Archived news item
High hopes for the universities' BioMediTech in research and treatment methods
Top-level research in biosciences and medical sciences is going from strength to strength and the development of new ambitious treatment methods is being intensified in Tampere. A research institute in the field, the Institute of Biosciences and Medical Technology, BioMediTech, is making significant advances in its expertise in Pirkanmaa and elsewhere in Finland. This joint institute of Tampere University of Technology and the University of Tampere started up in spring.
Tampere research on biomaterials and among others stem cells, prostate cancer and illnesses connected to cell function is already world class. It is hoped that BioMediTech will serve to make other technologies in biosciences and medicine into world leaders and raise the profile of Tampere top science in Finland and throughout the world.
Some 300 Finnish and foreign researchers at BioMediTech are, for example, currently developing treatment methods for spinal injuries and age-related macular degeneration. The research programme entitled Human Spare Parts was granted ten million Euros in TEKES funding for research and development work on these and other methods.
Other sources of funding for BioMediTech in addition to TEKES include the Academy of Finland and the European Union. In June the Council of Tampere Region granted the Institute 750,000 Euros for equipment acquisition.
BioMediTech already concluded its first international co-operation agreements in summer. The Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), Tampere University of Technology and the University of Tampere agreed on co-operation with the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, the University of Ulster and Queen’s University of Belfast as its foreign partners. The agreement enables Finnish researcher exchange and the startup of joint research projects under the Northern Ireland - Massachusetts Connection - or NIMAC. Initially the focal areas of co-operation will be cell and tissue technology and biomaterials - the aim is to promote research in health technology, innovation and the business activity evolving from them.
In autumn 2012 Tampere University of Technology and the University of Tampere is embark on the joint training of experts in biosciences and on scientific and commercial operations.
"The operations of BioMediTech will include not only extremely high-level teaching and research but also effective innovation processes," says Dr. Hannu Hanhijärvi, Director of BioMediTech.
He believes that this will make it possible for the Institute to achieve the goals set for it: training top experts in the field, accomplishing world-class research and commercializing new clinical treatments.
