BioReD Hub: 31950 Frontage Road
Description of Request
Submitted By: Bernadette McCrory (M&IE), Elizabeth Johnson (CoN), Laura Stanley (GSoC)
A new grant from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, in conjunction with contributions
from NACOE,
MRJCON, and VPREDGE, will support ongoing efforts by Montana State University to expand
biomedical
engineering research and education with an emphasis on developing new technologies
to improve rural
health care. The Biomedical Innovation for Research and Development Hub (BioReD) is
an
interdisciplinary instrumentation center that uses state-of-the-art technology, research
practice and
innovative ideas to address biomedical systems engineering design, healthcare system
improvement, and
clinical practice advancement. Engineers, scientists, and healthcare practitioners
collaborate to promote
wellness leveraging biomedical engineering and biological sciences to expand understanding
and positively
impact lives and society, especially for Montanans. The Hub plans for a soft opening
next Spring.
The university has recently secured a lease at 31950 Frontage Road, and a portion
of that space was
allocated to Gallatin College and the Stretch Broken Carbon Fiber (SBFC)/Advanced
Composites team at
the April 2023 Space Management Committee meeting. Currently, additional space is
available within the
eastern part of the building that is not being utilized. Therefore, Dean Gunnink of
NACOE is in support of
allocating this space for use by the BioReD Hub. The instrumentation facility requires
a flexible, research-driven
space that will house a new biomedical makerspace and three simulation pods equipped
with
Augmented Reality and simulation manikins for healthcare and medically driven questions.
Additionally,
the center requests the use of office space for the three PIs of the project and student
workers. The exact
locations and configurations of each component will be determined during the design
process to ensure the
most efficient utilization of the space and best locations for each. It is desired
to keep everything as modular
as possible to support the ease of installation, and to support a potential long-term
move to central campus
in the future. The scope of work can be delegated to Facilities Work Control where
appropriate, or inclusive
to the larger project. The design of the space will create a corridor along the southern
end of room 101 in
order to preserve the shared use of the conference room located in room 104, as well
as shared access to the
restrooms located in the SBFC space.
Resolution
Date: July 7, 2023
Space Management Committee has approved the allocation of a portion of 31950 Frontage Road for use by the BioReD facility.