This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (July 2012) |
The International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering (IAMBE) is a non-profit society of distinguished scholars engaged in medical and biological engineering research to further the field of biomedical engineering or bioengineering. The academy is composed of Fellows who have made significant contributions to and played leadership roles in the field of medical and biological engineering.[1][2] The academy is affiliated with the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE), an international organization consisting of more than 60 national and transnational societies of biomedical engineering, representing over 120,000 members.
The academy was established by International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering in 1997 to honor individuals who have contributed significantly to the theory and practice of medical and biological engineering, and made extraordinary leadership efforts in promoting the field of medical and biological engineering.
The academy has engaged in public debates in identifying grand challenges in engineering life sciences, and played an advisory role to the leadership of International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering. A recent conference endorsed by the academy is IEEE Life Sciences Grand Challenges Conference,[3] which consists of distinguished speakers including Nobel Laureate, National Medal of Sciences Laureate, National Medal of Technology Laureate, president of National Academy of Engineering, director of National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of NIH, and chair of the International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering.
Fellow nominations are accepted either annually or every three years. Fellows may be nominated by a fellow of the academy or by International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering. The nominations are screened by the Membership Committee of the academy. Election to Fellow status is subject to a vote by all current Fellows.
The founding chair of the academy is Robert Nerem, Parker H. Petit Distinguished Chair for Engineering in Medicine and Institute Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The immediate Past Chair of the academy is Niilo Saranummi, Research Professor at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Past President of International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering. The current chair of the academy is Roger Kamm, Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Biological and Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.