BIOELECTRONICS GROUP

Department of electrical and Computer Systems Engineering

Monash University

http:// www.ecse.monash.edu.au/centres/bioelec

Summary Group structure Photo Activities People Contact

 

Summary:

The BioElectronics Group is engaged in research, teaching and consulting in the broad area of biomedical engineering and in particular in the area of electromagnetic properties of and interactions with living systems, tissues and molecules. The group has an excellent research record in: biomolecular electronics, electrical and electromagnetic properties of the human body, signal processing and electrophysiology. This research is supported by internal (Monash) and external (ARC) funding. National and international collaborations are already established with a number of research institutions as well as with industry. Over twenty journal and conference publications a year are produced by the members of group. The group offers an undergraduate curriculum which is kept up to date and in line with the specific needs of biology, biotechnology and medicine.

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Group structure:

Group photo:

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Staff

Academic Staff Members

Associate Professor Irena Cosic (Group Leader)

Mr Brian Lithgow, Senior Lecturer

Mr John Zakis, Lecturer

Dr Ahmad Zahedi, Senior Lecturer

Research Associates/Assistants

Dr Chafia H. de Trad, PhD Syracuse Univ., 1987.

Mr John Fang, BSc. Tsinghua Univ. 1991.

Miss Eliada Lazoura, BSc. (Hon), Monash Univ. 1993

Miss Maia Rozenfeld, UG student.

Research Students

Miss Elena Pirogova, BEng (Hon), PolyTech Kiev, 1991

Dr Marc Cohen, BMed Sci (Hon) 1986, MB BS (Hon), 1991, Monash Univ., D.Ac. Sri L.1988,FAMAS 1995.

Mr Peter Ciblis, BE, BSc. The University of Melbourne,

Mr John Fang, BSc. Tsinghua Univ. 1991

Mr Alexander Yap, BE (Hons) Monash University, 1994.

Mr Harry Lazoura, (Hons), Monash University, 1997.

Ms Jill Charalambous, BSc.LaTrobe Univ. 1980, Grad Dip Ed, HIE 1981, Grad. Dip. Canc. RMIT, 1983.

Mr John Perkis, BE, (Hons), Monash University, 1997.

Mr David Lee, BE, (Hons), Monash University, 1997.

Mr Emilio Baldi, MEng, Grad Dip, BE.

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 Activities

1. Teaching

Two elective subjects in the area of biomedical engineering are offered to final year electrical engineering students: Computer Applications 8E (in Biology and Medicine) and Biomedical Engineering. In addition two subjects in the area of signal processing: Signal Processing and Digital Signal Processing which have a strong emphasis on biomedical signal processing are also offered to final year students. These subjects attract a high level of interest. An optional unit in Biomedical Engineering is offered to first and third year medical students.

2. Research

The group currently runs the following research projects:

Biomolecular Electronics:

• Development of a computerised method for protein design (funded by a Large and small ARC grants).
• Expansion of the RRM model for molecular active site predictions (funded by ERC grant)
• Design of anti-HIV agents (funded by a small ARC grant and in collaboration with Japan).
• Applications of the Resonant Recognition Model (RRM) in affinity binding (in collaboration with Norway). 
• Rational design of antibody based ligands using the RRM (in collaboration with Norway, UK and Sweden).

Bioelectromagnetism and Complementary Medicine:[

• Influence of electromagnetic radiation and static magnets to living tissue and organism.
• A study of the electrical properties of acupuncture points and meridians.
• Absorption of laser light in the skin.
• Analysis of brain waves during different physiological states.
• Image processing of Kirilian images ( sponsored by industry)
• Clinical trials on MAGNACARE electromagnetic stimulation equipment (sponsored by industry)

Biomedical Signal Analysis:h

• A program of single unit recording in the inferior colliculus to develop new signal processing strategies for cochlear implants (in collaboration with Melbourne University, Australia).

3. Conferences 

The following conferences have been organised by the Group:

• The 2nd International Conference on Bioelectromagnetism 15-19 Feb. 1998 in Melbourne, Australia.
• The Inaugural Conference of the Victorian Chapter of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society

4. Selected Publications:

• Cosic I., 1997, The Resonant Recognition Model of Macromolecular Bioactivity: Theory and Applications, Birkhauser, Basel.
• Cosic I., 1994, Macromolecular Bioactivity: Is It Resonant Interaction Between Macromolecules? - Theory and Applications, IEEE Trans. on Biomedical Engineering, 41, 1101-1114.
• Ciblis P., Cosic I., 1997, The Possibility of Soliton/Exciton Transfer in Proteins, Journal of Theoretical Biology, 184, 331-338.
• Baldi E., Lithgow B., Heath B., Cohen M., Cosic I., Grace R.J., 1999, A Pilot Study on the Low Frequency (LF) Pulsing Magnetic Field (PMF) Effect on Soft Tissues Injuries: A Preliminary Analysis of the Results, Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, Vol 37, Suppl. 1, 103-104.
• Cohen M., Kwok G., Cosic I., 1997, Acupuncture Needles & the Seeback Effect: Do Temperature Gradients Produce Electrostimulation?, Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research Int.J., 22, 9-15. 
• Lithgow B.J., Clark G.M., 1995, A Comparison of Monaural Acoustic and Electric Stimulation: Unit Types in the Cat Inferior Colliculus, Annals of Otology, Rhynology & Laryngology104 (9),118-121.

5. Equipment

The group is well equipped for research in the area of bioelectronics. The major equipment items are: 

• Three Silicon Graphics work stations for molecular modelling and signal/image processing.
• MSI software for molecular modelling including molecular mechanics and dynamics.
• BIOPAC computerised system for recording the following biomedical signals: ECG, EEG, EMG, temperature, blood pressure and pulse measured with photoplethysmograph and skin resistance. 
• MindSet - 16 channel computerised EEG equipment with signal analysis software. 
• EFA-2 EM Field Analyser for low frequencies (5Hz - 30 KHz) electromagnetic field measurements.

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