BME WEEKLY ROUNDTABLE

WEEK OF November 20, 2023

Happy thanksgiving!

 

INTERIM HEAD’S NOTE

First, I want to wish you, your family, your friends, and whoever you will spend quality time with during this time of the year a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving holiday. I also wish you best of the luck on having a great conclusion of this academic semester.

  1. Ms. Rhonda Jones has accepted our offer for the Senior Marketing and Communications Professional. Rhonda is a forward-thinking communication expert who has a solid history of success in branding, internal and external messaging, media relations and social media management across healthcare and non-profit industries. She was a Senior Public Relations Coordinator at IU Health Arnett, Lafayette, for more than 8 years. She will start her new position on 12/1. We are so excited to have her. I have instructed her to use the month of December to do the needed assessment with the focus on our faculty first. I have promised her to hire student helpers to assist her. She will be responsible for creating the job descriptions for the student helpers.
  2. As some of you know, there was a Welcome Fair last Friday in Indianapolis. It presented a wonderful opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the faculty and staff in Indy. On behalf of BME, Young, Darshini, and Cindy attended this Welcome Fair. During our break sessions, we discussed various aspects of day-to-day operations, such as the current processes related to academic programs alignment, the Purdue and IU academic calendars, classroom assignments and scheduling, and other facility-related matters. On the IUPUI side, related to our BME, the participants include Sherry Clemens - Program Coordinator; Jennifer Hatch – Lecturer; Dyann Segvich – Lab manager; Chien-Chi Lin – Faculty; Rachel Surowiec – Faculty; plus 2-3 additional staff members who are interested in our program at PIN. We are expecting to extend offer letters to the two staff positions specifically assigned to PIN BME (1 Program Coordinator/Administrative Assistant; 1 Instructional Lab Supervisor).
  3. Hugh, Chi Hwan, and Leo had a productive trip to Denver to attend the AHPA-H proposer’s day. This type of proposer’s day is common for many DARPA-like agencies. It would be great to get more folks to be excited about the AHPA-H opportunities. Our faculty at BME are currently leading the way. The MAI draft was reemphasized in the meeting in Denver.  Here are the two tracks currently running.

Track 1. Living Pharmacy. Recent advances in synthetic biology, materials, and bioelectronics will be integrated to form an implantable Living Pharmacy. The Living Pharmacy will be a small, implantable bioelectronic device that maintains cellular factories modified to produce and secrete a hormone, cytokine, or other therapeutic molecules at appropriate times from inside of the body. The device will be controlled externally by a patient who would need only to “subscribe” to a treatment for it to be delivered automatically.

Track 2. Living Sentinel. Implantable devices will use cells to detect a key biomarker of disease. When a biomarker is detected, the cells communicate with the bioelectronics to convey a signal to the patient. Patients would require only a quick outpatient procedure to implant the device. Then, the patient could control the therapy and timing within the range set by the clinician.

  1. Ben Overly has accepted a new position as Assistant Director of Financial Affairs in the Polytechnic Institute. His last official day as BME business manager will be Thursday, November 30. Engineering and Polytech. finance leaders are working on a transition plan which will ensure that Biomedical Engineering is fully supported during the coming months, including his continued involvement past his last ‘official’ day. I will have our first transition meeting with him and Kim Dixon this afternoon. Please let me know if you have any specific concerns.

 

Enjoy the thanksgiving holiday. Enjoy Purdue sports. The basketball teams and the women volleyball team are playing great.

 

UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES

 

Week of November 20

 

Thurs., Nov. 23 – Fri., Nov. 24:  Thanksgiving Holiday. Official university holiday. All offices and buildings closed, no classes.

 

MJIS ALERT

 

As of Wed., Nov. 29: Telephone System Update Implemented, 7:00 p.m.  Purdue IT is completing the long-running project to retire the phone switch installed more than 25 years ago. Beginning after 7:00 p.m. EST, November 29, changes to the way you use the Purdue West Lafayette telephone systems will be required, including required use of area codes for ALL calls. See link below for details.

 

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS ALERT

 

Re: final exam accommodations. We have a number of students who may need accommodations for final exams and faculty need to be proactive in scheduling with the Testing Center if they plan to use that.

 

Below is some important information instructors should know if they choose to have Purdue Testing Services (PTS) administer their accommodated exams.

*If you had already submitted a TIF for your final prior to receiving this email, PTS staff updated your TIF to the correct exam group


Another email will be sent closer to finals week with more important information regarding delivery and return methods. Instructors may find up-to-date information as well as step-by-step guides on our website.

Thanks,

Kelsey Jordan, M.S.
she/her/hers
Director, Purdue Testing Services

 

ALSO:

We are now more than halfway through the Fall term so here are some reminders as we round the corner to final grading:

 

FERPA, GLBA, Protecting SSNs, and Data Handling all must be current at the time of grade entry to prevent any roadblocks.

 

https://www.purdue.edu/registrar/faculty/grading/index.html

Full Term (16 Weeks) and Second Eight-Week Session (meeting between October 18 and December 16)

Grade entry begins at 8 a.m. December 1 and ends at 5 p.m. December 19.

 

Virtual Workshop Series on Mastering Grant Writing

 

Tommy Sors, Director of Scientific Strategy and Relations, invites you to elevate your research potential by registering to be part of our exclusive workshop series, meticulously designed to guide you through the competitive landscape of NIH funding and the art of grant writing. Each session builds on the next, so you want to make sure to catch all sessions because they offer the knowledge and tools to craft winning proposals. Sessions will run on Thursdays from 2:00-3:00 p.m. November 30 – December 14 and Tuesdays 10:00-11:00 a.m. January 9-Feb. 13. Register at https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/ife/form/SV_01WMuhATStggQOW

 

GRADUATE PROGRAM UPDATE

 

Fellowship Opportunity

The Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship provides support for outstanding PhD candidates in their final year or semester of doctoral degree completion. The goal of the fellowship is to allow exceptional candidates to focus exclusively on finishing their dissertation. The Graduate School Fellowship Manual has additional details https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/fellowship/fellowship-resources-for-staff/index.html

 

Note: Students in other schools outside of BME should follow those schools’ procedures.

 

Due Date: Sunday, December 3rd   (tsiemers@purdue.edu)

 

Student Eligibility

 

Application Package Should Include the following in one PDF:

 

 

Salary & Usage:

 

The announcement will go out to the students as well.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Excellence in Teaching Awards Competition

Applications are now being accepted for the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) 2024 Excellence in Teaching Awards Competition. The University is eligible to nominate one masters-level and one Ph.D.-level student for each award that includes a citation and a $750 honorarium that will be presented at the MAGS annual meeting on April 3-5, 2024. Interested students must submit their application materials to the Graduate School by Friday, December 1, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. for consideration.

 

Award Details

 

Submission Details

Graduate students wishing to be considered for this award must submit a single PDF document that includes:

 

Timeline toward nomination

 

Questions?

Please contact Associate Dean David Rollock at the Graduate School (rollock@purdue.edu; 496-2775).

 

Three Minute Thesis Competition

Nominate a graduate student to represent your academic unit!

 

The Graduate School’s annual Three Minute Thesis competition is scheduled for April 9th! To increase academic representation in our 3MT® competition, we are asking that West Lafayette graduate faculty members nominate talented graduate student(s) to represent their academic units.

 

Nominees must be current Purdue graduate students in the final stages of their research. Each nominee will be contacted by Graduate School staff and encouraged to register for the competition. Nominations are not required for students to submit a draft video; they are simply intended to help the Graduate School identify and encouraged talented students to participate.

 

I have shared the link to the nomination form below, as well as some additional information about the Graduate School’s 3MT® competition. Please email me, Allison Loy (Loy2@purdue.edu), with any questions!

 

3MT® 2024 Nomination Form:

 

What is 3MT®?

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition that helps graduate students develop academic, presentation, and research communication skills so that they can effectively explain their research to a non-specialist audience. During each competition, graduate students will have three minutes to present a compelling discussion on their research topic, including its significance and relevance, to the public. This is a fast-paced competition where the top 10 finalists compete by summarizing their two to three-plus years of research in only three minutes with only one slide. 

 

The cash awards for this year’s competition are $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $2,000 for the People’s Choice Award winner. The first-place winner will also be invited to compete in the Midwestern Association of Graduate School’s (MAGS) annual 3MT® competition.

 

3MT® Timeline

Learn more about the Purdue University Graduate School’s 3MT® competition at the following URL:

https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/professional-development/competitions/3mt/index.php

 

Thank you,

Allison Loy (s/h)

Loy2@purdue.edu

Professional Development Events Coordinator

Office of Graduate Professional Development

The Graduate School

 

Upcoming important deadlines and information

 

Tues., Nov. 28: BME PhD Preliminary Exam Announcement for Taewoong Park (C.H. Lee, advisor). Everyone is invited to attend the public presentation beginning at 12:00PM in MJIS 2001. Title: Design, fabrication, and implementation of wearable biomedical devices for chronic disease management.

 

Wed., Nov. 29: Celebrating Our Associate Professors, 11:30 a.m. in Purdue Graduate Student Center (PGSC) 105 A&B. The College of Engineering is pleased to present its Fall 2023 Celebrating Our Associate Professors lunch session on Wednesday, November 29. The four faculty who will be featured include Luis Solorio (BME), Mohit Verma (ABE and BME), Maria Okuniewski (MSE) and David Johnson (IE).

Each event in the series features recently tenured associate professors making brief presentations on aspects of their teaching/learning, research and/or engagement activities and reflecting on the paths and decisions they took toward their success. There will also be opportunities to have conversations about the presented work with colleagues in attendance.

Please register at https://bit.ly/1123-COAP

The celebration is hosted by Purdue's College of Engineering.

 

Wed., Nov. 29: BME PhD Preliminary Exam Announcement for Seokkyoon Hong (C.H. Lee, advisor).

Everyone is invited to attend the public presentation beginning at 3:00 PM in MJIS 2001. Title: Soft Materials for Wearables.

 

Wed., Nov. 29:  Seminar for Neurotrauma and Diseases, 4:00 p.m., DLR 131. Koji Uchida, Professor of Food Chemistry, University of Tokyo will present “Conversion of Proteins into DNA Mimetics by Reactive Aldehydes.” This seminar series is organized by the Center for Paralysis Research and supported by Plexon, the Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, and Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery. The Zoom link is: https://bit.ly/441Dllq. For additional information, see https://vet.purdue.edu/cpr/

 

Wed., Nov. 29: Telephone System Update Implemented, 7:00 p.m.  Purdue IT is completing the long-running project to retire the phone switch installed more than 25 years ago. Beginning after 7:00 p.m. EST, November 29, changes to the way you use the Purdue West Lafayette telephone systems will be required. See link below for details.

 

Thurs., Nov. 30:  BME-IBSC PhD Defense Announcement for Seul Ah Lee (C.H. Lee, advisor). Everyone is invited to attend the public presentation beginning at 9:00 AM in MJIS 2001 and via Zoom. Title of Thesis Research: “Development of Vision and Eye Care Smart Contact Lens.”

 

Thurs., Nov. 30:  BME Master's Defense Announcement for Nafisa Rafiq (M. Verma, advisor). Everyone is invited to attend the public presentation beginning at 3:00PM in ABE 5078. Title of Thesis Research: Design and development of a field deployable heating system for loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

 

Thurs., Nov. 30:  Purdue Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series. Julian Allwood, Professor of Engineering and the Environment, University of Cambridge, England will present “Making (Good) Things Happen.” This virtual seminar is hosted by the College of Engineering, and Environmental and Ecological Engineering. Register at bit.ly/pedls-allwood

 

Fri., Dec. 1:  Indiana Human-Centered Design for Health Seminar Series, 12:00 p.m. via Zoom. Learn about research and best practices in HCD and health, promote the diverse HCD expertise in Indiana, and build a community of HCD researchers and practitioners focused on health, in Indiana and beyond. The speaker will be Jackie Linnes, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue. Register and learn about upcoming seminars at healthtechquitylab.org/hcd-seminar

 

Fri., Dec. 1:  Indiana Life Sciences Conference – “Closing the Gap[ of Health Inequalities,” 8:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis. See below for details.

 

Sun., Dec. 3: The Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship nominations due to Tammy Siemers (tsiemers@purdue.edu). See above for details.

 

Mon., Dec. 4:  BME PhD Defense Announcement for Conner C. Earl (C. Goergen, advisor). Everyone is invited to the public presentation beginning at 10:00am in MJIS 2001 or via Zoom. (10:00-11:00 am open portion, 11 am-12 pm closed portion)Title: Advanced Characterization of Cardiac Pathology Using 4D Medical Imaging.

 

Thurs., Dec. 7:  BME PhD Preliminary Exam Announcement for Sang Hoon Um (L. Green, advisor). Everyone is invited to attend the public presentation beginning at 2:30PM in MJIS 2001. Title: Retooling the membrane channel with DNA nanostructure for simultaneous and precise voltage recording.

 

Mon., Dec. 11: BME PhD Preliminary Exam Announcement for Grigorii Rudakov (T. Kinzer-Ursem and L. Green, co-advisors), 10:00 a.m., MJIS 1001. Title: “DNA Tetrahedron Design Optimization for Efficient Drug Delivery Through the Blood-Brain Barrier.”

 

Thurs., Dec. 14:  SAVE THE DATE: 2023 Senior Design Projects Expo and Awards Ceremony, 3:30-5:30 p.m., MJIS. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us to celebrate the achievements of our 2023 senior design teams. The expo will highlight 30 innovative engineering solutions, followed by a live awards ceremony.

 

Mon., Jan. 15: Nomination Deadline for Three Minute Thesis Competition. See full article for details. The actual competition will occur on Tuesday, April 9th.  

 

Tues., Jan. 23:  Purdue Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series. Yannis C. Yortsos, Dean of Biterbi School of Engineering, Zohrab Kaprielian Dean’s Chair in Engineering, University of Southern California will present “The Intertwining of Engineering with Social Phenomena.” This seminar is hosted by the College of Engineering, and Davidson School of Chemical Engineering. Register at bit.ly/pedls-yortsos

 

Wed., Feb. 21:  Purdue Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series. Russell Allgor, Vice President and Chief Scientist, Worlwide Operations at Amazon.com will present “Logistics and Fulfillment Systems for E-Commerce.” This seminar is hosted by the College of Engineering, and School of Industrial Engineering. Register at bit.ly/pedls-allgor

Fri., March 1:  Indiana Human-Centered Design for Health Seminar Series, 12:00 p.m. via Zoom. Lean about research and best practices in HCD and health, promote the diverse HCD expertise in Indiana, and build a community of HCD researchers and practitioners focused on health, in Indiana and beyond. The speaker will be Andrew Miller, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Hunan-Centered Computing, IUPUI. Register and learn about upcoming seminars at healthtechquitylab.org/hcd-seminar

 

Wed., March 6:  Purdue Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series. Karen Willcox, Director, Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, Associate Vice President for Research, and Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, The University of Texas at Austin will present “From Reduced-Order Modeling to Scientific Machine Learning: How Computational Science is Enabling the Design of Next-Generation Engineering Systems.” This seminar is hosted by the College of Engineering, and School of Mechanical Engineering. Register at bit.ly/pedls-willcox

 

Wed., April 10:  Purdue Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series. Jeffrey Dean, Google Senior Fellow and SVP of Google Research and Google Health, Google Research will present “Machine Learning, AI and Applications of AI.” This seminar is hosted by the College of Engineering, and Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Register at bit.ly/pedls-dean

 

Fri., June 7:  Indiana Human-Centered Design for Health Seminar Series, 12:00 p.m. via Zoom. Lean about research and best practices in HCD and health, promote the diverse HCD expertise in Indiana, and build a community of HCD researchers and practitioners focused on health, in Indiana and beyond. The speaker will be Youngbok Hon, Professor, Herron School of Art and Design, IUPUI. Register and learn about upcoming seminars at healthtechquitylab.org/hcd-seminar

 

Resources and further information

 

Tues., Nov. 28: BME PhD Preliminary Exam Announcement for Taewoong Park (C.H. Lee, advisor). Everyone is invited to attend the public presentation beginning at 12:00PM in MJIS 2001. Title: Design, fabrication, and implementation of wearable biomedical devices for chronic disease management.

Committee members: Prof. Chi Hwan Lee (Chair), Prof. Hugh Hyowon Lee, Prof. Young L. Kim, Prof. Fengqing Zhu (Electrical & Computer Engineering)

Abstract: The development of wearable devices that monitor biometric signals in real-time to aid in maintaining health has played a crucial role in the field of biomedical engineering. In our rapidly evolving world, chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and heart diseases have imposed severe health and cost implications on public health. This has led to an increased demand for smart healthcare that can remotely and accurately measure and monitor long-term period. While wearable sensing technologies have made significant advancements, tracking specific diseases in real-time remains a challenging task. To address these challenges, we present a series of innovative wearable devices, each uniquely designed to tackle specific aspects of these health concerns. The first is a machine learning-enabled smart neckband designed to precisely monitor dietary intake for patients with diabetes and obesity. This device can effectively distinguish between various activities like body movements, speech, fluid intake, and food intake, showcasing a comfortable and ergonomically designed solution. Another contribution is a custom-designed wearable device focused on the real-time monitoring and classification of vocal cord dysfunction, efficiently differentiating between body movements and vocal cord closures. Extending beyond human health, we also investigate the healthcare of animals. Communication barriers often hinder the timely diagnosis of symptoms in animals. Addressing this, we introduce a wearable device for large animals, such as horses. This device is centered on monitoring respiration in real time, a critical tool for managing conditions like asthma.

 

Wed., Nov. 29: BME PhD Preliminary Exam Announcement for Seokkyoon Hong (C.H. Lee, advisor).

Everyone is invited to attend the public presentation beginning at 3:00 PM in MJIS 2001. Title: Soft Materials for Wearables.

Committee members: Prof. Chi Hwan Lee (Chair), Prof. Hyowon Hugh Lee, Prof. Young L. Kim, and Prof. Luis Felipe Neves Dos Santos (College of Veterinary Medicine)

Abstract: The wearable industry is experiencing a significant upward trajectory, marked by a diverse array of technological applications. These applications span a wide spectrum, encompassing real-time health monitoring, human-machine interfaces, and more. However, a prevailing sentiment persists – that being "wearable isn't always truly wearable." This sentiment emerges due to the prevailing issues within the current market offerings of wearable sensors, which tend to be bulky and rigid leading to uncomfortable user experiences, artifacts in motion tracking, and compromised data accuracy. As a response to this challenge, a global and vigorous pursuit of innovative materials and structures has been ignited. This preliminary report aims to offer strategies towards “truly wearables” in focusing on the pivotal role of material and structural innovation. This preliminary report presents a comprehensive set of material innovations and structural designs to develop mechanically “soft materials” tailored for wearable applications. In the first part of this preliminary report, emphasis is placed on the material design aspect, on the development of a "Rapid self-healing hydrogel with ultralow electrical hysteresis for wearable sensing." The second part introduces another material design, highlighting the creation of a "Tough conductive organohydrogel for wearable sensing in extreme environmental conditions." The third section delves into structural design considerations, focusing on the development of a "Spongy Ag foam for soft and stretchable strain gauges."

 

Wed., Nov. 29: Telephone System Update Implemented, 7:00 p.m.  Purdue IT is completing the long-running project to retire the phone switch installed more than 25 years ago. Beginning after 7:00 p.m. EST, November 29, the following changes to the way you use the Purdue West Lafayette telephone systems will be required.
1. Moving to utilize 10-digit dialing for all outgoing calls. This dialing method requires users to dial 1 + the area code of the person being called as part of the dialing process. However, 5-digit internal to campus dialing will remain the same. This is a requirement dictated to use by our Carrier and is now standard nationwide. If you would like to know more about 10-digit dialing, the following website contains more information: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/ten-digit-dialing 

2. International Calling: The current process using international access codes will no longer be supported. If you currently have an international calling code and need the ability to dial internationally then please complete the form at: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1FVkar7IS9zKvjg 
Purdue IT strives to provide a top-quality telecommunications system and appreciates your support as we continue to upgrade our services and provide a highly reliable service. If you should have questions or concerns, please contact it@purdue.edu. 

 

Thurs., Nov. 30:  BME-IBSC PhD Defense Announcement for Seul Ah Lee (C.H. Lee, advisor). Everyone is invited to attend the public presentation beginning at 9:00 AM in MJIS 2001 and via Zoom. Title of Thesis Research: “Development of Vision and Eye Care Smart Contact Lens.”

Thesis Committee: Dr. Chi Hwan Lee (Chair), Dr. Young L. Kim, Dr. Hugh Hyowon Lee, and Dr. Shin Ae Park (College of Veterinary Medicine) 

Abstract: Groundbreaking research has been done on smart contact lenses, especially as a minimally invasive diagnostic platform and a drug delivery system. The eyes provide rich physiological and broad diagnostic information, making contact lens sensors a promising disease diagnostic tool. A smart contact lens, one such contact lens sensor, can quantify the concentrations of various biomolecules and electrolytes in ocular fluids and physical biomarkers of the eye, such as intraocular pressure (IOP). Continuous and non- or minimally invasive contact lens sensors can be directly utilized in a clinical or point-of-care setting. Here, we introduce the incorporation of contact lens sensors and their fabrication, sensitivity, power source, and readout mechanisms. The incorporation is to monitor glaucoma and conditions associated with eye health, such as dry eye syndrome and inflammation. The contact lens sensors fit seamlessly across different corneal curvatures and thicknesses in human eyes. The lens can also wirelessly capture the intraocular pressure by utilizing the principle of the mechanical deformation of the microfluidic channel under ambulatory conditions. Also, we will discuss the colorimetric ocular electrolyte tear fluid sensor to detect the color change of dry eye disease and inflammation. We assessed the in vitro biocompatibility, ex vivo functionality, and in vivo safety of the soft contact lens sensor. 

Zoom link:  https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/97547949189  

 

Thurs., Nov. 30:  BME Master's Defense Announcement for Nafisa Rafiq (M. Verma, advisor). Everyone is invited to attend the public presentation beginning at 3:00PM in ABE 5078. Title of Thesis Research: Design and development of a field deployable heating system for loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

Committee Members: Dr. Mohit S. Verma (Chair), Dr. Jacqueline Linnes and Dr. Jon Schoonmaker

Abstract: Nucleic acid testing has become a prominent method for rapid microbial detection. Unlike polymerase chain reaction (PCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a simple method of nucleic acid amplification where the reaction can be performed at a constant temperature and the output provided in a colorimetric format. A transparent water bath heater is a desirable instrument to perform the heating and observe the visual results of nucleic acid amplification. However, existing methods of heating the water are not convenient for loading and unloading the nucleic acid samples. Here, we developed a field-deployable water bath heating device—an isothermal heater called IsoHeat for short–which is solely dedicated to performing LAMP reactions and can heat the water up to 85 °C (if needed). Using 3D-printing and LASER-cutting technology, we fabricated different parts of the device and mechanically assembled the parts to develop the entire device. Users can commence the heating by pressing the start button on the screen after entering the target temperature. Subsequently, the device heats up the water bath and maintains the target temperature through a PID algorithm-based control system. We demonstrate that IsoHeat can operate in environmental temperatures ranging from 5-33 °C and it can conduct LAMP reactions in a liquid format as well as in paper-based devices. IsoHeat is more efficient and user-friendly compared to a commercially available immersion-heating device, which is often used to perform LAMP reactions. This newly developed device would be helpful to detect pathogens conveniently in the field (e.g., at the point-of-care for human applications, on farms for plant and animal applications, and in production facilities for food safety applications). 

 

Fri., Dec. 1:  Indiana Life Sciences Conference – “Closing the Gap[ of Health Inequalities,” 8:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis.

 




Closing the Gap of
Health Inequalities

Friday, December 1
Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis

Addressing the persistent disparities in health and wellness among different populations is an issue that can’t be ignored. While the healthcare cost implications are significant, the societal and economic implications are even more so.

This conference will examine ongoing efforts to improve both the delivery of healthcare and health-related social factors like access to healthy foods, access to transportation and safe neighborhoods, which influence health outcomes.
 

 

AGENDA

 

8:00-9:00am

Registration & Breakfast

9:00-9:15am

Welcome & Introduction

9:15-10:15am

Opening Keynote- Defining Health Inequalities

Paul K. Halvorsen, Professor & Founding Dean, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University

10:15-10:30am

Break

10:30am-12:00pm

Panel- Provider Perspective & Initiatives

Brownsyne Tucker Edmonds, M.D., Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology & Associate Dean for Health Equity Research, IU School of Medicine & VP Chief Health Equity Officer, IU Health

Edmond Davis, Senior Director, Health Equity, Zimmer Biomet

TBA

12:00-12:45pm

Break for Lunch

12:45-1:30pm

Luncheon Keynote- Snapshots of Ongoing Initiatives

Paige Bingham, Director, Close the Gap

Ariana McGee, Founder & CEO, Navigate Maternity

Holly Wood, Senior Director, Health Equity Initiative, Purdue University

TBA

1:30-3:00pm

Panel- Payer Perspective & Initiative

Antoniette Holt, Strategic Equity Officer & Division Director, Office of Minority Health, Indiana Department of Health

Darryl Lockett, Health Equity Director, Anthem Indiana Medicaid

Andy Vector, President of Benefits Consulting & Chief Growth Officer, MJ Insurance

TBA

3:00-3:315pm

Wrap-Up

 

 

 

Mon., Dec. 4:  BME PhD Defense Announcement for Conner C. Earl (C. Goergen, advisor). Everyone is invited to the public presentation beginning at 10:00am in MJIS 2001 or via Zoom. (10:00-11:00 am open portion, 11 am-12 pm closed portion)Title: Advanced Characterization of Cardiac Pathology Using 4D Medical Imaging.

Thesis committee: Dr. Craig J. Goergen (Chair), Dr. Guang Lin, Dr. Vitaliy L. Rayz, Dr. Larry W. Markham, Dr. Jonathan H. Soslow

Abstract: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, highlighting the importance of improving cardiac imaging for early disease detection and treatment. While 3D and 4D imaging methods offer enhanced precision, their complexity necessitates accessible applications in research and clinical settings. This thesis introduces an advanced 4D kinematic analysis to evaluate Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) cardiomyopathy, a progressive neuromuscular disorder with no cure, affecting approximately 1 in 5000 boys. Despite varied progression, the lack of standard imaging biomarkers impedes early detection or rapid-progressing DMD cardiomyopathy. Our novel 4D cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) analysis paradigm aims to comprehensively map left-ventricular kinematics, introducing innovative imaging biomarkers and computational methods for earlier and more accurate diagnosis of DMD. Our focus on myocardial strain biomarkers provides insights into early disease onset and progression, paving the way for multi-center studies to enhance treatment outcomes.

Zoom link:  https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/91371610129

 

Thurs., Dec. 7:  BME PhD Preliminary Exam Announcement for Sang Hoon Um (L. Green, advisor). Everyone is invited to attend the public presentation beginning at 2:30PM in MJIS 2001. Title: Retooling the membrane channel with DNA nanostructure for simultaneous and precise voltage recording.

Committee members: Prof. Leopold Green (Chair), Prof. Fang Huang, Prof. Krishna Jayant, Prof. Chengde Mao (Chemistry)

Abstract: Neuronal recording technologies have propelled neuroscience forward, facilitating the unraveling of neural functions across various spatiotemporal scales. Characterizing the membrane potential is crucial to understanding the brain's electrical activities and relationship with the structure and function of neural networks. However, scaling these recordings to measure across single neurons and nervous tissue simultaneously and integrating the measurements across various spatiotemporal scales are critical limitations. The recording limitations primarily result from the physical stress placed on delicate cell structures, preventing repeated membrane disturbance. Then, these limitations lead to the inherent incompatibility among various recording methods concerning their spatiotemporal scales. To address these challenges, we propose a novel application of DNA nanostructure as a versatile platform capable of simultaneously gathering and processing data from two representative recording techniques: patch-clamp electrophysiology and voltage-sensitive dye imaging. The engineered DNA nanodevice can be precisely inserted into live cell membranes using a patch pipette. Once inserted, the DNA nanopores create a synthetic ion channel for facilitating the acquisition of ground truth voltage measurements from individual neurons. Also, the incorporation of single Quantum Dots (QDs) within the DNA nanopore, allows for the recording of voltage signals from large populations of neurons. My research objectives are to (1) develop a reusable DNA nanopore to minimize membrane damage during successive recordings and (2) enhance signal detection by embedding QDs within the DNA nanopore, amplifying the Quantum-confined Stark Effect (QCSE). Achieving these aims will introduce an innovative method to harmonizing data acquisition from individual neurons through patch-clamp electrophysiology, which provides a reliable ground truth for voltage measurement in synthetic nanopores. Simultaneously, it will enable the concurrent recording of multiple neurons using QDs, ushering in an unprecedented era of multifaceted neuronal data acquisition. The expected outcomes of this work will enhance our comprehension of neuronal signaling processes, minimize disruptions to the cell membrane integrity for accurate interpretation of synaptic potential, and introduce an innovative approach to simultaneous and precise recording of neuronal signals across diverse spatiotemporal scales. 

 

Mon., Dec. 11: BME PhD Preliminary Exam Announcement for Grigorii Rudakov (T. Kinzer-Ursem and L. Green, co-advisors), 10:00 a.m., MJIS 1001. Title: “DNA Tetrahedron Design Optimization for Efficient Drug Delivery Through the Blood-Brain Barrier.”

This previously postponed preliminary exam has been re-scheduled for December 11.

Advisory Committee: Leopold N. Green, Co-Chair; Tamara L. Kinzer-Ursem, Co-Chair; Chengde Mao; Gregory T. Knipp

Abstract: Studying, treating, and mitigating the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and other Neurodegenerative Disorders is a big challenge due to the low Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) permeability, which is highly selective on what can pass into the brain. In the proposed study, I aim to address the lack of a safe, efficient, and reliable brain drug delivery vehicle by optimizing the design of Tetrahedral DNA Nanomaterials (TDNs) to effectively deliver drugs through the BBB. Starting with two classical TDNs structures, I alter the design by changing the size, structure (one or two double-stranded DNA helices on the edges), and attached DNA aptamers for the receptor-medicated endocytosis pathway. I will study the influence of these factors on cellular uptake, stability of TDNs, toxicity, and potential delivery efficiency. I plan on testing the materials in vitro using primary mice cortical cells and human astrocytes Isogenic-induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, as well as in the human BBB in vitro model. To study the biodistribution and tissue toxicity, I will perform in vivo tests of the most promising TDNs designs in the C57BL/6 wild-type mouse model, harvest the tissues, and run histology analysis with Hematoxylin and Eosin Y stains. The TDNs concentration will be measured by using incorporated into the DNA strands cyanine 3 and 5 dyes fluorescence and the stability will be estimated by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer measurements. After this work, I will have developed an effective, exceptionally biocompatible, and stable nanomaterial with great potential applications in drug delivery through BBB, brain imaging, and gene therapy.

 

 

 

BME Weekly Research Seminars

 

Week #

Date

Speaker

Title

Host

Website

14

11/29/2023

Sarah Wiehe

Jean and Jerry Bepko Professor of Pediatrics Indiana University School of Medicine

George Wodicka

https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/16722/wiehe-sarah

15

12/6/2023

Diane Wagner

Associate Professor of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, IUPUI

Deva Chan

https://et.iupui.edu/people/wagnerdi

 

Postdoctoral Fellow Opportunity – IUSM Emergency Medicine

 

The laboratory of Dr. Nathan J. Alves, PhD, within the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM), is seeking a highly motivated and independent post-doctoral research fellow. Dr. Alves is a Chemical and Biomolecular Engineer, Associate Professor and the Director of Translational Research for the Department of Emergency Medicine in addition to having an affiliate faculty appointment at Purdue University in Biomedical Engineering. The Alves Lab explores highly interdisciplinary research interests applying engineering and biophysical principles and designs to create translational technologies and treatments in the area of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. The primary focus of research in the laboratory is to develop targeted clot digesting therapeutic agents to more safely digest clinically relevant blood clots to treat pulmonary embolism (PE, blood clots in the lungs), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and ischemic stroke. This interdisciplinary research utilizes diverse enzyme assays, chemical synthesis, blood clot formation and digestion assays under shear, and other novel testing/delivery platforms that include multivalent branched molecules and nanoparticle drug delivery systems. Projects Include: (1) Leveraging multivalency to modulate enzyme activity and improve inhibitor selectivity (nanoparticle drug delivery and targeting). (2) Ex-vivo flowing models of clot digestion under shear using in-vivo like fluorescently labeled blood clots from human whole blood. (3) Development of novel fibrinolytic diagnostics tools to assess coagulation state. (4) Mouse models of clot formation/targeting/digestion utilizing intravital microscopy. (5) Study the effects of environmental microplastic exposure on coagulation/fibrinolysis. Projects are funded both externally and internally.

For additional information and to apply, go to: https://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/19651