Jerald Dumas - Advisor, Manu Platt

"The Advent of Protease Sensitive Technologies for Disease Detection, Treatment and Research Platforms"

Cysteine cathepsins are known to be upregulated in disease states such as cancer. Hence, there is a need for technologies to detect these proteases allowing for quick clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and the study of the pathological microenvironment. We utilize cathepsin zymography and biomaterials with the following aims: development of early disease detection devices, innovative treatment strategies, and novel research platforms.

Swetha Rathan - Advisor, Ajit Yoganathan
"Effects of Shear Stress on Aortic Valve Calcification"

Aortic valve (AV) calcification results in aortic stenosis and regurgitation; however its mechanism is not completely understood. We hypothesize that adverse mechanical environment can play a role in inducing AV disease apart from biochemical and genetic factors. Current study investigates the role of shear stress patterns on AV calcification. Our results suggest that low magnitude oscillatory shear stress can promote AV calcification.

The Graduate and Post-Doc (GaP) Seminar Series is a weekly event of research presentations by two graduate students or post-docs conducting bio-related research.  The series is organized and sponsored by the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) with additional support from the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering. It is held every Wednesday at 12:00pm in IBB 1128 and refreshments are provided. If your research group or department would like to present at future seminars, please contact Manu Platt, PhD at manu.platt@bme.gatech.edu.