IEEE Life Sciences
IEEE Life Sciences is an initiative launched by
IEEE to
promote the advancement of
life sciences
and supporting technologies, and to provide expertise and resources to
individuals and enterprises involved in the various disciplines falling
under the life sciences umbrella. IEEE Life Sciences provides access to a
range of resources, including professional conferences, continuing
education courses, publications, and standards.
[2] It is based in
Piscataway, New Jersey.
History
In February 2011, the IEEE
Board of Directors approved the formation of the Life Sciences Initiative with
Moshe Kam, IEEE Fellow, and then IEEE
President, as the Initiative Champion.
[1] The Initiative was led by two Co-Chairs,
Mathukumalli Vidyasagar, an
IEEE Fellow and Professor of
Systems Biology Science at the
University of Texas at Dallas and
Bin He, Professor of
Biomedical Engineering,
Electrical Engineering, and
Neuroscience; Director of Center for Neuroengineering at the
University of Minnesota; and IEEE Fellow.
[3] It sought to increase interest in and participation of individuals and organizations working at the
intersection of life sciences, technology, and engineering.
[4]
The Initiative was also tasked with serving as a global resource for
life sciences technologies, information, and activities, and to create
new
opportunities to introduce technology to new and different audiences and disciplines.
[5]
Said Co-Chair Vidyasagar of the drivers behind the
launch
of the IEEE Life Sciences Initiative, "There was a need to develop a
coherent IEEE life sciences strategy that would guide volunteers and
staff on how to expand activities in this field. Without such a
strategy, the opportunity to get the word out that the organization is a
great resource for those in life sciences would have passed us by.”
[4]
This was echoed by Co-Chair He: "Though we have a lot to do already,
it is important for us to unite with others involved with life sciences
and put our efforts together.”
[4]
Mission and goals
The primary mission of the IEEE Life Sciences Initiative is
three-fold: to coordinate all technical activities among participating
IEEE Societies and Councils, to promote the technical
leadership
of IEEE in life sciences and engineering disciplines and applications,
and serve as a resource for life sciences professional community as a
whole.
[6]
Among the Initiative's stated goals are to stimulate development and
dissemination of new meaningful and useful research and project results;
to attract researchers of
diverse background to present and discuss their new work in IEEE
forums; and to increase cross-discipline interest in targeted communities.
[6]
Current work
Life sciences have historically been defined as the study of living organisms through disciplines such as
biology,
medicine,
anthropology, and
ecology,
[7]
that describe living organisms and their organization, life processes,
and their relationships to each other and their environment. By
contrast,
engineering is conventionally defined as the application of scientific and mathematical principles to
practical ends such as the design, manufacture, and operation of efficient and economical structures, machines, processes, and systems.
[8]
Historically, life sciences and engineering did not intersect,
however, the life sciences have now reached a point where engineering,
physics,
chemistry, biology, and clinical medicine are ready to be brought together. Additionally, the rise of new interdisciplinary areas like
bioinformatics,
computational biology, and
nanotechnology have helped accelerate the growing convergence of these discrete disciplines.
[9] This convergence is important for achieving continued advancement in multiple areas like
biomedicine, and development of the next generation of devices capable of improving the quality of life.
[10]
The IEEE Life Sciences Initiative leads or participates in a variety
of activities, including the development of new standards, organizing
conferences and events, and publication of new research. Individuals and
organizations taking part in the Initiative are also often quoted or
have works published in third-party trade journals and magazines, such
as
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.
[11] Work currently being performed as part of the IEEE Life Sciences Initiative includes:
IEEE Life Sciences Portal
As part of its efforts to serve the life sciences community, the IEEE Life Sciences portal was launched in June 2011.
[12]
Serving as a single point of access, the IEEE Life Sciences portal
provides news, links to key journals, discussion boards, commentary,
event information, and videos to diverse audiences that include
engineers, scientists, consumers, business and industry, academic, and
government users. It is also the online home of the monthly
IEEE Life Sciences Newsletter.
[13]
Standards
The convergence technology, engineering, and life sciences is giving
rise to new opportunities for standards development and application.
Among the numerous life science areas where standardization will play a
role include
electronic medical records, large-scale life sciences
data sharing,
[14] personal medical devices,
[15] body area networks,
[16] and bioinformatics.
[17]
Sampling of Approved IEEE Life Sciences Standards
- IEEE 11073-10441-2013 Standard for Health Informatics, Personal
Health Device Communication, Part 10441, Device Specialization:
Cardiovascular Fitness and Activity Monitor[18]
- IEEE 802.15.6-2012 Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks, Part 15.6: Wireless Body Area Networks[19]
- ISO/IEEE
11073-10417-2011 Standard for Health informatics, Personal Health
Device Communication, Part 10417, Device Specialization: Glucose meter[20]
- IEEE 1902.1-2009 Standard for Long Wavelength Wireless Network Protocol[21]
Sampling of Proposed IEEE Life Sciences Standards
- IEEE P11073-10419 Draft Standard for Health informatics, Personal
Health Device Communication, Device Specialization: Insulin Pump[22]
- IEEE P11073-10413 Draft Standard for Health Informatics, Personal
Health Device Communication, Device Specialization: Respiration Rate
Monitor[23]
Sampling of IEEE Life Sciences Standards Under Development
- IEEE P3333.2 Standard for Three-Dimensional Model Creation Using Unprocessed 3D Medical Data[24]
Conferences and events
The IEEE Life Sciences Initiative promotes numerous conferences,
symposiums, and other events organized and sponsored by its
participating societies.
[25]
These events are designed to promote discussion of critical issues in
the life sciences arena, educate participants on the latest technology
developments, and facilitate idea and knowledge-sharing about life
sciences concepts, deployments, and technology advancement. Conference
programs generally consist of educational tracks with keynote speeches,
panel discussions, and roundtables led by researchers, engineers,
academics, policymakers, and other key stakeholders.
The initiative's flagship event is the annual
IEEE Life Sciences Grand Challenges Conference
(IEEE LSGCC), which aims to provide a public forum for discussions and
debates of grand challenges in engineering life sciences and healthcare,
and reviews of applications and advancements of engineering in
biomedicine. The inaugural IEEE LSGCC, chaired by
Bin He, was held at the
National Academy of Sciences,
Washington, D.C. on October 4–5, 2012, and attracted scientists and technologists like
Nobel Prize winner
Phillip Sharp from countries around the world.
[26] Proceedings of this first-ever IEEE LSGCC were presented in a paper entitled
Grand Challenges in Interfacing Engineering With Life Sciences and Medicine.
[27]
The IEEE Life Sciences Initiative also participates in or is a sponsor of other life sciences conferences and events, including
BIO,
Bio-IT World,
[28] the
International Conference on System Biology,
[29] and
IEEE Smart Tech Metro Area Workshops.
[30]
Publications
As part of the IEEE Life Sciences Initiative, IEEE societies, working
groups, committees and sub-committees publish papers, manuscripts,
journals and magazines, and other documents addressing a variety of
topics. These publications touch nearly every aspect of the engineering,
life sciences, and technology disciplines, and include titles like
IEEE Nanotechnology Magazine,
IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering,
IEEE Transactions on Information Technology in Biomedicine, and
IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering.
[31]
IEEE Life Sciences Newsletter
In April 2012, IEEE unveiled the IEEE Life Sciences Newsletter, a
monthly electronic digest providing news, analysis and expert views
about emerging trends, latest innovations, and the results of practical,
real-world life sciences applications.
[13]
Contributors include industry leaders, researchers, and academics from
around the world. Nitish Thakor, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at
Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore, and Director of the
Singapore Institute for
Neurotechnology (SiNAPSE),
[32] at the
National University of Singapore is editor-in-chief of the newsletter.
[33]
The IEEE Life Sciences Community is a virtual community of more than
2,000 people interested in the application of technology and engineering
principles to the life sciences discipline. The community supplies news
and event information from those societies and councils taking part in
the IEEE Life Sciences Initiative.
[34]
Related IEEE societies
The IEEE Life Sciences Initiative is home to numerous societies,
technical councils and communities, and other organizational units that
are active in life sciences-related work. Among the disciplines or
specialized fields of interest covered by these groups are electronic
systems, medicine and biology engineering, and
robotics.
[35]
See also
References
- ^ Jump up to: a b IEEE (August 25, 2012). 2011 IEEE Annual Report: Innovative Solutions Through Global Collaboration (Report). IEEE. p. 14. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- Jump up ^ "About IEEE Life Sciences". IEEE Life Sciences. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
- Jump up ^ Kam, Moshe. Life Sciences Spark IEEE Interest, The Institute, March 7, 2011.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Kowalenko, Kathy. IEEE's Ample Life Sciences Efforts to Get More Exposure, The Institute, July 27, 2011.
- Jump up ^ Pretz, Kathy. Delving Deeper Into Life Sciences, The Institute, December 7, 2012.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Dr. Peter Staecker (October 4, 2012). IEEE Life Sciences Initiative (Report). IEEE. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- Jump up ^ "Definition of Life Sciences in English". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
- Jump up ^ "Definition of Engineering in English". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
- Jump up ^ "The Third Revolution: The Convergence of the Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering". Massachusetts Institute of Technology. January 2011. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
- Jump up ^ "‘Convergence’ may lead to revolutionary advances in biomedicine, other sciences". MKurzweilAINetwork, Inc. January 5, 2011. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
- Jump up ^ Vidyasagar, Mathukumalli (2012). "What Engineers Can Bring to Biotechnology". Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.) 32 (16). Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- Jump up ^ "New IEEE Web Portal Provides Access to the Latest Developments in Life Sciences" (Press release). IEEE. June 22, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Kowalenko, Kathy. Newsletter Explores Convergence of Life Sciences and Engineering, The Institute, July 16, 2012.
- Jump up ^ Lord; MacDonald; Sinnott; Ecklund; Westhead; Jones (2005). "Large-scale
data sharing in the life sciences: Data standards, incentives, barriers
and funding models (The "Joint Data Standards Study")". UK e-Science Technical Report Series.
- Jump up ^ Floyd, Allison. IEEE working on new standards for medical device communication, FierceHealthIT, July 26, 2012.
- Jump up ^ Ullah, Sana; Mohaisen, Manar; Alnuem, Mohammed A. (March 12, 2013). "A Review of IEEE 802.15.6 MAC, PHY, and Security Specifications". International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks (Hindawi Publication Corp.) 2013. doi:10.1155/2013/950704.
- Jump up ^ Baker, M.L. Committee Aims to Develop Bioinformatics Standards, eWeek, August 20, 2004.
- Jump up ^ "1547-2003
- IEEE 11073-10441-2013 Standard for Health Informatics, Personal
Health Device Communication, Part 10441, Device Specialization:
Cardiovascular Fitness and Activity Monitor". IEEE Standards Association. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
- Jump up ^ "1802.15.6-2012 - IEEE Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks - Part 15.6: Wireless Body Area Network". IEEE Standards Association. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
- Jump up ^ "11073-10417-2011 - Health Informatics - Personal Health Device Communication Part 10417: Device Specialization: Glucose Meter". IEEE Standards Association. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
- Jump up ^ "1902.1-2009 Standard for Long Wavelength Wireless Network Protocol". IEEE Standards Association. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
- Jump up ^ "P11073-10419
Draft Standard for Health informatics - Personal Health Device
Communication - Device Specialization - Insulin Pump". IEEE Standards Association. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
- Jump up ^ "P11073-10413
Draft Standard for Health Informatics, Personal Health Device
Communication, Device Specialization: Respiration Rate Monitor". IEEE Standards Association. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
- Jump up ^ "Standard for Three-Dimensional Model Creation Using Unprocessed 3D Medical Data". IEEE Standards Association. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
- Jump up ^ "IEEE Life Sciences Conferences". IEEE Life Sciences. Retrieved 2013-07-31.
- Jump up ^ Fogel, Gary B. (2013). "A Report on the IEEE Life Sciences Grand Challenges Conference". IEEE Computational Intelligence Magazine (IEEE Computational Intelligence Society) 8 (3): 15. doi:10.1109/MCI.2013.2247821. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- Jump up ^ He, Bin; Baird, Richard; Butera, Robert; et al. (2013). "Grand Challenges in Interfacing Engineering With Life Sciences and Medicine". IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (IEEE) 60 (3): 589–598. doi:10.1109/TBME.2013.2244886. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- Jump up ^ "Bio-IT World 2013 Sponsors". Bio-IT World Conference & Exposition. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
- Jump up ^ "Exhibitor and Sponsor Information". International Conference on System Biology (ICSB). Retrieved 2013-08-21.
- Jump up ^ "IEEE Smart Tech Metro Area Workshop: Boston". Retrieved 2013-09-09.
- Jump up ^ "IEEE Life Sciences Highlighted Publications". IEEE Life Sciences. Retrieved 2013-07-31.
- Jump up ^ "SINAPSE Members: Nitish V. Thakor, Ph.D.". IEEE Life Sciences. Retrieved 2013-07-31.
- Jump up ^ "Welcome to the IEEE Life Sciences Newsletter". SiNAPSE. Retrieved 2013-07-31.
- Jump up ^ "IEEE Life Sciences Community". IEEE. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
- Jump up ^ "Societies". IEEE Life Sciences. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
External links