Sept. 20, 2004

MDA, the company that developed famous Canadarm, partners with McMaster University BioEngineering in medical robotics

Medical robotics is a remarkable technology that can provide health care to geographic areas that have limited access to medical specialists using tele-robotic surgery.

Hamilton, ON - MDA, the company that developed the famous Canadarm used in space by NASA, is partnering with the Engineering Faculty at McMaster University to do research into medical robotics.

The $450,000 commitment from MDA will launch the Faculty of Engineering’s new school in BioMedical Engineering and create a medical robotics laboratory.

"Sponsoring the medical robotics laboratory, part of the proposed McMaster School of BioMedical Engineering, provides an opportunity to partner with one of Canada's leading Universities," said Mag Iskander, vice president and general manager of MDA Space Group. "We are excited at the potential to advance research in robotic technology for the medical field."

Medical robotics is a remarkable technology that can provide health care to geographic areas that have limited access to medical specialists using tele-robotic surgery.

“MDA is a leader in robotics technology,” said Peter George, President and Vice-Chancellor, McMaster University. “Their highly sophisticated technology has paved the way for a revolutionary new generation of robotics to help mankind. We are delighted to be partnering with MDA.”

“The proposed new school in BioMedical Engineering will be a joint undertaking of the University’s Faculties of Engineering and Health Sciences,” said Mo Elbestawi, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. “The two faculties have come together to form a strong partnership that builds on each others strengths.”

“The mandate of school is to create interdisciplinary research and educational programs of internationally recognized excellence, creating a unique collaborative environment that leverages existing expertise in medical sciences and engineering. It will link current and emerging areas of molecular, medical and engineering research.

“The MDA partnership announcement today marks the first of many more announcements, as we enlist the industrial support for BioMedical Engineering at McMaster University,” added Elbestawi.

MDA’s commitment to support McMaster University programs will strengthen capabilities in the area of medical robotics greatly influencing research leading to the production and commercialization of robotics in biomedical engineering.

McMaster University, one of Canada's leading research-intensive universities, has world-renowned faculty and state-of-the-art research facilities. McMaster's culture of innovation fosters a commitment to discovery and learning in teaching, research and scholarship. Based in Hamilton, the University has a student population of more than 20,000 and more than 112,000 alumni in 128 countries around the world.