Adipose stem cells for the healing of chronic wounds Cell-based therapies for the treatment of chronic wounds offer a novel, multifaceted approach to complex, multi-factor problem. Adipose stem cells from human fat share many of the same characteristics and behaviors as bone marrow-derived cells, with the added advantages of abundance, ease of harvest, expendability, and appeal. In this early-stage project, Shayn Peirce-Cottler (BME) and Adam Katz (Plastic Surgery) are developing a novel cell-based wound dressing that uses a patient’s own adipose stem cells to re-boot the body’s healing mechanism.
Shayn Peirce Cottler, PhD, Biomedical Engineering Adam Katz, MD, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Real-time cardiac stress testing using MRI Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool. However, when it comes to ischemic heart disease, existing imaging techniques are limited. Craig Meyer (BME) and Chris Kramer (Radiology) are developing an MRI stress test of the heart using real-time imaging at 30 frames per second - a demanding goal that will be met by combining highly-parallel MRI with spiral kspace techniques. A reliable MRI stress test - capable of providing real-time, consistent, high-quality, and highly detailed images of contraction during ischemic stress - will significantly improve the noninvasive evaluation of ischemic heart disease, the #1 cause of death in the US.
(Above: Image reconstructed with new reconstruction program)
Craig Meyer, PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering Chris Kramer, MD, Radiology/Non-Invasive Cardiology
Novel treatment regimens for the prevention and reversal of heart
failure
Drs. French and Kramer have developed a mouse model of heart attack that
simulates a patient's progression to heart failure. They use cardiac MRI to
monitor disease progression in this model, and to measure the efficacy of
novel drugs against heart failure. Using this system, Drs. French and
Kramer have identified a drug that is highly effective in preventing heart
failure in mice. Their Coulter project seeks to make this drug available to
heart attack patients. Shown at left is a cardiac MRI movie of a normal
mouse heart in long-axis orientation.
(Above: A cardiac MRI movie of the same mouse heart 28 days after heart attack. Notice that the main chamber (left ventricle) becomes much larger and that the left ventricular
wall becomes much thinner 28 days after heart attack.)
Brent French, PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering Chris Kramer, MD, Radiology
Heart rate monitoring enabling closed-loop control in people with type 1 diabetes Increasing scientific and industrial effort is focused on the development of closed-loop
systems (artificial pancreas) to control glucose metabolism of people with diabetes,
particularly Diabetes Type 1. Experiments are being conducted with continuous glucose monitors (CGM) coupled with insulin pumps and a control algorithm. While such systems have proven feasible in steady metabolic states, they fail during changing metabolic demands, such as meals and physical activity. This innovative team is researching methods to capture physical activity and integrate the data with meals into a CGM.
(Right: Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEU) image of capillary perfusion in the human muscle.)
J. Milton Adams, PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering Boris Kovatchev, PhD, Psychiatric Medicine Eugene Barrett, MD, PhD, Diabetes Center
Primary evaluation of cardiovascular biomarkers in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm Death from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is the fifteenth leading killer of men and the twentieth leading killer of women in the United States. Safe treatment is available if the AAA is discovered prior to rupture, however, screening for AAA is in its infancy. The only screening tools currently employed are various types of cross-sectional imaging which is costly and is not likely to be cost-effective for large populations. The goal of the proposed research is to identify one or more proteins that will serve as biomarkers for those with previously undiagnosed aneurysms. The ultimate goal will be to formulate new clinical diagnostic tests that can be performed at low cost in many venues.
(Above: CTA Scan of Abdominal aortic aneurysm)
Klaus Ley, MD, Department of Biomedical Engineering Nancy Harthun, MD, Surgery
Enhanced radiation therapy using quantum dot photosensitizer
conjugates
The leading cause of cancer-related deaths is lung tumors. Although some tumors remain
resistant to standard radiation therapy, increasing the dose would cause radiation-related side
effects in patients. Additional cell killing by a different mechanism could be achieved by
photodynamic therapy (PDT). Drs Helmke and Reed are investigating a method to achieve increased cell death in tumors using quantum dots.
(Right: Non-specific uptake of QD-photosensitizer conjugates into cells)
Brian Helmke, PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering Paul Read, MD, PhD, Radiation Oncology
Bioengineering a novel delivery method for dry eye
Dry eye is the most common eye disease affecting up to 10% of the population. Current treatment comprises saline-based ophthalmic solutions of different viscosity as ‘artificial tears’ but patients are unhappy with the brevity of relief and are vocal for more advanced approaches. Drs. Botchwey, Laurie and Conway are researching a delivery method that slowly releases bioactive ‘lacritin’ will offer relief of dry eye.
Ed Botchwey, PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering Gordon Laurie, PhD, Cell Biology Roy Ogle, PhD, Medicine Brian Conway, MD, Ophthalmology
Cell-based therapies for the treatment of chronic wounds offer a novel, multifaceted approach to complex, multi-factor problem. Adipose stem cells from human fat share many of the same characteristics and behaviors as bone marrow-derived cells, with the added advantages of abundance, ease of harvest, expendability, and appeal. In this early-stage project, Shayn Peirce-Cottler (BME) and Adam Katz (Plastic Surgery) are developing a novel cell-based wound dressing that uses a patient’s own adipose stem cells to re-boot the body’s healing mechanism.
Top
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool. However, when it comes to ischemic heart disease, existing imaging techniques are limited. Craig Meyer (BME) and Chris Kramer (Radiology) are developing an MRI stress test of the heart using real-time imaging at 30 frames per second - a demanding goal that will be met by combining highly-parallel MRI with spiral kspace techniques. A reliable MRI stress test - capable of providing real-time, consistent, high-quality, and highly detailed images of contraction during ischemic stress - will significantly improve the noninvasive evaluation of ischemic heart disease, the #1 cause of death in the US.
Increasing scientific and industrial effort is focused on the development of closed-loop
systems (artificial pancreas) to control glucose metabolism of people with diabetes,
particularly Diabetes Type 1. Experiments are being conducted with continuous glucose monitors (CGM) coupled with insulin pumps and a control algorithm. While such systems have proven feasible in steady metabolic states, they fail during changing metabolic demands, such as meals and physical activity. This innovative team is researching methods to capture physical activity and integrate the data with meals into a CGM.
Death from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is the fifteenth leading killer of men and the twentieth leading killer of women in the United States. Safe treatment is available if the AAA is discovered prior to rupture, however, screening for AAA is in its infancy. The only screening tools currently employed are various types of cross-sectional imaging which is costly and is not likely to be cost-effective for large populations. The goal of the proposed research is to identify one or more proteins that will serve as biomarkers for those with previously undiagnosed aneurysms. The ultimate goal will be to formulate new clinical diagnostic tests that can be performed at low cost in many venues.
The leading cause of cancer-related deaths is lung tumors. Although some tumors remain
resistant to standard radiation therapy, increasing the dose would cause radiation-related side
effects in patients. Additional cell killing by a different mechanism could be achieved by
photodynamic therapy (PDT). Drs Helmke and Reed are investigating a method to achieve increased cell death in tumors using quantum dots.
