BME faculty Senior Projects List 2014
BME Faculty List of Possible Undergraduate Research Projects
Note to students. The projects listed in this matrix represent possible projects available to BME undergraduate students. We encourage you to contact listing faculty members for further information.
Lab Descriptions
Vascular_Mechanics_and_Mechanobiology_Lab
(Biomechanics Track) Our focus is on (i) developing computational models for understanding vascular disease progression and designing clinical interventions, (ii) using genetic, pharmacologic, and surgical models to elucidate mechanisms that underlie diverse vascular conditions, and (iii) using tissue engineered constructs to test hypotheses of mechanosensing and mechanoregulation of extracellular matrix.
Functional_and_Molecular_Imaging_of_the_Brain
(Bioimaging Track) The societal burden of misdiagnosed brain disorders and diseases is substantial. The Hyder lab is leading breakthroughs in quantitative and translational imaging technologies, based primarily on magnetic resonance methods, to visualize molecular processes of function and dysfunction at the laminar level.
A primary interest of the Hyder lab is to develop functional imaging techniques that relate neural activity to underlying laminar structure in health and disease. Emphasis is on fMRI, but other multi-modal fMRI methods in conjunction with MRS, electrophysiology, optical imaging, and PET are being sought for increased biomarker specificity. Specific areas of interest include (i) understanding the role of the extraordinarily high energy demands of ongoing and intrinsic activity within neural populations as potential for quantitative disease biomarker, (ii) advancing the spatiotemporal resolution of functional imaging to understand the relation of cellular metabolism in health and disease (e.g., healthy aging, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, epilepsy, schizophrenia), and (iii) developing advanced calibrated fMRI methods for using oxidative energy as an absolute index of neural activity, both with task and rest paradigms, across cortical and subcortical regions.
Another active interest in the Hyder lab is molecular imaging with magnetic resonance technologies where several disciplines connect, from chemistry and physics to material science and physiology. A new molecular imaging method, pioneered in the Hyder lab called BIRDS, combines high MRI spatial resolution with high MRS molecular specificity. The method, quite unconventionally, detects the paramagnetically-shifted and non-exchangeable protons from lanthanide (or transition) metal ion probes for high spatiotemporal resolution biosensing. Highly precise molecular imaging of temperature and pH is achievable with BIRDS. Current areas of relevance are (i) design of new molecular probes for BIRDS, (ii) early cancer detection and metastasis using absolute pH imaging, (iii) application of new probes for BIRDS as molecular targets for diseases (e.g., diabetes), and (iv) detection of tumor response to treatments (e.g., radiation, chemotherapy, heat).
Lab_Name
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Project Descriptions
Quantitative_Histology
We use histology and immunohistology to quantify regional variations in the distributions of vascular cell phenotype, extracellular matrix, proteases, and cytokines to correlate with computational predictions. Primary focus – image analysis and histopathology.
Computational_Hemodynamics
Working with colleagues in our medical school, we use patient-specific computational models to study vascular disease mechanisms and their treatment. Primary focus - to use image reconstruction methods to create large scale computational models.
Mechanobiological
Assessments using Cell / Tissue Culture – We subject cultured cells and tissue engineered constructs to well defined mechanical stimuli and assess their mechanobiological responses. Primary focus – cell and tissue culture methods.
Computer-aided_Experimentation
We use custom computer-controlled devices to perform theoretically motivated experiments. Primary goal – to design, build, and test new testing systems.
Cardiac_Quantification
Quantification of cardiac (left ventricular) deformation from echocardiography: This work employs image feature detection and matching strategies for estimating local frame-to-frame displacements from image sequences, and then machine learning strategies to integrate the information to quantify strain in the left ventricle under different disease conditions. Biomechanical models of the heart can be used to help with the integration and close collaboration with clinical colleagues in cardiology is a key part of this work.
Biomedical_Segmentation
Image segmentation of biomedical structures: Here, the work involves the use of geometrical and statistical models of shape and mathematical optimization strategies to locate structure in images. The structure can range from finding cells or subcellular particles from high resolution microcope images to locating the endocardial surface of the heart from ultrasound or magnetic resonance images.
Tumor_Prediction
Prediction of tumor growth and response to radiotherapy from Magnetic Resonance Images: Sets of MR images are obtained from patients (in collaboration with Neurosurgeons and Neuroradiologists) and are assembled into a database. Pattern classification strategies can be developed and compared to other work in the literature to try to find parameters that can predict response to treatment.
Calibrated_fMRI_for_basal_metabolism
Simulation studies to assess sensitivities required for fMRI and perfusion data to extract basal metabolism from calibrated fMRI data
Quantitative_metabolic_PET
Analysis of whole brain PET data of glucose and oxidative metabolism in the human brain in relation to blood flow
Liposomal_BIRDS
Development and/or characterization of newly developed probes encapsulated inside liposomes for BIRDS
Dendrimeric_BIRDS
Development and/or characterization of newly developed macromolecular-based probes for BIRDS
Awake_Monkey_PET_Imaging
Perform, analyze, and develop the technology for awake monkey brain PET studies involving combined brain imaging (without head restraint) and behavioral tasks
Carotid_Image_Reconstruction
Develop novel PET Algorithms to measure the activity in the carotid arteries which feed the brain
PET_MR_Cocaine_Brain_Networks
Analysis of PET (Dopamine) and fMRI data in subjects with Cocaine Dependence to determine altered brain networks
PET_MR_Image_Registration
Improve the quality of image registration between PET and MR images for more accurate determination of small brain structures
First_Project
The text about your first project goes in a paragraph like this. Note the format of the title must match the link ("anchor") exactly in the table, above.
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