The Institute

Welcome from the Director

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)

History IIBM

 

 

The Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering (IIBM) was formally approved by the Honorable Superior Council (HCS) of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile on January 26, 2016, becoming the first interdisciplinary academic unit created at UC. This milestone represented the culmination of a sustained process of reflection, planning and academic collaboration initiated several years earlier.

The origins of the Institute date back to 2009, with the creation of the Biomedical Engineering Group, an informal but highly active collective of academics from different faculties, committed to the development of biomedical engineering through an interdisciplinary approach. Recognizing the strategic importance and long-term potential of this initiative, in 2013 the Rector and the Deans of the Faculties of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences agreed to establish a formal institutional framework to ensure its continuity and projection. This gave rise to the Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology Initiative, which provided a structured platform for joint research, academic training and clinical transfer.

At the end of 2014, the university authorities resolved to constitute the Institute as a permanent Academic Unit, with joint governance of the three faculties, adopting its current name: Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering (IIBM). This decision reflected an explicit institutional commitment to interdisciplinary research, innovation in health and effective integration between engineering and medicine.

During its founding years, the Institute was led by its inaugural Director, Professor Pablo Irarrázaval (2013-2022), who played a central role in defining the scientific vision, academic foundations and interdisciplinary culture of the IIBM. In 2022, Professor René Botnar took over as the first elected Director under the formal governance structure of the Institute. Since then, he has driven the strengthening of research excellence, the consolidation of the interdisciplinary model, the national and international positioning of the Institute, the obtaining of competitive funding and the acceleration of knowledge transfer towards high impact clinical and technological applications.

About us

The Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering (IIBM) is an interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to addressing some of the most pressing challenges in health and the environment. Our mission is to generate high-impact scientific knowledge while training the next generation of world-class bioengineering scientists, engineers and innovators.
The IIBM operates at the intersection of engineering, medicine and life sciences, fostering a collaborative ecosystem that integrates researchers, clinicians and industrial partners. Through the convergence of fundamental science, advanced engineering and clinical expertise, we seek to accelerate the transfer of knowledge into clinical solutions, medical technologies and innovations with positive environmental impact.
A distinctive feature of the IIBM is its strong focus on impactful, translational research. We place special emphasis on rapidly converting our scientific advances into applicable technologies, products and practices that contribute to improving human health and protecting the environment.

 

Our strategic objectives

 

  • Break down traditional barriers between disciplines, creating an integrated research and training environment that articulates engineering, medicine and life sciences.
  • Address complex problems of high social impact, which cannot be solved by a single discipline, through collaborative research and systemic approaches.
  • To train the next generation of professionals and leading scientists in biological and biomedical engineering, with solid scientific bases, translational competencies and international projection.
  • Strengthen collaboration with the clinical field and industry, incorporating from early stages the real needs, application contexts and technological adoption routes.
  • Accelerate transfer and innovation, promoting the efficient translation of research results into clinical applications, technological developments and tangible benefits for society.

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