International School of Biomedical Diagnostics announced for DCU and ASU
In a joint venture between Dublin City University (DCU) and Arizona State University (ASU) in the US, the new International School of Biomedical Diagnostics will offer students the first degree of its kind.
Both schools have established themselves as the centres of diagnostics in their regions and are now looking to share knowledge, information and resources in what is expected to enrol 100 students over five years in its Irish and Arizona campuses.
DCU hosts the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute (BDI),which has established itself as a world-class multidisciplinary research institute focused on the development of next-generation point-of-care biomedical diagnostic devices.
In the US, Arizona is a growing academic and industrial hub for diagnostics. The state is home to the largest US diagnostics laboratories and non-profit institutes, as well as innovative diagnostic companies such as Ventana Medical Systems.
Centre of innovation
The field of biomedical diagnostics is one of the most innovative and fastest-growing sectors of healthcare currently.
Latest figures estimate it makes up more than 60pc of clinical decision-making and the industry surrounding it employs more than 3.5m people across the world.
Diagnostics is a crucial factor in determining a patient’s data to determine the best course of action for personalised medicine, a field which is set to grow exponentially in the coming years, particularly in the fields of cancer treatment and prescription of blood thinners, like warfarin, which can be tailored to a person’s needs.
Speaking about the announcement, DCU president Brian MacCraith said: “This is an important and exciting development of global significance. The field of diagnostics is changing rapidly, and education programmes must keep pace with developments.
“By combining the expertise and geographical context of ASU and DCU, and by collaborating with industry partners such as Ventana, we will be in a strong position to provide programmes that are always at the cutting edge.”
The first degree offered will be an international MSc in biomedical diagnostics, with shared curriculum and courses offered by both universities covering the topics of the technology of diagnostics, the science of diagnostics, the business of diagnostics and the application of diagnostics.
Biomedical image via Shutterstock
