Medical Device Innovation (MDI)
Kenyatta University’s is pleased to offer an M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering – Medical Device Innovation (MDI) which will begin in January 2026. The program is modeled after Rice University’s Global Medical Innovation Master’s program. It is an 18-month, full-time program preparing students for careers in the medical device industry, equipping them with the skills to develop innovative, globally relevant healthcare solutions. Click here to apply.
Key components of the program
- 🔎 Needs-Finding: Ever wondered how real medical innovations start? We’ll teach you how to identify pain points in healthcare through user interviews, shadowing, and problem-framing techniques. You’ll develop a keen eye for problem identification—a key skill for any innovator!
- 🏥Industry & Hospital Immersion: Go behind the scenes in real healthcare settings and med-tech companies! See how devices are used (and where they fail), and learn how to spot unmet needs like a pro.
- 👨🏭Prototyping & Product Development: Gain hands-on experience with fabrication, additive manufacturing and post-processing techniques for low – high fidelity prototypes. Use industry-standard software to design with ergonomics, and manufacturability in mind.
- 🛠️ Business Strategy: Learn how to commercialize your innovations through classes such as business and entrepreneurship.
- 🚀 Mentors: As part of the Master’s program, we will have industry mentors from different industries hold your hand and guide your professional journey.
Course Outline
Semester 1 Course Outline
The clinical & industry immersion course provides students with hands-on experience in diverse clinical settings including hospitals and operating rooms, where they systematically identify unmet medical device needs. Through interdisciplinary collaboration with healthcare professionals, students will learn to prioritize observations, ensuring that proposed medical device solutions have both significant clinical impact and commercial viability.
The Business & Entrepreneurship for Healthcare class equips students with the skills to develop comprehensive business plans, evaluate financial models & perform market analysis for new medical devices. Students will learn about the entrepreneurial landscape, including funding sources and intellectual property protection, to determine the commercial viability and strategic path for bringing innovations to market.
The Biomedical Design course equips students with a comprehensive understanding of the biomedical device process, from concept development to design validation. Through case study analysis and hands-on application of design techniques, students will learn to navigate design challenges specific to healthcare needs, particularly in the context of the Kenyan and African markets.
The Prototyping and Fabrication course provides students with hands-on experience in creating functional biomedical prototypes using techniques such as 3D printing, CNC machining, laser cutting etc. Students will also learn CAD design, material selection and explore emerging healthcare technologies like A.I, telemedicine and wearables, applying them to biomedical innovations.
The Professional Development and Communication course equips students with the skills to build strong professional networks, optimize their resumes and navigate the job search process. Additionally, students will enhance their communication and presentation abilities, preparing them to present their ideas and research in diverse professional settings effectively.
This is an opportunity for non-engineering students to ramp up on any engineering class and engineering students to ramp up on their physiology/anatomy knowledge.
Semester 2 Course Outline
The Biomedical Device Design II course guides students through the full design process of biomedical devices. It is an advanced course that builds upon the foundational knowledge acquired in “Biomedical Device Design I.” This unit will emphasize human-centered design, regulartory compliance,and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students will come up with a project that meets the needs of patients, healthcare providers and industry standards. Students will select their final project in this class.
The Global Regulatory Strategies for Medical Technologies course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of global regulatory bodies and their hiustorical evolution. Students will critically analyze global regulatory frameworks and develop knowledge of the Kenyan context by understanding how to navigate local compliance processes and the role of various government agaencies in medical device approval.
The Project Management for Healthcare course equips students with the skills to plan, execute and manage healthcare projects, focusing on scope, timeline and risk management. Students will also learn to lead interdisciplinary teams, manage budgets and ensure compliance with quality and regulatory standards throughout the project lifecycle.
The Quality Management Systems course provides students with thorough undestanding of essential quality standards such as ISO 13485 and ASTM standards, and their spplication in the medical device industry. Students will learn to develop quality manuals, implement risk management strategies and conduct audits ensuring ongoing compliance and continous improvement in quality management systems.
The Anatomy and Physiology for Engineers course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of human body systems, focusing on their importance to biomedical engineering. Through the application of engineering principles and real-world case studies, students will learn to design medical devices and innovations compatible with the complex physiological environment of the human body.
Descriptive statistics; probability theory and distributions; Estimation of parameters; Extreme value analysis; Distribution classes; Return period; Analysis at different time scales/aggregation levels; Regression and correlation; Model calibration; Validation; Sensitive and uncertainty analysis; Residual analysis; Variance decomposition; Uncertainty sources in mathematical modelling; Time series analysis; Numerical techniques for interpolation; differentiation and intergration, least squares fitting and optimization techniques.
Semester 3 Course Outline
The Advanced Niomaterials course provides students with an in-depth understanding of biomaterials principles, focusing on structure-property relationships of materials used in medical applications. Students will analyze and select biomaterials for specific uses, applying their knowledge to develop medical devices, implants and tissue engineering solutions while critically assessing current research in the field.
The Industry Seminar course exposes students to a range of topics through talks by entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and industry leaders, intergrating real-world insights with academic learning in biomedical innovation. Students will also enhance their networking skills, aiming to build professional relationships and explore career opportunities in the field.
The student will demonstrate mastery of the Biomedical Engineering Curriculum by developing a prototype that integrates the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program. This project will serve as the culmination of their learning experience.
To showcase business acumen, the student will create a comprehensive business plan, outlining market analysis and commercialization strategies. They will also demonstrate an understanding of quality and regulatory requirements by developing a quality & regulatory plan for bringing a medicals device to market. From an engineering perspective, the student will design a mid-high fidelity prototype that has been validated and effectively addresses an identifief problem. Additionally, they will exhibit clinical awareness by selecting a project that has undergone rigorous needs finding and screening, ensuring it meets a genuine market demand. The final prototype will intergrate all these critical aspects, reflecting a well-rounded grasp of biomedical engineering business strategy and regulatory compliance.
The Philosophy of Engineering, Technology and Innovation course explores the historical evolution of engineering and technology, examining their impact on society and culture will delve into philosophical foundations, ethical considerations & the relationship between innovation and societal change while developing critical thinking skills and applying these principles to real world challenges.
This is an opportunity to take a class of their choosing to enhance their knowledge.
Requirements
We are looking for candidates who meet the following criteria:
- B.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering or other engineering and technology related fields, including mechanical, electrical, mechatronics, checmical, computer science, physics with at least an upper second class division.
- B.Sc. in health or applied science-related field with an upper-second class division.
- Lower second class graduates in the above areas will be considered if they have an additional two years relevant work experience.
Professional Experience & Interest
Ideal candidates should have experience in industry, preferably in design, development or roles that involve interaction with medical technology and healthcare innovation. We seek students with a demonstrated interest in healthcare, which can be shown through course work, lab work, work experience or volunteering.