Doctors at Tokyo Women’s Medical University and engineers at Waseda University have a forty-year history of working together on projects related to artificial organs.  The synergism culminated in 2008 with the establishment of the Centre for Advanced Biomedical Sciences within the framework of the Tokyo Women's Med­ical University-Waseda University Joint In­stitution for Advanced Biomedical Sciences (TWIns).  The centre provides a singular environment for con­solidating research in life science, bioengineering, and medicine.

Here, I would like to describe some research topics on a contribution to medical treatments based on synergistic works, such as an implantable centrifugal blood pump (Left ventricular assist device) called EVAHEART as an exemplary product of this collaboration.

Consequently, I expect this synergistic strategy will help us create the next generation of new medical treatments for future applications in medicine: this approach is named “Another EBM:

Engineering Based Medicine”.

 

 

About the speaker: Professor Mitsuo Umezu is one of the world leading authorities in the research and development of artificial organs, cardiovascular engineering, tissue engineering and hemodynamics analysis. Professor Umezu was invited as the first project leader of the Australian Artificial Heart Project, which was set up by Dr Victor Chang at St. Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, and developed the unique design of the Australian heart pump named as "Spiral Voltex Blood Pump" which has been granted an international patent on the technology. For his continuous efforts in encouraging young biomedical engineers, Professor Umezu received the Honorary Distinguished Award from the International Biomedical Engineering Society in 2002. Professor Umezu has published over 300 papers in the field of Biomedical Engineering as well as Cardiovascular and Neuro Surgery, and holds 21 international patents.