The Institute

Welcome IIBM UC

Director's Welcome Message

Welcome to the Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering (IIBM).

Founded as the first interdisciplinary academic unit of the UC, the IIBM was born with a clear conviction: that the most urgent challenges in health and environmental sustainability can only be addressed at the intersection of engineering, medicine and life sciences. Since its inception, the Institute has played a pioneering role in the development of biological and biomedical engineering in Chile.

Our vision is to transform lives through interdisciplinary biomedical engineering and biotechnology. We seek to build a dynamic ecosystem of research and training, where engineers, scientists and clinicians work in an integrated way to generate solutions.

innovative and high impact for Chile and the world. We are guided by a strong commitment to excellence, collaboration, innovation and ethical practice in all our activities.

At the IIBM we believe in breaking down traditional barriers between disciplines, accelerating the transfer from scientific discovery to real applications, and training the next generation of bioengineering leaders. Our strength lies not only in scientific rigor, but also in our ability to work as an integrated community, with a shared purpose: to generate knowledge that improves the quality of life.

Whether you join as students, researchers, collaborators or strategic partners, I cordially invite you to be part of this dynamic and forward-looking community. Together we will continue to push the frontiers of biomedical innovation and make a lasting impact on society.

René Botnar
Director
Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering (IIBM)

About us

We are an interdisciplinary institute that seeks to respond to the present and future needs of society, training the next generation of outstanding bioengineering scientists and fostering a new way of doing scientific research through collaborative work between researchers, clinicians and industry partners. We focus on rapidly converting our research into new medical products and solutions.

Some of the key objectives of the IIBM are to

  • To create a research-driven, interdisciplinary institution that breaks down the barriers that often exist between disciplines.
  • Addressing the big questions that cannot be solved by a single discipline.
  • To train the next generation of world-class biological and biomedical engineering professionals and scientists.
  • Prioritize collaboration between our researchers, physicians and industry.
  • To translate our research more rapidly into innovative products and clinical applications.

Values

Excellence

To commit ourselves to excellence in research, training and technological development, promoting rigor, quality and international leadership in all our activities.

Collaboration

Foster interdisciplinary collaboration between engineering, medicine, life sciences, industry and academia to address complex challenges and maximize impact.

Innovation

Cultivate a culture of innovation, curiosity and continuous improvement that encourages exploration, creativity and responsible risk-taking.

Ethical practice

Maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct, integrity and responsibility in research, training, clinical transfer and our interaction with society.

History

Founded as an interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to driving innovation in health, the Institute has played a pioneering role in the development of biological and biomedical engineering in Chile. Since its inception, it has operated at the intersection of engineering, medicine and life sciences, helping to consolidate this field as a key driver of scientific excellence, clinical impact and technological innovation at the national level.

2009

Creation of the "Biomedical Engineering Group".

2013

The group is renamed the "Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology Initiative".

2014

The model of the Institute was chosen as an Academic Unit under the faculties of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences.
The current name was adopted.

2016

The "Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering" is formally approved by UC.

2019

D. in Biological and Medical Engineering".

Mission

The IIBM's mission is to foster a dynamic ecosystem of research and training, where engineers, scientists and clinicians converge to address the most pressing challenges in health, life sciences and the environment, developing innovative solutions that improve the quality of life in Chile and globally.

 

The Institute concentrates its work in three interdisciplinary and cross-cutting research areas, identified as fundamental for health and environmental sustainability. These areas will be reviewed and, if necessary, adjusted as established in the institutional development plan:

 

  1. Diagnosis for all: closing gaps
  2. Greenovation: biotechnology for a sustainable planet
  3. Beyond the technological frontier: pioneering therapies

Vision

Transforming lives through interdisciplinary biomedical engineering and biotechnology.

Strategies

 

Research excellence: Invest in cutting-edge research projects that address critical health challenges and push the boundaries of biomedical engineering.

Educational Innovation: Develop and enhance educational programs that prepare students for the changing biomedical engineering landscape, emphasizing practical skills and real-world applications.

Industry partnerships: Forge strategic partnerships with industry leaders to facilitate technology transfer, collaborative research and the integration of real-world problems into our programs.

Interdisciplinary collaboration: Actively collaborate with healthcare professionals, researchers from other disciplines and industry experts to create holistic solutions to healthcare challenges.

Ethical guidelines: Develop and comply with rigorous ethical guidelines for the development and application of biomedical technologies, ensuring responsible innovation.

Faculties