Directory with Faculty Research Interests
Prof. Byron Yu and collaborator Prof. A. Batista at Pitt is awarded by the NIH with a new R01 research grant entitled "Dynamical Constraints on Neural Population Activity". The goal of the project is to use brain-computer interfaces to probe how the brain prepares and executes arm movements.
Prof. Jana Kainerstorfer is awarded with a Scientist Development Grant from the American Heart Association, entitled “Cerebral autoregulation assessment with near-infrared light during intracranial pressure changes”. The goal of the project is to use near-infrared spectroscopy for non-invasively monitoring changes in intracranial pressure, which may occur as a result of disease or trauma and cause brain damage.
The group of Prof. Cohen-Karni published a paper in ACS Nano entitled “Nanowire-Mesh-Templated Growth of Out-of-Plane Three-Dimensional Fuzzy Graphene“. The paper describes the preparation of a true 3D hybrid nanomaterial with a potential for novel applications in biomedical sensing.
Prof. James Antaki is awarded with a renewal R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health, entitled “Multiscale Model of Thrombosis in Artificial Circulation”. The goal of the project is to use computer simulations for predicting and alleviating blood-damaging problems of medical devices such as artificial hearts.
Profs. Byron Yu and Steve Chase are awarded with a renewal R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health, entitled "Shaping Neural Population Dynamics to Facilitate Learning". The goal of the project is to use brain-computer interfaces to study how to accelerate learning.
Prof. Steve Chase and collaborators published a paper in the journal eLife, entitled “Dynamic range adaptation in primary motor cortical populations”. The study shows that the brain optimizes how it represents movements, much like a camera with auto contrast control optimizes its sensitivity to light (read the paper, and the news).
BME PhD student Sahil Rastogi, co-advised by Prof. Cohen-Karni and Ge Yang, is the lead author of a paper "Effect of Graphene on Nonneuronal and Neuronal Cell Viability and Stress", published in the journal NanoLetters. The paper shows that graphene has no adverse effect on cells and highlights its potential in biomedical applications (link to the paper)
BME MS students Deepshikha Acharya and Vishaal Dhamotharan are members of the CMU team that won the HP and Intel Life in Space Design Challenge. Their design, Muscle Maximus, is a self-sustaining wearable resistance system for enhancing muscle activities in space (read the news, and watch the video).
BME PhD student Diane Nelson is the winner of this year’s CMU 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Championship, an internationally recognized competition that challenges PhD students to present a compelling oration on their thesis in 3 minutes, in language that anyone can understand.
Prof. Jimmy Hsia and coworkers published a paper in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, entitled “Formation and Size Distribution of Self-Assembled Vesicles”. The study sheds light on the formation of cellular structures and suggests new possibilities for disease intervention (read the news).
BME Teaching Professor and Associate Head Prof. Conrad Zapanta receives Honorable Mention in the University/Post-Secondary Educator category of the Carnegie Science Awards, presented annually by the Pittsburgh Carnegie Science Center to recognize and promote outstanding science and technology achievements in western Pennsylvania (read the news).
Prof. Tzahi Cohen-Karni is a recipient of the Office of Naval Research 2017 Young Investigator Award, to work on a project “Three-Dimensional -3D- Nanosensors Array For Measurement of the Electrical Activity of Microscale Human Brain Tissue”. The program attracts outstanding junior faculty members in U.S. academic institutions to support their research, and to encourage their teaching and research careers (read the announcement).
BME PhD student Alexander Ruesch, advised by Prof. Jana Kainerstorfer, received an Early Career Investigator Travel Bursary to attend the Brain & Brain PET 2017 Conference, to be held in Berlin, Germany in April 2017.
BME PhD student Elaine Soohoo, advised by Prof. Dennis Trumble, is the first author of a paper entitled “Computational Parametric Studies Investigating the Global Hemodynamic Effects of Applied Apical Torsion for Cardiac Assist”, published in the journal Annuals in Biomedical Engineering.
Professor Bob Tilton has been named Editor of Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. This international journal published by Elsevier is devoted to the science underlying applications of colloids and interfacial phenomena.
BME MS student Stephanie Beels and fellow members of the team "The Pittsburgh Pascals" won the first place of the 2016 United States Association for Energy Economics Case Competition, where Ms. Beels conducted health risk analysis for Saudi Arabia to move toward renewable energy.
Prof. Yu-li Wang is awarded with a National Institutes of Health R01 grant entitled "Mechanical Regulation of Cell Migration". The project is to apply engineering approaches to understand how cell migration is affected by the input and output of mechanical signals under normal and diseased conditions.
[large photo]The Department of Biomedical Engineering has moved into its new home in Sherman & Joyce Bowie Scott Hall, which has been under construction since 2012. The location and design of the building, based on innovative concepts to promote interactions, collaborations, and resource sharing, are expected to greatly boost the research and education missions of the Department.
The research of Prof. Chris Bettinger on ingestible medical devices is described recently in Wired and Chicago Tribune. Prof. Bettinger has addressed a major obstacle of these devices by inventing a biocompatible ("edible') battery based on ingenious use of pigment molecules found in squids (read the article).
