The International Centre of Biocybernetics (ICB) of the Polish Academy of Sciences was established in Warsaw in June 1988.
The ICB is a multi-national association of the Academies of Science and organizations interested in biocybernetics and health care through science and technology. The ICB acts in accordance with the Agreement about the establishment of the ICB as signed by its Parties. Membership to the ICB is opened, new members are admitted by applying in writing to the of President of Polish Academy of Sciences and signing the Agreement. In 1991 the ICB was appointed and in 1996 reappointed as WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering.

MAIN TASK FOR THE ICB

The main objectives of the ICB are: exchange of scientific experience and the improvement of professional qualifications, and facilitation of research and application in the field of biocybernetics and biomedical engineering.
To achieve these aims, the ICB will undertake the following activities:
- organization of scientific meetings in the form of seminars, summer schools and conferences as well as other meetings aimed at the exchange of information and of experience;
- facilitation and encouragement of research and development;
- acquisition and dissemination of relevant information, including publication of scientific materials connected with ICB activities

SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY

The ICB organizes seminars and special meetings in the following main directions of biocybernetics and biomedical engineering: biosystems, biomeasurements, artificial organs, biomechanics and bioinformatics.
The scientific program of seminars includes the recent results of fundamental researches of physiological processes as well the problems of new technology and design of biological devices and systems for therapy, life support, clinical diagnosis and information processing.

Since 1988 till December 2005 the ICB has organized 105 seminars and workshops.

The duration of seminars varied from 5 to 10 days. The number of participants per seminar varied from 40 to 100 persons. All together over 6000 scientists from 45 countries took part in ICB activities.

ICB STUDY GROUPS

When on similar topics, 2 - 4 seminars took place with the same leading personalities, then these seminars changed their shape to Study Group.
The Study Grups were created for the following main topics:

• Biochemical measurements
• Optoelectronics in medical diagnosis
• High- resolution electro- and magnetocardiography
• Eye movement measurements and their applications
• Biomechanics. Medical robotics
• Statistics and clinical practice
• Respiratory and cardiovascular systems
• Mathematical modeling in biomedical engineering
• Encapsulation of cells
• Artificial pancreas

The role of those Groups is to study in depth selected problems of Biomedical Engineering and propose a multinational programs of scientific cooperation. These programs may enter to international institutions (like EC activities) to get financial support. Also some of the topics may be proposed for Bilateral Agreements between given Scientific Laboratories.

FUTURE ACTIVITIES

Future activities of ICB are devoted to continuation and consolidation of existing topics, increasing the number of seminars on Biomedical Imaging and border problems of tissue, cellular and molecular engineering.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

ICB is a good place for students in getting additional up-to-date knowledge in selected areas of biomedical engineering. It is also a unique occasion to meet famous, internationally recognised, scientists to present their works and to apply for fellowships, postdoctoral or visiting scientist position abroad. Those ICB seminars are a good starting point for scientific careers of some of the participants.

PUBLICATIONS

Journal "Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering" is the official journal of the ICB. The full texts of lecturers delivered at the ICB Seminars are published in "Lecture Notes of the ICB Seminars". Lecturers are kindly requested to supply their texts before the date of the seminar.

OTHERS

Lecturers of the Seminars from countries which signed the Agreement are delegated by their Organizations. Other lecturers are invited by the Director of the ICB. The Seminars take place in the ICB headquarters, lecturers and some other participants of the Seminars are accommodated in the ICB guest rooms.