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Bioinstrumentation and BioMEMS: Micro and nano technologies.
Professor Beebe's work involves the development and application of micro technology to solve problems in biology and medicine. Recent projects include disposable non-electronic drug delivery patches for large molecule therapeutics and a family of microfluidic-based tools for elucidating basic cell biology questions related to cancer, developmental biology and stem cells. These projects have resulted in a number of patents. Prof. Beebe has co-founded three biotechnology companies that are commercializing these technologies. |
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Biomedical Imaging: Magnetic resonance imaging
After leaving GE Medical Systems (now GE Health Care) Professor Block has used his industrial experiences for developing rapid, three dimensional MR imaging sequences with isotropic resolution and multiple contrast mechanisms for numerous applications. Block and his co-investigators have patented a method of sampling the MR data space radially in three dimensions rather than in the conventional Cartesian raster pattern through WARF. Known as Vastly undersampled Isotropic Projection (VIPR), the radial sampling provides oversampling in the highest energy regions of the MR data space and undersampling where energy is least concentrated. This method allows rapid, time-resolved imaging of the vasculature during contrast injections. Block's group has also developed imaging methods based on the T2 relaxation parameter for the VIPR acquisition. These capabilities, known as VIPR SSFP, provide isotropic imaging, good image contrast, and broad coverage. Block and his co-investigators have also patented methods to remove undesired fat signal through WARF which makes this method well suited for cartilage and breast imaging. |
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Biomechanics: Vascular tissue biomechanics
Professor Chesler is interested in diseases of the vasculature and ways in which diagnoses, prognoses and clinical treatment regimens can be enhanced by an improved understanding of fundamental vascular biomechanics and hemodynamics. Currently, she is investigating better diagnostic indicators of pulmonary vascular disease based on high fidelity hemodynamics measurements and improved bioartificial vascular graft design based on collagen and elastin content. She also is collaborating on projects to (1) optimize mechanical heart valve design for improved hemodynamics, (2) use aortic pulse wave velocity changes to predict left ventricular failure, and (3) understand the relationship between shear stress and vascular remodeling in the uterine circulation to predict the development of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. |
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Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering: Cell adhesion & activation on biomaterials
MatriLab combines the research of Professor W. John Kao with the commercialization expertise of TechStar, a Milwaukee-based management services company that is partially supported by the State of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce. The multifunctional interpenetrating matrix combines the ideal properties of hydrogel for controlled drug delivery, with an added advantage of enhance mechanical characteristics and tailorability for a variety of biomedical applications. The current research and development focus is on demonstrating and characterizing the multi-phasic and the controlled delivery of multiple therapeutic molecules that are known to be important in wound care. These research projects will be expanded to include clinical data which will support commercialization of a product for the chronic wound care market. In addition, MatriLab is posed to pursue applications in acute burn care, dermatological and other drug delivery applications. Advanced clinical trials, both in animal models and eventually in human subjects will support the commercialization and eventually the marketing of this product. |
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Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering:
Cardiovascular tissue engineering and drug delivery
Professor Masters is interested in the design and synthesis of biomaterials to use in the development of engineered tissues, with a concentration in cardiovascular tissue engineering. Specifically, her lab's research focuses upon characterizing the interactions between cells and biomaterials in order to create bioactive materials that are capable of controlling cell function. The Masters group investigates how changes in biomaterial properties regulate the behavior of cells cultured within or upon these materials, paying specific attention to how material properties influence whether cells assume a diseased phenotype. Through these investigations, the Masters lab hopes to not only define optimal material properties for tissue engineering applications, but also elucidate the mechanisms of many disease conditions that occur in vivo. Professor Masters collaborates with faculty in a wide range of departments, and her current translational work involves the identification of factors that inhibit heart valve calcification, and the synthesis of novel materials for use in a cerebral aneurysm occlusion device. |
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Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering: Drug delivery and gene therapy
Professor Murphy's work involves creating novel approaches for design and synthesis of biomaterials. The ultimate goal of this work is to understand and manipulate stem cell activity and tissue development by controlling the stem cell microenvironment. The Murphy group is also exploring applications of their materials design approaches in drug delivery, gene therapy, and tissue regeneration. Recent translational projects have included drug releasing coatings on orthopedic implant materials, targeted delivery of therapeutic molecules to specific musculoskeletal tissues, and development of engineered cardiac tissue for transplantation. These projects have resulted in several pending or issued patents, and Prof. Murphy is a co-founder of Tissue Regeneration Systems, Inc., an entity formed to drive commercial application of a subset of these projects. |
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Biomechanics: Regenerative Medicine and Biomechanics
Professor Ogle is interested in the development and in vitro generation of novel, cell-based therapies for cardiovascular applications and in the modulation of immune responses to engineered constructs. Currently, the research of her laboratory focuses on directing differentiation of stem cells to improve myocardial function and artificial blood vessel performance. Professor Ogle collaborates with faculty in a wide range of specialties and her translational activities have included development of novel means to diagnose immune deficiencies and therapies to improve blood cell function in individuals who undergo cardiac transplantation. |
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Biomechanics: Occupational ergonomics and rehabilitation
Professor Radwin studies innovative ways of measuring, quantifying and understanding human physiological and biomechanical capacities to do productive, quality, and healthful work. He is frequently a consultant to industry and government agencies for his expertise in industrial health and ergonomics in manufacturing and product design. He developed Multimedia Video Task Analysis™ (MVTA™) with his former graduate student Thomas Yen, in cooperation with industry and government members of the Ergonomics Analysis and Design Consortium. It is copyrighted and trademarked by WARF. MVTA™ helps automate studies of visually discerned activities and synchronizing analog and digital signals through an innovative interactive graphical user interface. The software continues development under funding through the consortium, and it has been licensed for commercial distribution. It is currently used in ergonomics, biomechanics, and human factors laboratories throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. The software is now expanding into the behavioral psychology, zoology, and other markets. |
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Bioinstrumentation and BioMEMS: Biomedical computing
One of the favorite areas of research for Prof. Willis Tompkins has been the development of portable devices that do real-time signal processing of biomedical signals on ambulatory subjects. These applications are typically more challenging than they would be if one had the power of a PC to solve them. The medical environment is characterized by many instruments that include embedded microcomputers. These instruments are involved in both monitoring and therapy of patients and typically must operate in real time. For example, an intensive care unit bedside computer must acquire the electrocardiogram of a patient, recognize key features of the signal, determine if the signal is normal or abnormal, and report this information in a timely manner through a computer network. Prof. Tompkins also has had a continuing interest in developing custom interfaces and software for personal computers to solve medical instrumentation problems. His principal interests involve software design of the requisite real-time biomedical digital signal processing algorithms required in such devices, particularly for analysis of the electrocardiogram . His research has resulted in some well known and heavily used algorithms for real-time pattern recognition and data reduction of electrocardiograms. More recently, he has been studying the potential use of biomedical signals like the electrocardiogram as biometrics for human identity verification. |
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Biomechanics: Connective tissue mechanics and orthopedic biomechanics
Since his arrival at UW, Professor Vanderby has developed biomechanical testing methods that facilitate research projects for the faculty and residents in Orthopedic Surgery. This led to the use of ultrasound wave transmission to determine the material stiffness of bone, which was an established technique. That experience convinced Vanderby that more biomechanical relevant information was being carried on ultrasound waves than is typically used. Working with a gifted student, Hirohito Kobayashi, Vanderby adapted the theory of acoustoelasticity so that it applied to biological tissues. Patents for this concept have been submitted through WARF. Currently, these techniques are being applied to cancer tumors to determine the method's sensitivity and specificity for diagnostics (i.e. an acoustic biopsy). Another current application is the use of these methods to determine in vivo tissue strain during loading (i.e. an acoustic strain gauge). |
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Bioinstrumentation and BioMEMS: Rehabilitation engineering and ergonomics
Professor Vanderheiden has been working in the area of technology and disability for 35 years. His current focus is on universal interface and information technology access and telecommunications access. He pioneered in the field of augmentative communication and assistive technology, developing and patenting the Autocom, one of the early electronic devices for persons who could not speak or write. Prof. Vanderheiden and his team at the Trace R&D Center (which he co-founded and directs) worked with the computer industry to develop and build disability access features directly into their standard products. Access features developed by Dr. Vanderheiden and the Trace Center team (e.g., StickyKeys, MouseKeys, etc.) have been included in the Macintosh OS since 1987, and in Microsoft Windows 95 through Vista. Prof. Vanderheiden and his team have developed and patented a number of techniques used to provide cross-disability access to a wide range of electronic products. These techniques have been implemented in systems as varied as the US Postal Service's Automated Postal Center, the Viking Door Entry system, the Information and Paging System at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, and the WWII Memorial information kiosks in Washington, D.C. Some of the techniques are also being applied to ATMs and cell phones. Prof. Vanderheiden is co-editor of the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, and co-chairs the WCAG Working Group. Prof. Vanderheiden has provided leadership on a number of other industry standards efforts, including INCITS/V2, which developed the universal remote console standards adopted by ANSI in 2005. He has been active on numerous industry and government planning and advisory committees. Most recently, he was appointed to the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Disability in America, was part of the National Task Force on Technology and Disability, served two terms on the FCC's Technological Advisory Council, and co-authored the National Research Council's More Than Screen Deep report on every-citizen interfaces to the nation's information infrastructure. He is a past President of RESNA — Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America and a Founding Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). |
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Bioinstrumentation and BioMEMS: RF ablation
Professor Webster and his co-investigators are developing finite element method (FEM) computer models and performing tests on swine to improve RF ablation, microwave ablation, and cryoablation to cure hepatic cancer. This research includes creation of maps of electrical and thermal properties of the liver, for the range of voltages, current densities and temperatures applicable to RF ablation. They use these data to create realistic and complex FEM models for electrical-thermal FEM analyses. Computer simulations find the optimal probe design. These findings clarify the electrical-thermal response of the probe-tissue system during ablation. Experimental tests on anesthetized swine validate temperature and electric field distributions predicted by the computer FEM models. They also model on a computer the flow of electric current through the human body as the result of the application of an electromuscular incapacitation device, experimentally validate the model on anesthetized swine, which will feel no pain, and determine safety margins related to potential cardiac fibrillation in humans. In testing potential therapies for hot flashes in post menopausal women, subjective diaries are unreliable. They are developing a miniature recorder to collect objective data. |
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Bioinstrumentation and BioMEMS: Neural engineering
Professor Williams' laboratory is interested in developing new technology for interfacing with the nervous system to study and treat neurological disease. At the core of this work is applying microtechnology to study the basic processes by which neurons and glial cells interact with their micro-environment. This information is used to develop new implantable devices for extracting information from the nervous system to help treat motor disabilities. Dr. Williams and his collaborators are also interested in translating recent technological advances into clinical applications in neurosurgery and neural rehabilitation. Through his collaborations with groups in the UW Department of Neurosurgery, they have begun to translate some of these technologies into the clinic. Working with epilepsy patients, Williams' group has successfully shown that brain computer interface technology can be utilized in human patients to achieve simple communication tasks, such as moving a cursor on a computer screen. |
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Biomedical Engineering Center for Translational Research
Faculty |
