UA, ASU pursue program funding

In a move to establish stronger biomedical engineering programs at the UA and ASU, administrators from both schools have been evaluating ways the universities could pool their resources.

After granting the University of Arizona master's and doctoral degrees with a major in biomedical engineering in March, the Arizona Board of Regents asked the administrators from the UA and Arizona State University to provide a report within 90 days on fu ture collaborations.

Faculty representatives from both schools met on May 23 in Tempe to discuss joint UA-ASU faculty participation in the educational and research activities of graduate students at both campuses.

The representatives also agreed to pursue joint grant applications to fund their programs, said Michael Cusanovich, UA vice president for research and graduate studies.

The universities hope to establish a joint web site along with instructional programs, Cusanovich said, but there will be no overlapping of classes.

Both universities identified the common goal of focusing on biomedical implants and other interests in healthcare informatics.

They also talked about the emergence of biotechnology in general and biomedical engineering as an economic growth area in Arizona. Although no decisions were finalized at the meeting, the universities pledged to maintain active communication and to contin ue to evaluate funding opportunities to enhance a joint program.

(Some information taken from Board of Regents June 26 meeting's executive summary.)