Roundtable on Biomedical Engineering Materials and Applications (BEMA)

The Roundtable on Biomedical Engineering Materials and Applications (BEMA) is focused on identifying issues of significance related to biomaterials and the medical devices constructed from them. Using the BEMA approach, members are empowered through a unique dialogue with the people and the processes driving biomaterials product research, development, and commercialization. Read our Mission Statement below.

BEMA Membership

With a select and balanced membership of experts from government, industry, and academia, BEMA functions as a forum focused on the successful navigation of the technical, regulatory, and manufacturing elements that impact product development.

BEMA History

The history of BEMA dates back to the late 1990’s. It was developed as a joint activity of the NRC, the IOM, and the NAE. With commitments to participate from several federal agencies, a preliminary planning workshop was held in February 2000 to determine BEMA’s focus and function. Since that time, meetings and workshops have addressed a wide variety of topics and included many participants. In addition, BEMA activities have resulted in two publications - Proceedings from the Workshop on Biomedical Materials at the Edge: Challenges in the Convergence of Technologies and  Proceedings from the Workshop on Science-Based Assessment: Accelerating Product Development of Combination Medical Devices. BEMA operates under the National Materials and Manufacturing Board (NMMB).

BEMA Leadership

The BEMA staff and leadership committee are responsible for making executive decisions, developing meeting agendas, maintaining the web site, and ensuring BEMA continues to achieve its mission and meet the needs of its members.

BEMA Programs

2012

June 27-28 - "Endovasuclar Therapy: Techniques, Successes, Challenges"
Woods Hole, Massachussetts

January 9 - "Addressing Obesity: Medical Device Therapies, Gender Issues"
Washington, DC

2011

July 25-26 - "Preclinical Models for Development of Medical Devices and Combination Products"
Woods Hole, Massachusetts

May 4-5 - "Medical Device and Biomaterials Advances for Wounded Warriors, with Applications to Civilians"
Washington, DC

2010

November 29-30 - "Regulatory Issues in the Design and Execution of Clincal Trials"
Washington, DC

July 8-9 - "Tissue Engineering Materials"
Woods Hole, Massachusetts

April 9 - "Management of Conflict of Interest within the Regulatry Framework"
Washington, DC

2009

December 17 - "Navigating Speed Bumps in Medical Product Develoopment from Bench to Bedside"
Washington, DC

July 16 - "Novel Drug Delivery Applications"
Woods Hole, Massachusetts

2008 

March 18-19 – “Navigating the Valley of Death-Overcoming Barriers to Innovation”
Washington, DC

July 17-18 – “Novel Tissue Attachment Methods”
Woods Hole, MA

2007

May 16-17 – “Workshop on Device-Centered Infection”
Washington, DC

July 12-13– “Polymer Therapeutics”
Woods Hole, MA

October 3 – “Novel Imaging Technologies”
Washington, DC

The BEMA Approach

The function of BEMA is to develop a network that empowers members through a unique dialogue with the people and processes driving biomaterial product research, development, and commercialization. This is achieved through:

• Roundtable meetings: promote candid discussion on issues and solutions relevant to biomedical applications of materials
• Specialized problem-solving workshops: provide a more in-depth evaluation of a particular issue that involves the broader biomaterials community
• By-products: BEMA leadership has a strong interest in the development of spin-off studies and publications of workshop proceedings for its members

Mission Statement

The Roundtable on Biomedical Engineering Materials and Applications (BEMA) is focused on identifying issues of significance related to biomaterials and the medical devices constructed from them. With a select and balanced membership of experts from government, industry, and academia, BEMA functions as a forum focused on the successful navigation of the technical, regulatory, and manufacturing elements that impact product development.

Formal meetings promote candid discussion on issues relevant to biomedical applications of materials. Our members gain insights and information from specialized problem-solving workshops and technical symposia. The end result is a network that empowers BEMA members through a unique dialogue with the people and processes driving biomaterial product research, development, and commercialization.

Current BEMA Members

Rebecca Bergman (Co-chair)
Vice President
Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management
Medtronic Corporation

Arthur J. Coury (Co-chair)
Consultant
Coury Consulting

Government

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Terry O. Woods
Laboratory Leader, Solid Mechanics Library
Center for Devices & Radiological Health
Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories & Technology

National Institutes of Health
Pushpa Tandon
Program Director
National Cancer Institute

Private Industry

Actamax Surgical Materials, LLC
Robert DiLuccio
Project and Process Development Leader

Lehmann Consulting
John W. Lehmann
Consultant

Boston Scientific Corporation
Mark W. Boden
Senior Fellow

Independent Consultant
Michael N. Helmus

Genzyme Corporation, A Sanhofi Company
Thomas H. Jozefiak
Biomaterials Science & Engineering
 

Academic/Non-profit Institutions

University of Arizona
Marvin Slepian
Director, Interventional Cardiology

Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Biomedical Engineering
A. Stephen Dahms
President & CEO

Georgia Institute of Technology
Robert E. Guldberg
Director of the Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience
 

Rutgers University
Joachim Kohn
Director of the New Jersey Center for Biomaterials, and
Board of Governors Professor of Chemistry
 

Virginia Commonwealth University
Barbara D. Boyan
Dean, School of Engineering
 

Georgia Institute of Technology
Robert M. Nerem
Parker H. Petit Professor and Director
Institute for Bioengineering & Bioscience

University of Minnesota
Richard W. Bianco
Adjunct Associate Professor of Beterinary Population Medicine
 

BEMA Contact Information

National Materials and Manufacturing Board
Attn: BEMA
The National Academies
500 Fifth Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 202.334.3505
Fax: 202. 334.3718
E-mail: nmmb@nas.edu