University of University of ARKANSAS ARKANSAS Biomedical Engineering

Department of Biomedical Engineering John A. White, Jr. Engineering Hall 790 W. Dickson St. Suite 120 Fayetteville, AR 72701

Phone: 479-575-4667 / Fax: 479-575-5619 2019 Department Newsletter Please email [email protected] for general department inquiries. Please email [email protected] for biomedical engineering graduate school inquiries. *credit: all icons on p. 21-22 are made by Freepik from www.fl aticon.com www.biomedical- engineering.uark.edu Biomedical Engineering From the Department Head

Dear Friends of UArk Biomedical Engineering:

Greetings from Fayetteville! In the heartland of America, we are expanding bound- aries of research and education; and partnering with the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Walton College of Business and multiple community partners in addressing unmet clinical needs with potential for broad impact in the region, the nation and the world. I am very pleased to share the developments in the department over the past year. Our faculty members have received numerous grants and showcased at research conferences. With two new awardees in 2019, we now have six faculty who have received NSF CAREER awards, clearly demonstrating our commitment to integration of research and education. Our students have received numerous accolades, and senior Samia Ismail was named a 2019 Truman Scholar. I also encourage you to read more about our recent research awards and ongoing research activities.

Ahead, I hope you’ll read the stories and join me in recognizing the accomplish- ments of all our students and faculty. I’m looking forward to seeing what else we accomplish this year and in 2020! The Department is also thankful for the scholarship support we have received so far and appreciate your continued support as we grow further. Please do not hesitate to call (479-575-8610), email (rajrao@uark. edu) or visit us. We would love to hear from you.

Best regards,

Dr. Raj Rao Raj Rao Professor and Department Head

Biomedical Engineering faculty and students at the 2019 picnic with the professors, organized by EWH-UArk Chapter Meet our Faculty

My lab investigates the role of mechanical forces on physiology, function and disease. We are interested in the interaction between structure and mechanics in regulating biological responses at different length-scales. We employ micro- and nano-fabrication tools to rec- reate the cellular and tissue environment in the laboratory via “organ-on-chip” platforms. We also utilize live imaging, cell/tissue mechanics and tissue engineering techniques to understand several cardiovascular bioengineering problems including cardiac valve calcification and blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Knowledge from these our work will guide the development of medical interventions and regenerative therapies. Kartik Balachandran

My interdisciplinary lab bridges the clinical and engineering worlds with innovative approaches to solving critical problems. Using modalities such as ultrasound and MRI, combined with research techniques for measuring biomechanical parameters in soft tissue, the National Institutes of Health adopted these results for designing heart surgery repair devices. The lab employs both in vivo and in vitro techniques to deliver the best solutions for patients. Our team has more than 20 years of combined academic, clinical, and industry experience, providing the optimal balance of surgical technique and device development for cardiovascular intervention. Morten Jensen

My lab creates novel technologies based on optical imaging or spectroscopic methods to aid clinicians in the diagnosis, management, or treatment of disease at the point-of- care. Our work focuses on developing new imaging techniques, methods, or devices, validating these technologies, and translating them into a clinical setting. Optical techniques offer great promise as point-of-care diagnostic tools. With the emergence and dissemination of highly sensitive detectors, light sources, imaging sensors and optical components, optical technologies as point-of-care clinical tools have become a potentially transformational field in the area of biomedicine. Timothy Muldoon

My lab develops new precision molecular therapeutics by addressing delivery challenges of genome and epigenome editors including CRISPR-Cas9. The lab cultivates biolog- ically inspired biomacromolecule carriers for somatic genome editing to treat genetic disease. We are also using these technologies to identify and characterize mediators of tissue regeneration. Our current NIH-funded work is to develop strategies for in vivo delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 including preclinical characterization of gene editing, immunogenicity, and genotoxicity to create safer and more effective gene therapies. Christopher Nelson

Faculty 2 My lab focuses on downstream purification of biopharmaceuticals using complementary experimentaland computational tools. In particular, we work on designing affinity ligands for capturing targeted protein therapeutics and responsive ligands for membrane-based hydrophobic interaction chromatography for the purification of biologics. In addition, we work with several major pharmaceutical companies as well as membrane manufac- turers in validating virus clearance during the production of biologics. The mechanisms for virus removal and permeation are investigated. Our projects are funded by NSF, NIH and industry. Xianghong Qian

My lab cultivates non-invasive quantitative optical methods to characterize disease progression and tissue repair processes. We use label-free multiphoton microscopy to collect two-photon excited fluorescence, collagen second harmonic generation of collagen, fluorescence lifetime imaging, and coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy. We then obtain 3D maps of cell metabolism, tissue composition, and extracellular matrix organization. We also develop image analysis techniques to characterize extracellular matrix organization, intercellular arrangement and morphology, and subcellular organelle distributions. Our NIH and NSF funded research focuses on validating optical biomarkers for understanding cellular aging and impaired wound healing. Kyle Quinn

My lab studies the relationship between tumor oxygenation and metabolism and its role in cancer progression, metastasis, and treatment resistance. We develop clinically trans- lational quantitative optical imaging technologies that measure the hallmarks of cancer in pre-clinical animal models and patients. We use diffuse optical spectroscopy to measure tumor oxygenation and biomolecular signatures in the tumor microenvironment that monitor and predict tumor response to therapy. We utilize high-resolution, label-free nonlinear microscopy to investigate changes in metabolism that drive cellular response to stresses. The NSF, NIH and Department of Defense currently fund our lab. Narasimhan Rajaram

My lab investigates the traits of stem cells such as their pluripotency, functional genom- ics, signaling pathways, genomic integrity, and smooth muscle/neuronal differentiation. Studies include the role of transcription factors, genotype and phenotype characterization, as well as multi-cellular behavior and the role of the extra cellular matrix. My lab utilizes interdisciplinary bioengineering approaches towards a mechanistic understanding of stem cell self-renewal, genomic integrity and use of biochemical/biophysical cues to commitment to specialized cell types. Through collaborations, the lab receives support from Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health Raj Rao and the Arkansas Bioscience Institute.

3 Faculty My lab focuses on developing pre-clinical disease test beds and pro-regenerative scaffolds using natural biomaterials. We will use bioengineered 3D constructs of the tumor microenvironment to investigate tumor-stroma crosstalk and subsequent events. In addition, 3D physicochemical cues from stem/stromal cells can create scaffolds containing tissue-specific features and promote regeneration. Interdisciplinary collaborations on- and off-campus will lead to discoveries of molecular, cellular and tissue-level mechanisms of disease progression and tissue regeneration, as well as clinical relevance of our work. Young Hye Song

My lab primarily explores the use of extracellular matrix (ECM) as a scaffolding material for the repair of damaged skeletal muscle after trauma. We also consider how ECM production by astrocytes is influenced by the mechanical stimuli (forces) that occur during traumatic brain injuries (TBI). This includes examining the mechanobiology of astrocytes, and investigating the hypothesis that the neurodegenerative ECM environment produced by astrocytes following traumatic brain injury is triggered by mechanical stimuli. These findings may define cellular mechanisms that lead to preservation of neuronal cells after TBI and thus help identify therapeutic targets. Jeffrey Wolchok

I’m currently developing two new split-level courses: Entrepreneurial Engineering and Computational tools in Biomechanics. My primary research interests include investigating methods to promote an inclusive classroom environment for first-generation and underrepresented engineering students, the formation of engineers with an entrepreneurial mindset, and comparing traditional engineering education methods to the novel pedagogical theories such as active learning and hybrid classroom teaching. Additional research thrusts include studying the regeneration of the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular system by the integration of mechanobiology, immunology, and computational modeling. Mostafa Elsaadany

I teach Clinical Needs Finding in which third-year biomedical engineering students ob- serve the operations of medical clinics and innovate ideas to contribute to the mission of such environments. The most feasible ideas from this course become Senior Design Capstone projects that students work on with their clinical mentors. In addition, I advise the diverse premedical student community on campus, and servs as a member of the Pre- medical Advisory Committee. I also work with University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Department of Surgery, coordinating clinical research within the UAMS Trauma team as an associate director. Hanna Jensen

Faculty 4 Faculty Awards $6,902,448 Awarded to Faculty for Research

1. SURF 2019: A microscale view of astrocyte interactions with the blood-brain barrier. Arkansas De- partment of Higher Education. Principal Investigator: Kartik Balachandran. $2,750. 2. Label-Free Metabolic Biomarkers to Assess Early Pathophysiological Changes in Valve Endotheli- al and Interstitial Cells. American Heart Association. Principal Investigator: Kartik Balachandran. $53,688. 3. Organ-on-chip engineering facility for biomedical research. Arkansas Biosciences Institute. Principal 26 Investigator: Kartik Balachandran. $97,500. Awards 4. The role of fibroblast growth factor signaling in maintaining heart valve homeostatsis and preventing pathology. Arkansas Biosciences Institute. Principal Investigator: Kartik Balachandran. $36,977 5. Acute Ischemic Stroke Clot Dissolver and Capture Device. Arkansas Research Alliance. Principal Investigator: Morten Jensen. $37,385. 6. Force validated Heart Valve Surgical Planning Tool. National Institutes of Health. Principal Investi- gator: Morten Jensen. $416,905. 7. Peripheral Venous Pressure Waveform Analysis in Assessing the Volume Status of Circulation. Uni- versity of Arkansas Commercialization Fund. Principal Investigator: Morten Jensen. $47,017. ADHE 8. Clinical Research within the Division of Acute Care Surgery and Trauma at UAMS. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Principal Investigator: Hanna Jensen. $41,475. 9. A fiber-coupled time-correlated single photon counting system for biomedical and biophotonics AHA research. Arkansas Biosciences Institute. Principal Investigator: Timothy Muldoon. $40,000. 10. In vivo endoscopic optical biomarkers of mucosal healing and disease remission in a murine model of ulcerative colitis. Arkansas Biosciences Institute. Principal Investigator: Timothy Muldoon. $22,454. ABI 11. Non-viral delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 for targeted gene replacement. National Institutes of Health. Principal Investigator: Christopher Nelson. $735,497. 12. Virus Clearance. AstraZeneca. Principal Investigator: Xianghong Qian. $180,000. ARA 13. Virus Filtration. National Science Foundation. Principal Investigator: Xianghong Qian. $48,075. 14. Water Treatment. National Science Foundation. Principal Investigator: Xianghong Qian. $54,952. 15. Bioreactor Harvesting. Membrane Science, Engineering and Technology (MAST) Center. Principal In- NIH vestigator: Xianghong Qian. $68,311. 16. Membranes for Virus Capture. Membrane Science, Engineering and Technology (MAST) Center. Prin- cipal Investigator: Xianghong Qian. $68,100. UAMS 17. CAREER: Integrating quantitative biomarkers of mitochondrial structure and function through endogenous cellular fluorescence. National Science Foundation. Principal Investigator: Kyle Quinn. $500,000. NSF 18. Development of Quantitative Biomarkers for Mitochondrial Disorders. National Institutes of Health. Principal Investigator: Kyle Quinn. $395,112. 19. Inverted Multiphoton Microscope for Collaborative Biomedical Research Projects. Arkansas Biosci- MAST ences Institute. Principal Investigator: Kyle Quinn. $198,788. 20. Noninvasive molecular sensing of breast cancer response to therapeutics using Raman spectroscopy. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Principal Investigator: Narasimhan Rajaram. $75,000. DOD 21. Determination of functional and molecular biomarkers of treatment resistance with multimodal optical spectroscopy. National Institutes of Health. Principal Investigator: Narasimhan Rajaram. $2,032,459. 22. Identifying metabolic hallmarks of cancer initiation in lung tumor-adjacent normal tissue. US De- partment of Defense. Principal Investigator: Narasimhan Rajaram. $145,082. 23. CAREER: A multimodal imaging platform to investigate spatiotemporal changes in tumor bioenergetics that drive treatment resistance. National Science Foundation. Principal Investigator: Narasim- han Rajaram. $500,000. $6.9 M 24. Multidisciplinary Data Science (MDaS) to Better Prepare STEM Students with Emerging Data Sci- ence Skills. National Science Foundation. Key Personnel: Raj Rao. $1,000,000. 25. Intercellular mitochondrial transfer from human mesenchymal stem cells as a therapeutic strategy for mitochondrial diseases. Arkansas Biosciences Institute. Co-Principal Investigator: Raj Rao. $32,318. 26. Multimodal myogenic and angiogenic fiberscaffolds for the treatment of muscle injury.Arkansas Biosciences Institute. Principal Investigator: Jeffrey Wolchok. $17,722.

5 Faculty Interdisciplinary Faculty and Student Team Creates Science-Based Strategy Game

Making Cell Biology and Bioenergetics Generationally Accessible

How do we get students to spend plaining the concepts related to ers and allows them to learn use- more time engaged in independent cell biology and bioenergetics. ful facts related to cell anatomy thinking, group discussions and ac- The focus of the course was to pro- and physiology, with a mix of his- tive learning? How do we make sci- vide students an opportunity to torical and trivia-based learning as ence more accessible and interesting integrate perspectives from art, de- well,” Iyer said. “It plays much like to the next generation of researchers? sign, science and technology to bet- other traditional board games with These are the questions many of ter understand and communicate our faculty members ask them- difficult science topics in a fun and the objective of making learning selves daily. And this is where the digestible manner. fun.... [it] allows players to better university’s new STEAM-H — short “I teach cell biology to about 250 understand the importance of mito- for Science, Technology, Engineer- students every year and experience chondria — the energy powerhouse ing, Arts, Architecture, Mathemat- a wide variety of learners,” Iyer said. within the cell — and the role of ics and Health initiative — and the “In order to make learning fun and specific organelles and their func- concept of “gamification” comes in. to engage different types of visual, tion in impacting human health. It Through a newly designedauditory, reading and kinesthetic multi-semester interdisciplinary learners, I decided to explore the has also been designed to integrate STEAM-H honors course, Shil- option of creating science-based well with school curriculums and pa Iyer, assistant professor in the pedagogy games to empower users learning objectives.” Department of Biological Scienc- to learn cell biology and teach the Rao said he ultimately hopes the es at the J. William Fulbright Col- importance of the mitochondria in game also impacts players’ health. lege of Arts and Sciences, and Raj a fun and meaningful way.” “It is our hope that players of all Rao, professor and department Inspired by topics in cell biolo- ages, particularly in middle schools, head in the Department of Bio- gy, the outcome has been a novel medical Engineering in the Col- board game explaining the concept are able to better appreciate the in- lege of Engineering worked with of intercellular communication of ner workings of the cell and also un- students from multiple disciplines organelles within the cells, trade- derstand the importance of making to create and build science-based marked as The Great Cellular Reef. healthy lifestyle choices after play- pedagogy games focused on ex- “The game is for all levels of play ing The Great Cellular Reef,” Rao said. The game is being tested in pilot locations in two Arkansas schools, at Yellville-Summit High School, in Yellville and at Smackover High School, in Smackover. Iyer said the team plans to reach at least 500 high school students this academic year, as well as to continue with a new co- hort of college students to develop additional games based on interdis- The Great Cellular Reef aims to engage and educate all ages. ciplinary STEAM-H approaches.

Interdisciplinary 6 Research Researchers Test New Imaging Method for First Time on Human Patients

A new study by biomedical engineer- ric cardiologists detect and diagnose abled total transthoracic imaging of tis ing researchers at the University of congenital heart disease through mul- sue and blood flow at a depth of 6.5 Arkansas could significantly improve tiple processes, including echocar- centimeters. Abnormal flow and de- methods for detecting and diagnosing diography. This imaging method is tailed cardiac anomalies were clear- congenital heart disease in infants and based on ultrasound and assesses the ly observed in the patient with con- small children. overall health of the heart, includ- genital heart disease. All procedures, The researchers, collaborating with ing valves and muscle contraction. both animal and human, were per- cardiologists at Arkansas Children’s Although ultrasound provides es- formed at Arkansas Children’s Hos- Hospital in Little Rock, tested a new ul- sential information about cardiac valve pital with assistance from Dr. Elijah trasound technology called vector flow function in babies and small children, imaging for the first time on pediatric it has critical limitations. It cannot ac- Bolin, pediatric cardiologist at UAMS. patients to create detailed images of the curately obtain details of blood flow “We are still getting used to hav- internal structure and blood flow of the within the heart. This is due primar- ing this great, new information read- babies’ hearts. The images can be still ily to the inability to align the ultra- ily available, and we’re excited about or moving, and can be taken from any sound beam with blood-flow direction. the future in both research and direct angle. Using a BK5000 Ultrasound machine clinical advancements,” Bolin said. “Vector flow imaging technology is with built-in vector flow imaging, the “This technology will increase our not yet possible in adults, but we have researchers performed successful tests ability to provide the best possible demonstrated that it is feasible in pe- on two pigs, one with normal cardi- bedside diagnosis and greatly en- diatric patients,” said Morten Jensen, ac anatomy and one with congenital hances our understanding of what is associate professor of biomedical en- heart disease due to a narrow pulmo- happening in hearts with complex ab- gineering at the U of A. “Our group nary valve and a hole within the heart. normalities,” Stanford’s Collins said. demonstrated that this commercially The researchers then compared the The researchers will perform addition- available technology can be used as a vector flow images to direct examina- al studies to further quantify images us- bedside imaging method, providing tion of the pigs’ hearts. The research- advanced detail of blood flow patterns ers subsequently used the imaging ing this recently developed technology. within cardiac chambers, across valves system to take cardiac images of two This project was supported by the and in the great arteries.” three-month-old babies, one with a Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, Jensen performed the study with a healthy, structurally normal heart and the Collaborative Nutrition Pilot Grant multidisciplinary team, including Dr. one with congenital heart disease be- and the Arkansas Research Alliance. Hanna Jensen, clinical assistant pro- cause of an abnormally narrow aorta. Jensen is an Arkansas Research Alli- fessor of biomedical engineering at the With both patients, the technology en- ance Scholar. U of A; Dr. Thomas Collins, clinical associate professor of pediatric cardiology at Stanford University School of Medicine; and researchers at Univer- sity of Arkansas for Medical Scienc- es (UAMS) and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Their findings werepublished in Progress in Pedi- atric Cardiology. Roughly 1 percent of all babies are born with some type of congenital heart defect. Fortunately, the majority of these defects will never have any- significant impact as the child grows A snapshot demonstration of vector flow imaging. into adulthood and old age. Pediat-

7 Research Biomedical Engineering Professor Receives NIH Award for Research in Genome Engineering

Dr. Christopher Nelson holds the 21st Century Professorship in Biomedical Engineering.

The National Institutes of Health engineering is a more permanent solu- immune system to attack the altered awarded a University of Arkansas bio- tion, as the altered DNA is copied and cell proteins. medical engineering faculty member a transferred to the new cell. “The immune system may be a barrier three-year, $735,000 award for research Nelson’s research, transitioned from to genome engineering’s efficiency in in genome engineering. his postdoctoral program at Duke Uni- humans,” Nelson said. “Overcoming Assistant professor Christopher Nel- versity, has proven the longevity of ge- this barrier will allow genome editing son holds the 21st Century Professor- nome engineering. Mice who suffered to be successful in the clinic.” ship in Biomedical Engineering and has from Duchenne muscular dystrophy “I am extremely excited Dr. Nelson worked for five years on genome engi- maintained edited DNA over their has received this highly competitive NIH-R00 award as a follow-up to the neering approaches for genetic diseas- lifespans. The success of this research NIH-K99 postdoctoral research award es. Nelson’s previous research focused earned his lab their first NIH award, a at Duke University,” said Raj Rao, head on Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a three-year grant that will allow the ex- of the Department of Biomedical En- severe genetic disease. Patients with the pansion of genome engineering meth- gineering. “The work Dr. Nelson will condition have a life expectancy of 20 ods to other genetic diseases. conduct combines new technologies in to 30 years. Nelson and his lab aim to focus first on biomaterials and genome engineering Genome engineering is an alternative Hemophilia, a genetic disease that af- and provides a new disciplinary focus treatment to gene therapy. While gene fects the blood’s ability to clot. Nelson’s for the department. His research over therapy relies on delivery of external lab also intends to study the potential the next three years will allow graduate DNA, CRISPR permanently modifies side effects of genome editing, as well as students to venture into biomaterials the host genome directly. Because the reduce the immune system’s response, and gene delivery work and ultimately effects of gene therapy fade overtime or immunogenicity, to the genome ed- open new collaborative avenues for biomedical research on campus.” due to inevitable cell division, genome iting process, which currently alerts the

Research 8 CAREER Awards

CAREER Awardee Quinn to Determine Role of Mitochondria and Metabolism in Age-Related Diseases

An assistant professor of biomedical our cells can change in different ways.” Being able to track those changes accu- engineering at the University of Arkan- Quinn is looking to develop an un- rately could provide critical informa- sas received one of the National Science derstanding of how mitochondria tion about the nature of aging. Foundation’s most esteemed awards for change over a lifetime through novel Monitoring those changes is not easy. early-career faculty members. optical imaging approaches. The hope Even with advanced imaging tech- Dr. Kyle Quinn earned $500,000 to is to unlock new information about niques, there are not many tools that al- support his research and teaching. The how age-related diseases develop, low researchers to watch those changes NSF considers the Faculty Early Career which could provide clues into how in tissue without disturbing the cells or Development program, known as a those diseases could be treated or pre- tissue itself. CAREER award, the “most prestigious vented. “It’s hard because there aren’t a lot awards in support of early-career fac- “We don’t have tools to non-invasive- of tools that allow us to non-invasively characterize mitochondria, especially ulty who have the potential to serve as ly assess how age-related changes to our within human or animal tissue,” Quinn academic role models in research and cells can occur and when they’re occur- said. “A lot of this work ends up being education and to lead advances in the ring and what that means for certain conducted with cells in a petri dish, mission of their department or organi- diseases,” Quinn said. “It’s hard to tease and even then you’re going to stain zation.” out age-related problems versus all the your cells with something, put it under What began as a chance encounter other things that occur when you have a microscope and then throw it away. as an undergrad led Quinn to a career a medical issue.” Quinn uses an imaging technique using advanced imaging techniques to It’s important to monitor mitochon- that resolves faint, naturally-occurring study health issues. His CAREER award dria, Quinn said, because the struc- fluorescence from mitochondria. By is focused on monitoring cell metabo- tures demonstrate a variety of changes measuring this “autofluorescence”, re- lism over time and understanding the throughout the aging process. searchers can monitor changes in the mitochondria without disturbing the cell directly. “We don’t have to stain anything. We can non-invasively bring a microscope down onto the cell or a tissue or even a live mouse and look at the cell metabolism and assess the function of the mitochondria,” Quinn said. “All these changes that have been reported by biologists to occur with aging, we can potentially be evaluating with our imaging technique.” Quinn’s CAREER research is unique because it will allow him to monitor the cells in one specimen for an extended period, giving a comprehensive look at what happens to the cells as they age. “I don’t know of any research group that has monitored the same mammal over its entire lifespan to see how their NSF CAREER Awardee Dr. Kyle Quinn. cells’ mitochondria change,” Quinn said. “If we can do that and say something meaningful about how their mi- role mitochondria play in age-related “With increasing age, there are in- tochondria change, I think that can be diseases like Alzheimer’s, cardiovascu- creasing internal stresses on your cells potentially really meaningful for un- lar disorders, cancer, diabetes and obe- and mitochondria,” he said. “There is derstanding how age-related degenera- sity. an accumulation of damage to different tive diseases develop.” “Mitochondria are the powerhouse of cell components produced by highly The research isn’t specific to one dis- the cell, they’re the energy producing reactive molecules called free radicals, ease, and that’s by design. structures.” Quinn said. “We’re trying and the mitochondria become less ef- “This is very much a basic science to understand how dysfunction aris- ficient.” type of grant — it’s broadly applicable. es with age. There can be a difference “Mitochondria are dynamic. They There are all these different problems in neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, between someone’s chronological age fuse together; they break apart. The and diabetes where mitochondria can versus their biological age. It’s this idea cell will cordon off dysfunctional mito- become dysfunctional, and we could that aging affects us all in different chondria. But, a lot of those dynamics have some really broad, transformative ways, and consequently, the function of have been reported to change with age.” impacts,” Quinn said.

9 CAREER Awards Rajaram’s CAREER Award to Target Radiation Resistance in Tumors Dr. Narasimhan Rajaram, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Arkansas, recently received a 2019 CAREER award from the National Science Foundation for his research on radiation-resistant tumors. Officially called the Faculty Early Career Development Award, NSF CA- REER awards are the most prestigious awards the NSF grants to early-career faculty members who excel in both research and teaching. The five-year, $500,000 grant will allow Rajaram to dive deeply into the root of radiation resistance in tumors and treatment. Rajaram’s research centers on head and neck cancer, but the idea has broad implications. If researchers can understand why some tumors become radiation-resistant and others don’t, they NSF CAREER Awardee Dr. Narasimhan Rajaram. might be able to switch patients with resistant tumors to other radiation treatment strategies earlier and poten- g used and what that means for the cell’s ply within tumor blood vessels by im- tially improve the effectiveness and ef- metabolism. aging hemoglobin and simultaneously ficiency of cancer treatments. “We believe there is a metabolic link visualize the metabolism of cells adja- Radiation treatment uses intense that can help us understand why tu- cent to the vessels. beams of energy to kill cancer cells. It’s mors become radiation resistant,” Ra- To quantify the metabolic profile, used to treat nearly every type of can- jaram said. Rajaram will measure the fluorescence cer, and more than half of patients with “For a long time, conventional think- from two key cellular components — cancer receive the therapy as part of ing was that the more hypoxic (low-ox- NADH and FAD. Fluorescence is the the treatment process, according to the Mayo Clinic. ygen) a tumor is, the more resistant it is. emission of light by a substance that has The beam of radiation is focused, For radiation therapy to work, you need absorbed light or other electromagnet- much more focused than chemothera- oxygen. In the presence of oxygen, radi- ic radiation. The research combines the py, but it’s not perfect. Sometimes or- ation causes irreversible DNA damage, instrument-building side of biomedical gans near the site of the tumor sustain which is why there is so much damage engineering with tumor biology. With collateral damage. to normal tissue exposed to radiation. that perspective, Rajaram hopes to find “Radiation therapy has advanced In the absence of oxygen, cancer cells solutions that can be implemented in a quite a lot these days,” Rajaram said. have a way of repairing DNA damage.” clinical setting. “Now, it is pretty focused, and you can “More recently, there is evidence “What we’re saying is we’re trying to spare a lot of normal tissue. But, for from our lab and other labs that even visualize what causes treatment resis- example, with head and neck cancer, if certain cancer cells are provided lots tance. If we can do that, we’ll not only radiation has strong effects on normal of oxygen, they don’t necessarily wind improve scientific knowledge but on tissue, such as the salivary glands.” up responding to treatment. They seem the clinical side can develop technolo- The research could also help doctors to be modifying their metabolic profile gies that can go after markers of treat- provide more appropriate doses of radi- to avoid DNA damage. So, it could be ment resistance, and potentially drugs ation, potentially reducing or avoiding well-oxygenated and you might draw that can target markers of treatment damage to normal tissue, Rajaram said. That’s why Rajaram and his team are the wrong conclusion about whether resistance.” working to identify a way to tell which the tumor would respond to radiation “We believe that what we learn here tumors will respond to radiation treat- therapy.” can eventually be packaged into some- ment and which ones will not. The primary oxygen carrier in the thing clinically translatable, a new tech- They hope to do that by building an body is hemoglobin within blood ves- nology that can help clinicians better instrument that can look at a tumor’s sels. Rajaram is working to build a mi- understand why tumors respond to ra- oxygen supply, how that oxygen is bein- croscope that can quantify oxygen sup- diation,” he said.

CAREER Awards 10 Alumni

After Graduation: Anne Pruet on Now Diagnostics

In November 2018, I started at Now Image analysis was instrumental in ab Lab in Fayetteville, AR I 3D printed Diagnostics (Springdale, AR) working my thesis work as well as one of the components that appropriately space as a Product Development Scientist. most challenging and rewarding classes each membrane to be perfectly cen- After graduation in May and a celebra- I took during graduate school. Under- tered, which ensures coating in the standing the basic principles of image tory road-trip through the Southwest, I desired locations. Although a simple analysis has been helpful as I work to began the job hunt. Specifically, I was solution, this minimizes setup time and scale-up the production of our hCG test. looking for a position that would chal- The equipment that I use includes a vi- ensures proper alignment of the mem- lenge me, provide mentorship and pos- sion system to ensure that coating each brane for every use. itively impact healthcare through low- membrane occurs in the programmed As an undergraduate, I worked in cost solutions and increased access for location. Additionally, understanding three labs, yet graduate school gave me people. Now Diagnostics seemed to fit these principles has enabled me to ef- the opportunity to work independently the description when a fellow graduate fectively communicate with the manu- driving my own research ideas through student at the University of Arkansas facturer of the equipment. the guidance of my advisors, initiated Another core component to my thesis described the company to me. I reached through classes and collaboration with work was 3D printing in order to devel- fellow graduate students. This has been out to see if and what positions were op a neurovascular model. Using this the most instrumental in preparing me available. knowledge, I initiated a unique solution Cold-calling can be intimidating, to an issue on our scale-up equipment. for my current position. Every day re- but I would like to take a moment to We run multiple sizes of membrane on quires new iterations to my research encourage students to email or call the the equipment, which requires read- as I work to scale-up our hCG test and companies that they are truly passion- justing the dispense reels that hold the prepare for the tech transfer for our ate about. It only takes a moment and membrane rolls. Through the NWA F- Strep test. what’s the worst that can happen? The persistence paid off as I landed a phone interview with Vicki Thompson, who is my current boss. She then invited me to meet her Product Development Team as well as meet with the rest of the management team and CEO. After the interview, I knew this was a company where I could develop professionally and build a career (and thankfully they hired me!). Skills such as image analysis and 3D printing that I gained through the Biomedical Engi- neering Graduate Program at the Uni- versity of Arkansas have been instrumental to growing in this new position. Most importantly, I have continued to grow as an independent researcher and build on my previous experiences as a graduate research student. Anne Pruet, third from left, with Now Diagnostic colleagues at the Hogeye Marathon.

11 Alumni monly used, but unlike those which use mechanical force, AbGrab utilizes suction and is more reliable and less invasive. Its projected benefits include better surgical outcomes, increased surgeon and patient satisfaction and decreased patient post-op pain. Greer said the ability to learn about engineering and business simultaneously played a key role in moving Lapo- vations forward. “Our time at the U of A was a critical contributor to what Lapovations has accomplished so far,” he said. “AbGrab was the focus of my biomedical engineering master’s thesis, so we worked closely with the department on early product development and testing. De- partment Head Dr. Raj Rao and Dean John English are doing a great job fos- tering an entrepreneurial spirit within the College of Engineering that allows Alumni Jared Greer, right, with business partners Flavia Arujo, left, and Michael Duna- vant, center. companies like ours to flourish. “Another key contributor to our success has been what we learned in the Alumni Startup Chosen for $225,000 NSF Grant New Venture Development class taught by Dr. Carol Reeves in the Walton A medical device company started sum was a record for a Universi- as part of a University of Arkansas ty of Arkansas student startup team. College. Dr. Reeves is a tireless work- entrepreneurship class has earned Lapovations’ most recent sup- er who, with the support of Dean Matt a $225,000 grant to finish develop- port is a Small Business Innova- Waller, has built Walton College into ment of a device to make minimal- tion Research Phase I grant from an entrepreneurial powerhouse. We are ly-invasive abdominal surgeries safer the National Science Foundation. very fortunate to have resources like for patients and better for surgeons. The grant will allow the company the Walton College and the College of Lapovations LLC was formed in to finish the development of AbGrab, Engineering that allow a cross-disci- the graduate-level New Venture De- a trademarked Class 1 medical device plinary group such as Lapovations to velopment Course taught by Car- used to non-invasively lift the abdom- achieve success.” ol Reeves, associate vice chan- inal wall at the start of laparoscopic Rao, head of the Department of Bio- cellor for entrepreneurship and surgery. Major complications are rare medical Engineering, said Greer’s suc- innovation. The team includes alumni in laparoscopic surgery but can be se- cess was a positive indicator for the from the College of Engineering and rious or even fatal when they occur. program. the Sam. M. Walton College of Business. Most often, major complications Lapovations’ chief executive officer occur when instruments are first in- “We are really excited one of our is Jared Greer, a 2018 graduate of the serted into the abdominal cavity, alumni is actively pursuing the entre- biomedical engineering department prior to the insertion of the camera preneurial route based on guidance master’s program. While at the U of that provides visibility into the cav- and training obtained in our graduate A, the team, which included Walton ity. To minimize this risk, surgeons programs,” Rao said. “Lapovations is a College graduates Flavia Araujo and lift the abdominal wall away from great example of the need to build an Michael Dunavant, won more than vital organs that could be inadver- innovation ecosystem and graduate $300,000 in prize money from startup tently punctured during these initial programs that will rely on collective ex- competitions across the country. The steps. Two lifting techniques are com- pertise from engineering and business.”

Alumni 12 Graduate Students

Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Earns American Heart Association Fellowship

Biomedical engineering doctoral student Ishita Tandon has earned a predoctoral fellowship from the Ameri- can Heart Association to support her research into a cardiovascular disease that impacts 2.5 percent of Americans. The fellowship will support Tandon’s research into calcific aortic valve disease — the formation of calcific lesions in the aortic heart valve. Tandon is working to identify an early detection method for the disease, because current technology usually only allows doctors to identify the disease after irreversible damage has been done. “Currently there are no drugs and no mitigation strategies,” she said. “There Ishita Tandon is a graduate doctoral student researching calcific aortic valve disease. are no early diagnostic strategies.” Under the guidance of Kartik “We’re developing proof of concept Balachandran and the department. Balachandran, associate professor of here,” Tandon said. “This imaging “Ishita’s receipt of the AHA pred- biomedical engineering, Tandon’s re- technology is already used wide- octoral fellowship is an indication of search centers on developing a realis- ly in cancer research. We’re showing the significance of the ongoing car- tic 3D model of the aortic valve, then them this may have another applica- diovascular research programs in the using multiphoton imaging to look for tion — in cardiovascular research.” department,” he said. “It also demon- early changes that could indicate the One of the main advantages to mul- strates the caliber of our doctor- onset of calcification. From there, re- tiphoton imaging is that it’s minimally al students and the important guid- searchers could develop ways to treat ance provided by Dr. Balachandran.” the disease before it intensifies invasive and non-destructive, meaning it is more desirable for use in the human Serena Munns, executive director of The imaging aspect of Tandon’s re- the Northwest Arkansas office of the search includes a collaboration with body because it doesn’t involve insert- ing dyes or other materials into the tis- American Heart Association, said re- researchers in Kyle Quinn’s lab. Quinn searchers like Ishita Tandon are vital is an assistant professor of biomed- sue to form a clear image of the organ. “[Balachandran] is very supportive. I to the future of heart and brain health. ical engineering whose lab special- “We are committed to funding re- am grateful for his mentorship,” Ishita izes in tissue diagnostics, using ad- searchers early in their careers,” Munns said. “When we come up with the ideas, vanced imaging techniques to provide said. “Funding for training and ear- he is with us every step of the way to guide non-invasive, real-time assessments ly-career investigators represents a us and steer us in the right direction.” of tissue structure and function. substantial portion of the millions Raj Rao, professor and department Tandon hopes to leverage that existing that we invest into research each year.” head of biomedical engineering, said technology to find a new perspective on “That commitment has brought re- the development of aortic calcification. the award reflected well on Tandon, sults,” she added. AHA-funded discoveries include the first implantable pace- makers, the first artificial heart valve, “It is important to recognize that ground-break- CPR techniques and cholesterol-lower- ing research is going on right here in our backyard.” ing medications. “It’s important to rec- - Serena Munns, Executive director of NWA AHA ognize that ground-breaking research is going on right here in our back yard.” 13 Graduates Undergraduate Students

State and National Awards Reception: Biomedical Engineering Recipients

Research Program, mentored by Heather Walker. Samia Ismail was awarded theTru- man Scholarship, mentored by Ni- cole Clowney. Smit Patel was also recognized for his acceptance into the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program, mentored by Kartik Balachandran. Andre Figueroa won the Upstate Medical University Summer Under- Department Head Raj Rao with recipients in late April. graduate Research Fellowship, also mentored by Kartik Balachandran. Alaa Abdelgawad was also award- University of Arkansas’ State and Scholarship, mentored by Kartik ed the UT Health San Antonio Sum- National Awards Reception is held Balachandran and Charles Robin- mer Research Fellowship, mentored yearly at the end of the spring se- son. by Narasimhan Rajaram. mester and commemorates the ac- Mason Buele was recognized as an ademic achievements of students Gianna Busch was recognized for Outstanding Chapter officer by the in various departments. The Bio- her acceptance at Vanderbilt Bio- National Biomedical Honor Society, medical Engineering Department photonics Center Summer Research mentored by Michelle Kim. claimed several notable awards for Program, mentored by Kyle Quinn. both students and the department Various students won the National overall. Science Foundation Research Expe- The Biomedical Engineering De- rience for Undergraduates, includ- partment won the 2019 Departmen- ing Olga Brazhkina, Jarrod Eisma, tal Gold Medal, received by Depart- Jessica Orton, Jack West, and Lucy ment Head, Raj Rao. Woodbury. They were mentored by Harrison Dean won the Summer Morten Jensen, Connie Lamm, Ja- Undergraduate Research Fellowship from the American Heart Associa- mie Hestekin, Bryan Hill, and Kyle tion, mentored by Heather Walker. Quinn, respectively. Alaa Abdelgawad was recognized Jessica Orton was also awarded the for her Student Travel Award from Student Undergraduate Research the Biomedical Engineering Society, Fellowship (SURF), mentored by Ja- mentored by Narasimhan Rajaram. mie Hestekin. Smit Patel was awarded the Hagan Harrison Dean was also recog- Alaa Abdelgawad and Jackson He- nized for his acceptance into Texas drick were recognized as Seniors of Significance. A&M College of Medicine Summer Undergraduates 14 Track and Biomed: Questions for Katrina Robinson, Student Athlete

BME: When did you first become in- is so much bigger here than at home helps eliminate stress and gives me time terested in biomedical engineering? and the opportunity to run on schol- each day to do other things I enjoy. arship was also one that I couldn’t Robinson: To be completely honest, pass up. The University of Arkansas BME: Do you feel that your success as not until September of last year. I came has such a renowned track program an athlete and a biomedical engineering into college unsure about what exact- and when I took a visit here during student complement each other? Where my senior year I fell in love with the ly I wanted to study, but I knew that I do you think this ambition comes from? really enjoyed science classes and that campus and fit right in with the team. my strongest classes were ones involv- Robinson: I think they definitely com- ing critical thinking. After settling BME: How do you balance being a student athlete and a biomedical engi- plement each other because both re- in during the fall and thinking a lot quire a lot of hard work and commit- about what was right for me, I decid- neering student? ment. Just like studying, running each ed that biomedical engineering would Robinson: I developed a lot of good day can be tough and there are days be perfect. It was the perfect blend of habits in high school which I have been science and math and becoming an en- when a hard workout is the last thing able to carry with me into college. It can I want to do. However, learning to put gineer really excited me. It also opens definitely be tough trying to balance up doors into the health field which I in the hard work consistently each day a full course load while also fitting in is what has helped me achieve my best have always been very interested in. hours of practice each day and having to miss a lot of school days travelling to results both on the track and in the BME: Why the University of Arkansas? meets, but I always try to plan out my classroom. I also find that running is week in advance to figure out the best a great way to destress when school Robinson: Growing up as a track run- times to study. I try to set aside small feels overwhelming and it always helps ner in Australia, I always knew that I but consistent study sessions througho me clear my mind. I have always been wanted to pursue my passion for run ut the week instead of trying to cram very ambitious which I have been ning at an American college. The sport it all in at one time, because I find this able to apply to all aspects of my life.

15 Undergraduates Biomedical Engineering Students Earn National Recognition for Bioethics Work

Two University of Arkansas stu- and the two were selected as finalists a heart echocardiogram on a cancer pa- dents placed third in a national bio- among five students from other univer- tient that resulted in a diagnostic error. ethics essay competition held by the sities in early March. This then led to Repella questioning Institute of Biological Engineering The IBE is a professional organi- the ethics of the situation: “Who does in April. The team’s essay focused on zation that converges yearly to form the responsibility lie with when these ethical issues surrounding artificial connections between engineers and errors arise?” intelligence in healthcare. support scholarship among students in Raj Rao, head of the department of biological engineering. Alongside pre- Tasha Repella and Jordan Maass biomedical engineering, praised the are seniors in biomedical engineer- sentations by various professionals in students for their success in tackling an ing and have had undergraduate the field, the organization holds essay, issue on the cutting edge of healthcare research experiences at U of A and poster and design competitions for un- policy. study abroad experiences in Austra- dergraduates and graduates. This year lia. The two partnered in Clinical the essay contest concerned bioethics “I commend Tasha and Jordan for re- Assistant Professor Hanna Jensen’s in healthcare. searching a highly contemporary topic Clinical Needs course in the spring Repella and Maass’ essay, titled “Eth- that relates to big data, machine learn- to analyze artificial intelligence in ical Considerations of Artificial In- ing, artificial intelligence in the context healthcare. Under guidance from telligence in Healthcare,” touched on of healthcare applications and present- Jensen and Casey Lee Kayser, as- various issues, including technological ing their essay at a national stage,” Rao sistant professor of English in the J. uses, potential biases and distribution said. “These experiences are extremely William Fulbright College of Arts of wealth. Their greatest intrigue, how- vital for our students to better under- and Sciences, they expanded on the ever, stemmed from personal experi- stand the changing face of biomedical assignment to an abstract and even- ence. Repella, while working in a clini- engineering research and applications tual essay submission to the contest, cal setting, recounts an experience with a s w e l l .” Although their essay discusses the various issues of AI in healthcare, their essay does not dissuade the use of such technology. Instead, as their title suggests, the essay is a consideration of issues. The two found in their research that, although the FDA recently launched a forum to prompt discussion around regulations of AI, the Biomedi- cal Engineering Society’s ethical guide- lines have not been updated since 2004. “It is technology that should be utilized and will be important for the future of health industry,” Maass said, “but these concerns need to be raised.” Both Repella and Maass have gained jobs in the healthcare sector after grad- Jordan Maass, Tasha Repella, and Raj Rao, Department Head, at IBE in April. uation.

Undergraduates 16 U of A Junior Samia Ismail Is Named Harry S. Truman Scholar this could not possibly happen. It took me a moment to take it all in, but it was a wonderful surprise, and I feel very honored to be selected and to have had such strong support from faculty and friends across the campus and from the community. I am looking forward to the opportunities this award will bring and the ways it can help me achieve career and community goals.” “It was a real pleasure to share the news with Samia Ismail,” said Chancellor Steinmetz. “She is a stel- lar student, who has accomplished so much already. She is clearly an excellent candidate for this recognition and for scholarship support. The Truman Foundation selects students who will make a meaningful difference at the national, state and community levels. Samia is clearly poised to do just that.” Samia Ismail participates in the honors program in the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering. She has ex- Samia Ismail, 2019 Truman Scholar. celled in demanding coursework while maintaining extensive in- Samia Ismail, a University of Ar- long-term goal is to return to Ar- volvement in community and cam- kansas honors student from Fort kansas and enlist in the National pus organizations. She has received Smith, has been named as one of Health Service Corps, serving as a an Honors College Fellowship, the this year’s 62 Harry S. Truman doctor in a rural community and Governor’s Distinguished Scholar- Scholars. Ismail, a junior major- perhaps one day running for public ship, and two Honors College Re- ing in biomedical engineering, will office in the state. search Grants. She has conducted receive up to $30,000 for graduate The Truman Foundation notified research both on campus and at the study, as well as priority admission U of A Chancellor Joe Steinmetz re- Schepens Eye Research Institute in and supplemental financial aid at cently that Ismail had been selected Boston. premier graduate institutions, lead- as a 2019 Truman Scholar and en- Ismail serves as an intern for the ership training, career and graduate couraged him to follow a Truman Office of Diversity and Inclusion, school counseling, and special in- tradition and surprise her with working with Vice Chancellor Yvette ternship opportunities within the the news. She was invited to what Murphy-Erby. She also serves as an federal government. she thought was a high-level bud- After Ismail graduates from the U get meeting that required student Honors College ambassador and tu- of A in the spring of 2020, she plans input–only to find the chancellor, tors in the College of Engineering. to pursue a medical degree and a vice chancellors, deans, department She is a member of the Associated master’s degree in public policy, ap- chairs, faculty mentors, and advisers Student Government, and, as vice plying to institutions like Michigan, there ready to celebrate her success. chair of the Distinguished Lectures Committee, she has helped coordi- Harvard, Stanford and UCLA. Her “I was completely taken aback,” said Ismail. “I had convinced myself nate and host visiting lecturers.

17 Undergraduates Engineering Student Teams Highlight Collaboration, Innovation at Capstone Design Competition

Team Grip Strength Pen, created by students in biomedical and electrical engineering, won first prize in the 2019 Senior Capstone Design Poster Competition.

Students from six engineering de- "The poster competition puts the gan Walz and David Mathis from partments gathered in April to show students in an environment where the Electrical Engineering Depart- off the culmination of a year's work they talk about their projects with ment. Second place went to teams at the third annual Senior Capstone professors, other students and the from the Electrical and Mechanical Design Poster Competition. general public," he said. "This gives Engingeering Departments for their Students from biomedical, bio- the students a venue to proudly dis- work on an electronic lawnmower logical, computer, electrical and cuss their projects while practicing called Path to Independence. mechanical engineering, as well as their communication skills in front Third place went to another team computer science, presented their of a widely varied audience." from the Biomedical Engineering year-long projects to faculty, staff, First place went to Grip Strength Department. Multi-Drug Deliver Pen, a pen developed by electrical family members and friends, who Pump is a drug delivery pump cre- voted on the top three. and biomedical engineers to mon- ated by biomedical engineers to in- More than 60 posters were present- itor a person’s grip pressure while ject medication at the correct time ed, showcasing engineering skills wirelessly transmitting the infor- and dosage. Team members were developed by students throughout mation to a computer or any other Kaylee R. Henry, Alaa Abdelgawad, their undergraduate career. device. Team members were Hai- Robert Saunders, competition or- ley Carter, Morgan Dawkins, An- Jake Hopper, Katie Heath, Mason ganizer and assistant department dre Figueroa, Emily Janowski and Belue and Gage Gabbard. head of electrical engineering, said Marinna Tadros from the Biomed- All three groups were recognized the competition is a chance to show- ical Engineering Department; and at the College of Engineering stu- case student innovation. Brad Matthews, Brooks Walker, Lo- dent awards on April 30.

Undergraduates 18 Decision Day 2019: Meet the new undergraduates who are #ProudToBME

See more photos online: @uarkbme @uarkbme @uarkbmeg

19 Undergraduates 2019 Undergraduate Research Symposium: Seniors present their research to faculty and peers

“The Symposium was created to reflect the style of presentations that students, post- docs, and faculty encounter at professional scientific meetings. Students are required to distill their experiences and results down to a single poster and brief presenta- tion to communicate what is often a complex, multi-year project. This can take a lot of work and many revisions to get right.”

- Tim Muldoon, Associate Professor

Undergraduates 20 UARK BMEG By the Numbers:

Biomedical Enginering/ Engineering Student Organizations: Student Statistics Fayetteville, AR 5 named one of the top Biomedical Engineering Society 5 253 Engineering World best U.S. cities to live in by Health U.S. News and World Report Undergraduate Students Alpha Eta Mu Beta, Natl. Biomedical

30 Engineering Graduate Students Honors Society Natl. Society of 53% Black Engineers Female Society of Women Engineers State of the Art Facilities 22% Ethnic Minority

17% First Generation Undergraduate Study Abroad Partnerships John A. White designed for BMEG students Engineering Hall 82%* Placement 3

* Self reported percentage Aarhus University of students graduating in the Aarhus, Denmark past two years who were employed as engineers or Universidad Carlos III attending graduate school Madrid, Spain Engineering within three months of Research Center graduating. University of Technology Sydney, Australia

21 By the Numbers Funding Sources BMEG faculty have recently received research funding from: American Heart Current Students / Active Association Research Awards Arkansas Biosciences Alumni (45) $15.6M Institute Recent Awards Department of Defense CY 2019 External Research National Institutes Expenditures of Health

National Science $232k per faculty Foundation University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

6 NSF CAREER Awardees Balachandran, Muldoon, Qian, Quinn, Rajaram, Rao Research Areas Ishita Tandon, class of 2020 Biomechanics 2019 American Heart Association and Mechanobiology Predoctoral Fellow Biomaterials

Biomedical Optics Lucrative fellowships and Imaging available to supplement Cell and Tissue graduate stipends: Engineering Doctoral Academy Molecular Engineering Fellowship offers an additional

$12,000 40 per year for four years Research Publications in 2018-2019 Distinguished Doctoral Academy Samia Ismail, class of 2020 Fellowship offers 2019 Harry S. Truman Scholar an additional

$22,000 12 Full-time Faculty per year for four years

By the Numbers 22 New Faculty

Welcome Drs. Chris Nelson, Mostafa Elsaadany, and Young Hye Song!

Dr. Christopher Nelson Dr. Mostafa Elsaadany Dr. Young Hye Song Assistant Professor Teaching Assistant Professor Assistant Professor PhD, Vanderbilt University PhD, University of Toledo PhD, Cornell University BS, University of Arkansas MS, The American University MS, Cornell University BS, Cairo University BS, Carnegie Mellon University

Dr. Nelson previously pursued re- Before joining The University of Ar- As a National Cancer Intitute Physi- search at Duke University, supported by kansas, Dr. Elsaadany took a faculty cal Sciences in Oncology Center Train- The Hartwell Foundation Postdoctor- position at The Ohio State University ee at Cornell, Dr. Young Hye Song al Fellowship and the prestigious NIH in 2017 where he taught Fundamen- worked on utilizing tissue engeering Pathway to Independence Award (K99/ tals of Engineering, Statics, Mechanics approaches to assess the effects of dif- R00). In the past he has developed bio- of Materials, Engineering Economics, ferent mammary tumor microenvi- material-based platforms for drug and and Materials Science Engineering. ronmental factors on pro-angiogenic gene delivery including a nanoparticle His primary research interests include behavior of adipose-derived stem cells for systemic siRNA administration and investigating the methods to promote and susequent sprouting angiogenesis. a multifunctional scaffold for local gene an inclusive classroom environment for silencing for regenerative medicine. His focuses on developing pre-clinical dis- first-generation and underrepresented ease test beds and pro-regenerative research aims include cultivating bioengineering students, the formation logically inspired biomacromolecule scaffolds using natural biomaterials. of engineers with an entrepreneurial carriers for somatic genome editing Her current research involes utilizing mindset, and comparing tradition- to treat genetic disease to identify and bioengineered 3D constructs of the tual engineering education methods to characterize mediators of tissue regen- mor microenvironment to investigate the novel pedagogical theories such as eration. His current NIH-funded work tumor-stroma crosstalk and subse- active learning and hybrid classroom will develop strategies for in vivo de- quent events. In addition, her lab aims livery of CRISPR/Cas9 including pre- teaching. He also aims to study the regeneration of the musculoskeletal and to focus on 3D physicochemical cues clinical characterization of gene edit- from stem/stromal cells to create scaf- ing, immunogenicity, and genotoxicity cardiovascular system by the integra- folds containing tissue-specific features to create safer and more effective gene tion of Mechanobiology, Immunology, and promote regeneration. therapies. and Computational Modeling.

23 Faculty biomedical-engineering.uark.edu University of Arkansas Department of Biomedical Engineering

Recipient's of the National Science Foundation's most prestigious Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program Award. In support of faculty exemplifying the role of teacher-scholar through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of both education and research.

Dr. Kyle Quinn received the 2019 NSF CAREER Award for his research on integrating quantitative biomarkers of mitochondrial structure and function through endogenous cellular fluroescense.

Dr. Narasimhan Rajaram received the 2019 NSF CAREER Award for his research on a multimodal imaging platform to investigate spatiotemporal changes in tumor bioenergetics that drive treatment resistance.

Dr. Timothy Muldoon received the 2018 NSF CAREER Award for his research on a probe that can create high-quality images of living tissues in the human gastrointestinal tract.

Dr. Kartik Balachandran received the 2015 NSF CAREER Award for his research on understanding endothelial-mesenchymal transformation in the heart valve.

Dr. Xianghong Qian received the 2009 NSF CAREER Award for her research regarding molecular dynamics investigation of glucose to 5- hydroxymethylfurfurl conversion in biological systems.

Dr. Raj Rao received the 2008 NSF CAREER Award for his research on propagation systems for generation of chromosomally stable human stem cells.

biomedical-engineering.uark.edu biomedical-engineering.uark.edu University of University of ARKANSAS ARKANSAS Biomedical Engineering

Department of Biomedical Engineering John A. White, Jr. Engineering Hall 790 W. Dickson St. Suite 120 Fayetteville, AR 72701