Glossary
Bioinformatics Using computer technology to manage large amounts of biological data (e.g., genetic information) for research in areas such as molecular biology, genomics, and proteomics.
Biology The study of life and a branch of the natural sciences which studies living organisms and how they interact with each other and their environment. It examines the structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution of living things. There are several different branches of biology that each focus on a specific area such as: botany, biochemistry, cellular biology, ecology, microbiology, molecular biology, physiology, structural biology, and systems biology.
Biomedical engineering (BME) The application of engineering principles and techniques to the medical field. It combines the design and problem solving skills of engineering with medical and biological sciences to help improve patient health care and the quality of life of individuals.
Biomedical Informatics The science underlying the gathering, management, and application of biomedical knowledge and information to improve individualized patient care, medical education, and life sciences research. Biomedical informatics is a cross of the computer science, medicine, biology, and health care fields.
Biotechnology A very diverse area within life sciences that involves the use of living organisms or biological techniques to provide chemicals (e.g., drugs), food and services that meet the needs of humans. Common examples of biotechnology drug products include antibiotics for bacterial infections and insulin for diabetes.
Chemical engineering The branch of engineering that deals with the application of physical science (e.g., chemistry and physics) with mathematics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful forms.
Chemistry The science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions. There are several different branches of chemistry that each focus on a specific area such as: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry, nuclear chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and theoretical chemistry.
Clinical Trials An investigation in which the effectiveness and safety of new medications or treatments are tested. In the United States , all drugs must undergo three phases of clinical trials before being approved for general use.
Computer Engineering Encompasses broad areas of both electrical engineering and computer science. Computer engineers are engineers who have training in the areas of software design and hardware-software integration. Some areas computer engineers are involved in are firmware development, software development, hardware integration, circuit design, and system-level design and integration.
Diagnostics The branch of medical science which deals with the classification of disease; commonly refers to testing techniques used to determine whether or not a specified disease is present in a human or other living organism (e.g., PSA test for prostate cancer detection).
Electrical Engineering Electrical engineering, sometimes referred to as electrical and electronic engineering, is a field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism.
Electronic health record (EHR) / Electronic medical record (EMR) A digital version of a patient's medical information such as health conditions, treatments, and patient history that is collected and managed in a doctor’s office, hospital, or other health care facility.
Genetics The scientific study of patterns of inheritance of specific traits; how particular qualities or traits are transmitted from parents to offspring.
Genomics The study of genes and their function, which involves the building of proteins from the information encoded by DNA, in the context of the total genetic information (genome) of an organism . Genomics is stimulating the discovery of breakthrough health care products by revealing thousands of new biological targets for the development of drugs and by giving scientists innovative ways to design new drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tests.
High Performance Computing A branch of computer science that concentrates on supercomputers, which are the fastest type of computers that use specialized applications requiring immense amounts of mathematical calculations.
Immunology The study of the body's immune system or natural defense mechanisms against disease.
Immunotherapy A therapy that attempts to modify or enhance immune response, or reconstitute a damaged immune system by stimulating the body's own immune system. Research areas include finding treatments for cancer and HIV.
Life Sciences The use of science and technology to improve the health and well-being of a population.
Manufacturing Engineering An area of engineering that focuses on manufacturing processes and involves process management, machine tools, materials science, automation, and quality control.
Materials Engineering An interdisciplinary field involving the properties of matter and its applications to various areas of science and engineering. This science investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their properties.
Mechanical Engineering An engineering discipline that involves the application of principles of physics for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems.
Medical Devices Instruments, products, and machines, such as IV (intravenous) bags, blood pressure cuffs, implantable pacemaker batteries, and temperature therapy management systems, to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease.
Molecular Biology The study of the biochemical and molecular processes within cells.
Neurology The scientific study of the nervous system, the bodily system made up of the brain and spinal cord. Specialists in this area treat such disorders as seizures, developmental delay, neuromuscular diseases, and severe or complicated language/learning disabilities.
Oncology The branch of science that deals with the physical, chemical and biological properties and features of cancer, including the causes and progression of the disease.
Package Engineering An area of engineering that focuses on product packaging. All steps along the manufacturing process, and more, must be taken into account in the design of the package for any given product. Package engineering includes industry-specific aspects of industrial engineering, marketing, materials science, industrial design, and logistics. The package must protect the product, while maintaining an efficient, cost-effective process cycle.
Personalized Medicine Management of a patient's medical condition on the basis of the use of diagnostic tools employing molecular analysis of the patient's genome to achieve the optimal medical outcomes for that individual.
Pharmacogenomics The study of the interaction of an individual's genetic makeup and response to a drug.
Pharmacology Pharmacology is the science of the properties of drugs and their effects on the body.
Proteomics The study and cataloging of proteins in an organism in order to determine how they interact with each other. Researchers believe that this may hold the keys to curing diseases in humans and identifying targets for drug development.
Software engineering An engineering discipline that is concerned with the development, operation, and maintenance of software. It uses techniques and procedures, often regulated by a software development process, with the purpose of improving the reliability and maintainability of software systems.
Structural Biology The study of the three-dimensional structure of molecules, such as proteins, and their interactions, as a way to understand how they function; facilitates the understanding and development of treatments for various diseases.
Systems Biology The study of the interactions between components of biological systems and of how these interactions give rise to the behavior of the system and to the functions of its parts.
Translational Medicine A branch of medical research which seeks to draw inferences from research in basic biomedical sciences such as molecular and cell biology that are of significance for patient care.
Validation Engineering Validation engineering aims to ensure that a given product, service, or system meets the needs of the external consumer. Validation engineers are often concerned with ensuring that the proper processes are being used in the manufacture of a drug or medical device, and that those processes are being performed correctly.