The Future of Biomedical Engineering

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While still a young and relatively new field, biomedical engineering has been reported as the fastest growing career in America. With a projected growth of seventy-two percent by the year 2018, the potential for new opportunities and projects is immense (“Fastest Growing Jobs”). While past innovation has solely included use of artificial devices, the field is now exploring the use of regenerative medicine and stem cells, cells that can be used for the growth of tissues or organs. The use of stem cells may lead to several future advancements including the regeneration of back discs, laboratory grown kidneys, and the cure for Alzheimer’s Disease. The creation of a new biomaterial that regenerates back discs can reduce and even terminate the pain caused from degenerative disc disease. Additionally, lab grown kidneys can revolutionize the medicine industry and supply those in need of a kidney organ transplant. Lastly, the infusion of stem cells into the brain could repair the minds of the multitude of people afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease. As science continues to progress, biomedical engineering will take new leaps remodel the field of medicine with the potent use of stem cells.
The human body is made up of millions of cells. Cells are divided into categories according to their roles, such as the brain cell or the skin cell. The cells within each category are programmed for different tasks and cannot be redesigned to perform a different job in the body (“Types of Cells”). However, stem cells differ from this definition because they are able to develop into different cell types rather than just having one specific purpose. One type of stem cell, the adult stem cell, are found inside of several types of tissue such as in the brain o...

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