The University of Memphis Industry/University Center for Biosurfaces (IUCB) may have moved a step closer to a future research partnership with a major medical technology company Tuesday.
Several engineers from Gyrus ENT, a British medical company with a division in Bartlett, were on campus Tuesday to tour the IUCB, which is located in Manning Hall.
“At the present time, we need assistance with analyzing materials,” said Russ Johnson, Gyrus program manager for research and development. “We don’t have the equipment and experience for biomaterials science research at Gyrus ENT.”
Gyrus produces prosthetic implant devices and surgical instruments used in otolaryngology, the study of the ears, nose and throat. Gyrus became interested in the IUCB’s Biomaterials Research Laboratory’s research of materials used in hip and knee joint replacements after a visit by the IUCB to Gyrus ENT in the spring.
“What I was encouraged about the most was the strong collaboration of the different universities in Memphis,” Johnson said of The U of M’s presentation in the spring. “It appears they are on the cutting edge of materials and research technology.”
M. Shah Jahan, Biomaterials Research Laboratory site director and physics professor at The U of M, was on that visit and said Gyrus’ interest in IUCB is positive for The University.
“There is a potential research partnership with them,” Jahan said. “They have shown interest, and we have good research facilities here.”
Said Johnson: “In the future I can forsee us doing both biomedical and instrumentation related evaluation with The U of M.”
The IUCB at The U of M is one of just four National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperation Research Center sites.
