Bioengineering a Rapidly Growing Field 

The bioengineering field is uniting medical researchers and engineers on a quest to take human health to an extraordinary level.

The industry that has given the world replacement hips and orthotics is now investigating methods to engineer tissue, bone marrow and other bodily material. People likely to benefit from these advancements include accident victims, injured athletes and people with disease.

"The research directions in bioengineering are tissue engineering and the improvement of mechanical devices, such as prosthetics," says Malcolm H. Pope, Ph.D., an engineer and leading authority in the field of biomechanics.

Tissue engineering is a rapidly growing high-tech sub-field of bioengineering. According to Dr. Pope, engineers contribute very significant knowledge concerning the characteristic movements of healthy and diseased cells in the body, the relationship between bodily tissue and metallic implants, and the effect of mechanical forces on cells.

During National Engineers Week, people at dinner tables everywhere will toast to good health and life longevity. At the same time, Americans will celebrate National Engineers Week and the many significant contributions of engineers to human health and well being.

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