BME Monday ROUNDTABLE

JUNE 21, 2023

DEPUTY HEAD’S NOTE

I hope everything has a good summer so far and enjoyed the time off with family and friends. To many of us, including me, who are proud of fatherhood, I hope you enjoyed the Father’s Day weekend and perhaps the US Open golf.

• The biggest thing that took place to the Boilermakers is obviously the official announcement of Purdue University in Indianapolis. We took the definitive step to launch the first comprehensive urban campus in Purdue history. As you know, the official signing event for the launch of Purdue University’s Indianapolis campus was this past Wednesday, June 14^th. A few of us were invited to witness the historic event. Of course, one of us, David Umulis, has been at the center of this process as it unfolded. Besides the integration of academic programs on the two sides for which we have made great strides thanks to Tami, Vitaliy and co., what does the mean to us? As the two outstanding institutions with complementary strengths arise in Indianapolis, how can we take advantage of this, especially thinking of the Purdue Engineering – IUSM partnership in which many of us have been heavily involved? Good strategic thinking by each of us, together with freely and respectfully exchanging ideas, will definitely help shape up the future of our School. 
• A recap video of launching Purdue University Indianapolis was created by Purdue Marketing and Media. Purdue M&M would love for it to be shared within the biomedical engineering network and social channels to continue to highlight the historic moment last Wednesday. It is felt this content would be great for us to share through our network and channels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIw8-t-JYt8.
• I have seen pictures of our students taken on their study aboard trips. Many thanks to the faculty who lead these trips. This can be a good segue to the broader topic of how we can offer the best education to the next-generation who are inspired to cure more diseases and improve human health. As you know, it has been predicted that we will start to experience the demographic cliff, https://www.chronicle.com/article/will-your-college-survive-the-demographic-cliff. I have some concrete numbers I can share with you at the first faculty meeting of the fall. What is encouraging is that our School has been in a reasonably healthy position in terms of market demand for Purdue Engineering majors. We are growing and we are attracting a fair share of applications. We are definitely leading the way both in terms of women applicants and URM applicants. More importantly, we are a clear leader in terms of ratio of T2M (Top Choice % to Education Goals % for Accepted Students). We have turned good students at the acceptance to excellent students at graduation. But how can we better prepare ourselves for the looming demographic cliff? How can we offer better and better education to our students, especially with the upcoming academic programs integration? Good strategic thinking by each of us, together with freely and respectfully exchanging ideas, will definitely be needed here as well. We are in a good shape with a lot of improvements and excitements being made under Tami’s reign. Let us continue under Vitaliy’s reign. 
• As a final note from me this time, it is never too late to think about financing the trips of your lab members and a selected group of UG students to the BMES annual meeting. I will start a series of discussions with various people on the financing aspect. The bottom line is we want to show the best and brightest of us in Seattle this Fall. 

UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES

Week of June 19

Wed., June 21: BME Summer Seminar Series, 9:30 a.m. via Zoom. Madeline McLaughlin (Carmela Evans-Molina/Fang Huang, advisors) will present “STIM1 Interacts with G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor Signaling to Maintain β Cell Identity in Female Mice” and Shatha Mufti (Riyi Shi, advisor) will present “Assessment of Seizure-Like Activity in Neuronal Networks Post-Traumatic Brain Injury Utilizing Novel TBI-On-A-Chip Model.”

Upcoming Opportunity for Fun!

Do you play a band instrument? Purdue Bands and Orchestras has just opened registration for the 2023 Purdue University Summer Band! This ensemble is open to all area musicians that are high school age and up. Participation in Purdue’s Summer Band is FREE to all. We plan to begin rehearsals on Tuesday, June 20, and rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 4:00-5:30 PM in Hagle Hall, Room 178. Our concert will be held on Thursday, July 20, 6:30 PM at Columbian Park Memorial Island Amphitheater immediately prior to a performance by the Lafayette Citizens' Band.

Register Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8v47EEuzyl070XPk4QyH0fIBflpdLywlCfrGKLKZTtr4Stw/viewform

Upcoming important deadlines and info.

Mon., July 24: Final Grade Entry Begins. (Ends promptly at 5:00 p.m., Tues., August 8^th).

Wed., Sept. 6:  BMES Early Bird Registration Deadline! Register now to lock in savings with early-bird pricing for the 2023 BMES Annual Meeting (to be held in Seattle, WA, October 11-14). Thousands of biomedical engineers will attend this year’s meeting to learn, collaborate, and network. As a BMES member, you can save more than 10% with reduced early bird rates, so if you’re not already a member, now would be a good time to join! Click here for details: https://mailchi.mp/e3958bb463f2/o8cvhb9q5x-9335625?e=ea10e317a2

NOTE:  We recommend booking your room at the Hyatt Regency Seattle because it’s closer to the convention center AND it’s where university receptions will be held (in addition to some being held inside the convention center).  Here’s the link to reserve with the $259 discount rate.  This rate only lasts until the allotted number of rooms have been sold. https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/SEARS/G-BMES

Committee Updates

Academic Programs Update

Summer Grading Deadlines:

1. Final Grading windows are found here:
1. Full 12-week summer session (includes all undergrad and grad-level research students)
1. Grade entry begins at 8 a.m. Monday July 24th and ends promptly at 5 p.m. Tuesday August 8th.
2. Guidance on Final grading
3. Now is the perfect time for faculty to take the 15 minutes to get all your required certifications up to date BEFORE the deadline approaches.
1. FERPA
2. GLBA
3. Data Handling
4. Protecting SSNs
4. This page provides myPurdue grade entry instructions.
5. This page provides BrightSpace final grade submission instructions.
1. Those not making the deadline must use the Grade Change Workflow to submit a grade for each student.
1. Instructions may be found here.

Graduate Office Update

Resources and further information

BME Summer Seminar Series, Wed., June 21, 9:30 a.m. via Zoom. Madeline McLaughlin (Carmela Evans-Molina/Fang Huang, advisors) will present “STIM1 Interacts with G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor Signaling to Maintain β Cell Identity in Female Mice” and Shatha Mufti (Riyi Shi, advisor) will present “Assessment of Seizure-Like Activity in Neuronal Networks Post-Traumatic Brain Injury Utilizing Novel TBI-On-A-Chip Model.”

STIM1 Interacts with G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor Signaling to Maintain β Cell Identity in Female Mice

Abstract: Calcium (Ca²⁺) plays a vital role in normal pancreatic β cell function, and the β cell endoplasmic reticulum (ER) serves as the dominant intracellular store of Ca²⁺. ER Ca²⁺ depletion triggers a rescue mechanism known as store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE), which replenishes ER Ca²⁺ stores through the ER-localized Ca²⁺ sensor stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1). We have demonstrated pathogenic reductions in β cell SOCE and loss of STIM1 expression in rodent and human models of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and shown that β cell-specific loss of STIM1 (STIM1Δβ) leads to obesity-induced glucose intolerance, decreased β cell and increased cell mass in female but not male STIM1Δβ mice. RNA sequencing of islets isolated from female STIM1Δβ mice revealed reductions in G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) expression and a transcriptional signature indicative of reduced estradiol mediated signaling. To test whether GPER is required for the maintenance of β cell identity, INS-1 cells were transfected with siRNA targeted to Gper1 or treated with the GPER1 antagonist, G-15. RT-qPCR showed that markers of β cell identity were significantly reduced and Gcg expression was significantly increased in Gper1 knockdown and G-15-treated cells. Lastly, to determine the relationship between estradiol signaling and β cell identity, we performed ovariectomy surgeries in female mice and showed that loss of estradiol signaling leads to obesity-induced glucose intolerance. Further experiments are warranted to determine the differentiation status of the β cells in the ovariectomized mice and the mechanisms behind this connection. Together, these data identify a novel connection between β cell SOCE, GPER signaling, and β cell differentiation status.

Evaluation link for Madeline McLaughlin: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b7b3MGYdztRV7gy

Assessment of Seizure-Like Activity in Neuronal Networks Post-Traumatic Brain Injury Utilizing Novel TBI-On-A-Chip Model

Abstract: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and long-term disability worldwide. Further, seizure development is one of the most serious sequalae post-TBI. Unfortunately, the underlying mechanisms connecting TBI and seizures are not well understood. Identifying cell-scale pathophysiological changes in the brain post-injury will be paramount for identifying therapeutic targets. Cell membrane damage, which results from the uncontrollable cell stretching upon injury, is considered one of the main causes of cellular ionic imbalances and biochemical changes that can lead to the deterioration of TBI cases. Membrane permeability changes caused by membrane breaches may increase the susceptibility of cells to seizure-like activity (SLA) with increased cell depolarization. Furthermore, as neuronal networks try to reorganize around the injury site, hyperexcitability of networks may result, which leads to increased seizure susceptibility. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), a hydrophilic polymer and known fusogen, has shown potential in sealing damaged cell membranes and restoring functional recovery post-TBI in preclinical studies. Therefore, we hypothesize that targeting cell membrane damage therapeutically with PEG would mitigate the reduction in seizure initiation threshold post-TBI. Investigation of PEG treatment effects would be carried out in our unique TBI-on-a-chip system, which simulates the pathophysiology of concussive TBI by applying clinically relevant, rapid acceleration injuries to murine cortical networks on custom microelectrode arrays, while providing real-time, cell-scale monitoring of electrophysiological and morphological changes. Utilizing extracellular recordings of network spike activity, we reveal the spontaneous appearance of SLA in networks exposed to 10 rapidly (4-6 sec) administered 30 g impacts. Furthermore, we attempt to better characterize SLA and burst features to gain critical information about post-injury electrophysiological changes. In summary, our TBI-on-a-chip model could provide vital insights into functional and morphological changes post-TBI, while enabling the investigation of underlying SLA mechanisms, which could lead to the identification of potential therapeutic targets.

Evaluation link for Shatha Mufti: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bqtEefXLhwxHdDE

*Join Zoom Meeting

https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/98231659969?pwd=T21Oa1B6QzFyQzFvckMzS1doNGlJUT09

Meeting ID: 982 3165 9969    Passcode: biomedical

“