Cell Line to Search for Osteosarcoma Agents
Osteosarcoma, a bone tumor of childhood, is lethal when unresponsive to chemotherapy. ER stress response, a cell survival mechanism that is triggered upon exposure to stressors such as chemotherapy, is one of the ways a tumor becomes resistant to chemotherapy. This project explores novel methods of producing a noncytotoxic EGFP-ATF6 construct to signal Endoplasmic Reticulum stress response.
Powering Wearable Microelectronics
Wearable low power biometric devices and body sensor network systems (BSNs) such as heart, respiration, and activity monitors are popular devices that are predicted to increase tenfold by 2018. This project focused on biomechanical energy harvesting from rib cage expansion using piezoelectric materials and frequency up conversion to power wearable microelectronics.
Cancer Stem Cells in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is a cancer of the mouth epithelium with an annual incidence rate in the US of nearly 48,000 cases annually and a 5-year survival rate of only 65%. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are believed to be responsible for progression of OSCC. The project’s main goal is to observe the effect of Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibition on oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Diabetic Retinopathy via Hypertensive Modeling
This interdisciplinary study develops a novel prognostic for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) by modeling hypertensive changes at arterial-venous (AV) crossings
Building Low-Cost Prosthetics
Building low-cost prosthetics by SLAM scanning the residual limbs of amputees.