Department of Vanderbilt Biomedical Engineering contents programs of study bio-inspired therapeutics and nanomedicine Undergraduate Graduate Developing novel materials technologies to significantly impact the future of is the The foundations of biomedical engineering are the same as Vanderbilt University’s Graduate School, in collaboration with the common goal that unites the Advanced Therapeutics Laboratory, the Combinatorial Biomaterials those in other engineering disciplines: mathematics, physics, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, offers master of and Biointerface Laboratory, and the Laboratory of Bionanotechnology and Nanomedicine. 2 chemistry, and engineering principles. Biomedical engineering engineering, master of science, and doctor of philosophy degrees cellular sensing and control builds on these foundations to solve problems in and with a major in biomedical engineering. The goal of the Vanderbilt The Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education and the medicine over the widest range of scales—from the nanoscale program is to provide advanced education and research training Merryman Mechanobiology Laboratory advance the scientific knowledge of cellular and molecular levels to the whole body. Biomedical engineering in quantitative organ and cellular biology, biomedical information stimuli and their effects, and the instrumentation that makes such studies possible. provides a robust platform for employment in the medical device and instrumentation systems, imaging, and the scientific principles 4 and instrumentation industries as well as careers in companies underlying the origination of therapeutic devices and processes. It true cutting-edge engineering that specialize in the development and application of biologics, is specifically concerned with the interface between the engineer- With the Biomedical Modeling Laboratory, the Surgical Navigation Apparatus biomaterials, implants, and processes. Our graduates gain entry ing, physical, computing and mathematical sciences, and biology. Research Laboratory takes ideas from the lab into the operating room. into nationally recognized graduate schools for continuing studies The Department of Biomedical Engineering is in the School of 6 the focus is on you in biomedical engineering. Biomedical engineering is also a Engineering. In addition to the M.Eng., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, the Envision an educational environment that personalizes instruction in a community- rigorous path for entry into, and an excellent preparation for strong faculty supervises an ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering centered approach to create leaders in academia, industry, and medicine. We do. performance in, graduate study in medicine for those students and Technology) accredited B.E. degree program in biomedical more than meets the eye willing and able to excel in mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering for undergraduate students. The department 8 biology, , and engineering. also participates in the M.D./Ph.D. program with the School of The Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science integrates advances in engineering, physics, chemistry, and computing to develop and apply new and enhanced imaging techniques that address Medicine. Twenty-six faculty members with primary appointments problems and stimulate new research directions in biology and medicine. elsewhere collaborate with the department. Many faculty members hold joint appointments with engineering and medical 10 light for life Contact school departments. Understanding the functions of the human body with the wave of a wand has been Director of Undergraduate Studies: a fantasy of science fiction writers for decades. Optical technologies are closing in Adam Anderson on this fantasy. Email: [email protected] Phone: (615) 322-8174 12 Contact Director of Graduate Studies: 11 programs of study E. Duco Jansen Email: [email protected]

16 admissions The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers Phone: (615) 343-1911 courses of study leading to the B.E., M.E., M.S., and 17 financial aid Ph.D. degrees. Our program leading to the bachelor of engineering degree is accredited by the Engineering Ac- 18 faculty creditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, phone (410) 347-7700. 1 bio-inspired therapeutics and nanomedicine Craig Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering Todd Professor and Chair of Biomedical Engineering dvances in medicine are largely Duvall Giorgio dependent on understanding Prior to launching the ATL, I became disease. However, current pharmaceutical My childhood included covert use of interdisciplinary effort required by my more fully the elegant, highly intrigued by the fact that biologic mol- technology suffers from the inability to chemistry kits for experiments not studies and we have terrific collabora- specific mechanisms that ecules such as proteins and DNA present overcome the barriers that inhibit delivery described in the instructions, and curi- tions including faculty in medicine, in control biological and physical in a mammalian cell have exquisitely of biologic drugs (i.e. proteins and DNA). osity about living systems. Today, my the medical sciences, and among my processes in nature. Whether it controlled and specific capabilities to All the while, viral and bacterial bugs have research and teaching activities reflect colleagues in biomedical engineering. be development of an extracellular matrix- turn on and off the basic processes in the evolved to efficiently deliver their own the same interests. Much of biology I’m currently part of an interdisciplin- cell, yet pharmaceutical invest proteins, such as bacterial toxins, and viral operates under amazing control at ary team developing a nanostructure mimetic biomaterial scaffold, synthesis of billions of dollars to develop synthetic, DNA into cells. The overall theme of the a molecular level. Our group lever- designed to overcome the drug resis- aa nanoparticle that incorporates virus-like man-made molecules to mimic these ATL is to formulate bio-inspired, “smart” ages new methods to create nanoscale tance that contributes to poor clinical functionalities, or molecular engineering same functionalities. Conceivably, better polymers into delivery vehicles capable of materials for sensing and modify- outcomes in cancer treatment. Craig of diagnostic probes, bio-inspiration is a pharmaceuticals with higher specificity mimicking the naturally evolved systems’ FrederickHaselton ing the control of molecular events Duvall is creating new materials suit- shared theme in this group of research and fewer side-effects could be created if capacity for efficient intracellular delivery Professor of Biomedical Engineering inside cells. Biomedical engineering able for delivery of siRNA to inhibit labs. The Advanced Therapeutics Labora- we could harness the naturally evolved of therapeutic proteins and nucleic acids. principles are central to my work. drug resistance, and I’m applying a tory (ATL), the Combinatorial Biomaterials functions of these biologics to control http://research.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/ Much of my personal motivation for working in My studies use quantitative experi- novel molecular “trigger” to ensure and Biointerface Laboratory (CBBL), and cell functions involved in progression of biomaterials/Duvall/index.html biomedical engineering derives from my interest mental approaches and mathematical specific delivery to cancer cells. Clini- the Laboratory of Bionanotechnology and in dreaming up new technologies or devices representations to understand the cal oncologist Ingrid Mayer and Lynn Nanomedicine (LBN) are united through to directly impact health and our understand- behaviors of complex living systems. Matrisian, chair of Cancer Biology, are the common goal to develop novel materi- ing of the underlying cellular and molecular I apply the resulting knowledge and part of the team involved in the design als technologies to significantly impact the sciences. My laboratory has made contributions biologically responsive nanostructures and assessment of this work to ensure to important challenges in human that our efforts will have impact in future of medicine. LBN co-directors Todd in many diverse areas from fluid mechanics of high frequency ventilation used with premature health as part of a larger initiative in medical practice. Giorgio and Rick Haselton lead a team that infants to optically activated gene expression for nanomedicine. www.vanderbilt.edu/nanomedicine/ develops and tests novel therapeutic and delivering targeted genetic therapies. Many of Vanderbilt is an ideal place for the giorgiolab_home.php diagnostic devices based on the unique our current lab projects involve the application properties of nanomaterials. The major of unusual physical properties at the micro and research areas in the CBBL, led by Hak-Joon nanoscale to develop novel diagnostic tools. I am Sung, focus on polymeric biomaterials- Hak-Joon Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering particularly excited about our progress toward based chemical matrix engineering, cellular Sung developing nanoscale retinal imaging agents as engineering, and tissue engineering. The For years I’ve been fascinated by the idea My research goal as principal investigator a tool to predict the progression of atheroscle- ATL, directed by Craig Duvall, creates of engineering living organisms and of the Combinatorial Biomaterials and rotic lesions in coronary arteries. Imagine the stimuli-responsive, bio-inspired “smart” designing artificial organs using synthetic Biointerface Lab is to identify the underly- potential for a simple eye exam as a window on polymers for nano-carrier and hydrogel materials that manipulate fundamental ing mechanisms by which cells and tissues coronary disease. Equally exciting is our recent drug delivery applications and is highly biological mechanisms, such as embryo- interact with polymeric matrices and progress in developing a method to diagnose genesis, organogenesis, and regeneration. coordinate dynamic biochemical signals to an infection from a single drop of blood using integrated with both the CBBL and LBN. Movies like Jurassic Park and Robocop change their microenvironments. We will the “coffee ring” phenomenon. This technology Each research focus involves a multifaceted inspired me to pursue a new path in apply this knowledge to develop the next promises to deliver modern medical diagnostic approach that combines state-of-the-art science and engineering. Since then my generation of polymeric biomaterials for knowledge to a much greater fraction of the biomaterial systems and engineering tools research has helped to advance the field regenerative medicine and medical device world’s population where it would directly enable as well as chemical, biochemical, and bio- of biomedical engineering, in particular technologies. life-saving decisions. logical methodologies. polymeric biomaterials for cell and tissue http://research.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/ www.vanderbilt.edu/nanomedicine/haselton- engineering and regenerative medicine. sung_research lab_home.php 2 3 cellular sensing and control Franz John he Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Baudenbacher Wikswo Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering Gordon A. Cain University Professor Biosystems Research and Education (VIIBRE) Associate Professor of Physics Professor of Biomedical Engineering and the Merryman Mechanobiology Professor of Molecular Physiology and Laboratory (MML) advance the scientific Cardiac cells beat in synchrony to pump whole-heart excitability measurements— Professor of Physics knowledge of cellular stimuli and their oxygen and nutrient-rich blood through to understand the origin of these arrhyth- Director, VIIBRE effects and the instrumentation that your body to sustain life. The contrac- mias. Advanced bioinstrumentation and makes such studies possible. Whether tion is driven by calcium released during micro- and nanosensors, as well as micro- At Vanderbilt, I am an experimental control and analysis of biological researchers mechanically stimulate cells or electrical stimulation. The internal fluidics-based Lab-on-a-Chip devices, play physicist, engineer, and physiolo- systems. At VIIBRE, we instru- tperturb signaling pathways to elucidate gist. At home, I’m an electrician, ment and control single cells and powerhouses of cells, the mitochondria, key roles and allow us to explore physiol- the mechanisms leading to cardiovascu- provide the chemical energy required. ogy dynamically. The overall goal is the carpenter, and plumber. I love to small cell populations to probe the build gadgets and figure out how complexities of . lar disease and arrhythmias, or develop The focus of my research is the delicate improved biophysical description of the things work—lifelong vocations My long-term challenge is to build chemically controlled cellular microenviron- interplay between excitation, contrac- heart to guide the identification of possible that overlap with the mission and a hybrid silicon/biological system ments with integrated sensors, these labs tion, and bioenergetics that is distorted in therapies for heart failure and ischemia. http://engineering.vanderbilt.edu/ vision of VIIBRE: to invent tools and that generates models and conducts bring together faculty members, students, cardiac disease, resulting often in deadly arrhythmias. In my laboratory, we per- BiomedicalEngineering/FacultyStaff/ develop skills required to under- experiments on itself to identify the physicians, and industrial collaborators to form measurements across multiple-length FacultyListing/FranzBaudenbacher.aspx stand biological systems across underlying equations that describe address pressing questions in integrative scales—from single-cell contractility to spatiotemporal scales, and to focus metabolic and signaling dynamics of biology. Central to VIIBRE’s effort is the research using a multidisciplinary cellular systems. Searle Systems Biology and Bioengineer- approach to microscale engineering www.vanderbilt.edu/viibre ing Undergraduate Research Experience, and instrumentation for dynamic VIIBRE’s year-round, multiyear program in which a cohort of 20 to 30 undergradu- David ates trained in microfabrication and cell Merryman biology develop independent research Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering projects with senior researchers. The MML Director of Graduate Recruiting benefits from its location in one of the Assistant Professor of Medicine medical school research buildings, where Assistant Professor of Pediatrics it is surrounded by cell and developmental Mechanobiology explores how endless questions. Combining these biology labs that provide the opportunity mechanical forces affect cells in order two areas, I built a lab that spends its for truly interdisciplinary research. Together, to unravel the mysteries of disease days asking new questions about how VIIBRE and the MML have helped bring formation and construct engineered we can push or pull cells and what more than $55 million of new external tissues in the lab. My interest in these forces do to the biology of the funding to Vanderbilt from government mechanobiology grew first out of cell. We are primarily motivated by my passion for engineering mechan- two goals: to figure out how forces agencies and private foundations, including ics. I was fascinated the first time I contribute to disease conditions and the Defense Advanced Research Projects saw how pushing or pulling a cell how cells can be manipulated to Agency, the National Science Foundation, changed the way the cell behaved. make new tissues in the lab when we the National Institutes of Health, the Ameri- As a graduate student pursuing this apply forces to them. can Heart Association, and the Wallace H. research, I found the fascinating http://research.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/ Coulter Foundation. world of with its mechanobiology

4 5 true cutting-edge engineering Robert Michael he field of Technology Guided Therapy Galloway Miga Professor of Biomedical Engineering Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering (TGT) combines a number of different Professor of Neurosurgery Associate Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences medical disciplines including medical imag- Professor of Surgery Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery ing, image registration, image segmenta- tion, computational modeling, and surgical “That’s not how I would do it,” I blurted wisdom—things that are tough to capture Movies like The Black Hole, Tron, War tion had made indelible impressions; data collection and processing. The out in the midst of watching my first in any device—toward the surgery. From Games and Platoon inspired me to do two thus, my laboratory focuses on generat- guidance process is where TGT moves from stereotactic neurosurgery case. Talk about our start in intracranial neurosurgery, things while growing up: get into comput- ing sophisticated computer models and being an imaging or image processing field arrogant! But I was appalled by how much we have developed guidance systems for ers and join the U.S. Army. The former embedding them within technology such tto a therapeutic process. Images are used the surgeon was working for the system, ophthalmology, spinal surgery, cochlear turned me into an engineer; the latter that they direct surgical therapy and aid as maps enabling surgeons not only to not the system working for the surgeon. implants, liver surgery, kidney surgery, turned me into a biomedical engineer. In in the diagnosis of disease. While actor see where instruments are, but also where There were tasks that are the purview and colorectal cancer staging. While my senior year, I took a leave of absence Matthew Broderick may have simulated they are relative both to the lesion or site of engineering not surgery: locating this requires a great deal of focus, robust to serve with the army during the Persian global thermonuclear war in War Games, of surgical interest and to sensitive, healthy instruments in three-dimensional space, development, and mission-critical engi- Gulf War. Returning from war, I really we simulate how organs shift during sur- tracking their motion, and indexing neering, the payoff is huge. We can point wanted to do something to help people so gical procedures to provide better guid- structures they want to avoid. through large data sets in the medical to patients and say, “Our work saved their I signed up to study biomedical engineer- ance during delivery of therapy—I like my The Surgical Navigation Apparatus images. If I could create a device—now lives.” That’s pretty okay. ing in graduate school and never looked career choice better. Research Laboratory (SNARL) develops devices—to do that for surgeons then http://engineering.vanderbilt.edu/ back. Computers and the world of simula- http://bmlweb.vuse.vanderbilt.edu systems for guiding the delivery of therapy. they could focus entirely on the surgery BiomedicalEngineering/Research/ This may involve guiding surgery, some and provide experience, insight, and tgt_lab.aspx ablation device, implantation of a medical device or delivery of a chemical for therapy. The Biomedical Modeling Laboratory (BML) develops embedded systems that use computer models to assist pre-procedural planning, to enhance surgical guidance, to provide better understanding of tissue health, and to generate additional informa- tion relevant to therapeutic delivery. With the BML, SNARL takes ideas from the labo- ratory into the operating room.

6 7 the focus is on you nvision an educational envi- Cynthia Thomas ronment that personalizes Paschal Harris Associate Dean of the School of Engineering Orrin Henry Ingram Distinguished Professor of Engineering, Emeritus instruction in a community- Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Emeritus centered approach to create leaders in Associate Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences Professor of Chemical Engineering, Emeritus academia, industry, and medicine. We do. Professor of Medicine, Emeritus Our ABET, Inc. accredited bio- Vanderbilt students have big, generous products in China, or sharing a new surgi- medical engineering program is a pioneer hearts and one of the most satisfying cal technique with colleagues in Japan. If I have been a member of the Vanderbilt medical engineering and have conducted in its field and remains one of the most things for me is to help our students apply you study abroad, as we encourage you to faculty for more than 45 years. I have research in this area with an emphasis on well respected programs nationally. Our their engineering skills to the service of do, not only will your international career pursued research in the application of the use of challenges to design instruc- students become independent, productive, others. After all, to be an engineer is to activities bring back terrific memories of transport phenomena to the coronary tion. I have been closely involved in bio- and adaptive interdisciplinary experts. The commit oneself to a life of service—ser- your studies abroad, they will draw on the and lung circulatory beds with a particu- medical engineering at Vanderbilt since department has a strong link to research vice in solving problems and making the cultural competency you gained. We’ve lar interest in coronary ischemia and lung the program began and believe strongly vascular diseases leading to respiratory in the value of the field to medical science in engineering education—particularly world a better place. It has been exciting worked hard to bring you many options failure. In recent years I have been quite and . undergraduate education. Its mission is for me to create two new service learning to study engineering abroad during one of courses for our students, one involving your regular semesters as an undergradu- interested in the best ways to teach bio- www.cirtl.net/index.php?q=vanderbilt to improve STEM (Science, Technology, projects to help locally in Nashville and ate. As associate dean of the School of Engineering, Mathematics) education one involving work in medical facilities Engineering, one of my jobs is to help you generally, with a particular emphasis on in Guatemala. Our students do amazing find the best fit to study abroad. My col- undergraduate engineering using the latest things and I could not be more proud leagues in Vanderbilt’s Global Education learning science and learning technology. of them. Imagine your career 10 years Office and I look forward to getting you Vanderbilt has pioneered an innovative from now. Perhaps you will be reporting started on one of the most meaningful method for teaching biomedical engineer- your research findings at a conference in and memorable aspects of your education. ing called “challenge-based instruction” Germany, collaborating with engineers in www.vanderbilt.edu/geo which builds instruction around a series of India, marketing your new biomaterials challenges designed to engage student interest. In addition, students may choose to work in hospitals, research laboratories, or biomedical companies for summer experience. Students also have access to a number of Research Experience for Under- graduates (REUs) programs at Vanderbilt and elsewhere, including VIIBRE’s Systems Biology and Bioengineering Undergraduate Research Experience (SyBBURE), a well- funded program that provides 20 sopho- mores through seniors with a year-round opportunity to participate in ongoing research. Additionally, the department hosts several seminars each year, with many tailored specifically to areas of particular interest to undergraduate students. 8 9 more than meets the eye John Adam he Vanderbilt University Institute of Imag- Gore Anderson Hertha Ramsey Cress University Professor of Radiology and Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering ing Science (VUIIS) is a leading center Radiological Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, and Physics Director of Undergraduate Studies for research and training in all aspects of Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences Associate Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences biomedical imaging. The institute aims to Professor of Biomedical Engineering exploit and integrate advances in engi- Professor of Physics neering, physics, chemistry, com- Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics puting, and other basic sciences for the Most of our basic understanding of that limit math skills. In other stud- Director, VUIIS development and application of new and brain structure and function comes ies, we have mapped activity related tenhanced imaging techniques that may from microscopic analysis of brain to hallucinations and cognitive prob- As a graduate student in the United King- technologies to provide information to tissue specimens and invasive stud- lems in schizophrenia. Our recent be used to address problems and stimulate dom in the 1970s, I worked with some of clinicians and biologists. The Institute of ies of the brain in action. However, research focuses on improving MRI new research directions in biology and the earliest ultrasound imaging systems Imaging Science is a unique embodiment recent innovations in magnetic measurements of brain connectivity. medicine. A transinstitutional initiative and had the good fortune to attend a con- of how multidisciplinary efforts working resonance imaging (MRI) provide We have developed new methods to ference titled “Medical Images: Formation, together can impact medicine in major within Vanderbilt University, VUIIS serves a new window on brain structure relate imaging data to fiber properties Perception, and Measurement.” It was then fashion as new imaging techniques are physicians, scientists, students, and corpo- and function, allowing non-invasive and we are using these to understand that I understood imaging science could applied to some of our most important rate affiliates. It brings together a strong measurements in both children and changes in the brain associated with be a coherent discipline within medicine. problems and questions: How does the brain faculty of imaging scientists with diverse adults. For example, our lab has used developmental disabilities and psy- There were powerful new modalities such work? What kind of cancer treatment should backgrounds and broad expertise in a com- functional MRI to map neuronal chiatric diseases. as MRI and PET on the horizon and this be used? What is the cause of diabetes? prehensive, integrated program dedicated activity in children with learning www.vuiis.vanderbilt.edu field would depend heavily on engineers, www.vuiis.vanderbilt.edu to using imaging to improve health care disabilities to identify specific regions physicists, and chemists to exploit new and advance knowledge in the biologi- cal sciences. The state-of-the-art facilities house research in new imaging methods Mark and image analysis as well as applications in Does Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering cancer, neuroscience, metabolic disorders, Associate Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences cardiovascular disease, and other areas. Director, Center for Small Animal Imaging The centralized resources for imaging research at all scales provide an exemplary Magnetic resonance images can muscle is injured, but can I tell if it’s training environment for postdoctoral fel- visualize the inside of our bodies, healing? The magnetic resonance lows, graduate and medical students, and but what really interests me is what signals from your body convey an undergraduates. is not apparent to even the well- abundance of information about tis- trained eye. I can see the inside of sue micro-anatomy, physiology, and your brain, but can I also measure function, but figuring out what it all the progression of a disease? I can means is a challenge! see your bones, but can I tell if they www.vuiis.vanderbilt.edu are at risk of fracture? I can see your

10 11 light for life Anita E. Duco nderstanding the functions Mahadevan-Jansen Jansen Professor of Biomedical Engineering Professor of Biomedical Engineering of the human body with the Professor of Neurosurgery Professor of Neurosurgery wave of a wand has been Director of Graduate Studies a fantasy of science fiction My father died of brain cancer when I Biomedical engineering allows me writers for decades. Optical was 12 years old. He was diagnosed with to combine my strengths in technology Careers often happen because of chance encounters and a few light is changed to determine if it is normal or tumor tissue. technologies are closing glioblastoma multiforme, the most lethal development with my love for medicine. influential teachers. I grew up in a family full of teachers, so as a kid My research program focuses on understanding the interactions in on this fantasy with specific informa- form of brain cancer, six years earlier and Whether I am looking for a method to the one thing I knew I did not want to do was teach. In high school between light and tissue. Presently, most of the work in my lab is tion on tissue structure and function had surgery to remove the tumor. He lived screen for skin cancer without taking a in a small town in the eastern part of the Netherlands, the same aimed at building so-called optical-neural interfaces. We use light, uprovided by the interaction of light with school where my dad was the principal, my interest in the biomedi- delivered through optical fibers, to communicate with neurons in six years and one week from the date of biopsy or devising a way to tell surgeons the body. This information can be used his surgery. You can tell this to neuro- where tumor ends and normal begins so cal field was largely spiked by my teachers in biology and chemistry. the human body. Using this approach we can better control pros- to diagnose and monitor treatment for a surgeons today and they will tell you a they can remove the cancer completely in They challenged me to think and push myself beyond my comfort thetic devices, build things like cochlear implants to help patients zone. As a result I decided to study medical biology and later—due “hear light,” or develop a laser-based pacemaker. We’re developing wide range of diseases in humans and to six-year survival is still close to a record, a single surgery, I use light to solve such to my research interests in lasers and optics—pursue my Ph.D. in devices with small, implantable lasers to translate our discoveries discover the underlying causes of diseases even today. My father died in 1980 in India problems. I build instruments that can biomedical engineering. from the lab to the clinic, we are exploring new applications, and in pre-clinical models. This technology is when there was just one CT scanner in the detect cancers early using properties of entire country. Despite tremendous tech- light that behave differently in normal As an optics and laser person I work in an area known as bio- we’re working on the underlying scientific questions of how this currently undergoing rapid development nological developments since then, none compared to cancerous tissues. These medical photonics. Simply put, we try to solve all sorts of problems actually works. On a daily basis I collaborate with other engineers, in instrumentation, optical contrast agents, of them have done much to improve the instruments are like Star Trek’s “tricorder,” in medicine in the biomedical sciences using lasers, light, and optical physicists, medical doctors, biologists, neuroscientists, profession- and reconstruction algorithms which survival rate of patients with brain cancer. a handheld device that can scan a suspi- technologies. Light is truly amazing. We can cook, heat, burn, zap, als, and students at all levels. That last part is perhaps the most will open up new frontiers in light-based I decided early on I was going to help. My cious area with light and indicate whether drill, tear, and evaporate tissue using light with astounding precision; rewarding part because, after all, I am a teacher. medical sensing. The Vanderbilt Biomedi- love for medicine and physics drew me it is cancer. These are just examples of we can even do surgery on single cells. On the other hand, we can www.bme.vanderbilt.edu/bmeoptics cal Photonics Laboratory explores three to biomedical engineering for my career. some of my ongoing projects as part of the also change light with tissue and use the information from how the main areas of research: optical diagnostics, However, biomedical engineering didn’t biomedical photonics laboratories. optical therapeutics, and noninvasive exist as a major in India then so I came to www.bme.vanderbilt.edu/bmeoptics optical imaging. In the fall of 2010, the the United States to get my Ph.D. biomedical photonics labs moved to a newly renovated 6,300-square-foot state- of-the-art research space in the W.M. Keck Foundation Free Electron Laser Center. The new expanded space houses numerous lasers, wet lab space, cell culture facilities, dedicated instruments for optical spectros- copy and imaging, and an instrumentation design lab.

12 13 light for life MelissaSkala Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering

At some point, everybody wonders how rainbows happen. I was no function of the human body, including metabolism, oxygenation, different, and my curiosity about light only grew from there. I wanted and structure. This information can be used to determine if a cancer to know how light worked, how it interacted with its environment, is developing, what treatment would best suit a particular tumor, and what it can tell us about ourselves. In eighth grade while other and whether a tumor is responding to therapy. kids were making volcano models, I was using polarized light to I completed my Ph.D. at Duke University in 2007, and after look at structural stresses in model bridges. As an undergraduate in a short stint as a post-doc I landed my dream job at Vanderbilt physics at Washington State University, I spent a summer in Professor University. My research focuses on harnessing the power of light Mark Kuzyk’s optics lab and was fortunate to spend one year studying to improve the care of cancer patients. Vanderbilt is an ideal place abroad in Wales. There, I developed an appreciation for philanthropy to study light and cancer because of its strong optics and imag- and helping those who are less fortunate. As graduation neared, I ing cores, and collaborators in the world-class Vanderbilt-Ingram began looking at grad schools that could combine my interest in phys- Cancer Center. Light continues to reveal new secrets every day, and I ics with the opportunity to help people. am proud to be a part of this research and make a positive impact on I found a biomedical engineering lab at the University of human health. Wisconsin doing just that—using light to improve human health. http://research.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/skalalab Light-tissue interactions can provide a wealth of information on the

NEW YORK, NY Memorial Sloan BOSTON, MA BME Collaborator Connections Kettering: Surgery Harvard-MIT, HST; PITTSBURGH, PA Harvard Medical University of Pittsburgh: School: Chemical Engineering, Cardiology, STORRS, CT ROCHESTER, MI Bioengineering, University of Connecticut: International connections Oakland University: Physics and Surgery Biomedical Engineering

ONTARIO, CANADA LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND WEST LAFAYETTE, IN PISCATAWAY, NJ Princess Margaret Hospital, École Polytechnique Fédérale Purdue University Rutgers University, NJ Center Radiation Oncology de Lausanne KANSAS CITY, MO MEDINA, OH for Biomaterials Mercy Children’s INDIANAPOLIS, IN OrthoHelix Surgical SEOUL, S. KOREA PADOVA, ITALY Hospital: Surgery Roche Diagnostics Designs, Inc. BALTIMORE, MD Seoul National University Veneto Nanotech Johns Hopkins University: Biomedical Hanyang University ST. LOUIS, MO Engineering and Institute for Washington University: Surgery Computational Medicine NASHVILLE, TN MaxMobility; The Surgical Clinic; BETHESDA, MD Hart Freeland Roberts Design National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

SAN DIEGO, CA ATLANTA, GA DURHAM, NC University of California: Bioengineering, STARKVILLE, MS Emory University Duke University: Biomedical Pediatrics, and Surgery Mississippi State University: Engineering and Orthopaedics Agricultural and

BIRMINGHAM, AL CHAPEL HILL, NC University of Alabama: University of North Carolina: Biomedical Engineering, Pharmacology Cardiology, Pathology, and Medicine The Biomedical Engineering Department is connected locally, regionally, nationally and internationally to research collaborators. Here are a few featured connections. 14 15 admissions financial aid Undergraduate Graduate Undergraduate Admission to the undergraduate program is managed by the Office To apply for admission to the graduate program in biomedical engi- Vanderbilt is committed to enrolling talented, motivated students Expanded Aid Program of Undergraduate Admissions. Prospective students are encouraged neering, you must first meet the general requirements for admission from diverse backgrounds. More than 60 percent of Vanderbilt Beginning in the fall of 2009, need-based financial aid packages for to investigate the university by visiting the campus. Admissions staff by the Vanderbilt University Graduate School. Application for admis- students receive some type of aid. The university offers a full range all undergraduate students no longer include need-based loans. This are available to answer questions, arrange campus tours, provide sion may be made electronically through the Graduate School website of merit-based scholarships, need-based financial assistance, and latest initiative does not involve the use of income bands or “cut-offs” additional information about degree programs, and link visitors with at www.vanderbilt.edu/gradschool. financing/payment options to families of all income levels. More to pre-determine levels of eligibility and applies to all undergraduate appropriate campus offices and members of the university community. The Graduate School Catalog may be viewed at www.vanderbilt. information can be found at www.vanderbilt.edu/financialaid. students with demonstrated financial need who are U.S. citizens or edu/catalogs. eligible non-citizens. The end result is that, in addition to a realistic Contact academic year earnings expectation, all need-based aid packages Contact Office of Undergraduate Admissions now include scholarships and/or grants (gift assistance) in place of Vanderbilt University Engineering Graduate Programs need-based loans that would have previously been offered to meet 2305 West End Avenue ATTN: Biomedical Engineering demonstrated need. Nashville, TN 37203-1727 Vanderbilt University Phone: (615) 322-2561 or (800) 288-0432 411 Kirkland Hall Website: admissions.vanderbilt.edu Nashville, TN 37240 U.S.A. Phone: (615) 343-2727 Graduate Dates to Remember Website: www.vanderbilt.edu/gradschool Students wishing to be considered for financial awards administered Teaching or Research Assistantships may be supplemented by a August January 3 by the Graduate School should check the appropriate box under scholarship or fellowship through a competitive process supported Application packets available from Application deadline for Early Dates to remember “Financial Information” on page 2 of the online application and by exceptional applicant qualifications. In order to be considered Undergraduate Admissions Decision II and Regular Decision October 22 January 15 make certain that a complete application is received by January 15. for these service-free awards, an applicant’s file must be complete by Last date for applicants to take the Application deadline including all October 1 February 5 Prospective applicants are urged to apply for fellowships or grants January 15. The honor fellowships listed below are in addition to a paper-based general GRE supporting credentials Earliest deadline to submit CSS PROFILE and FAFSA due to from national, international, industrial, or foundation sources. More Teaching or Research Assistantship. the College Scholarship Service addresses as indicated November 19 February 15 information can be found at www.vanderbilt.edu/gradschool. • Harold Stirling Vanderbilt (HSV) Graduate Scholarships (CSS)/Financial Aid PROFILE Last date for international Admission offers made April 1 $6,000/year for up to five years to processors applicants to take the Test of Regular Decision notification April 15 Graduate students in the Department of Biomedical Engineer- English as a Foreign Language • University Graduate Fellowships (UGF) November 1 Deadline for applicants to respond ing seeking the Ph.D. degree receive a competitive stipend, tuition May 1 (TOEFL) $10,000/year for up to five years Application deadline for Early to offers of admission waiver, health insurance and reimbursement for some incidental fees. Postmark deadline for Provost’s Graduate Fellowships (PGF) Decision I December 1 This financial aid can be in the form of a Teaching Assistantship or a • matriculation deposit Research Assistantship. $10,000/year for up to five years December 15 Last date for applicants to take the computer-based (CBT), • Graduate Teaching Assistantships • School of Engineering Fellowships (IBM) Early Decision I notification general GRE Financial aid for the academic year to students who assist in super- $4,000/year for up to four years plus an award of $1,000 for profes- January 1 vised teaching of undergraduates sional development Earliest deadline to submit the • Graduate Research Assistantships • Thomas R. Harris Fellowship (TRH) Free Application for Federal Financial aid for the calendar year to students carrying out thesis $4,000/year for one year, honoring the founding chair of the Student Aid (FAFSA) to processors or dissertation research with support from a research grant Vanderbilt Department of Biomedical Engineering Prospective applicants are urged to apply for fellowships or grants from national, international, industrial, or foundation sources.

16 17 faculty

Adam Anderson Craig Duvall Thomas Harris Amanda Lowery Michael Miga Veniamin Sidorov Associate Professor of Assistant Professor of Professor of Biomedical Assistant Professor of the Associate Professor of Research Assistant Professor Biomedical Engineering Biomedical Engineering Engineering, Emeritus Practice of Biomedical Biomedical Engineering Electrophysiological Magnetic resonance imaging Drug delivery; regenerative Physiological Engineering Development of new properties of cardiac tissue (MRI) of the brain, including medicine; RAFT transport phenomena; Biomechanics and physiology paradigms in detection, in arrhythmia induction and functional MRI and diffusion polymerization; stimuli computer simulation instructor; nanomaterials and diagnosis, characterization, maintenance tensor imaging (DTI) responsive polymers; intracellular delivery of of cardiopulmonary function; infrared nanomedicine for cancer therapy and treatment of disease through the Melissa Skala biomacromolecular drugs; development of in biosensors of cardiopulmonary function integration of computational models into Franz Baudenbacher Mark Mackanos Assistant Professor of vivo vascular contrast agents research and clinical practice Assistant Professor of Frederick Haselton Research Assistant Professor Biomedical Engineering Biomedical Engineering Robert Galloway Jr. Professor of Biomedical Optical nerve stimulation K. Arthur Overholser Development of optical High resolution imaging Professor of Biomedical Engineering mechanism; confocal Professor of Biomedical imaging; optical spectroscopy of biomagnetic field; Engineering Coffee ring stain diagnostics microscopy/Raman Engineering and Chemical and nanotechnology for microrheology and cell-cell adhesion; Technology-guided therapy, for malaria; development of spectroscopy cancer detection; laser tissue Engineering cancer diagnosis and therapy microfluidic-based cellular instrumentation; medical devices, medical DNA logic operations for viral ablation Cardiovascular fluid Hak-Joon Sung cardiac force-excitation-coupling; imaging diagnostics; multispectral quantum dot-based mechanics; biorheology; Anita Mahadevan-Jansen Assistant Professor of bioenergetics and arrhythmogenesis retinal imaging; the role of Bves in the human physiological transport phenomena; cellular Todd Giorgio Professor of Biomedical Biomedical Engineering cornea endocytosis Xiaohong Bi Chair and Professor of Engineering Biomaterials and biointerface Research Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering Duco Jansen Applications of optical Cynthia Paschal for vascular and stem cell Biomedical Engineering Protease-responsive Professor of Biomedical techniques for diagnosis of Associate Professor of engineering Development of optical biosensors; theranostic Engineering pathology; use of fluorescence and Raman Biomedical Engineering John Wikswo spectroscopy for diagnosis systems for combined imaging Laser-tissue interaction; spectroscopics for cancer and precancer MR angiography, MR and CT Professor of Biomedical of disease and guidance of and drug delivery; gene and siRNA delivery; cellular effects of laser-induced detection imaging of lung physiology; Engineering surgery phage display for discovery of peptides for stimuli; application of light; lasers and optical cardiopulmonary MRI techniques and David Merryman Biological physics; drug and gene delivery applications technology in medicine and biology applications Mark Does Assistant Professor of biomedical engineering, Associate Professor of John Gore Paul King Biomedical Engineering Patricia Russ cardiac and cellular electrophysiology; Biomedical Engineering Professor of Biomedical Professor of Biomedical Mechanobiology; GPCR Research Assistant Professor cellular instrumentation and control; Characterization of neural Engineering Engineering, Emeritus targeted drug discovery; cell Instructor; retinal imaging electromagnetism; non-linear dynamics tissue and skeletal muscle Imaging science; magnetic Design instruction, and tissue mechanics; mechanically tunable of atherosclerosis; low- with MRI; compartmental modeling of water resonance imaging (MRI) analysis, and project biomaterials resource viral detection device proton relaxation and diffusion; MRI of guidance; background in development Valerie Guenst cortical bone; development/optimization of instrumentation, informatics, anesthesiology Adjunct Assistant Professor of Kevin Seale MRI pulse sequence Biomedical Engineering Judy Lewis Assistant Professor of the Instructor, Physiological Adjunct Assistant Professor of Practice of Biomedical Transport Phenomena Biomedical Engineering Engineering Instructor, Introduction to Nanophysiometer; Engineering nanobioreactor

18 19 affiliated faculty about Alfred B. Bonds III Bennett Landman Vanderbilt Nashville Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering Cornelius Vanderbilt had a vision of a place that would “contribute Vanderbilt’s hometown of Nashville is a vibrant, engaging city known Eduard Chekmenev Charles Manning to strengthening the ties that should exist between all sections of proudly as “Music City, U.S.A.” The university’s students, faculty, staff, Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences our common country” when he gave a million dollars to create a and visitors frequently cite Nashville as one of the perks of Vanderbilt, Andre Churchwell Victoria Morgan university in 1873. Today, that vision has been realized in Vanderbilt, an with its 330-acre campus located a little more than a mile from Associate Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences internationally recognized research university in Nashville, Tenn., with downtown. strong partnerships among its 10 schools, neighboring institutions, and From serving as home to the nation’s largest Kurdish population to Bruce Damon Jeffry Nyman the community. being named America’s friendliest city for three years in a row, Nashville Associate Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences Research Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics Vanderbilt offers undergraduate programs in the liberal arts and is a metropolitan place that exudes all of the charm and hospitality one Benoit Dawant Leon Partain sciences, engineering, music, education and human development, expects from a Southern capital. Professor of Electrical Engineering Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences as well as a full range of graduate and professional degrees. The The city was settled in 1779 and permanently became state combination of cutting-edge research, liberal arts education, nationally capital in 1843. The city proper is 533 square miles with a population Andre Diedrich Wellington Pham recognized schools of law, business, and divinity, the nation’s top- of nearly 570,000. Major industries include tourism, printing and Research Associate Professor of Medicine (Clinical Pharmacology) Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences ranked graduate school of education, and a distinguished medical publishing, technology manufacturing, music production, higher Zhaohua Ding David Piston center creates an invigorating atmosphere where students tailor their education, finance, insurance, automobile production, and health care Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics education to meet their goals and researchers collaborate to address the management. Nashville has been named one of the 15 best U.S. cities complex questions affecting our health, culture, and society. for work and family by Fortune magazine, was ranked as the No. 1 most Dan France Chad Quarles An independent, privately supported university, Vanderbilt is the popular U.S. city for corporate relocations by Expansion Management Research Associate Professor of Anesthesiology Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences largest private employer in Middle Tennessee and the second largest magazine, and was named by Forbes magazine as one of the 25 cities Paul Harris Anna Roe private employer based in the state. most likely to have the country’s highest job growth over the coming Research Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics Associate Professor of Psychology five years. Alan Herline Baxter Rogers Associate Professor of Surgery (Colon and Rectal) Research Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences ® S. Duke Herrell Ben Saville I n sig h t ◦ I n n ovatio n ◦ Im pac t Associate Professor of Surgery (Laparoscopy/Endourology) Assistant Professor of The Vanderbilt University School of Engineering is internationally recognized Stacy Klein-Gardner Seth Smith for the quality of its research and scholarship. Engineering faculty and students Associate Professor of the Practice of Teaching & Learning Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences share their expertise across multiple disciplines to address four specific Robert Labadie Thomas Yankeelov research initiatives that characterize the School’s commitment to help solve Associate Professor of Otolaryngology Associate Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences real-world challenges with worldwide impact. They are health care, energy and the environment, information systems, and defense and national security. All programs leading to the bachelor of engineering degree are accredited by ABET, Inc., 11 Market Pl., Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202, (410) 347-7700.

Vanderbilt University is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. “Vanderbilt” and the Vanderbilt logo are registered Contains 55% recycled content trademarks and service marks of Vanderbilt University. Produced by Vanderbilt University Creative Services and Vanderbilt Printing Services, 2011. (30% post-consumer) 20 Department of Biomedical Engineering PMB 351631 2301 Vanderbilt Place Nashville, TN 37235-1631

Campus location: 5824 Stevenson Center Phone: (615) 322-3521 Fax: (615) 343-7919 www.bme.vanderbilt.edu