• Michelle Kofron Receives Robert E. Davies Student Travel Award to Attend the Annual Orthopedic Research Society Meeting
  12-23-01

  Michelle Kofron, a Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Engineering, has received an AWIS-PHL (Association for Women in Science - Philadelphia Chapter) Robert E. Davies Student Travel Award to present a research paper at the Annual Orthopedic Research Society Meeting in Dallas, Texas. The Robert E. Davies Student Travel Award supports the attendance of a female graduate student at a national meeting of the scientific society appropriate to the discipline in which she will be presenting her own research. AWIS-PHL makes one award each year in the amount of $500.00, to be applied to the costs of transportation, registration, housing, and meals for the student. The Robert E. Davies Student Travel Award was established in 1993 by AWIS-PHL in memory of Professor Robert E. Davies, whose life was characterized by his untiring efforts toward the entry and advancement of women in science.

• Four Undergraduate Student Teams Win Phase I of the 2002 Drexel Business Plan Competition
  12-18-01

  Phase I of the 2002 Drexel Business Plan Competition has been completed, with four out of the five winning teams comprised of undergraduate students from BIOMED:

  • THERiMAGE - "The definition of targeted therapeutic imaging." Team members: Dalia El-Sherif, Paul Bidez, Eric Troop, and Raymond Ro. A novel therapeutic imaging drug for the detection and treatment of cancer. This drug will better identify a tumor, as well as target the delivery of anti-cancer drugs directly to the tumor, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing cost and side effects.

  • eMotions, Inc. - "Let the machine be in your shoes." Team members: Marek Swoboda and Joe Sorial. eMotions, Inc. specializes in producing emotion sensors that can detect fear and excitement. These sensors are equipped with an interface capable of transferring sensor readings to an electronic device such as a computer or a computer game console. This idea will allow development of a new generation of devices with "emotional feedback," such as computer games, computers, and robots.

  • Biodegradable Closures for Drug Delivery and a Disposable Administration Device. Team members: Hemali Patel, Todd Rohn, Diane Lau, Charles Harakal, Gregory Tholey, Jim Murphy, and Rachael Horn. The team developed a biodegradable closure for controlled drug delivery and a disposable device with which to administer the closure. This device is designed to facilitate a surgical procedure known as bile duct anastomosis.

  • Practical Audio Solutions. Team member: Andrew Darling. Practical Audio Solutions would assemble voice-to-text software and wearable computer displays to provide voice recognition for the hearing impaired to a degree superior to lip-reading.

  Special thanks go to Robert Mascioli, the Director of the Laurence A. Baiada Center, and to Dr. Robert Loring, an entrepreneur and a BIOMED alumnus, for the guidance and support that they have so generously provided our students. The entrepreneurial spirit of our students and faculty play a leading role in the transfer of biomedical technologies into winning, productive enterprises.

• Dr. Don McEachron Receives Student Choice Award for BIOMED Professor of the Year 2002
  01-24-02

  Dr. Don McEachron, Research Professor in BIOMED, was one of twelve Drexel faculty members who received this year's Drexel University Student Choice Award for Professor of the Year 2002. This award acknowledges Dr. McEachron's unwavering dedication to our students, as well as his tireless efforts to develop and enrich the BIOMED curriculum. He is heartily congratulated for this wonderful recognition by the students themselves. Dr. McEachron and the other award recipients were honored at the Second Annual Faculty Awards Banquet, which was held on Tuesday, February 5, 2002 at the University Club in Drexel's MacAlister Hall.

• Dr. Karen Moxon Chairs Whitaker Funded 28th Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference
  01-15-02

  Dr. Karen Moxon will chair the 28th Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, which is to be held April 20-21, 2002 at Drexel University. This conference will receive funding from the Whitaker Foundation in the amount of $9,000, which is approximately three times greater than the amount of previous Whitaker funding for this conference. The explicit goal of this funding is to upgrade the attendance and the quality of the regional conference, including financial support for its invited speakers.

• Fourteen Professors To Receive Funding from the Nanotechnology Institute
  11-26-01

  Fourteen Drexel University faculty members have been recommended for funding by the Nanotechnology Institute (NTI), for a total funding of $1,079,354, including $152,000 for equipment. The recommended recipients are: Dr. Nily Dan, Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering (Drug Delivery Team - $77,406); Dr. Anthony Lowman, Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering (Drug Delivery Team - $81,250); Dr. Yuri Gogotsi, Professor in Materials Engineering (Cellular - $68,580); Dr. Raj Mutharasan, Professor in Chemical Engineering (Cellular Probe - $30,000 / Pilot study); Dr. Bahram Nabet, Associate Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Cellular Probe - $30,000 / Pilot study); Dr. Wan Y. Shih, Research Associate Professor in Materials Engineering (Biosensor - $30,000 / Pilot study); Dr. Frank Ko, Professor in BIOMED and Materials Engineering (Tissue Engineering - $72,534 / $62,000 Equipment); Dr. John Dinardo, Professor in Physics (Cellular Probe - $63,306); Dr. Yen Wei, Professor in Chemistry (Tissue Engineering - $76,848); Dr. Allan Smith, Professor in Chemistry (Biosensor - $62,715); Dr. Guoliang Yang, Assistant Professor in Physics (Cellular Probe - $87,939); Dr. Peter Lelkes, Professor in BIOMED (Tissue Engineering - $88,855); Dr. Richard Lec, Professor in BIOMED and Electrical and Computer Engineering (Biosensor - $86,273 / $55,000 Equipment); Dr. Margaret Wheatley, Professor in BIOMED and Chemical Engineering (Drug Delivery $71,648 / $35,000equipment).

• Dr. Young Cho Plays Major Role in Development of Blood Viscosity Measurement Device
  11-6-01

  For more than 15 years, Dr. Young Cho, Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, and Dr. Kenneth R. Kensey, President and CEO of Rheologics, Inc., have collaborated on research to develop a better methodology for measuring whole blood viscosity. Dr. Cho is an internationally recognized expert in fluid mechanics who currently serves as Rheologics' fluid dynamics consultant. Dr. Cho and Dr. Kensey, a scientist-cardiologist with an entrepreneurial flair, have spent more than a dozen years developing a "scanning capillary viscometer," which is a device for measuring blood viscosity. If blood viscosity can be accurately measured, the appropriate drugs can be developed to reduce it, thereby helping to prevent heart attacks and strokes in humans. The instrument is currently being tested and FDA approval is expected within a year or so.

• Dr. Banu Onaral Co-chairs Workshop on Biomedical Signal and System Analysis
  10-30-01

  Dr. Banu Onaral, H.H. Sun Professor and Director of BIOMED at Drexel University, organized and co-chaired a workshop on Biomedical Signal and System Analysis. The workshop took place at the 23rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society in Istanbul Turkey, October 25-28, 2001.

• Drs. Banu Onaral and Kambiz Pourrezaei Featured in Nanotechnology Article in The Institute
  9-19-01

  Dr. Kambiz Pourrezaei, Professor in BIOMED and Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Research Director of the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems, and Dr. Banu Onaral, Professor and Director of the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems, were recently interviewed by the editor of The Institute, a monthly publication of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) that is distributed worldwide to over 300,000 members of the IEEE. The front-page feature article in the August 2001 edition entitled "Nanotech: The New Frontier In Biomedicine" quoted Dr. Pourrezaei and Dr. Onaral on the emerging biomedical applications of nanotechnology. To read the article online, please visit: www.spectrum.ieee.org/INST/aug2001/fnano.html

• Dr. Cato Laurencin Designated As Leading African-American Physician
  8-16-01

  Dr. Cato Laurencin, Helen I. Moorehead Professor in Chemical Engineering and BIOMED, has been designated by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the nation's leading African-American physicians. The magazine's August 2001 issue presented its inaugural list of the top 101 African-American physicians in the nation, along with their profiles. Dr. Laurencin has spent most of his career at Drexel and MCP Hahnemann Universities.

• Researchers Assigned United States Patent Number 6,204,669 B1
  3-20-01

  US Patent number 6,204,669 B1, regarding the "Detection of Defects in Protective Barriers," was assigned to Drexel University on March 20, 2001. The inventors include: Richard B. Beard, Ph.D., Drexel (emeritus); Kambiz Pourrezaei, Ph.D., Drexel; Shengke Zeng, Ph.D., Drexel (graduate); Frederick Prout, MSBE; Drexel (graduate); Frank M. Kepics, BSEE, Drexel (staff); Jin Park MSBE, Drexel (Ph.D. student); Allen Rothwarf, Ph.D., Drexel (deceased); Siddharth Deliwala, MSBE, Drexel (graduate); Robert Schmukler, Ph.D., Drexel. Affiliation: School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

• Dr. Peter Lewin Receives Drexel University Distinguished Professor Award
  2-8-01

  Dr. Peter Lewin, Professor in BIOMED and Electrical and Computer Engineering, was one of two Drexel faculty members who received this year's Drexel University Distinguished Professor Award. The award includes a cash prize of $15,000 per year for five years. Dr. Lewin has published research papers of important significance that have frequently been cited by other researchers. He has been awarded several patents in the field of ultrasound and over the years has received $3 million in research funding. He was recently appointed to the prestigious Franklin Institute Committee on Science and the Arts and is an internationally recognized scholar with many awards, including Fellow of IEEE. Dr. Robert Gilmore, Professor in Physics and Atmospheric Sciences, was the other recipient of this year's award.

• Drs. Banu Onaral and Yasha Kresh Receive Funding for Biocomplexity Project
  1-31-01

  The Biocomplexity demonstration project has well begun and is under the direction of Dr. Yasha Kresh, Professor of Cardiothoracic Control at MCP Hahnemann University, and Dr. Banu Onaral, H.H. Sun Professor and Director of BIOMED at Drexel University. With total sponsor funding in the amount of $613,570 from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Air Force Research Laboratory, the project aims to implement a 'telemic' remote-control high-resolution digital microscopy system for visualizing and monitoring the complex dynamics of live-cell network assembly and function. The system enables a shared (client-server mode) observatory for studying the evolution and adaptation of tissue organization by remotely accessing and controlling the experimental preparation using the very high speed/next generation Internet networking technology and interfaces that are under development by the Pegasus project.
  The Cellular Observatory phase, which demonstrates the concept of a distributed 'collaboratory' (i.e., 'virtual') and multidisciplinary research environment without walls, has recently been completed. For information on the next phase of the project, please visit: www.biomed.drexel.edu

• Dr. Mahmoud El-Sherif Appointed to National Republican Congressional Committee
  12-18-00

  Dr. Mahmoud El-Sherif, Research Professor in BIOMED, Materials Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering, was nominated in December to serve on the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). The NRCC is comprised of non-elected officials who provide a wide range of policy recommendations to the U.S. Congress. At upcoming NRCC meetings, El-Sherif will propose ideas for enhancing technology development, increasing international trade and transfer of technology, and expanding technology transfer between academia and industry. He will also serve on the economics and business sub-committee of the NRCC.

• Dr. Huan-Xiang Zhou Makes Significant Advancement in Predicting a Protein's 3-D Structure
  10-30-00

  Dr. Huan-Xiang Zhou, Associate Professor of Physics and BIOMED, has achieved a new level of success in the area of protein structure prediction, earning a position in the top 10 among more than 160 entrants at the CASP4 international competition at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Dr. Zhou's achievement is an important step toward structural biology's aim of finding a way to predict a protein's 3-D structure while knowing only the sequence of its constituents. As a result of his success, Dr. Zhou has been invited to speak at the annual conference devoted to this competition.

• Dr. Dov Jaron Elected President of the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering
  9-28-00

  Dr. Dov Jaron, Professor in BIOMED and Electrical Engineering, has been elected President of the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE). His term as President is from 2000- 2003. The IFMBE is a federation of biomedical engineering organizations representing 44 countries from North and South America, Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, and Asia.

• Dr. Karen Moxon's Book Examining Neural Prosthetic Devices Is Released by CRC Press
  9-27-00

  Dr. Karen Moxon, Assistant Professor in BIOMED, and Dr. John K. Chapin of the Department of Neurobiology at the State University of New York Health Sciences Center released their book, "Neural Prostheses for Restoration of Sensory and Motor Function." According to a press release from CRC Press, "The book examines several different types of neural prosthetic devices, as well as recent advances in cutting edge research for novel devices to restore sensory and motor function in patients with neural damage. It provides up-to-date information on neural prosthetic techniques and applications - specifically, in relation to the sensory and motor systems of the brain." For more information or to purchase the book, please visit:
  www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0849322251/legalenginecom/1033881206-2728653

• Dr. Banu Onaral Completes Term As President of the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
  9-15-00

  Dr. Banu Onaral, H.H. Sun Professor and Director of BIOMED at Drexel University, served as President-Elect and President of the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) of the Institute of Electrical and Computer Engineers (IEEE) in 1998 and 1999 and is now Past-President. The IEEE-EMBS is the largest member-based technical society of biomedical engineers in the world.

HIGHLIGHTS... Student Awards & Honors Faculty Awards & Honors Major Research Awards & Initiatives Alliances & Partnerships Research Centers & Institutes Professorships & Faculty Searches Academic Programs & Enrollment Faculty Fellows Memorial Funds & Gifts

Major Research Awards & Initiatives

• Dr. Steven Kurtz and the Implant Research Center Receive Howmedica Seed Funding to Develop Implant Retrieval Program for Artificial Knees
  12-14-01

  Dr. Steven Kurtz, Research Associate Professor in BIOMED, and the Implant Research Center (IRC) received research seed funding from Howmedica to develop an implant retrieval program for artificial knees. This is a one-year award. Using the IRC's successful hip retrieval program as a guide, the goal of this project is to turn the implant retrieval program for artificial knees into an NIH funded initiative in 2002. This project will be a collaboration of Drexel University, the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, and Case Western Reserve University.

• Office of Naval Research Funds Optical Brain Imaging Sensor Project
  12-10-01

  The "Optical Brain Imaging Sensor for Improved Operator Awareness" project has been funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to research and develop a near infrared (NIR) based functional optical brain imaging sensor. The first year funding for the project is $1.3 million. Dr. Banu Onaral and Dr. Kambiz Pourrezaei are leading the project in partnership with Dr. Britton Chance of the University of Pennsylvania. Other Drexel faculty leaders include Dr. Ata Akin, Dr. Fernand Cohen, Dr. Afshin Daryoush, and Dr. Birsen Yazici. Dr. Nader Engheta and Dr. Shoko Nioka are participating from the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Scott Bunce from MCP Hahnemann University, Dr. James Kolodzey from the University of Delaware, Dr. Warren Warren from Princeton University, Dr. Robi Polikar from Rowan University, Dr. Harel Rosen from St. Peter's University Hospital, Dr. Arye Rosen from Sarnoff Corporation, Dr. Maria T. Schultheis from the Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation, Dr. Kamelia Alavi from Technology and Medicine, Inc., and Dr. Apperson Johnson from Quantum Leap Innovations, Inc.

  This project is part of the Biomedical Optics initiative, which aims to develop safe, affordable, non-invasive, portable, and minimally intrusive functional imaging devices and systems based on biophotonics. This work builds on Dr. Britton Chance's pioneering research in near infrared functional optical imaging. Dr. Chance has pioneered the field of tissue characterization through optical techniques since the 1980s. The initiative is a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional effort founded on the synergistic partnership between Drexel University, the University of Pennsylvania, MCP Hahnemann University, University of Delaware, Princeton University, Rowan University, and St. Peter's University Hospital. Quantum Leap Innovations, Inc., Sarnoff Corporation, and Technology and Medicine, Inc. are the corporate partners of the initiative. This award is the most recent of major research projects in Biomedical Optics with funding in excess of $1 million. Primary sponsors of the initiative are the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the ONR. Other agencies, including DARPA, have seed funded the project in planning for future phases. The biomedical optics team has also made plans to develop and deploy this emerging technology in various promising application areas, including human performance in the military, in education and training, and in health care (e.g. breast cancer detection, brain monitoring of pediatric and geriatric patients, neurology, mental disorders, neuro-rehabilitation, anesthesiology, critical care, and telemedicine) in collaboration with our clinical partners, in particular, our main medical partner MCP Hahnemann University.

• Dr. Ilya Rybak Receives ONR Grant To Study Neurophysiology of Locomotion and Neuro-robotics
  11-20-01

  Dr. Ilya Rybak, Research Professor in BIOMED and Neurobiology at MCP Hahnemann University, has been awarded a grant of $170,000 by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) over two years for his project titled "Development of Biomimetic CPG-Based Neural Controller for Bipedal Robot Locomotion." This effort is part of the Neuroengineering initiative undertaken jointly with the Neurobiology and Neurology Departments at MCP Hahnemann University. The work will further the investigation of the linked areas of the neurophysiology of locomotion and neuro-robotics with regard to transferring brain-inspired information processing concepts into the technological arena, and in particular, the robotics of autonomous legged locomotion. The process of extending current techniques for controlling machines directly from the brain will yield information that is critical for the development of autonomous machines, as well as for evaluating neural control of navigation and biosensor applications.

• Drs. Wei Sun and Alan Lau Receive Grant from Therics Corporation To Study Tissue Replacement Structures
  11-7-01

  Dr. Wei Sun (Principal Investigator), Assistant Professor in BIOMED and Mechanical Engineering, and Dr. Alan Lau (Co-Investigator), Professor in BIOMED and Mechanical Engineering, have been awarded a $253,000 grant over three-years by the Therics Corporation for their research entitled "Biopharmaceutical and Anatomical Tissue Replacement Structures: Process Modeling and Simulation." The objective of the project is to develop the knowledge and technology based processes for modeling, analysis, and simulation of novel biopharmaceutical products and anatomical tissue replacements. The near term and long term research activities include: 1) optimal modeling process for three-dimensional reconstruction of CAD-based solid model and/or anatomic model from the CT/MRI data for anatomical tissue representation, geometric manipulation, structural analysis, and free-form fabrication; 2) finite element analysis approach to simulate the anatomical structural properties, material properties, load-bearing behavior of the designed tissue scaffolds and bone replacements; and 3) heterogeneous modeling of bone tissue structures and process algorithm for a model-based, multi-materials deposition.

• Dr. Margaret Wheatley Awarded NIH Grant To Research Contrast Agents in Diagnostic Ultrasound
  10-15-01

  Dr. Margaret Wheatley, Professor in BIOMED and Chemical Engineering, has been awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant of $800,000 over four years for her project entitled "Development of a Novel Contrast Agent for Diagnostic Ultrasound." Surfactant stabilized microbubbles are used to increase the contrast of medical ultrasound images to allow physicians to diagnose microscopic cancerous lesions in soft tissue. This research project will further the investigation regarding the attachment of antibodies to the bubbles to target specific sites, such as tumors and atherosclerotic plaque, and to distinguish malignant tissue growth from that which is benign.

• Drs. Peter Lewin and Mohana Shankar Receive NIH Grant To Research Calibration Methods of Ultrasound Hydrophone
  10-5-01

  Dr. Peter Lewin, Professor in BIOMED and Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Dr. Mohana Shankar, Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, have been awarded an NIH grant entitled "Ultrasound Hydrophone and Its Calibration up to 100 MHz." The total funding for this three-year grant is $705,000. Miniature piezoelectric polymer ultrasonic hydrophone probes are indispensable for acoustic field characterizations and are usually calibrated at discrete frequencies only. Such calibration is inadequate, as it fails to detect possible rapid variations in the sensitivity of the probes. We have already developed unique probe calibration methods that plot sensitivity as a virtually continuous function of frequency up to 60 MHz. This research aims to extend these calibration methods to 100 MHz.

• Dr. Cato Laurencin Receives NSF Grant for Bioreactor Based Bone Tissue Engineering
  8-16-01

  Dr. Cato Laurencin, Helen I. Moorehead Professor in Chemical Engineering and BIOMED, has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation through the Directorate of Engineering, Division of Bioengineering and Environmental Systems. The title of his project is "Bioreactor Based Bone Tissue Engineering" and the award is for $800,000 over four years. Each year in the US, almost half a million surgical procedures are performed that require bone substitutes (e.g., autografts, allografts, and synthetic materials). These bone substitutes have many associated problems. For example, autografting is expensive and can have significant donor site morbidity, and synthetic materials wear and do not behave like true bone. Our goal is to provide an alternative solution by creating tissue engineered bone using a bioractor device, whose rotating vessel maintains cells in continual free-fall similar to that experienced by astronauts in the microgravity of space. Inside, the tissue is continuously bathed in oxygen, nutrients, and other substances necessary for growth. This ensures that the fluid rotates without shear forces that would destroy the cells. This project should allow Drexel's School of Biomedical Engineering to continue its pre-eminent position in the area of bioreactor-based bone tissue engineering.

• Drs. Steven Kurtz and Michele Marcolongo Receive NIH Grant To Conduct Hip Implant Research
  8-7-01

  Dr. Steven Kurtz, Research Associate Professor in BIOMED, and Michele Marcolongo, Assistant Professor in Materials Engineering and BIOMED, received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for their project "Mechanics and Performance of Traceable UHMWPE Hip Implants." This award is $1 million over three years (PI: Steven Kurtz, Research Associate Professor in BIOMED; Co-PIs: Michele Marcolongo, Assistant Professor in BIOMED and Materials Engineering, and Av Edidin, Research Associate Professor in BIOMED; Co-collaborators: William Hozack, MD, from the Rothman Institute / Thomas Jefferson University; Clare Rimnac, Ph.D., Victor Goldberg MD, and Matt Kraay MD, all from Case Western Reserve University). This project is one of the Implant Research Center (IRC) research activities. The IRC is a multi-center collaboration between Drexel University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Case Western Reserve University. This research is part of a major effort to understand the relationship of processing, structure, and properties of polyethylene hip components in relation to clinical parameters such as wear, range of motion, and pain.

• Drs. Marta Villarraga and Peter Cripton Receive Seed Funding from the Synos Foundation and the Cervical Spine Research Foundation To Develop a Spine Implant Retrieval Program
  7-12-01

  Dr. Marta Villarraga, Research Associate Professor in BIOMED, and Dr. Peter Cripton, Research Associate Professor in BIOMED, received seed funding from the Scientific Board of the Synos Foundation for the Advancement of Orthopedic Surgery for their project "Evaluation of Retrieved Spine Implants." The funding is for one year and is in the amount of $27,500 (PI: Alexander Vaccaro, MD, Rothman Institute; Co-PIs: Drs. Marta Villarraga and Peter Cripton, both from Drexel University). Drs. Marta and Cripton received similar one-year seed funding for the same program from the Cervical Spine Research Foundation. They will be working on turning this program into an NIH funded initiative and have plans on developing a grant during 2002. The research is coordinated through the Implant Research Center (IRC), a new collaborative initiative of Drexel University's School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems and the Rothman Institute of Thomas Jefferson University (please see "BIOMED and Materials Engineering Jointly Form the Implant Research Center," also in this section). The research focus of the IRC is on implantable medical devices. This project allows expansion of the implant retrieval program beyond hip and knee implants to include spinal implants and adjacent tissue.

• Drs. Cato Laurencin, Mohamed Attawia, and Frank Ko Receive National Medical Technology Testbed Grant for Tissue Engineering Research
  6-5-01

  Dr. Cato Laurencin, Helen I. Moorehead Professor in Chemical Engineering and BIOMED, Dr. Mohamed Attawia, Research Associate Professor in BIOMED and Chemical Engineering, and Dr. Frank Ko, Professor in BIOMED and Materials Engineering, received a National Medical Technology Testbed (NMTB) grant of $260,000 for their project titled "A Novel Nanofiber Based Drug Delivery System for Wound Healing." In addition, Dr. Laurencin and Dr. Attawia received another NMTB grant in the amount of $225,000 for a project titled "Gene Therapy for Bone Regeneration: The Delivery of MBP-2 Producing Cells Using 3-Dimensional, Biodegradable Matrix." This latter research furthers the investigation into stimulating new bone growth via a biodegradable matrix loaded with gene therapy vectors and cellular growth factors. Such a matrix will grow human bone capable of replacing crushed bones that occur in accidents or fractured bone that will not heal correctly. It can even be used to replace facial bones destroyed by disease or surgery or through birth defects. The novel approach involves using cloned genes and smart grafts to foster bone re-growth in the area of injury. The gene cloning produces a natural growth factor that allows bone cells to sprout where only dead tissue had been previously.

• Dr. Steven Wrenn Receives Whitaker Foundation Young Investigator Award To Study Prevention of Gallstones in Humans
  5-16-01

  Dr. Steven Wrenn, Assistant Professor in BIOMED and Chemical Engineering, was selected for a Whitaker Foundation Young Investigator Award in the amount of $240,000 over three years. These award competitions are held three times per year and are designed to help promising new investigators establish their research careers. Dr. Wrenn's research is entitled "An Engineering Approach to the Prevention of Gallstones in Humans." The start date for the project is July 1, 2001. For the complete abstract, please visit: www.whitaker.org/abstracts/apr01/wrenn.html

• Seven Synergy Grants Awarded to BIOMED Faculty
  5-14-01

  Ten teams were awarded grants out of the 19 proposals submitted for this year's synergy grants. Seven of the ten recipient teams were from BIOMED and are listed below. For information regarding all of the teams and their research endeavors, visit the web site: www.research.drexel.edu/researchday/synergyawards.asp

  • "Use of Neurotrophic Factors to Improve the Biocompatibility of Ceramic-based Multiple Electrode Arrays: Histochemical Assessment." PI: Dr. Karen Moxon, Assistant Professor in BIOMED; Co-PI: Dr. Shao-Pii Onn, Assistant Professor in Neurobiology and Anatomy at MCP Hahnemann University.

  • "Autoflourescence-enhanced Endoscopy of the Aerodigestive Tract." PI: Dr. Milan Amin, Ear, Nose and Throat, MCP Hahnemann University; Co-PI: Dr. Ata Akin, Research Assistant Professor in BIOMED.

  • "Myocardial Tissue Engineering and Tissue Regeneration Using Electrically Conductive Polymeric Scaffolds." PI: Dr. Peter Lelkes, Professor in BIOMED; Co-PI: Dr. Yasha Kresh, Professor in Cardiothoracic Surgery, MCP Hahnemann University.

  • "Integrating a New measure of Brain Hemodynamics with EEG." PI: Dr. Scott Bunce, Psychiatry, MCP Hahnemann University; Co-PI: Dr. Ata Akin, Research Assistant Professor in BIOMED.

  • "Associating Hydrogels as Artificial Articular Cartilage." PI: Dr. Anthony Lowman, Assistant Professor in BIOMED and Chemical Engineering; Co-PI: Dr. Andrew Karduna, Associate Professor in BIOMED and Rehabilitation Sciences at MCP Hahnemann University.

  • "Model Dialysis Access Flow and Thrombosis." PI: Dr. David Wooton, Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Drexel University; Co-PI: Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, MCP Hahnemann University.

  • "The Biocompatibility of Nanopeptides: Implications for In Vivo use." PI: Dr. Cato Laurencin, Helen I. Moorehead Professor in Chemical Engineering and BIOMED; Co-PI: Dr. Donna Murasko, Microbiology Immunology, MCP Hahnemann University.

• Dr. Jaydev Desai American Receives Grant from the American Heart Association To Research Robotic Cardiac Surgery
  5-9-01

  Dr. Jaydev Desai, Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering and BIOMED, received the Beginning Grant-in-Aid Award from the American Heart Association for the project titled "Computer Assisted Robotic Cardiac Surgery." The grant is for $100,000 over three years and is primarily given to young investigators. Dr. Yasha Kresh, Professor and Research Director of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Dr. Andrew Wechsler, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery from MCP Hahnemann University, are the Collaborating Investigators on this project. The goal of this project is to develop the enabling science and technology for performing a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure on a beating heart without the use of mechanical stabilizers or cardiopulmonary bypass. The CABG procedure brings forth several research challenges that will be addressed in this project. Some of these challenges include tracking a non-stationary target using visual servoing techniques and combining them with haptic feedback. This research will eventually lead to an information-enhanced display and will augment the current capabilities of the cardiac surgeon.

• Rybak Receives Grant from DOD and NSF for Neuroengineering Initiative
  4-10-01

  Dr. Ilya Rybak, Research Professor in BIOMED and Neurobiology at MCP Hahnemann University, has been awarded $300,000 over three years for his project titled "Modeling the Brainstem Neural Mechanisms for the Respiratory Pattern Generation." This project is being funded by the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation to study neural control of breathing as a system for computational modeling of cross-level integration of cellular, network, and neural system mechanisms. The overall objective is to build a united, multi-level model of neural control of respiration within a uniform framework to incorporate existing data and current hypotheses on respiratory control. The Neuroengineering Initiative is a collaborative program between the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems and the faculty of the Neurobiology and Anatomy Department at MCP Hahnemann University and focuses on neural control and neuroinformatics.

• Drexel and Wantagh, Inc. Sign Intellectual Property Agreement for Heart Monitoring Device
  2-9-01

  A license agreement and a sponsored research contract were signed between Drexel University and Wantagh, Inc., Bristol PA, regarding the Impedance Cardiography and Heart Monitoring Device developed by Dr. Xiang Wang and Dr. Hun H. Sun (US Patent numbers 5,309,917, 5,423,326, and 5,443,073 in 1995). The intellectual property for this device will now be assigned by Drexel University to Wantagh, Inc., along with the exclusive rights for the manufacturing and marketing of the IQ System. The IQ System is a new, non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring system, which can measure up to 12 cardiac parameters, including cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), and stroke volume (SV). This safe and affordable technology will replace the current invasive technique, namely the dye dilution method that is now used in hospitals around the world.

• The State of Pennsylvania Funds the Establishment of the Nanotechnology Institute
  12-28-00

  The Nanotechnology Institute has been established with $10.5 million in seed funding from the Pennsylvania Technology Investment Authority (PTIA) over three years. Dr. Kambiz Pourrezaei, Professor in BIOMED and Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Dr. David Luzzi Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, will lead this initiative in collaboration with Dr. Barry F. Stein of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP) and in partnership with regional medical institutions and the biomedical industry. A major impetus of the Institute will be to explore nanotechnologies that can be deployed in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Main research and development thrust areas include nano-biosensors, drug delivery, cellular tissue engineering, and nanoprobes.

• Drs. Kambiz Pourrezaei and Ata Akin Receive Funding from ONR To Study Tissue Characterization and LIDAR Technology
  12-27-00

  Dr. Kambiz Pourrezaei, Professor in BIOMED and Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Dr. Ata Akin, Research Assistant Professor in BIOMED and Electrical and Computer Engineering, have been funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to study Tissue Characterization by Functional Optical Imaging Using LIDAR Technology. The sponsor funding for this phase is $1 million over three years. Dr. Akin and Dr. Pourrezaei have also recently received from Optical Devices, Inc. a subcontract funded by an NIH / SBIR Phase I grant to analyze the feasibility of developing a real-time hand-held near infrared breast cancer imager. In future work, the team envisions the development of portable and possibly hand-held diagnostic systems to replace invasive biopsies with safe, non-invasive optical biopsy procedures.

• Dr. Leonid Hrebien Awarded Research Contract in Bioinformatics As Part of Alliance Between Drexel and GlaxoSmithKline
  12-20-00

  Dr. Leonid Hrebien, Associate Professor in BIOMED and Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been awarded a $500,000 contract titled "Alliance for Data analysis Between GlaxoSmithKline and Drexel University" for three years and eight months. Dr. Hrebien and his team will explore novel methods of data analysis to study gene and protein expression (genomics and proteiomics) data. Dr. Hrebien holds the distinction of being the first engineering faculty member at Drexel to capitalize on the compelling promise of information engineering offered by the post-genomics era and for taking the initiative to establish productive corporate ties with GlaxoSmithKline, a major regional bioinformatics player in drug discovery.

• BIOMED and Materials Engineering Jointly Form the Implant Research Center
  12-19-00

  The Implant Research Center (IRC) has been formed as a result of a joint initiative between the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems and the Department of Materials Engineering. This center will offer renewed insight to the surgical and engineering communities for improving the longevity of implant technologies. The IRC is the cornerstone of the strategic alliance with medical partners MCP Hahnemann and Thomas Jefferson Universities, as well as two corporate partners, Exponent, Inc., and Stryker Howmedica Osteonics Corporation. Presently the center has three main research initiatives in implant research: total hip replacements, total knee replacements, and spine implants. The main thrust of the research involves analyzing hip, knee, and spine implants after they have been removed from the human body with the goal of better understanding failure mechanisms and identifying improvements for future biomaterials and designs.

  The IRC is committed to developing new implant technologies for the hip, knee, and spine. Dr. Steven Kurtz, Research Associate Professor in BIOMED, is collaborating in this endeavor with Dr. Av Edidin, Research Associate Professor in BIOMED, Dr. Michele Marcolongo, Assistant Professor in BIOMED and Materials Engineering, Dr. Marta Villarraga, Research Associate Professor in BIOMED, and Dr. Peter Cripton, Research Associate Professor in BIOMED (please see "Drs. Steven Kurtz and Michele Marcolongo Receive NIH Grant for Hip Implant Research" and "Drs. Marta Villarraga and Peter Cripton Receive Grant from the Synos Foundation for Spine Implant Research," also in this section). The IRC is also mentoring two senior design team projects, both in the area of hip replacements. The goal of one project is to design a new revision hip implant with novel instrumentation, while that of the second is to develop an implant odometer. An implant odometer is an implantable device that will track how many loading cycles to which an implant is subjected in the body. For more information about the IRC, please visit: www.biomed.drexel.edu

• Dr. Andrew Karduna Receives Whitaker Research Grant in Shoulder Biomechanics
  9-15-00

  Dr. Andrew Karduna, Associate Professor in BIOMED and Rehabilitation Sciences at MCP Hahnemann University, received a Whitaker Research Grant for his research project entitled "Consequences of Altered Scapular Orientation Associated with Shoulder Impingement Syndrome." The grant is for $238,000 over three years. Co-Investigators: Dr. N. Pratt and Dr. P. McClure. Although there are clearly underlying biological factors involved in rotator cuff tears, abnormal mechanical forces may lead to a progression from impingement syndrome, or tendinitis, to the tears themselves. Successful treatment of impingement syndrome may help impede the development of rotator cuff tears. The research therefore aims to determine the influence of scapular orientation on subacromial space biomechanics and to determine the link between muscle moment arms and scapular orientation.

• Drs. Michele Marcolongo, Andrew Karduna, and Tony Lowman Receive NSF Grant for Biomaterials Research
  9-4-00

  Dr. Michele Marcolongo, Assistant Professor in BIOMED and Materials Engineering, Dr. Tony Lowman, Assistant Professor in BIOMED and Chemical Engineering, and Dr. Andrew Karduna, Associate Professor in BIOMED and Rehabilitation Sciences at MCP Hahnemann University, have been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for their project, "Functional Restoration of the Nucleus Pulposus of the Intervertebral Disc Using Hydrogel Polymer Blends." This grant is for $270,000 over three years and follows a Drexel synergy grant that they had received previously. The objective of this work is to evaluate different copolymer compositions to determine optimal properties of mechanical integrity and in vitro stability. The next step will be to fabricate prototypes and insert them into cadaveric models using arthroscopic techniques. These implant/spine segment composites will be mechanically tested in bending and torsion and the performance compared to intact spinal segments. This study is an excellent demonstration of how small seed grants can lead to a major accomplishment and subsequent external support. Drs. Marcolongo, Karduna, and Lowman have filed a patent application on this study as well.

• Dr. Andrew Karduna Receives Grant from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
  9-1-00

  Dr. Andrew Karduna, Associate Professor in BIOMED and Rehabilitation Sciences at MCP Hahnemann University, received a grant from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for his project "The Biomechanics of Occupational Shoulder Injuries." The grant is for $50,000 over two years. The vast majority of people with shoulder impingement syndrome who are younger than 60 years of age relate their symptoms to occupational or athletic activities that involve frequent overhead use of the arm. The goal of this research project is to examine the relationships among repetitive arm motion, muscle fatigue, and shoulder kinematics in a laboratory setting.

• Dr. Jaydev Desai Receives NSF Funding for Robotics Project
  8-25-00

  Dr. Jaydev Desai, Assistant Professor in BIOMED and Mechanical Engineering, received a Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant from the National Science Foundation for his project "Acquisition of a Robot Arm." This grant is for $158,177 over two years. Co-Principal Investigators: Dr. A. Shokoufandeh, Dr. H. G. Kwatny, Dr. C. Laurencin, and Dr. B.C. Chang. This grant will further the research and development of a novel robotic surgical assistant with applications to orthopedic surgery. The robot arm would be part of a system that can be used in the operating room for tasks such as holding the patient's limb and ease his or her maneuverability during a surgical procedure. The robotic device will eliminate the stresses caused to the surgeon and the first assistant by static holding and movement of the operated limb. This improved stability will lead to better patient care during surgery and will significantly improve treatment overall, since robots do not suffer from fatigue or boredom.

• NIH Renews Funding Through June 2002 for Ultrasonic Tissue Characterization Project
  11-1-98

  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has renewed funding for the Program Project "Developing Ultrasonic Tissue Characterization Method," a joint research effort between Drexel and Thomas Jefferson Universities and one of the building-block projects of the Drexel-Jefferson Academic Alliance. This Program Project was originally initiated in October 1990 (funding dates: 9/30/91 - 6/30/02) and aims to enhance the ability of diagnostic ultrasound imaging to detect and to characterize tumors in humans. The new funding is for $3.5 million over four years. The Program Project Directors are Dr. J. Reid, and Dr. M. Shankar of Drexel University. Dr. B. Goldberg of Jefferson University serves as the Co-Project Director. Other faculty members who are participating, either as project leaders or co-leaders are: Dr. N. Bilgutay, Dr. F. Cohen, Dr. P. Lewin, Dr. B. Onaral, Dr. A. Petropulu, Dr. O. Tretiak, Dr. M. Wheatley, Dr. N. Herrmann, and Dr. P. Bloomfield, all from Drexel University; Dr. F. Forsberg from Jefferson University; and Dr. K. Donohue from the University of Kentucky.