A wooden toe attached to a thousand-years-old mummy of a young boy and a newspaper rolled up as a crude stethoscope in 1816 are all testament to the fact that Biomedical Engineering is ages old, says Dr Muhammad Abdul Haleem, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET). According to Haleem, Biomedical Engineering has always been a part of human life.

With a conviction and enthusiasm that is almost infectious, Haleem explains, “A recent conjugation of engineering, medicine and science has produced the offspring that is called Biomedical Engineering.” Simply attired and mild mannered Haleem, with a PhD from the University of Leeds, introduced Biomedical Engineering for the first time in Pakistan at the SSUET. He expresses that the research in Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering began during the First and Second World Wars. “The last two decades have seen an unprecedented surge in engineering, medicine and life sciences and the amalgamation of these three has brought a revolution in the form of sales, design, development, manufacture and maintenance of the biomedical equipments – indispensable for the hospitals”, he elaborates.

Haleem has a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree from the International University for Complementary Medicine, Colombo, Sri Lanka, and has introduced several courses at the University of Karachi (KU) and the SSUET, which include Molecular Biophysics, Quantum Biochemistry (at KU) and Biophysics at the Biomedical Engineering department of the SSUET. He supervises the students of his department who have begun designing and developing the medical and clinical equipments that include Electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure, centrifuge machine, Pulseoximetre and the Shaking Water Bath, etc. “We can even design and develop equipment for Ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and others, if the industry assists us. We have the technology and knowledge to make our own indigenous machines and can save precious foreign exchange. An Ultrasound machine will cost not more than Rs300,000 if manufactured in Pakistan. However, we need cooperation between the academia and the industry,” Haleem elaborates.

Moreover, Haleem still finds time to guide the research students towards their M.Phil and PhD degrees. He has supervised five students of PhD, 14 M.Phil students and 58 M.Sc. students in addition to the publication of 122 research papers. Currently he is researching on Chitin and Cellulose, two most abundant natural polymers. Explaining the importance of Biometrical and Tissue Engineering, Haleem says, “It is an important course that allows the engineers to prepare artificial parts that are accepted by the body. The technology allows us to make Cardiac Pacemakers, Oxygenator Machine for the lungs, contact lenses, artificial stapes or Cochlea implants for the ears, bone plate and dental adhesives. We can use the principles of Biology and Engineering to allow the human body to work. It is called Tissue Engineering.”

Haleem’s dedication for his work can be gauged from the fact that he is mostly immersed in teaching in the class or in laboratories and has hardly anytime for other engagements. Revered by his students who appreciate Dr Haleem is highly appreciated amongst his students for his pleasant manners, as one of his students says, “I am surprised by his devotion for the subject. He is always available to the students and is happy to help them.”