Sensors for Biological Research and Medicine

Foreword Biomedical sensors can be defined broadly as devices that detect specific molecules or biological processes and convert this information into a signal. Familiar sensors include blood pressure monitors and the glucose meters that are used to manage diabetes. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has long been a leader in research of disease processes. With our expanding knowledge of the biological components of disease comes an urgent need for technologies that would allow us to detect them. In fact, we find ourselves at a very exciting time of rapid technological development in miniaturization, materials science, fluid mechanics, optics, and a host of other fields that should enable us to move our biological knowledge rapidly into the clinic to improve the health of the American public. This merging of biology and technology has often brought about major medical advances, and NIH recognizes its responsibility to provide a forum where scientists from different fields can meet and exchange information. The symposium, " Sensors for Biological Research and Medicine " had nine plenary talks and ten breakout sessions to showcase important sensor technologies and examples of sensors being used in medicine and biological research, and to identify new applications. " Sensors for Biological Research and Medicine " was designed to provide a forum for biological and medical researchers to imagine new opportunities for using sensors in their own work, and where engineers, physicists, and materials scientists could discover new applications for their technologies. Panel discussions were used to explore the current needs for new sensors and potential solutions. Recognition of the importance of engineering for the achievement of NIH's goals has resulted in several trans-NIH initiatives and has spurred the evaluation of how such applications are reviewed within the NIH system. BECON has promoted the use of Bioengineering Research Grants or Bioengineering Research Partnerships to support non-hypothesis, technology-driven projects. Previous BECON symposia have helped shape the NIH research agenda and inspired collaborations between the participants. The three purposes of this symposium were: ƒ To provide a forum to showcase current biomedical sensor technology and applications, and to identify future biomedical needs and the emerging technologies that can meet them; ƒ To facilitate communication among physical and technical scientists, biomedical researchers, and clinicians interested in developing or applying sensor technology to research and medicine; and ƒ To provide advice to NIH concerning opportunities and needs in the field of biomedical sensors. 2 We …