The future of Medicine will be shaped by the emergence of the next generation of biomedical engineering disciplines that leverage the exponential increase in data and combine it with the computational power to interrogate it, model it, visualize it, built it into machines, and to commercialize it for deployment.

Throughout Mount Sinai, there exist the seeds of a robust biomedical engineering research, design, translation, and entrepreneurship community. To these ends, the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (TMII) will be expanded and rebranded into a new BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute (BMEII)

BMEII will attracts field-leading faculty, develops unique research and training programs attracting the best medical and graduate students and young innovators, and generate new grants, intellectual property and novel opportunities in entrepreneurship for the Mount Sinai Health System. The BMEII at Mount Sinai is a center of excellence in innovation, training and entrepreneurship in the new fields critical to this transformation of Medicine in addition to the already existing strong imaging and nanomedicine programs within TMII. These new programs will be in: 1) Artificial Intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML); 2) Next generation medical technologies (devices, sensors, and robotics); and 3) Computer vision, virtual and augmented reality.

1) Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning: This research area focuses on the use of machine learning algorithms to aid in diagnosis of disease, treatment protocol development, early detection of disease, future demand for hospital beds, drug development and personalized medicine. This program leverages the wide range of medical data such imaging, pathology, genomic, patient health records, and other patient data – linking with AI pathology & other AI Sinai wide activities.

2) Next Gen Medical Technologies (medical devices/sensors/robotics): This research area focuses on the development of medical devices that could combine electronic components for smart sensing, medical diagnostics, communications and human-machine interfaces to monitor health. Other research is on surgical/interventional devices for improved patient safety and efficacy, and smaller/more portable diagnostic imaging devices. This area synergistically links with Surgical simulations program and already existing BioDesign program.

Currently, the BioDesign program is an innovation, fabrication, and training hub whose mission is to catalyze technological innovation and educational opportunities within Mount Sinai. BioDesign will be integrated within BMEII for both research, core services and educational purposes.

3) Computer Vision/Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR): This research area focuses on the development of methods and algorithms for computer-based analysis of medical images and for the integration of complex biomedical data. This area also focuses on the advancement of uses of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) simulation technologies for clinical purposes such as advanced diagnostics, surgical planning, interventional procedures and for training purposes. This area also links with Surgical simulations program & other AI Sinai wide activities.