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rehabilitation research expert joinstheteam BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING of at the UNIVERSITY A pioneering 10 FLORIDA // FALL 2017

16 18 20 Getting a GRiP on What a Merging tissue prosthetic design difference engineering with 15 years make electronics EXPERIENTIAL UF BME IS BUILDING EDUCATION Engineering Innovation and SUCCESSFUL Leadership Institutes provide: CLINICAL IMMERSION • Courses and certificates offered TOMORROW’S LEADERS Formal clinical immersion by leaders in industry and military educational opportunities forge partnerships between • Nationally acclaimed cross- and clinicians disciplinary, industry- based senior design experience BY LEVERAGING STATEWIDE ENTREPRENEURIAL EXTENSION COMMUNITY PROGRAMS Gainesville is a local hub of talent, Innovation Stations provide ITS COMPREHENSIVE innovation and opportunity. workforce development, It is home to more tech talent and tech pipelines, incubators per capita than and K-12 initiatives. any other U.S. city. I N N O V A T I O N E C O S Y S T E M NEW INNOVATIVE STRONG INDUSTRY COLLISION SPACE PARTNERSHIPS • Advanced bio-manufacturing • Department-level formal & prototyping labs industry engagement events UNIQUE • Guest lectures by CO-LOCALIZATION • Freshman design labs and NEW INNOVATIVE industry members flipped classroom space • Many local internship Physical co-localization • Collision spaces COLLISION SPACE opportunities with top-ranked health to promote sciences and hospitals collaboration

Herbert Wertheim Laboratory for Engineering Excellence, Opening 2019 8 News & Notables Dear UF BME Friends & Family,

Welcome to the 4th issue of CrossLink, the annual magazine of the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Robotics in Motion: Florida. A pioneering rehabilitation research expert joins the team I am honored to showcase the amazing accomplishments and talent of our department, college and university. This issue is particularly focused on innovation in research, education and our partnerships, including community 10 engagement.

In this issue, we highlight novel research on neuromuscular control over prosthetic devices, ranging from exoskeletons and augmented control over walking from our new faculty member, Dr. Daniel Ferris, to an innovative merger of tissue engineering and electronics in DARPA-funded research to coax axon growth into electronic devices for improved upper limb prosthetic designs.

As we continue to strive for more experiential learning for our students, we are 14 Experiential partnering more closely with the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering’s New Faculty Leadership and Innovation Institutes. These institutes have continued to Learning: exponentially grow their unique interdisciplinary courses, modules and 16 UF BME’s cell certificate offerings on topics such as project management, professionalism, Getting a GRiP on and tissue entrepreneurship, persuasive communications, divergent thinking, innovation, Prosthetic Design leadership and risks in technology development. Our students are building 15 engineering lab a unique portfolio of skills that will enable them to be more effective leaders in their future careers. And, soon, these institutes will be housed in the new Herbert Wertheim Laboratory for Engineering Excellence – a state-of-the-art facility devoted to innovation by featuring creative collision spaces to promote collaboration, maker/prototyping labs and a telepresence facility to build 21st century communication and networking skills. A publication of the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Innovation goes beyond the walls of the university as our students and faculty Biomedical Engineering at the continue to develop lasting partnerships with the community through outreach. 19 Here, we highlight some amazing students who have given their time to create What a Difference DEAN, HERBERT Student 3-D printed prosthetic and assistive devices for young children in need, as WERTHEIM COLLEGE OF Highlight 15 Years Make part of the BME-sponsored student organization, GRiP (Generational Relief in ENGINEERING Prosthetics). Cammy Abernathy DEPARTMENT CHAIR 18 Please also read the stories about our current and former students - an alumnus Christine E. Schmidt who is changing patient outcomes with his work at the FDA and a student who is EDITORS improving the therapeutic outcome of osteoarthritis drugs. Candi Crimmins Sommer Green

Thank you for being a supporter of UF BME! We hope you enjoy this issue of EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS CrossLink, and continue to keep us updated on your own endeavors. And, April Frawley please stop by to visit when you are in Gainesville! Laura Mize CONTRIBUTING Sincerely, PHOTOGRAPHERS 22 Lyon Duong Alumni Highlight Merging Jesse Jones Tissue COVER ILLUSTRATION & DESIGN Engineering Liquid Creative 23 Christine E. Schmidt New Faculty with Professor, J. Crayton Pruitt Family Endowed Chair and Department Chair Fellowships 20 Electronics UF BME Faculty Snapshot

Kyle D. Allen David R. Gilland Brandi K. Ormerod Associate Professor & Associate Professor & Director, Blanka Sharma Associate Professor, Associate Chair for Assistant Professor Undergraduate Coordinator BME Graduate Student Diversity and Undergraduate Studies & Ph.D., Ph.D., University of North Carolina Professional Development J. Crayton Pruitt Family Term Fellow Nanomedicine, stem cells, Molecular imaging, instrumentation Ph.D., University of British Columbia Ph.D., biomaterials, tissue engineering and algorithm development using Engineered stem cell and immunomodulatory Novel strategies to diagnose and treat and targeted drug/gene delivery degenerative joint diseases PET and SPECT strategies for brain repair and aging studies

Cherie Stabler Stephen H. Arce Aysegul Gunduz Associate Professor & Assistant Professor & Kevin J. Otto Lecturer Associate Professor Associate Chair for Graduate Studies J. Crayton Pruitt Family Term Fellow Ph.D., University of Florida Ph.D., Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology Ph.D., University of Florida Bioinstrumentation, biodesign and Neural engineering, device-tissue Biomaterials, cell encapsulation, Human neuroscience, neuromodulation, BME senior design laboratories interfaces and neurostimulation regenerative medicine, controlled neuroprostheses and neurorehabilitation release systems and diabetes

Gregory Hudalla Assistant Professor & Hans van Oostrom Wesley E. Bolch Edward Phelps Associate Professor & Director, Institute Professor J. Crayton Pruitt Family Term Fellow Assistant Professor for Excellence in Engineering Education Ph.D., University of Florida Ph.D., University of Wisconsin Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology Ph.D., Eindhoven University of Technology Dosimetry, computational medical Nanomaterials engineered to direct immune Cell and tissue regeneration, islet , Human physiologic simulation to enhance physics and dose assessment responses for disease prophylaxis, implants diabetes and immunopathology noninvasive patient monitoring and education and immunotherapies

Mingzhou Ding Distinguished Professor & Benjamin G. Keselowsky Parisa Rashidi Lin Yang Professor Assistant Professor Associate Professor J. Crayton Pruitt Family Professor Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology Ph.D., Washington State University Ph.D., Ph.D., University of Maryland Biomaterials and controlled release Biomedical data science, pervasive health Imaging informatics, biomedical image Cognitive neuroscience, multivariate systems for vaccines, immunotherapies and clinical informatics analysis, machine learning, computer signal processing and multimodal and implants vision and computer-aided diagnosis neural imaging

Jon P. Dobson Peter McFetridge Carlos Rinaldi Professor Associate Professor & Charles A. Stokes Term Professor & Interim Chair, Ph.D., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Tim Brahm Term Professor Department of Chemical Engineering ETH-Zurich Ph.D., University of Bath Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology Magnetic micro- and nanoparticle-based Naturally inspired biomaterials for biologically Nanomedicine, cancer nanotechnology, magnetic biomedical applications functional implants and organ regeneration nanoparticles and transport phenomena UF BME Ruogu Fang Sarah Rowlinson Collaborative Walter Lee Murfee Lecturer Assistant Professor Associate Professor Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Cell and tissue engineering, engineering Community Big data analytics, brain informatics Cell dynamics, microcirculation, angiogenesis, education research and online engineering and medical image analysis lymphangiogenesis and neurogenesis education 25 Core Faculty 40+ Affiliate Faculty Daniel Ferris Christine E. Schmidt Robert W. Adenbaum Professor Jennifer A. Nichols Professor, J. Crayton Pruitt Family Endowed Centers & Institutes Assistant Professor (Jan. 2018) 30+ & Senior Associate Chair Chair & Department Chair Ph.D., Ph.D., , Berkeley Ph.D., University of Illinois Biomechanics, musculoskeletal modeling, 16 Colleges Biomechanics, neuromechanical control, Biomaterials for neural tissue predictive simulation and medical imaging locomotion and prosthetics regeneration and neural interfacing 5 Hospitals

6 // CrossLink Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida // 7 Distinguished Leadership Seminar Series Major Faculty Awards + Recognitions 2016-2017 SPEAKERS • Dr. Wesley Bolch named to Federal Advisory Committee for Radiopharmaceutical Regulatory Approval Dr. Rashid Bashir • Dr. Jon Dobson honored with International Journal of Abel Bliss Professor of Engineering and Nanomedicine Distinguished Scientist Award Bioengineering Department Head University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign • Dr. Jon Dobson named UF Research Foundation Professor Interfacing Engineering, Biology, and Medicine for 2017-2020 at the Micro and Nanoscale • Dr. Daniel Ferris elected as Fellow of AIMBE • Dr. Aysegul Gunduz honored with UF Excellence Award for BMES Annual Meeting Dr. Tejal Desai Assistant Professors Co-Chair Professor and Chair of Bioengineering and Therapeutic • Dr. Aysegul Gunduz honored with 2017 Denice Denton Sciences, Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine Emerging Leader Award University of California, San Francisco • Dr. Gregory Hudalla recognized as 2016 Young Innovator Dr. Kevin J. Otto Nanostructured Interfaces for by Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering UF BME Associate Professor Therapeutic Delivery • Dr. Carlos Rinaldi invited to present at the 2016 U.S. Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposium Dr. David Kaplan • Dr. Christine Schmidt named president-elect of AIMBE Stern Family Professor of Engineering and • Drs. Kyle Allen, Aysegul Gunduz and Gregory Hudalla honored Chair of Biomedical Engineering with J. Crayton Pruitt Family Term Fellowships • Drs. Kyle Allen, Jon Dobson, Mingzhou Ding, Aysegul Gunduz, Engineered Silk Proteins for Regenerative Medicine Benjamin Keselowsky and Carlos Rinaldi honored with UF Term 2017 Professorships BMES Annual Meeting Dr. Robert F. Kirsch Allen H. and Constance T. Ford Professor and October 11-14, 2017 Chair of Biomedical Engineering Key Research Advances + Innovation Case Western Reserve University Phoenix, Arizona Restoring Movement and Control of the Paralyzed Arm: • Dr. Mingzhou Ding awarded $1.8M RO1 grant from NIH entitled BCI-commanded FES “Emotional Engagement Driven by Complex Visual Stimuli: Neural Dynamics Revealed by Multimodal Imaging” Dr. Nicholas A. Peppas • Dr. Aysegul Gunduz and collaborators awarded $2M NIH BRAIN Cockrell Family Regents Chair in Engineering, Initiative grant from the National Institute of Neurological Professor of McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Disorders and Stroke entitled "Closing the Loop on Tremor: Professor of Biomedical Engineering A Responsive Deep Brain Stimulator for the Treatment of University of at Austin Essential Tremor" Responsive and Intelligent Biopolymers for Recognitive • Dr. Benjamin Keselowsky and collaborator awarded $2.6M grant Systems, Biosensing and Protein Delivery from the NIH entitled “Tolerogenic Dual Micoparticle System for

Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis” Dr. Lori A. Setton Lucy and Stanley Lopata Distinguished Professor of Biomedical • Dr. Kevin J. Otto and collaborator awarded up to $4.2M grant Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency entitled Washington University in St. Louis "Cognitive Augmentation through Neuroplasticity (CAN)" 1st Stress Redefined–Mechanobiology and Survival of the • Dr. Carlos Rinaldi and collaborators awarded $1.4M grant from Intervertebral Disc Cell the NSF entitled “SNM: Large-area Manufacturing of Integrated Nanoparticles in Devices with Nanocomposite Magnetic Cores” Synovial Fluid 2017-2018 SPEAKERS by Shannon Brown, Student Awards Ph.D. student, Sharma Lab Dr. Nancy L. Allbritton Kenan Distinguished Professor, Chair of UNC/NC State Joint • Ben Spearman (graduate) and Ella Hoogenboezem cience becomes art in the winning and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jointly Appointed with (undergraduate) awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships notable photographs from the J. Crayton School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy • Adam Grippin awarded Circle of Hope Cancer Center Inc. grant Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • Ella Hoogenboezem, Rafael Marin and Jake Pistiner selected for S the 2017-2018 Attributes of a Gator Engineer Award Engineering 2016 Art of Research Photo Dr. Rebecca M. Bergman • Jackson Cagle named 2017 Outstanding Gator Engineer M.S. Contest. President Scholar and awarded a NSF Young Professionals Award Gustavus Adolphus College • Laura Kanouse honored with UF High Honors Medallion 2nd • Immanuel Babu Henry Samuel and Shruti Siva Kumar honored This annual event celebrates the art of Neon Edges Dr. Martha L. Gray with UF Outstanding International Student Awards J. W. Kieckhefer Professor of Health Sciences & Technology, research through the eyes of BME faculty, staff by Mason McGough, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and students. Masters student, Yang Lab Massachusetts Institute of Technology Dr. Warren M. Grill Judging was based on scientific significance, Edmund T. Pratt, Jr. School Professor of Biomedical Engineering originality, and artistic and/or visual impact UF BME Graduate Program of the images. The winning photo, called Dr. Buddy D. Ratner ranked 17th among public “Nanoparticles in Synovial Fluid,” by Shannon Director, Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB21), 3rd Michael L. and Myrna Darland Endowed Chair in Technology universities by U.S. News & Brown, BME Ph.D. student, was chosen for Commercialization, Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering Diabetes Love World Report, representing its breathtaking composition and overall by Nicholas Abuid, Ph.D. student University of Washington aesthetic quality. and Kerim Gattasasfura, Research Dr. Lonnie Shea a 16 spot climb since 2013. Scientist, Stabler Lab Professor and William and Valerie Hall Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida // 9 His football talent Robert Adenbaum already have submitted an RO1 didn’t earn him a Foundation, presented proposal to the National Institutes of Robotics in Motion: spot playing for in February 2015. Health. the Gators as an A pioneering rehabilitation undergrad. Instead, Ferris is a fellow of the The study would continue Ferris’ this Florida native American Institute for previous work on the topic that is sweated it out on Medical and Biological funded by the U.S. Army Research research expert joins the team the gridiron for Engineering. At Laboratory. Ferris’ funding comes the University of the University of as part of the ARL’s Collaborative By Laura Mize Central Florida. Michigan, he held Technology Alliance for Cognition several prominent and Neuroergonomics, a consortium “But, I’m finally getting positions, including of academic research laboratories, recruited as an academic,” rehabilitation robotics faculty industry partners and ARL scientists. Daniel Ferris, Ph.D., commented group director, chair of the school shortly before beginning his new role of kinesiology’s graduate program Mobile brain imaging involves in the UF College of Engineering’s J. and associate dean for research “using electrodes on the head to Crayton Pruitt Family Department of in the school. In January 2018, he do brain imaging while people Biomedical Engineering. “So, I guess it will become editor-in-chief of the are walking and running,” Ferris works out in the end.” prominent journal IEEE Transactions explains. “Our lab is one of the on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation world leaders in innovating this These days, instead of touchdowns Engineering. technology to come up with better and tackles, Ferris is focused on work electrode designs and signal that ultimately will help others — UF's robust academic, research and processing methods that allow people with motion disorders such patient care offerings, paired with us to remove the motion artifact. as Parkinson’s disease, or those who the lure of living close to family again, We can figure out what’s going have suffered a stroke or traumatic called Ferris back to the Sunshine on inside your head while you’re injury — make some of the most State. His wife, Rachael Seidler, Ph.D., moving around.” important “moves” of their own lives. has taken a position in the UF College of Health and Human Performance’s Motion artifacts occur when the After earning his bachelor’s degree in Department of Applied Physiology and subject’s movement distorts the mathematics education at UCF, Ferris Kinesiology. results of the brain imaging session, went on to obtain a master’s degree in producing a blurry picture instead exercise physiology at the University “The University of Florida is a of a crisp, clear one that accurately of Miami, followed by a doctorate in fantastic school with a great college represents the brain activity that human biodynamics at the University of engineering and a great medical occurred. of California, Berkeley. school — a very comprehensive university that you don’t find How will such developments He joins the Gator Nation after 16 many places in the country,” Ferris help patients? years at the University of Michigan, says. “The Biomedical Engineering where he established and ran the Department at Florida is really rapidly Improving mobile brain imaging is Human Neuromechanics Laboratory. increasing in quality and size.” “going to be a big boon for studying conditions like movement disorders,” In June, Ferris brought the laboratory One of Ferris’ primary projects at Ferris says, “when we know that there and four members of his research UF might be a mobile brain imaging are individuals with Parkinson’s disease team to UF, where he is the first to study conducted in conjunction with or neurological injuries that have gait hold the college of engineering’s Michael Okun, M.D., a professor and problems, can we actually look into the Robert W. Adenbaum Professorship in chair of the UF College of Medicine’s brain while they’re trying to walk and Engineering Innovation. The position Department of Neurology, and figure out what’s going on?” was established with a generous national medical director of the $1 million gift from the Leo, Claire & Parkinson’s Foundation. The two

Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida // 11 Our lab is one of the world leaders in innovating this technology to come up with better electrode designs and signal processing methods that allow us to remove the motion artifact. We can figure out what’s going on inside your head while you’re moving around.

heavy machinery around to work In addition to working with Okun, and his colleagues have provided on the hull. Can we give them an Ferris anticipates collaborating with some of the first real time use of exoskeleton that allows them to use other UF researchers, including Chris electroencephalography to provide less muscle activity so that they don’t Hass, Ph.D., and David Vaillancourt, evidence of how cortical structures In addition, studying what’s happening and how it interacts with and attaches In addition to devices meant to assist get as fatigued and they can continue Ph.D., both professors in the UF regulate the walking pattern. These inside the brain during motion may aid to the human, being able to provide people working to overcome disease their work?” College of Health and Human seminal papers have opened up a Ferris and others in bettering robotic powered assistance without causing or injury, a variety of industries stand Performance’s Department of Applied significant amount of new research exoskeletons and bionic prostheses. pain.” to gain from devices designed to aid There are many other potential Kinesiology and Physiology. and technology development in One current focus for improvement of generally healthy people engaged in applications, including military this area.” such devices is to provide a smoother, Progress in the function of such physically demanding occupations. uses and exoskeletons that help Hass, who has been a mentee of less jerky walking experience. devices will not only benefit prevent falls in the elderly or that Ferris’ for about 17 years, calls him an He adds that Ferris’ presence will be patients, but also moves the field of “Imagine a firefighter’s got a big relieve impact on the tired knees of a innovative thinker. integral in building a star-studded “Being able to get as much freedom oxygen canister and a hose that they seasoned runner. roster of other engineers in the field of robotics closer to offering robotic and fluidity in the motion of the have to climb up many, many stairs “He is really one of the early rehabilitation robotics. exoskeleton so it moves along with exoskeletons and bionic prostheses in a high-rise,” Ferris says. “Can we The gait lab is situated in UF’s pioneers in the use of exoskeletons the person is really important,” Ferris to a wider audience. build them an exoskeleton that lets Particle Engineering Research Center, as not only an important mode of “Dan is an internationally recognized says. “There’s an increased awareness them get up those stairs much more just across from the New Engineering rehabilitative engineering, but also as leader in the field of biomechanics, that the hardware design can get Currently, most exoskeletons are quickly and without being as tired, so Building where Ferris’ office and his a way to probe the neuromechanical whom others in the field naturally better, in terms of how they’re moving used in rehabilitation facilities. But that when they get upstairs, they can data analysis laboratory are located. control of walking,” Hass says. “Our flock to,” Hass says. “His presence smoothly and fluidly with the person. the potential exists for daily use and fight the fire better? Or imagine a ship understanding of the way the brain here at UF will help us in recruiting A lot of the adaptation can come from direct-to-consumer sales. builder who’s working on building a controls walking is often impaired other preeminent scholars in the the physical device of the exoskeleton new ship hull. They have to carry very by technology limitations, but Dan biomechanics community.”

12 // CrossLink Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida // 13 UF BME Welcomes New Faculty

Experiential Learning: UF BME’s Cell & Tissue Engineering Lab Foundational Training Hands-on laboratory experience One of the most exciting UF BME Cell and Tissue and rapidly growing areas Engineering Laboratory’s in biomedical engineering is dedicated teaching facility cell and tissue engineering, offers an outstanding Cell engineering topics: Tissue engineering topics: which offers vast potential opportunity for undergraduate cell cycle/metabolism, fabrication, biomaterials/ for changing traditional students to actively gain adhesion, signal transduction scaffolds and cell integration, approaches to clinical insight into BME regenerative and assessment. and functional assessment treatment. This area of medicine research and Jennifer A. Nichols, Ph.D. research and development has development. The lab engages the potential to revolutionize students in fundamental Assistant Professor (Jan. 2018) the treatment of a wide variety studies and develops Standard 2D culture Biomechanics & of disorders and injuries. theoretical and analytical Ruogu Fang, Ph.D. Core mammalian cell techniques then move to Musculoskeletal Modeling methods that will prepare Assistant Professor culture techniques engineering focused them for exciting careers in 3D systems Big Data and Brain Informatics biomedical engineering. Dr. Nichols’ long-term goal is to create Walter Lee Murfee, Ph.D. predictive, biomechanical simulations to Dr. Fang’s long-term goal is to develop Associate Professor improve the functional ability and quality of life innovative computational models to Microvascular Cell Dynamics for individuals suffering from musculoskeletal Cell function and understand, diagnose and treat brain disorders. disorders (e.g., osteoarthritis, muscular principles followed by The mechanics of tissue – In particular, she leverages big biomedical dystrophy, fracture, joint pain). By predicting This fall, UF BME welcomes Dr. Sarah Rowlinson hands-on cell freezing, how remodeling and data and brain dynamics for robust, safe surgical outcomes or the effectiveness of Dr. Murfee’s research is focused on making as a lecturer who will lead the Cell & Tissue thawing, culture, passage, wound healing alter tissues and effective brain imaging and computer physical therapy, predictive simulations will scientific discoveries and developing new Laboratory while focusing her expertise on microscopy and quantitative mechanical properties aided diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease, catalyze clinical advancements and inform bioengineering approaches for connecting cell and tissue engineering, engineering assessment measures such as stroke. Fang received her Ph.D. in modern, data-driven medicine. Nichols tissue level function to integrated cellular education research, entrepreneurship and online electrical and computer engineering from received her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering dynamics. Specifically, his laboratory applies engineering education. Cornell University. Before joining UF, Fang from Northwestern University in the Applied in vivo, in vitro, and computational approaches worked at Florida International University Research in Musculoskeletal Simulation (ARMS) to investigate the vascular patterning and the Before coming to UF, Rowlinson earned her B.S. in as an assistant professor in the School of Laboratory led by Dr. Wendy Murray. Her functional relationships between angiogenesis biomedical engineering from the . Computing and Information Sciences. She doctoral research elucidated how two common and other processes, such as lymphangiogenesis She then completed her Ph.D. in bioengineering at Clemson was also an affiliate faculty in the Cognitive surgeries for wrist osteoarthritis alter wrist Applied Projects and neurogenesis. Murfee received his Ph.D. University under the mentorship of the Hunter Endowed Chair and Neuroscience & Imaging Center at the School biomechanics, thereby leading to impairments in biomedical engineering at the University of Professor Emerita in Bioengineering, Dr. Karen Burg. Rowlinson Design a series of experiments that of Integrated Science and Humanity. Fang in both wrist and hand function. Through Virginia in the laboratory of Dr. Thomas Skalak. developed new cell culturing technologies for breast cancer runs the Smart Medical Informatics Learning biomechanical experiments, she identified He was a postdoctoral fellow in the research while concurrently conducting peer-reviewed research on modulate cell function in a meaningful way and Evaluation (SMILE) lab, which reflects her key changes in carpal kinematics and muscle Microcirculatory Laboratory with Dr. Geert engineering education and science policy. Rowlinson received the expectation for every member in the lab to moment arms following surgery. She also Schmid-Schönbein in the Department of Outstanding Women Award from Clemson University (2016) and was smile while exploring the human brain with big developed a predictive simulation framework Bioengineering at the University of California – an active member of the Clemson Bioengineering Society, having data. Fang is the recipient of the Ralph E. Powe that provided novel insights into how the wrist served multiple leadership positions including vice president, service San Diego. Before joining UF, he was an associate Junior Faculty Enhancement Award (2016), the influences thumb function. For her postdoctoral chair and graduate student government representative. Rowlinson professor in the Department of Biomedical Cell engineering topics: Fostering analytical and Robin Sidhu Memorial Young Scientist Award, research, Nichols worked with Dr. Andrew E. is an active participant in policy and advocacy groups in science and Engineering at Tulane University and a member cell cycle/metabolism, quantitative measurements Society of Brain Mapping and Therapeutics Anderson in the Department of Orthopaedics women’s leadership. of the Tulane Center for Aging, the Tulane adhesion, proliferation and to assess biological and (2016), the National Science Foundation CISE at the . Here, Nichols utilized Hypertension and Renal Center of Excellence and matrix deposition engineering systems Research Initiation Initiative Award (2015), and dynamic medical imaging and patient-specific While completing her graduate studies, Dr. Rowlinson was an instructor the Tulane Center for Stem Cell Research and the Best Paper Award at IEEE International musculoskeletal models to study how surgeries for Clemson University’s General Engineering program. She was a lead Regenerative Medicine. Murfee was received an Conference on Image Processing (2010), for ankle osteoarthritis affect joint and muscle instructor for two sections of Engineering Graphics and Machine Design, Outstanding Young Investigators Award from the among others. She was selected as a member mechanics. At UF, Nichols will continue to introducing students to the modeling software, SolidWorks. She delivered Comparative analysis Microcirculatory Society and numerous biomedical Assessment of different of the Association for Computing Machinery’s integrate anatomical and in vivo experiments in-class demonstrations, assignments, and cooperative projects for the 112 between different engineering awards from Tulane University. biomaterial properties to inaugural Future Computing Academy. students enrolled. biomaterials currently used with computer simulations to examine modulate cell function musculoskeletal biomechanics. in regenerative medicine Rowlinson will bring her expertise to the department by expanding her engineering learning modules to undergraduate and graduate classes. 14 // CrossLink Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida // 15 Getting a GRiP on Prosthetic Design:

How UF students are transforming lives with 3-D printing

well as adding colors and themes. The innovation through collaboration and students can additionally personalize the overall impact on the children is devices for a more playful application evident by the smiles on the children’s such as a marshmallow shooter or a faces as they learn to use their paddle holder for kayaking. prosthetics.

“Working with GRiP reminds me According to Berko, “To be able to why I chose to pursue biomedical provide such a functional tool for Students at the University of Florida learned in the classroom to a practical These devices aren’t meant to replace engineering and how many anyone with congenital hand or are following their passion for helping application that helps give back to prostheses developed in collaboration opportunities there are at UF to really limb loss and to make a significant others by building inexpensive the community in a way that no other with a medical professional. They’re make a difference,” says Meggie Pires- difference in their lives through prosthetics for children. organization can. designed to be affordable and accessible tools for children. The Fernandes, UF BME senior. “One of engineering skills and education, is the best parts of my junior year was truly transformative.” Generational Relief in Prosthetics “GRiP is an enriching experience artificial hands are made out of from a reel, then melted and emitted seeing a young boy with a passion for (GRiP) is a student organization that and most importantly a team plastic and don’t use electrical sensors out according to the computer’s music, who had learned to make the designs and and manufactures free effort," says Berko. "It’s truly or robotics. Making them this way commands. The printer then prints most of what he had by using GRiP- 3-D printed assistive devices for amazing to see all of the different reduces the cost of supplying multiple one layer at a time, slowly building up designed devices to make playing children with upper limb differences. prostheses we come up with and prostheses when children grow out a solid object. music easier,” she says. “Seeing GRiP focuses on the empowerment how they allow the children to of them and can be easily replaced if the excitement of a child being of the recipients and STEM education do something that they wouldn’t they break. In GRiP, the students are divided into empowered to engage in activities in the community. Students come teams working on specific devices otherwise be able to. Nothing beats that other children do, makes all the from every major, from engineering to Making a 3-D printed prosthetic personalized to the individual with working with the children hands time and effort worth it.” medicine and to learn how to fabricate on. You really get a feel for what is similar to making any other 3-D an upper limb difference. They can the prosthetics. printed object. The area where the personalize the device for both works for them and what doesn’t To date, GRiP has gifted an prosthetic will be worn is scanned functionality, based on what type of and every child is unique." estimated 30 devices around For Joshua Berko, UF BME senior, and the measurements are saved residual limb they are designing for, as GRiP allows him to apply what he has in a computer. Solid plastic is fed in north central Florida. The power of

16 // CrossLink Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida // 17 Student Highlight What a Years Key events in Difference Make our history Student Shannon Brown and the pursuit of a more Dr. William Ditto is hired to serve as the founding chair efficient drug delivery system 2002 of new biomedical This year UF BME celebrates a history For over 15 years, UF BME has engineering department steeped in excellence, innovation and produced outstanding academics, an endless pursuit of discovery. industry leaders and research Becomes the 11th department As a young girl living scientists. The department has To do this, Brown’s work investigates established under the college in Honolulu, UF BME Leadership Scholarship and the Linda Inspired by the possibilities offered by undergone a rapid expansion how the fundamental design of student Shannon Hudson Scholarship. Brown also is interdisciplinary health care research, over the last few years and plays nanoscale vehicles impact where Brown developed an the recipient of the UF BME Graduate the UF College of Engineering, which a leading role in educating the Department receives a drugs go after injection to the joint, and early appreciation for Student Award for Excellence and the total of $10 million how this localization changes with the was recently named the Herbert biomedical engineering workforce life, and whatever form it Gator Engineering Outstanding Scholar 2006 from J. Crayton Pruitt severity of a disease. Wertheim College of Engineering, of the future. Sr. and his family may take. She spent many afternoons Award. established a graduate program in foundation, and is traveling by boats and rusty bicycles For the tens of millions of Americans the emerging discipline of biomedical With more than in named the J. Crayton accompanying her father, a marine Outside of her coursework, Brown $8.7 million suffering from osteoarthritis, a more Pruitt Family Department biologist, to the various laboratories regularly promotes STEM education. engineering in 1997 through a annual research expenditures, of Biomedical Engineering efficient drug delivery system would where he worked. She is an active member in Tau Beta Pi, $1 million grant from the Whitaker nearly 155 patents, and mean smaller doses and fewer injections. through which she teaches K-12 students Foundation. In 1997, a curriculum 14 startups, our faculty and The drug’s cost and its side effects would "While my father conducted his research what it means to be an engineer. She was produced and the first class of 13 students are at the forefront be reduced, along with risk of infection in Hawaii, I would hang out in the hopes to spark an interest in lifelong graduate students enrolled that fall. of scientific discovery and Dr. Bruce Wheeler becomes and clinical burden. wading pools and see this spectacular 2009 interim department chair pursuits in STEM fields. clinical translation. life surrounding me," says Brown. In 2002, UF BME became the 11th It may seem a lofty goal, but taking department within the college. As we continue on past this on challenges is an everyday thing These early experiences inspired her to with Brown. While research keeps her milestone, we look forward complete a bachelor’s of science degree Department is relocated to a new busy, she still finds time to chair the In 2006, the department received to the future: to the places 2010 state-of-the-art building that is co- in agricultural and biological engineering, student-run UF BME Student Safety a donation totaling $10 million and the possibilities our located with the medical school and and later a Ph.D. in biomedical Council. Through her leadership, the from J. Crayton Pruitt Sr. and his field will take us, as well steps from engineering. The $90.5 engineering. SSC has successfully launched multiple million, 163,000-square-foot building family foundation. As a result of the as the contributions we programs since its induction in 2015, houses researchers from the College of Today, under the supervision of Dr. gift, University officials named the hope to make both to the including safety newsletters and a new Medicine, Engineering and Public Health Blanka Sharma, Brown’s research focuses department in honor of the Pruitt academic community and Health Professions student orientation for BME safety. on improving the therapeutic outcome In addition, Brown serves as liaison family. The Pruitts’ gift is among the and to the local and of osteoarthritis drugs through the largest cash gifts received by UF. global communities we Undergraduate between BME students and the college- curriculum and development of advanced nanoscale level Environmental Health and Safety The department had nine faculty work with every day. 2012 program is initiated delivery systems. Committee, representing BME in members, dozens of researchers and meetings and directing questions and more than 75 graduate students with Please continue to Osteoarthritis, a common and often disseminating answers that researchers research expenditures approaching engage with us as we Dr. Christine E. Schmidt is hired devastating disease, can lead to 2013 as department chair have regarding policies. $2 million. look forward to the debilitating pain and low quality of life for those suffering from it. Brown’s research years ahead. Brown’s drive has been recognized by seeks a way to improve patients’ numerous organizations. In addition to Since its inception, we have grown to As for the future, Brown sees industry 2014 First undergraduate class graduates osteoarthritis by providing a drug that receiving the NSF graduate fellowship, include 25 faculty members and have as the way for her to have the most can be specifically the Pittman fellowship graduated more than 48 master of immediate and direct impacts on patient delivered at the from the Institute engineering graduates, 345 master of care. “What motivates me is the idea of UF College of Engineering is named the Herbert right dose to the for Cell and Tissue someone in their older age not being science graduates and mentored 159 2016 Wertheim College of Engineering with a $50 million right place at the Engineering and a able to play with their grandchildren, or doctoral degrees. Our newly created catalyst gift from Dr. Herbert & Nicole Wertheim right time. UF graduate school not being able to take a walk with their undergraduate program has over fellowship, Brown has spouse,” she says. “I want to make a 106 alumni. Department has grown to include 25 faculty members, has been awarded the difference in their lives.” graduated more than 106 undergraduates, 48 master of Thomas O. Hunter 2017 engineering graduates, 345 master of science graduates, and has mentored 159 doctoral degrees 18 // CrossLink Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida // 19 Institute for Medical and Engineering how nerves really work, Judy says. Merging Tissue Technologies, joined UF. A former Schmidt’s team would build project manager at DARPA, Judy the scaffold that would surround the attended a conference shortly after device like a sausage casing, with Engineering he joined UF in 2013. There, he met a protein hydrogel designed to lure with tissue engineers and wondered if the axons into the device. “It’s like a there just might be a novel idea at the sidewalk,” she says. Otto was recruited intersection of electrical engineering to the project to bring it all together with From left to right: Dr. Kevin Otto, Eric Atkinson and tissue engineering. When he met and lead the evaluation of the device. (Ph.D. student) and Dr. James B. Graham Schmidt, a leading expert in tissue Electronics engineering and biomaterials, he “One thing that was unique about The researchers are also still trying to approached her with the idea for the the TEENI project is that it combined work out how to record the nerve’s device. Judy asked Schmidt if she two state-of-the-art technologies: response inside the body, Judy says. By April Frawley thought they could build a scaffold the nerve guide technology from around the tiny electrodes of the Dr. Schmidt’s team, and the micro This is where the collaboration between interface that would lure nerve threads electrode array technology Dr. Judy the three scientists and their teams has called axons into the device. has been developing,” says Douglas proved to be most exciting, Schmidt says. Typically, Weber, Ph.D., a program manager at a nerve “Christine has done pioneering work DARPA. “There is a unique ability to “This is cross-fertilization in so many He wiggles each finger, one by interface to help people with nerve injuries,” regenerate peripheral nerves. As the ways,” she says. “Our teams are all one. Despite the wires threaded — which helps says Judy, also a professor in the UF axons regrow they form this healthy learning from each other.” under his skin, Luke Skywalker’s connect the brain Department of Electrical Engineering. connection with the electrode.” hand looks the same as it always to a prosthetic limb “A scaffold of bioengineered material “The results are early, but very has, as if Darth Vader had not sliced — is inserted into a can be inserted into an injury to After receiving funding from DARPA in exciting,” Weber says. “The team has it off moments earlier in the previous Engineering have been working for nerve at the place on the create a bridge for the nerve to grow 2015, the team got to work. The device successfully built the device. They can scene with a glowing red lightsaber. two years to develop a novel nerve body where the limb is missing, says through. Once this occurs, you start they built is just five millimeters long implant into animals and track the Luke looks on, almost unimpressed, interface to help solve this problem. Schmidt, the Pruitt Family Professor to regain function. The integration of and 1 millimeter around. In addition to growth of axons through the nerve as a robot zooms around him, using The goal is to have the device work in and Department Chair of the J. Crayton microfabricated nerve interfaces into the tiny electrode threads embedded guide. Also, Dr. Otto has developed needlelike fingers to close the control a way that makes the user feel like it is Pruitt Department of Biomedical a scaffold allows us to make them in the hydrogel, the device also really cool techniques for visualizing panel on his good-as-new hand. part of his or her own body, says Kevin Engineering. This allows the body and out of highly compliant materials and contains another unique property: it is the regenerated nerve with electrodes Otto, Ph.D., one of the lead researchers the limb to communicate. However, it designs that would be impossible coated with a shark-skin like texture. in place. This is giving us the first- In a galaxy far, far away, technology on the project with Christine Schmidt, doesn’t allow for a high level of precise, to otherwise implant into nerves Developed by Anthony Brennan, Ph.D., ever look at the full three dimensional like this exists – lifelike prosthetics Ph.D., and principal investigator Jack specific control. and could reduce adverse tissue a professor in the Department of structure of axons with everything that work as naturally and reliably as a Judy, Ph.D. response while increasing interface Materials Science and Engineering, the intact. Normally, you have to dissect person’s real hand. But here on Earth, Instead of inserting the interface into performance.” texture — called Sharklet — helps keep tissue so you only get a small picture.” it’s a concept researchers are still “To get to that level, current a nerve, the team has devised an the body from rejecting the device. striving for: a smart prosthetic that not technologies are not even close,” interface that entices the nerve to The project has been a great only moves and fits like a real one, but “The results so far are very intriguing,” says Otto, an associate professor regenerate into the electronics. The also feels like a real arm with the same Otto says. “We are currently seeing one for UF because it has all the of biomedical engineering. “We team is currently testing the device in needed ingredients — the expertise type of natural, dexterous movement animal models. regeneration of the nerve. It is growing we typically take for granted. While are working to improve the ability and interacting with our device. There of researchers, a strong tissue to communicate with a prosthetic engineering lab, access to state-of- smart, robotic prosthetic limbs already “Amputees say it is hard, they don’t are technical aspects we are working orders of magnitude beyond what it exist, many amputees missing upper know how much force to use (with on to make it grow even closer, in a the-art technologies and hospitals limbs such as arms and hands often is right now. It’s a divergence from a prosthetic limb), and they miss the more harmonious way.” situated right on campus. still opt for a hook. This is because any existing technology.” feeling of holding a hand,” Schmidt even though the prosthetic limbs are says. “By doing this, hopefully we can But encouraging a nerve to regenerate “I have always been intrigued by the advanced, there is currently no reliable “The device is really meant to create a more seamless connection and implanting electronics inside interactions between disciplines. way to control them. communicate bidrectionally with the that allows for finer control.” The team put together a proposal for the body are tricky, and the team This [partnership between tissue nerve. We would like to have as specific DARPA. Judy’s team would handle has faced challenges along the way. engineering and electrical engineering] With a $2.4 million grant from the communication as we can. We also The project came together a few years building the electrodes, so delicate and “Sometimes we know what to do,” is an emerging area that is going to Defense Advanced Research Projects want it to be reliable and stable for a ago after Judy, who holds the the Intel tiny they would be like handling slivers Otto says. “Sometimes the basic grow,” Judy says. “This is one of the Agency (DARPA), researchers from long time.” Nanotechnology Endowed chair and of plastic wrap. The electrodes could be science is not understood, and we areas where UF excels.” the UF Herbert Wertheim College of serves as director of the Nanoscience arranged like a cloud to closely mimic have to work those issues out.”

20 // CrossLink Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida // 21

New Pruitt Faculty Driving Innovation: aimed at bettering the nation’s medical How one alumnus is improving patient outcomes device environment. He is a true Gator Fellowships Most people know about the Food and Drug His day-to-day responsibilities biomedical engineer,” says Wheeler. Administration (FDA) in its capacity as a consist of reviewing medical device drug regulatory agency, but it also regulates submissions (including clinical data, Franca is co-chair for the FDA’s Center for The J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of medical devices. device specifications, test Devices and Radiological Health Biomedical Engineering is proud to announce the reports, etc.), participating (CDRH) Robotics Task Group. Medical devices are rapidly changing as in the development of The group discusses awardees of the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Endowed new technologies make their way into the international standards robotics standards that Faculty Fellowships which were established this marketplace, but before they do, officials and FDA guidance are currently being year through an earlier gift from Dr. J. Crayton at the FDA must make sure these new documents, and drafted and issues that technologies and therapies are safe and consulting with may arise in the future Pruitt Sr. and his family foundation. effective. leading experts (e.g., specific to robotics and engineers, clinicians, autonomous devices. Generous gifts like these are transforming our Eric Franca Ph.D., a Food and Drug etc.) within and Administration lead reviewer and UF BME outside of the agency. “What exactly is a robot? department and the college, supporting our alumnus, is one of the individuals tasked The medical device As strange as it might faculty and students while accelerating and with that responsibility. review process involves seem, after decades of expanding our research capacities. scientific reasoning as well discussion and debate, there Franca is part of the FDA’s Neurostimulation as a regulatory understanding isn’t a consensus definition. From Devices Psychiatry Branch of the Division necessary to be able to come to a decision a regulatory perspective, the technologies of Neurological and Physical Medicine on the safety, effectiveness, and/or benefit of the future will likely incorporate more CONGRATULATIONS TO and more autonomous features into Devices, in FDA’s Center for Devices and of the medical device under review. Dr. Kyle D. Allen, Associate Professor and Radiological Health (CDRH), which reviews medical devices; this increased autonomy medical technologies that interface with the “Getting your message across accurately introduces a unique set of safety questions Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies nervous system. for each novel device. So there are many and concisely is paramount to From left to right: Drs. Kyle D. Allen, Aysegul Gunduz and Gregory Hudalla progressing. Communication skills challenges in this field, even some as basic Dr. Aysegul Gunduz, Assistant Professor as ‘Is this device a robot?’” he says. At the FDA, Franca plays an integral are vital, both oral and written. The role in a medical device’s path to the US ability to talk to people from different Dr. Gregory Hudalla, Assistant Professor market: he helps evaluate medical devices He’s also the primary liaison and U.S. (e.g., spinal cord stimulators, peripheral backgrounds and cultures not only expert for JWG 36 Medical Robotics nerve stimulators, etc.) before they are to make yourself understood but to for Rehabilitation. Franca and other distributed/marketed to patients, medical understand where they are coming from international experts define requirements professionals and consumers in the US. as well is a critical skill,” he says. for the basic safety and performance of medical robots for rehabilitation, “What I enjoy most about my career at the Franca received his B.S. in biomedical assessment, compensation or alleviation of FDA is it allows me to talk to both industry engineering from Tulane University in 2008 disease, injury or disability (IEC/CD 80601- If your company or organization and FDA experts, engineers, scientists, and and completed his Ph.D. at the University of 2-78). In working with these other experts, Thank you to all of would like more information on how clinicians,” Franca says. “I enjoy learning Florida in 2014. His research under UF BME he is creating metrics and requirements to give to BME or become an industry from and working with all of these people emeritus professor Dr. Bruce Wheeler was that can inform the evaluation of device the UF BME Industry and building relationships so we can focused on investigating neural adhesion, performance and to help standardize the partner, please contact Paul Print ultimately deliver safe and effective devices growth, and activity on carbon nanotubes safety of these devices. at 352-294-7947 or [email protected]. to patient populations in need.” and carbon nanofibers. Partners! “From my background as a biomedical “Eric was a very engineer, the FDA seemed like an strong researcher interesting way to bridge the gap between with exceptional academic science to the application side UF BME Alumni: Keep us updated! interpersonal and of medical research and science. Many organizational skills young researchers coming from academia Send us your news, updates, achievements or which are serving do not understand how the FDA works, let memories from your time at Florida. him well in his alone how the medical device regulations position with the work. The more you understand the FDA, FDA, where officials the more you realize how important it is,” Email us at [email protected] and stay connected combine technical Franca says. on social media! knowledge in a wide range of interactions Visit our website at bme.ufl.edu. Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida Biomedical Sciences Buildling JG56 1275 Center Drive, P.O. Box 116131 Gainesville, FL 32611-6131

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