The growth of biomedical engineering at UCI has been rapid, beginning with the formation of the Center for Biomedical Engineering in 1998. The center was funded by a generous $3-million development award from the Whitaker Foundation. In 2002, three major milestones were achieved including the formation of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, two undergraduate degree programs, and the expansion of the graduate program leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in biomedical engineering.

Today's department offers a stimulating array of research and training opportunities with world-renowned researchers. The focus areas for the M.S. and Ph.D. include three technology areas of biomedical photonics/optoelectronics, biomedical nano- and microscale systems/fabrication, and biomedical computation/modeling. Included in these opportunities are major campus resources at the Beckman Laser Institute (biophotonics) and the Integrated Nanosystems Research Facility (INRF, nanofabrication and mircrofabrication).

The future of biomedical engineering at UCI is bright. The department plans to continue expanding research efforts to include teams in four major clinical areas that include the neurosciences, ophthalmology, cardiology/cardiovascular science and cancer. The former two compliment major areas of expertise and activity in UCI's College of Medicine, whereas the latter two are an excellent match with Orange County's biomedical device industry.