focuses on the biophysical, biochemical, anatomical principles governing the design of the current neurotechnologies, with a goal of encouraging innovations of new generation of therapies. Topics include basic microscopic and macroscopic architecture of the brain, the fundamental properties of individual neurons and ensemble neural networks, electrophysiology, DBS, TMS, various imaging methods, optical neural control technologies, optogenetics, neuropharmacology, and gene/stem-cell therapies. Discussions of related literatures and design projects will be involved. Enrollment is limited to 30 students. The course is open to MS, MEng, and PhD students, as well as qualified undergraduate seniors. Same as ENG BE 771. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG BE 572: Neurotechnology Devices
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: ENG BE 403.
  From electro-physiology to optical and MRI, non-invasive to invasive, neuro-sensing to neuro-modulation, and spanning applications in humans and animals; this course will cover the latest developments in devices used to study the brain. The course will center around several recent journal papers that introduces or utilizes novel devices for the advancement of neuroscience. For each paper, there will be one or two lectures on the background behind the specific neurotechnology advanced or utilized in the paper. In the following class, students will be required to critically discuss the given paper, with the discussion led by a group of assigned students who will first present an overview of the paper. Homeworks and the final project will further enhance critial review of the literature and investigation of neurotechnology devices. Same as ENG BE 772. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG BE 601: Linear Algebra
  The first of four math modules designed to reinforce basic mathematical and computer programming concepts pertinent to graduate research in biomedical engineering. This course will emphasize the five cornerstones of applied linear algebra: Linear combinations, decompositions, orthogonality, metric, and linear transformations. Topics include LU and QR factorizations, finite difference methods for solving partial differential equations (PDEs), least squares, Fourier series and wavelets, solid mechanics, Markov chains, principal component analysis, and signal processing techniques. This course will provide the necessary linear algebra background needed to solve problems in BE 602, 603 and 604.
• ENG BE 602: Ordinary Differential Equations
  This math module will focus on four key ODE concepts: Linear dynamical systems, nonlinear conservative and excitable systems, discrete- time state machines, and generalized Fourier series solutions to Sturm- Liouville problems. Topics include: Filters, enzymatic networks, mechanical models for biomaterials, oscillators and limit cycles, phase- locked loops, nonlinear Leslie matrices, Legendre polynomials, Bessel functions, and a prelude to solving PDE problems associated with heat transfer, diffusion, and electrostatics. Prior exposure to linear algebra (BE 601 equivalent), and working knowledge of a programming language (Matlab, Python, etc.) is helpful.
• ENG BE 603: Partial Differential Equations
  This math module will focus on elliptical and parabolic PDEs associated with transport phenomenon problems in biomedical engineering. We will visit four PDE concepts: Separation of variables, integral transform solutions, superposition principles, and numerical approximations using finite-difference schemes. Topics include: 2D and 3D anisotropic Laplace's, Poisson's, and the heat equations in different coordinate systems, Fourier and Laplace transform solutions, 2D ADI methods, Green's functions, and the method of images. Prior exposure to linear algebra (BE 601 equivalent), ODEs (BE 602 or MA 226 equivalent), Fourier series, Fourier and Laplace transforms (BE 401 equivalent), and working knowledge of a programming language (Matlab, Python, etc.) is highly recommended.
• ENG BE 604: Statistics & Numerical Methods
  In the final math module, we will focus on how linear algebra, ODEs, statistics, and signals & systems techniques can be used to interrogate data from biological and engineering experiments. The lecture topics include: Jacobi, Gauss-Seidel, and SOR iterative solvers for large linear systems; Gauss-Newton iterations (nonlinear least-squares); the ANOVA table, multi- factor regression, and intro to the general linear model (GLM); data deconvolution; Monte Carlo, bootstrap, and kernel density estimation. Prior exposure to linear algebra (BE 601 equivalent), basic probability and statistics (BE 200 equivalent), and working knowledge of a programming language (Matlab, Python, etc.) is highly recommended.
• ENG BE 605: Molecular Bioengineering
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Required for biomedical engineering graduate students.
  Provides engineering perspectives on the building blocks of living cells and the use of these components for biotechnological applications. Topics covered include biological pathways for synthesis of DNA, RNA and proteins; transduction, transmission, storage and retrieval of biological information by macromolecules; polymerase chain reaction, restriction enzymes, DNA sequencing and DNA assembly; design principles of synthetic biological circuits; cooperative proteins, multi-protein complexes and control of metabolic pathways; and generation, storage, transmission and release of biomolecular energy.
• ENG BE 606: Quantitative Physiology for Engineers
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Required for biomedical engineering graduate students.
  Course in human physiology for biomedical engineering students. Fundamentals of cellular and systems physiology, including the nervous, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems. Quantitative and engineering approaches will be applied to understanding physiological concepts.
• ENG BE 694: Biomedical and Clinical Needs Finding
  This course is required for students enrolled in the BME Master of Engineering program and is taught in conjunction with BE 695 (requires co-registration). In this course, student teams will work with their Clinical Advisor, a clinician practicing at Boston Medical Center in their selected clinical specialty, to observe first-hand how technology is applied to the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Detailed and comprehensive observation logs will be maintained by each student, recording their visits to the clinic. Opportunities for improving the current standard of care through technology and new product development will be explored through the "Clinical Needs Finding" process. Fall only. Restricted to BME MEng students only.
• ENG BE 695: Advanced Biomedical Design and Development
  BE 695 is a two-semester, project-based design course that provides students in the BME Master of Engineering program with an experiential opportunity to develop professional-level skills in biomedical product design and development. The course is divided into four modules: Discovery, Design, Development, and Deployment. During the first semester, students conduct determine User Needs, select projects, and design initial solutions. During the second semester, teams further develop their designs, make and test multiple prototypes. Design Controls, Risk Management plans, IP and Regulatory Strategies, as well as a Commercialization pathway are developed. Students enroll both semesters to receive credit for the course. Restricted to BME Master of Engineering students only.
• ENG BE 700: Advanced Topics in Biomedical Engineering
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.
  Advanced study of a specific research topic in biomedical engineering. Intended primarily for advanced graduate students. Variable cr.
• ENG BE 701: Writing a Persuasive Engineering Research Proposal
  Graduate Prerequisites: Students should be enrolled in the ENG BME PhD program in the second year or beyond and advisor approval is required to participate. First year students may enroll only with rotation advisor support a
  In situations as diverse as writing academic grants to pitching new ideas to venture capitalists, engineers are asked to write proposals in many different contexts to obtain support for their research, On the surface, these proposals can appear to be extended summaries of future research plans. However, research proposals are fundamentally persuasive documents and only succeed if they can motivate their readers into becoming advocates for the proposed work. This course offers a half-semester workshop-style introduction to effective proposal writing in biomedical engineering. Students will learn how to identify and use common persuasive proposal structures, craft effective arguments to motivate engineering research, analyze drafts to identify common pitfalls writers fall into when crafting proposals, and solicit and give useful feedback on their writing. To develop these proposal writing skills, students will draft a proposal suitable for submission to external biomedical engineering funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
• ENG BE 703: Numerical Methods and Modeling in Biomedical Engineering
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Graduate standing.
  This course offers an advanced introduction to numerical methods for solving linear and nonlinear differential equations including ordinary differential equations and partial differential equations. Topics include numerical series, error analysis, interpolation, numerical integration and differentiation, Euler & Runge-Kutta methods, finite difference methods, finite element methods, and moving boundary problems. This course requires knowledge of multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. Some knowledge in one computer programming language, such as MATLAB, is required.
• ENG BE 704: Cancer Biology and Oncology for Engineers
  Graduate Prerequisites: Engineering graduate students will benefit from a basic background inmolecular and cell biology for this class.
  This course is designed to be an introduction to cancer biology and oncology from the perspective of the engineer. The course will cover basic cancer biology including cancer genetics, tumor metabolism, angiogenesis, and the metastastic cascade, and then discuss how new technologies enable better diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. The class will explore how engineering principles can be applied to the design and fabrication of new technologies for cancer care, with an emphasis on signal processing, image formation (i.e. tomography), and data analysis. There will be a strong imaging component relevant to both cancer biology and clinical treatment, including optical, MRI, mammography, and PET-CT modalities. The course will be a combination of traditional lectures, class discussions, and journal club, and each student will be expected to present several times during the semester.
• ENG BE 707: Quantitative Studies of Excitable Cells
  Graduate Prerequisites: ENG BE 401; graduate standing or seniors with consent of instructor.
  Focuses on the properties of the membranes of nerve and muscle cells. Classical models of resting potentials, action potentials, synaptic transmission, and sensory receptors are treated. The structure and function of single ionic channels are characterized in detail from patch-clamp recordings, neuropharmacological studies, and molecular studies. Mechanisms of muscle contraction and other forms of cellular motility are also covered.
• ENG BE 709: From Cells to Tissue: Engineering Structure and Function
  Graduate Prerequisites: ENG BE 605; BE 605 and graduate standing in BME department, or permission of instructor.
  This course is a primary literature-based course that will introduce students to engineering concepts in understanding and manipulating the behavior of biological cells. We will try to understand the interplay between cells, the extracellular environment, and intracellular signaling pathways in regulating cellular and multicellular structure and function. In particular, we will explore the use of modern experimental approaches to characterize and manipulate cells for bioengineering applications, and the concepts in scaling cellular engineering to functional issues. In this context, we will focus on several topics, including signal transduction and the molecular regulation of cell function, cellular microenvironment, cell adhesion and mecghanics, stem cells, multicellularity, and experimental models of tissue development. We will introduce both classic approaches and those that are still in early development. Due to the expansive nature of this area of science, we will only be able to introduce a sampling of the space.
• ENG BE 710: Neural Plasticity and Perceptual Learning
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: ENG EK 381 (or an introductory course in probability and statistics);GRS BI 755 (or any other introductory course in neuroscience). Recommended: ENG BE 570
  This course explores the capacity of cortical sensory and motor maps in the adult brain to change as a result of alterations in the effectiveness of the input, direct damage, or practice. The lectures will describe and discuss (1) the physiology and anatomy underlying adult dynamics; (2) psychophysical methods and experimental paradigms that have been used to study cortical plasticity in the early stages of the sensory and motor pathways; (3) evidence for perceptual learning; and (4) biologically plausible computational models of learning. We will discuss applications of functional neuroimaging to study perceptual learning and restorative plasticity in the human brain.
• ENG BE 726: Fundamentals of Biomaterials
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Graduate standing.
  Provides the chemistry and engineering skills needed to solve challenges in the biomaterials and tissue engineering area, concentrating on the fundamental principles in biomedical engineering, material science, and chemistry. Covers the structure and properties of hard materials (ceramics and metals) and soft materials (polymers and hydrogels). Same as ENG BE 526, ENG ME 726, ENG MS 726. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG BE 727: Principles and Applications of Tissue Engineering
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Graduate standing; ENG BE 726.
  Provides the chemistry and engineering skills needed to solve challenges in the biomaterials and tissue engineering area, concentrating on cell-biomaterial interactions, soft tissue mechanics and specific research topics. Students will write a NIH-style grant proposal on a specific research topic. Same as ENG BE 527, ENG ME 727, ENG MS 727. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG BE 745: Nanomedicine- Principles and Applications
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of the course directors.
  The use of nanoscience and technology for biomedical problems has spawned a field of applications ranging from nanoparticles for imaging and therapeutics, to biosensors for disease diagnostics. Nanomedicine is a rapidly growing field that exploits the novel properties of nanoscale materials and techniques to rapidly advance our understanding of human biology and the practice of medicine. This course focuses on the fundamental properties, synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, coupled with their applications in nanomedicine, including: micro- and nano-particles for drug delivery and imaging, microfluidics for in vitro diagnostics, nanomaterials and platforms for biological applications. The biomedical applications include cancer, cardiovascular disease, and infectious diseases. Same as ENG EC 745. Students may not receive credit for both.