Michael Weiler

BioE Ph.D. Defense Presentation

3:00PM, Thursday, April 23rd, 2015

MS&E G021

Georgia Institute of Technology

Advisor: J. Brandon Dixon, PhD

School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Committee:

Thomas Barker, Ph.D. - Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Edward Botchwey, Ph.D. - Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Co-Advisor

Stanley Rockson, M.D. - Stanford School of Medicine

Todd Sulchek, Ph.D. - School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

“Design and Optimization of Near-Infrared Functional Lymphatic Imaging in Health and Lymphedema”

The lymphatic vasculature is present in nearly all tissues of the body and serves three primary functions: (1) regulation of tissue fluid homeostasis through the transport of large proteins and excess interstitial fluid,  (2) immune cell trafficking, and (3) lipid transport.  When the normal function of the lymphatic system deteriorates, many complications can arise.  Loss of lymphatic pump function often leads to tissue fluid accumulation, fibrosis, and lipid deposition – a disease known as lymphedema.  Despite the critical roles that it performs, very little is known about the lymphatic vasculature in comparison to the blood vasculature.  One of the main reasons for this knowledge gap may be the lack of in vivo imaging techniques to non-invasively visualize and obtain quantifiable information regarding lymphatic function, both in health and disease.  New techniques are needed to better study lymphatic biology, elucidate the functional role of lymphatics and lymphangiogenesis in health and disease conditions, and better diagnose patients with lymphatic disease at an early stage before any resulting tissue damage is permanent.