Research

Infrastructure and Equipment

The Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering UC is located on the 7th floor of the Science and Technology Building with 800 m² in which are the offices of the academics and professionals of the IIBM UC, as well as the administrative officials in charge of attending to the students and their academic coordination. It also has three meeting rooms; a file; laboratories ready for teaching; four experimental rooms (16 m²), and a 60 m² study room.

Thus, the IIBM building has the following facilities dedicated to the research of its professionals and students:

• Biological Engineering Laboratory - Tissue
• Biological Engineering Laboratory - Bacteria
• Biomedical Engineering Laboratory
• Mass spectrometer QSTAR elite
• Fluorescence microscope 1
• Fluorescence microscope 2

Do you want to know more about the Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering? Click here.

Documents

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Biomechanics and Quantitative Physiology

The area of biomechanics and quantitative physiology seek to develop the study of the structures and functions of biological systems using the principles and methods of mechanics, but also implementing an engineering perspective based on mathematical models. Thus, the studies promoted by the IIBM have been based on the understanding of systems through the integration of experimental techniques of high performance, data processing and computer models.

One of the advances in this area is the creation of a computational platform to measure the local deformation of the lungs induced by mechanical ventilation. Another is the quantification of cardiovascular flow through magnetic resonance imaging, in order to explain the effects in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, aneurysm ruptures or thrombosis. But in addition, the study of the electrical behavior of the heart has been developed, proposing mathematical models that allow to make a representation of it.

Likewise, research groups of the institute have observed the responses of neurons to spinal cord injuries, through the study of models of insect neural systems, which resemble the functioning of the human marrow. This makes it possible to generate a prototype network of neurons by means of micro-neurotransmitters and thus, apply the interpretations to reactions of the nervous system of the human being.

Tissue Engineering

Research on biomaterials and engineering at the IIBM focuses on the understanding of the mechanisms that govern tissue repair, the establishment of new reliable in vivo models and the implementation of innovative strategies to improve tissue regeneration.

We have developed a new concept based on the idea of ​​providing a local and constant oxygen supply through an independent mechanism to the blood vessels: Photosynthesis. The institute's research represents the first step towards the establishment of engineering approaches in autotrophic tissues and suggests the use of photosynthetic cells to treat a broad spectrum of hypoxia conditions.

In addition, thanks to the incorporation of academics from different areas, new collaborations have emerged focused on ex vivo organ perfusion, that is, in the search for oxygenation substitutes to keep complex tissues alive - such as organs - even simpler tissues - like the skin - outside the general circulation of the organism.

Cellular and Molecular Engineering

Through an approach to experimental and computational research, which combines biophysics, bioinformatics, biochemistry and molecular dynamics, our academics intend to address studies related to the structure, function and evolution of proteins and genetic systems.

On the one hand, their eyes are focused on the analysis of metamorphic proteins and the search for results that allow the generation of biomedical and bioengineering applications, such as the development of new antibacterials and treatments against diseases caused by prions. Other investigations aim to discover enzymes in Chilean extremophiles; the optimization of the selectivity and specificity of enzymes, and the synthesis of intermediate molecules of industrial interest through biocatalytic processes.

The approach to computational and mathematical research, adding to recombinant DNA tools of synthetic biology, has also been the inclination of the IIBM researchers who study and try to develop new genetic systems. They focus on two main lines: dynamic systems and multicellular coordination. Likewise, a special focus has been placed on the study of biofilms, the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and cell-cell interaction processes.

The formation of biomedical images is an interdisciplinary area where medicine, engineering, physics, mathematics and computational technologies are combined. The main objective, in the clinical context, is to design and improve systems to non-invasively visualize living beings, mainly humans, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-rays, tomography, ultrasound, among others.

Research in biomedical imaging at the institute is focused on the development and application of image acquisition, reconstruction, processing and modeling technologies for medicine and life sciences.

One of the new study methodologies includes the brain-computer interface (BCI), which investigates the intersection between neurosciences, biomedical images and computational intelligence. In this area, the work of the IIBM is inclined to develop research and treatment of emotional disorders, neurorehabilitation of movement pathologies and "brain connectomics".

Postdoctoral positions at the Millenium Institute for Intelligent Healthcare Engineering (iHEALTH) - Santiago, Chile

Four Postdoctoral positions are available at the Millennium Institute for Intelligent Healthcare Engineering – iHEALTH, in Santiago de Chile.

Our mission as the Millenium Institute for Intelligent Healthcare Engineering (iHEALTH) is to develop innovative methods that integrate medical imaging physics, engineering, and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve medical imaging-based healthcare by making it more accurate, efficient and effective, and in the long term, more affordable. To do so, iHEALTH brings together an interdisciplinary team of experts to tackle healthcare engineering challenges in an interdisciplinary and synergistic manner in close collaboration with health centres, industry and a wide network of national and international researchers.

Postdoctoral fellow positions are available starting 2023, to support the development and collaboration of our main research lines: medical imaging physics, inverse problems and image reconstruction, imaging and sensors based biomarkers, physics-informed AI, explicable AI, hybrid intelligence, natural language processing and natural language generation. Main clinical applications include cardiovascular, oncology and liver disease. iHEALTH provides an interdisciplinary, collaborative environment with strong experience and expertise in MRI, artificial intelligence, natural language generation and neural networks among others. We are equipped and have access to a research low field (0.55T) MRI, 2 clinical MRI (1.5T & 3T) and 2 PET/CT scanners for research, as well as several physiological sensors and high-computing servers. 

The successful candidates must be highly motivated and have an advanced degree (Ph.D.) in Physical Science, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Sciences or related fields. Candidates close to finishing their PhDs are also welcomed for application. The research will be carried out in a multi-disciplinary team of MR physicists, computer scientists and clinicians – therefore, the ability to work cooperatively and collegially within this diverse environment is essential. A record of peer reviewed journal publications is required. Knowledge of Spanish is not required.

We offer a creative and social work environment, good opportunities for scientific development and competitive gross salary. We strongly encourage applications from female researchers and individuals that will contribute to the diversity of the Millennium Institute iHEALTH. The post holders will be based in the iHEALTH offices at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC - Chile, https://www.uc.cl/en).

Dates: applications should be submitted before 16th December 2022. Interviews of suitable candidates will be scheduled on a rolling basis as applications are received. 

Application process: interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter stating research interests and experience, an up-to-date CV and two recommendation letters to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If you have any doubt, please contact (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

 More information pdf here  (744 KB)

Research Opportunities

Millennium Institute for Intelligent Healthcare Engineering (iHEALTH) offers

Research projects opportunities with funding and international collaboration possibilities, for: 

- Undergraduate students

- Master students 

- PhD students 

- Postdocs 

Areas: medical imaging, physiological sensors, inverse problems, mathematical modelling, artificial intelligence, clinical applications, among others.  

If you have any questions,  contact Claudia Prieto (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) Director of iHEALTH

For more information,  pdf press here (5.13 MB)

Publications

Identifying the Interactions between Natural, Non-Caloric Sweeteners and The Human Sweet Receptor by Molecular Docking

Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry Reveals Folding and Allostery in Protein-Protein Interactions

Active Site Flexibility as a Hallmark for Efficient PET Degradation by I. sakaiensis PETase