IN THE NEWS Founder’s Column 2 Technology Tribute 3 Research Tribute 5 Clinical Tribute 6 Arrivals & Departures 7

BECKMAN INSTITUTE SUMMER 2005

In Remembrance ARNOLD O. BECKMAN, Ph.D. 1900-2004

Arnold O. Beckman (front row, fifth from right) and daughter, Patricia Beckman (front row, fourth from right), celebrate Dr. Beckman’s 100th birthday with BLI staff.

official ceremony held on February 17, STUDENT WINNERS OF Newsbriefs 2005, at the National Academy of RESEARCH AWARDS Sciences in Washington, DC. AIMBE Vi Nguyen, an undergraduate 199 senior ELECTED FELLOW OF AIMBE Fellows represent members of the bio- in the lab of Dentistry Director Petra hongping Chen, Ph.D., has been engineering community who have Wilder-Smith, is the winner of the Zelected Fellow of the American made significant and leading contribu- DSG/Eastman Kodak Student Research Institute of Medical and Biological tions to their discipline in science and Award for 2005 for the abstract titled, Engineering (AIMBE) for “outstanding education. The number of Fellows is “Early detection of dental caries using contributions and leadership in the limited to the top 2% of the total num- optical coherence tomography.” The field of and optical imag- ber of individuals active in medical and DSG/Eastman Kodak Award is given ing.” Prof. Chen was inducted in an biological engineering. (additional Newsbriefs continued on p. 3)

1 FOUNDER’S COLUMN

From the Beginning by Michael W. manipulate organelles (in this case, UCI and a separate private entity was Berns, Ph.D., chromosomes) with a focused laser groundbreaking as no such partnership Co-Founder beam. He remarked many times over the like this had been entered into before. years that the combination of with But the founding Chancellor of UCI, first met Dr. microscopes seemed to him to have a lot Dan Aldrich, recognized the potential I Beckman on a of “potential” for a wide variety of payoff of such an arrangement, and he rainy day in research areas – and this looked like it was a close and trusting friend of December 1980. was truly on the “cutting edge.” Arnold O. Beckman. I remember the day He was one of a handful of Orange After that first meeting, which defi- very vividly when Dr. Beckman presented County CEOs who came to a laboratory nitely seemed to create some chemistry the $2.5 million matching check to Dan open house that I was having to cele- between us, a long and rewarding profes- Aldrich in his office. These two men brate the opening of the Laser sional and personal relationship devel- (both of whom were well over six feet Microbeam Program (LAMP) funded oped between the two of us. Particularly tall) represented the best of both the by the National Institutes of Health. smitten by the fine precision of the laser business and academic worlds. They This was a facility that I had built in microbeam (after all, AOB was a world’s both knew that the arrangement was Steinhaus Hall on the UCI campus for expert in bio-instrumentation develop- “risky,” but they both had such enor- the purpose of providing new state-of- ment), he and I had several meetings mous trust in each other that they felt the-art laser microbeam technology to over the next two years. He became there was a high probability that the the scientific community. more and more interested in this tech- venture would prove successful and per- What impressed AOB the most was nology and wanted to support its fur- haps even be a model for future private- the fine precision with which we could ther development in some way. I sug- public partnerships. gested that we build a “Laser So how has the “laser microbeam” Institute” on the UCI campus. that first fascinated Dr. Beckman almost However, his unwillingness to 25 years ago fared with time? This is a rel- make substantial charitable evant question because the “laser donations to the University of microbeam” has morphed into a system because, as he put it, that is about to make its debut as an “I already pay my taxes,” pre- international “star” or, perhaps more sented a tremendous hurdle. So modestly, a technology that will be to the creative “drawing board” accessible to researchers from anywhere we went. in the world where there is an internet The solution was to estab- hook-up. lish a separate, non-profit cor- “RoboLase,” as we call it, is a fully poration that would build and capable laser microscope that can be own a building (Beckman Laser operated via a control panel on any Institute) on the UCI campus. standard desktop or lap top computer. The building would then be Although there are still some bugs to leased to UCI, and if all went be worked out, proof-of-principle well (i.e., both UCI and the BLI experiments have already been carried corporation obeyed the terms out from the East coast of the United of the agreements), the build- States to as far away as Brisbane, ing would become the property Australia, with our collaborator, of the university in thirty years. Prof. Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop. Dr. Beckman with laser in hand at BLI. Such an agreement between (continued on p. 4)

2 TECHNOLOGY TRIBUTE

Parallel Worlds by Bruce J. straightforward style, Dr. Beckman electrical currents; the first precision Tromberg, Ph.D., observed, “If you’re not taking risks, spectrophotometers, the DU and IR Director you’re probably not doing very much.” series, that gave scientists access to While this adage provides the philo- broadband spectrophotometric meas- n his book sophical foundation for all of the urements ranging from the ultraviolet I Imagined Beckman Institutes, it stands as the key to the infrared; the first hand-held oxy- Worlds, the great thread of connection between Dr. Beck- gen analyzers, radiation dosimeters, physicist man and the Beckman Laser Institute. It micrometers, and portable gas analyzers. Freeman Dyson wrote, “New directions is not an accident that Dr. Beckman was Although Dr. Beckman was Caltech’s in science are launched by new tools personally involved as co-founder, along “Professor Beckman” in the early ‘30s much more often than by new concepts.” with Dr. Berns, of the BLI – the first of when he conceived of his first high- It seems Dyson had Dr. Arnold Beckman all of the Beckman Institutes. His role in impact device, the pH meter, these new in mind when he made this insightful our center was special, a reflection of his concepts clearly needed an original observation. As one of the world’s most lifelong passion for invention and an framework, an independent structure accomplished and influential inventors inspiration that remains as palpable to nurture their growth and stimulate of new tools for scientific research, Dr. today as it was 25 years ago when Dr. their success. To accomplish this, Dr. Beckman inspired a legacy that will long Beckman first visited Dr. Berns’ laser Beckman formed “National Technical live on at the Beckman Laser Institute. microbeam lab in Steinhaus Hall. Laboratories” in a garage in Pasadena Dr. Beckman also provided us with During the 1930s and 1940s, Dr. which several years later evolved into many quotable observations, and one in Beckman advanced a series of technolo- Beckman Instruments. particular captures the essence of the gies that were based on his own unique In some ways, the Beckman Laser connection between his life’s work as a ideas and vision as a scientist. Many of Institute is like that garage in Pasadena. scientist and inventor and the core mis- these are famously familiar examples: We began with the promise of a sion of the five Beckman Institutes at the first pH meter using new vacuum new technology, pioneered by Dr. UCI, Caltech, University of Illinois, tube technology that was capable of Berns, based on a new concept: laser Stanford, and City of Hope. In his reliably and stably amplifying weak (continued on p. 4)

(Newsbriefs cont’d from page 1) annually for the best abstract sub- Chao Li, a 199 student in Dr. Brian mitted by a student for presenta- Wong’s lab, was awarded a $2,400 fel- tion at a Diagnostic Systems lowship in support of his proposed Group (DSG) of the International research project, “Multi-photon Association of Dental Research microscopy of the extra-cellular matrix (IADR) General Session. The peripheral to thermal injury in laser- IADR is the most prestigious and irradiated hyaline cartilage,”for Summer comprehensive dental research 2005 by the UCI Interdisciplinary organization worldwide, and Ms. Summer Undergraduate Research Nguyen competed against gradu- Experience (ID-SURE) Selection Com- ate, dental postgraduate and post- mittee. Mr. Li will present his research doctoral students. She received a results and findings at the UCI plaque and a $1,000 award made Undergraduate Research Symposium available, in part, from a fund scheduled for May 13, 2006. In addition,

Pictured left to right: Chao Li, Usama Mahmood. donated by the Eastman-Kodak he is invited to submit a research paper Not pictured: Vi Nguyen. Company to the DSG of the IADR. (additional Newsbriefs continued on p. 8)

3 FOUNDER’S COLUMN

From the Beginning (cont’d from page 2)

(Parallel Worlds cont’d from page 3) microbeams. In order to support the Information Exchange through growth and impact of these tools, a new structure was needed, and the Beckman the Internet Laser Institute was born. Ironically, it is difficult to imagine a multidisciplinary center such as ours thriving in a tradi- tional academic environment. Starting essentially as an extension of Dr. Berns’ lab with a few students and postdoctoral fellows, BLI has grown dramatically over 18 years of operation. We have welcomed an incredible group of inventive scientists and engineers who have expanded the use of lasers and optics in biology and medicine, devel- oping new tools and technologies at an extraordinary pace. Today, we have 13 faculty members and approximately 150 affiliated scientists, fellows, students and staff with an annual budget of more The Robolase microscope is interfaced with other guest-users (UC campuses/ Beckman Centers) via the Internet. It allows for multiple collaborators to work on a single than $10 million. And, much like Dr. experiment from different centers around the world. Beckman’s original passion, our mission involves developing state-of-the-art tools Once fully operational, RoboLase will Mabel Beckman Foundation. for scientific research. allow either individual or multiple The unique microscope technology But the connection runs even deeper collaborators to conduct experiments that first interested Dr. Beckman is than that. BLI scientists work on prob- on a sophisticated laser microscope about to go “virtual” in a way that nei- lems that are remarkably similar to the that basically would be too expensive ther he nor I could possibly have imag- concepts that Dr. Beckman himself or too complex for them to have in ined 25 years ago. One of the keys to pioneered. Clearly, his greatest passion their own labs. RoboLase will also Arnold Beckman’s success was his will- was at the interface between biological afford a unique opportunity for stu- ingness to take chances on new endeav- and physical sciences. This is precisely dents at all levels to train on this new ors that may have seemed risky to an where the Beckman Laser Institute is technology. It is not surprising that ordinary person. All of us at the today, thriving in this great intersection the major achievements of the Beckman Laser Institute need to be cog- and expanding the common link RoboLase system have been due to the nizant of the fact that without Arnold between Dr. Beckman’s world and the dedicated and “consumptive” effort of Beckman’s wisdom and foresight, the world of BLI. Dr. Elliot Botvinick, whose work has Institute would not exist and none of us Much like Dr. Beckman’s pH meter, been supported through the Beckman would be where we are today. ■ Dr. Berns’ laser microbeam technology Fellows program of the Arnold and was the first platform: informing us of laser interactions with single cells, creating opportunities for subsequent tool devel- opment, and stimulating tremendous (continued on p. 6)

4 RESEARCH TRIBUTE

Looking into a Cell

ickie J. LaMorte, Ph.D., is an cellular redundancy of VAssociate Professor at the Beckman this family of SREBP Laser Institute. She has been at BLI for proteins is under investi- the past eight years developing ways to gation. What regulates utilize optical techniques to examine the these proteins to allow in vivo function of nuclear proteins. To them to have differential do this, she is bridging traditional roles in the cell and, molecular biology techniques with bio- ultimately, control over photonics to develop new approaches to when certain genes are monitor a protein’s function inside the switched on or off is key cell. By utilizing advanced optical to developing new drugs. microscopy techniques, she is able “to Understanding the peer into the cell” and monitor what a molecular dynamics of particular protein is doing. these SREBP proteins Fluorescence resonance energy transfer detection of SREBP-1a and SREBP-2 heterodimerization in vivo: a two- Through funding from the American and how they function photon fluorescence image of a single cell expressing Heart Association, she was able to mon- in the highly organized SREBP-1aCFP/SREBP-2YFP in a foci pattern. itor proteins that play a very important environment of the role in cholesterol metabolism. Her find- nucleus may provide ings were recently published in the April clues to deciphering the cell’s require- very thin glass needle. After that, it is up issue of Molecular and Cellular Biology ment for expressing seemingly similar to the cell to read the DNA and make entitled “Spatial Distribution and proteins. By utilizing a fluorescent pro- the protein. Once the cell is expressing Function of Sterol Regulatory Element- tein found in jellyfish, one can tag these the glowing protein, Dr. LaMorte can Binding Protein 1a and 2 Homo- and different SREBP proteins and follow utilize advanced optical tools to monitor Heterodimers by In Vivo Two-Photon their movement within a living cell. this protein in the cell. She is able to Imaging Spectroscopy and Fluorescence This is done by engineering the DNA know not only where the protein is going Resonance Energy Transfer.” sequence of the jellyfish protein into but with whom it is talking to along the Cholesterol is a vital molecule for an the DNA sequence of the protein one way. Dr. LaMorte’s observations of these array of biological processes as both a wants to track. In essence, a fusion proteins indicate a dynamic association structural building block and a precursor protein is created. between a specific member of this fam- to a host of signaling ligands. As impor- All of these advanced studies require ily, SREBP-2 and the PML-containing tant as cholesterol is to the vitality of the recombinant DNA, and in order to iso- nuclear body, unlike its sister protein, organism, it can be deleterious to its sur- late and re-engineer it, one needs the SREBP-1, which does not appear to vival since there is no way to recover technology that Dr. Beckman developed. associate with this nuclear body. It was energy and carbon from this molecule. Without a pH meter, one would not be also demonstrated for the first time This results in a clinically well-described able to mix solutions that are compatible which proteins partner or “talk to each accumulation and deposition in the with the inside of the cell. A spectropho- other” and when. blood vessels where the blood flow is tometer is needed to know how much It is sometimes forgotten that basic impeded. Key players in cholesterol regu- DNA or proteins are in a tube. And with- instrumentation is the first step needed lation are the members of a family of out a centrifuge, one would not be able to to advance studies like Dr. LaMorte’s transcription factors known as the Sterol isolate the DNA from the bacterial cells and her lab. Grateful scientists every- Regulatory Binding Proteins (SREBPs). that one commandeers to make the where offer a special thank you to Dr. Transcription factors are proteins that recombinant DNA. Beckman for inventing the basic tech- bind to DNA and act as molecular From here, Dr. LaMorte is able to nological building blocks that are the switches to turn genes on or off. The introduce the DNA into the cells with a keystones to research today. ■

5 CLINICAL TRIBUTE

Perpetuating the Legacy by J. Stuart ize that their eventual collaboration treatment here at the Institute, the Nelson, M.D., would result in a life-long career for me Children’s Treatment Fund was estab- Ph.D., Associate at UCI and UCIMC. lished. Donations from the public and Director Because of Dr. Beckman’s generous private companies have enabled many donation, the Beckman Laser Institute children to be successfully treated for hen I first and Medical Clinic opened in 1986. port wine stains and to feel that they are Warrived at Michael was the Director of the Institute. not different from “normal” children. the University I received my Ph.D. in 1987, and I became That the Institute can help improve of California at Irvine, my main goal was the Associate Director in April 1987, a the lives of these children is extremely to earn a Ph.D. in cell biology and applied position I still hold today. I decided to gratifying and a prime example of how laser biology. I had just received an specialize in laser surgery on skin and Dr. Beckman’s generosity affects so M.D. from the University of Southern focused my research on discovering the many people. California, and I was anxious to do most efficacious ways to treat port wine Today, I am also the Medical Director research and discover how lasers could stain birthmarks. of the clinic and I continue to do be applied in the field of medicine. I was Port wine stain birthmarks can be, at research on port wine stains. We devel- accepted into the Ph.D. program of the the least, embarrassing and, at the most, oped dynamic cooling for lasers that has Department of Developmental and Cell disfiguring in adulthood. The best time become the worldwide standard for the Biology under the supervision of Michael to treat a port wine stain is when the treatment of birthmarks in infants. Dr. Berns. It was 1981, and Michael’s office patient is young. While some insurance Beckman, the perennial scientist and and labs were located on the third floor of companies no longer regard port wine inventor, would be proud that here at Steinhaus Hall. At that time, Michael stain treatment as purely cosmetic, there the Beckman Laser Institute, we have was just beginning to interest Arnold are many parents who cannot afford to tried to emulate his legacy of creative Beckman in lasers and their practical have their children treated by laser. To thinking to effect a practical solution for possibilities for science. Little did I real- give these children an opportunity for a scientific problem. ■

(Parallel Worlds cont’d from page 4) troscopy and imaging in turbid media, enhanced by the formation of new cam- activity in basic research throughout the including biological tissues. Even some of pus structures, such as the Chao Family world. With microbeams as our founda- the applications are connected: Dr. Comprehensive Cancer Center and the tion, BLI was established to nurture the Beckman’s oxygen analyzer was used in Department of Biomedical Engineering, growth of new tools to understand and the neonatal intensive care unit to assess which benefit greatly from the resources manipulate laser interactions with bio- incubator oxygen levels and prevent neo- of the Beckman Laser Institute. The sci- logical tissues. And BLI’s “dynamic vascularization in the eye that could lead entists, fellows and students of BLI con- cooling technologies” have dramatically to blindness. BLI’s scientists have devel- tinue to embrace his spirit, relentlessly accelerated this process, providing tools oped methods for measuring oxygen in introducing new tools for discovery that have become among the most suc- the tissues of neonates and for acquiring based on lasers and optics into our cam- cessful in the UC system. In fact, Dynamic high resolution images of blood flow and pus and throughout the world. Cooling Technology is now widely avail- vessel formation in the retina. Ultimately, we have tried to remain able in nearly 8,000 therapeutic lasers He knew that with tenacity and true to Dr. Beckman’s legacy. The sci- throughout the world. imagination, from modest beginnings entists, fellows, students and staff of And the parallels continue…in the sprang endless possibilities. As Dr. the Beckman Laser Institute will be 1940s, Dr. Beckman made broadband Beckman was well known to say, forever thankful for Dr. Beckman’s UV/Vis/IR spectroscopy accessible to the “Everything in moderation, including imagination and inspiration, for the scientific community. BLI has pioneered moderation itself.”Our connection with height of his expectations and the similar technology for broadband spec- Dr. Beckman and his vision is further depth of his passion. ■

6 Arrivals and Departures

ARRIVALS Yeh-chan Ahn, Ph.D., has joined the research team of Zhongping Chen, Ph.D., and is working on microchannel flow dynamics. Kuyoun Baik is a Visiting Graduate Student from Seoul National University, Korea, who is studying optical coherence tomog- raphy of acupuncture points with the research team of Zhongping Chen, Ph.D. Midge Campbell joins BLI as the new Management Services Officer who is in charge of the administra- tive operations of the Beckman Laser Institute. Kristen Caplin started at BLI in August 2004 as the Human Resources Manager who is in charge Back row, l. to r.: Jee Hyun Kim, Kristen Caplin, Yeh-chan Ahn. of personnel and payroll. Front row, from l. to r.: Sophie Chung, Jenni Frank, Midge Campbell, Ang Li. Not pictured: Kuyoun Baik, Roger Chiu Zarate, Byeong Ha Lee, Sari Mahon, Paula Sweet. Roger Chiu Zarate, Ph.D., is part of the research team of J. Stuart Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., participating in Byeong Ha Lee, Ph.D., a Visiting fiber optic bundle-based optical coher- projects in electronics and optics. Associate Researcher from Kwangju ence tomography probe. Institute of Science and Technology, Paula Sweet, Staff Research Associate Sophie Chung is a Visiting Graduate Korea, has joined the research team of IV, works on core facility projects for Student from Seoul National University, Zhongping Chen, Ph.D. to develop a George Peavy, D.V.M., J. Stuart Nelson, Korea, who is working with the research fiber-based optical coherence tomogra- M.D., Ph.D., and Bruce Tromberg, Ph.D. team of Bruce Tromberg, Ph.D., and phy system. Albert Cerussi, Ph.D., studying high res- DEPARTURES Ang Li, Ph.D., joined BLI this year and olution spectroscopy in tissue. Management Services Officer Cathy is working on the development of a new Ledray has moved to the UCI Depart- Jenni Frank has joined BLI as the new multiple source-detector separation ment of Physiology and Biophysics to Contracts and Grants Manager. probe for a broad-band frequency become Chief Administrative Officer. Jee Hyun Kim, Ph.D., has been hired domain instrument. He is working with to work on a series of projects devoted the research team of Bruce Tromberg, Roman Zorin, Jr. Specialist, is now to determining the influence of port Ph.D., and Albert Cerussi, Ph.D. working at Advanced Bionics as a tech- nical and sales representative. wine stain blood vessel geometry on Sari Mahon, Ph.D., Assistant Project laser therapeutic outcome. He is part of Scientist, is part of the research team of the research team of J. Stuart Nelson, Matt Brenner, M.D., that is developing a M.D., Ph.D.

7 NEWSBRIEFS

(cont’d from page 3) Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) $15,000 have been accepted into residency pro- for possible publication in next year’s Research Grant. Dr. Choi presented his grams. Three have been working with UCI Undergraduate Research Journal. work at the 2005 ASLMS Annual Brian Wong, M.D. Lynn Chiu has Meeting on March 30-April 3, 2005, at matched into residency at the University Usama Mahmood, a medical student at Lake Buena Vista, FL. The grant is avail- of Washington in Seattle in the UCI, received the Mentored Medical able to an ASLMS member with less Department of Otolaryngology – Head Student Clinical Research Award for than five years postgraduate training. & Neck Surgery. James Ridgway, M.D., 2004-2005 from the UCI General has matched at UC Irvine, Department Clinical Research Center. The total ELECTION TO HONOR of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck award is $20,000. Mr. Mahmood, under MEDICAL SOCIETY Surgery. A postdoctoral fellow, Dr. the guidance of Brian Wong, M.D., is Lynn Leigh Chiu, class of 2005, was Ridgway’s research has focused mainly involved with several projects including elected to the UCI Zeta Chapter of the on optical coherence tomography clinical optical coherence tomography Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor (OCT). Kevin Ho has matched at on laryngeal patients. Medical Society. The eleven students University of Texas Medical Branch in elected represent some of the best stu- the Department of Otolaryngology – GRANT AWARDS dents at the UCI College of Medicine. Head & Neck Surgery. The fourth, Brian J.F. Wong, M.D., was awarded a Ms. Chiu does research with Brian Misbah Khan, M.D., who has been Multi-Investigator Faculty Research Wong, M.D., and has focused her studies doing research with J. Stuart Nelson, Grant from the UCI Academic Senate in two areas: photodynamic therapy in M.D., Ph.D., has matched with the Council on Research, Computing and the treatment of keloids using a tissue- Department of Dermatology at the Library Resources for “Mechanisms engineered model and laser cartilage University of Medicine and Dentistry accompanying laser-induced chondro- reshaping with cryogen cooling. New Jersey – Robert Wood Johnson in cyte proliferation.” New Brunswick, NJ. ■ IT’S A MATCH Bernard Choi, Ph.D., was awarded the Four researchers at the Beckman Laser 2004 American Society of Laser Institute have been informed that they

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Santa Ana, CA Permit No. 1202

BECKMAN LASER INSTITUTE Address Service Requested 1002 Health Sciences Road East

Irvine, California 92612

http://www.bli.uci.edu

8