In FY 1999, BER initiated a new Advanced Medical Instrumentation (AMI) research program. The AMI Program supports basic engineering research that utilizes the unique resources and expertise at DOE National Laboratories to develop new innovative medical technology. The overall goal of this Program is to support basic research and technology development that will ultimately lead to the development of medical instruments that can be transferred to the National Institutes of Health for clinical testing or to industry for further commercial development. The AMI Program supports multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional research projects that address high-risk medical technology problems. The focus of the Program is to further develop basic technologies developed in other DOE Programs, such as Defense, Environmental, and Physics into technologies that will have medical applications.

In response to the DOE Program Announcement, Lab 01-14, the Medical Sciences Division has selected 8 new research projects to fund FY 2002 in the area of advanced medical instrumentation development. The total annual funding for these projects is approximately $7 million per year. A list of the currrent projects funded in the Advanced Medical Instrumentation Program can be found at: Advanced Medical Instrumentation

The First DOE Biomedical Engineering Contractors Meeting was held last May 16 - 18, 2000, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This meeting provided an opportunity for all DOE Biomedical Engineering Contractors to present an overview of their funded research and to discuss future plans for the DOE Biomedical Engineering Program. In addition, two special afternoon symposiums on Artificial Limbs and Artificial Sight were held. A electronic copy of the abstracts can be downloaded from the following address: BME Meeting Abstracts.

DOE releases a report on Biomedical Engineering at DOE National Laboratories This report is a listing of projects, principal investigators, and specific areas of expertise at each DOE National Laboratory. A electronic copy of the report can be obtained by downloading the Adobe PDF file or a hard copy of the report can be obtained by contacting: Larry James, larry.james@science.doe.gov

The NIH Bioengineering Consortium (BECON) convened a symposium on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: Shaping Biomedical Research on June 25-26, 2000 at the Natcher Center on the NIH main campus in Bethesda, Maryland. A copy of the abstracts, exhibits, and summary report can be obtained from the following web site: meeting summary

National Institutes of Health establishes a Bioengineering Consortium (BECON). The focus of BECON is to address bioengineering issues at the NIH and is composed of senior-level representatives from NIH and other federal agencies concerned with biomedical research and development.

The Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century released by the National Academy of Engineering.