{"684058":{"#nid":"684058","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Tiny Fans on the Feet of Water Bugs Could Lead to Energy Efficient, Mini Robots","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA new study explains how tiny water bugs use fan-like propellers to zip across streams at speeds up to 120 body lengths per second. The researchers then created a similar fan structure and used it to propel and maneuver an insect-sized robot.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe discovery offers new possibilities for designing small machines that could operate during floods or other challenging situations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead of relying on their muscles, the insects about the size of a grain of rice use the water\u2019s surface tension and elastic forces to morph the ribbon-shaped fans on the end of their legs to slice the water surface and change directions.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EOnce they understood the mechanism, the team built a self-deployable, one-milligram fan and installed it into an insect-sized robot capable of accelerating, braking, and maneuvering right and left.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study is featured\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Eon the cover of the journal \u003Cem\u003EScience.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/08\/tiny-fans-feet-water-bugs-could-lead-energy-efficient-mini-robots\u0022\u003ERead the entire story and see the robot in action on the College of Engineering website.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Researchers built an insect-sized robot that uses surface water and collapsable propellers as an idea to improve fast-moving machines that can operate in rivers or flooded areas. "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new study explains how tiny water bugs use fan-like propellers to zip across streams at speeds up to 120 body lengths per second. The researchers then created a similar fan structure and used it to propel and maneuver an insect-sized robot.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe discovery offers new possibilities for designing small machines that could operate during floods or other challenging situations.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A new study explains how tiny water bugs use fan-like propellers to zip across streams at speeds up to 120 body lengths per second"}],"uid":"27560","created_gmt":"2025-08-21 20:11:55","changed_gmt":"2025-10-24 19:13:09","author":"Jason Maderer","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-08-21T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-08-21T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677766":{"id":"677766","type":"image","title":"water-bug-hero.jpg","body":null,"created":"1755807401","gmt_created":"2025-08-21 20:16:41","changed":"1755807401","gmt_changed":"2025-08-21 20:16:41","alt":"a water bug standing on water","file":{"fid":"261702","name":"water-bug-hero.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/21\/water-bug-hero.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/21\/water-bug-hero.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1405312,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/21\/water-bug-hero.jpg?itok=uud43Bki"}}},"media_ids":["677766"],"groups":[{"id":"142761","name":"IRIM"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"152","name":"Robotics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194701","name":"go-resarchnews"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJason Maderer\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Engineering\u003Cbr\u003Emaderer@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["maderer@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"685409":{"#nid":"685409","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Nathan Wallace Takes Steps to Advance Prosthetics","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENathan Wallace was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency, a congenital limb disorder, which led to the amputation of his left foot at 8 months old. He was fitted for his first prosthetic at 13 months.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, the third-year biomedical engineering student is using his life experience to develop advanced prostheses as a member of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.epic.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EExoskeleton and Prosthetic Intelligent Controls (EPIC) Lab\u003C\/a\u003E. Wallace is part of the development and machine learning teams on an ongoing \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.epic.gatech.edu\/powered-knee-ankle-prosthesis\/\u0022\u003Evertically integrated project\u003C\/a\u003E led by Associate Professor Aaron Young and senior research scientist Kinsey Herrin. The teams are engineering a microprocessor-powered leg and ankle capable of mimicking gait and providing stability in walking patterns across various surfaces.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETraditional prosthetics, like the one Wallace uses, don\u2019t provide ankle flexion, but the current iteration of the lab\u2019s leg offers something that he views as an evolution of products on the market today. The latest tests allowed Wallace, while wearing the leg, to walk up a ramp with the ankle and knee adapting to the slope.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cA lot of our power comes from the ankle, and our version of the leg better recreates a complete gait cycle, which includes the knee and ankle flexion and everything in between. With my current prosthetic, I don\u2019t have that same gait control, so I\u2019m swinging my foot around and overcompensating on my right leg. With our leg, I\u2019m walking up the ramp normally, and it\u2019s creating a movement that I\u0027ve never felt before,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with the improved performance of the leg, Wallace and the team intend to use machine learning to assist in fitting patients with prosthetics that meet their unique needs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u0027re trying to get away from patients having to spend hours in an office tuning a prosthetic to their preferences. Instead, it allows the machine learning model to learn as the person walks on it. This can help reduce costs related to both time and personnel,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGrowing up, Wallace was an active child at recess and eventually became a high school wrestler. While there were times he felt he couldn\u2019t keep up with his classmates, he found ways to adapt. He credits his condition for helping him develop a strong work ethic and a desire to help others find the same confidence he has found as he\u2019s gotten older.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cLearning to embrace who I am has made me the person I am today. It\u2019s given me perspective and a capacity for empathy and sympathy for others in the disabled community,\u201d he said. \u201cMy past and my condition have driven me to where I am today, and I feel privileged to be at Georgia Tech. It touches a special place in my heart to know that this kind of work is going on, and that I can be a part of it.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOutside of the lab, Wallace is a member of the student organization \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.campuslabs.com\/engage\/organization\/tikkun-olam-makers\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETikkun Olam Makers\u003C\/a\u003E, which develops open-source solutions for members of disabled communities. He also creates props for DramaTech, and, continuing to push himself beyond his comfort zone, he recently starred in the student-run theater\u2019s production of \u003Cem\u003EEurydice\u003C\/em\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Born with a congenital limb disorder, Wallace wants to use his own experience to develop new prosthetics.  "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBorn with a congenital limb disorder, Wallace wants to use his own experience to develop new prosthetics.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Born with a congenital limb disorder, Wallace wants to use his own experience to develop new prosthetics.  "}],"uid":"36418","created_gmt":"2025-09-30 17:08:41","changed_gmt":"2025-10-08 16:14:02","author":"sgagliano3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678226":{"id":"678226","type":"image","title":"Nathan Wallace","body":"\u003Cp\u003ENathan Wallace testing the microprocessor-powered leg in the Exoskeleton and Prosthetic Intelligent Controls (EPIC) Lab at Georgia Tech. Submitted photo.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1759252630","gmt_created":"2025-09-30 17:17:10","changed":"1759252630","gmt_changed":"2025-09-30 17:17:10","alt":"Nathan Wallace in the lab","file":{"fid":"262221","name":"Screenshot-2025-09-29-at-1.15.01-PM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/30\/Screenshot-2025-09-29-at-1.15.01-PM.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/30\/Screenshot-2025-09-29-at-1.15.01-PM.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2233040,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/30\/Screenshot-2025-09-29-at-1.15.01-PM.png?itok=zWrJLCKm"}}},"media_ids":["678226"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.epic.gatech.edu","title":"EPIC Lab"}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"179350","name":"biomedical egnineering"},{"id":"1612","name":"BME"},{"id":"13559","name":"EPIC"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:steven.gagliano@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESteven Gagliano\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 Institute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"684329":{"#nid":"684329","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Algorithm Will See You Now \u2014 But Only If You\u2019re the Perfect Patient","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn the morning, before you even open your eyes, your wearable device has already checked your vitals. By the time you brush your teeth, it has scanned your sleep patterns, flagged a slight irregularity, and adjusted your health plan. As you take your first sip of coffee, it\u2019s already predicted your risks for the week ahead.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers warn that this version of AI healthcare imagines a patient who is \u0022affluent, able-bodied, tech-savvy, and always available.\u0022 Those who don\u2019t fit that mold, they argue, risk becoming invisible in the healthcare system.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Ideal Future\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn their study, published in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/10.1145\/3706598.3713118\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EProceedings of the ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the researchers analyzed 21 AI-driven health tools,\u0026nbsp;ranging from fertility apps and wearable devices to diagnostic platforms and chatbots. They used sociological theory to understand the vision of the future these tools promote \u2014 and the patients they leave out.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese systems envision care that is seamless, automatic, and always on,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/catherine-wieczorek-729a3890\/\u0022\u003ECatherine\u0026nbsp;Wieczorek\u003C\/a\u003E, a Ph.D. student in human-centered computing in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ic.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Interactive Computing\u003C\/a\u003E and lead author of the study. \u201cBut they also flatten the messy realities of illness, disability, and socioeconomic complexity.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFour Futures, One Narrow Lens\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring their analysis, the researchers discovered four recurring narratives in AI-powered healthcare:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECare that never sleeps.\u003C\/strong\u003E Devices track your heart rate, glucose levels, and fertility signals \u2014 all in real time. You are always being watched, because that\u2019s framed as \u201ccare.\u201d\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEfficiency as empathy.\u003C\/strong\u003E AI is faster, more objective, and more accurate. Unlike humans, it doesn\u2019t get tired or biased. This pitch downplays the value of human judgment and connection.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrevention as perfection.\u003C\/strong\u003E A world where illness is avoided through early detection if you have the right sensors, the right app, and the right lifestyle.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe optimized body.\u003C\/strong\u003E You\u2019re not just healthy, you\u2019re high-performing. The tech isn\u2019t just treating you; it\u2019s upgrading you.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s like healthcare is becoming a productivity tool,\u201d Wieczorek said. \u201cYou\u2019re not just a patient anymore. You\u2019re a project.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENot Just a Tool, But a Teammate\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis study also points to a critical transformation in which AI is no longer just a diagnostic tool; it\u2019s a decision-maker. Described by the researchers as \u201cboth an agent and a gatekeeper,\u201d AI now plays an active role in how care is delivered.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn some cases, AI systems are even named and personified, like \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/fairtility.com\/chloe\/\u0022\u003EChloe\u003C\/a\u003E, an IVF decision-support tool. \u201cChloe equips clinicians with the power of AI to work better and faster,\u201d its promotional materials state. By framing AI this way \u2014 as a collaborator rather than just software \u2014 these systems subtly redefine who, or what, gets to be treated.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cWhen you give AI names, personalities, or decision-making roles, you\u2019re doing more than programming. You\u2019re shifting accountability and agency. That has consequences,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ic.gatech.edu\/people\/shaowen-bardzell\u0022\u003EShaowen Bardzell\u003C\/a\u003E, chair of Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Interactive Computing and co-author of the study.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt blurs the boundaries,\u201d Wieczorek noted. \u201cWhen AI takes on these roles, it\u2019s reshaping how decisions are made and who holds authority in care.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECalculated Care\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany AI tools promise early detection, hyper-efficiency, and optimized outcomes. But the study found that these systems risk sidelining patients with chronic illness, disabilities, or complex medical needs \u2014 the very people who rely most on healthcare.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese technologies are selling worldviews,\u201d Wieczorek explained. \u201cThey\u2019re quietly defining who healthcare is for, and who it isn\u2019t.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy prioritizing predictive algorithms and automation, AI can strip away the context and humanity that real-world care requires.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAlgorithms don\u2019t see nuance. It\u2019s difficult for a model to understand how a patient might be juggling multiple diagnoses or understand what it means to manage illness, while also navigating other important concerns like financial insecurity or caregiving. They are predetermined inputs and outputs,\u201d Wieczorek said. \u201cWhile these systems claim to streamline care, they are also encoding assumptions about who matters and how care should work. And when those assumptions go unchallenged, the most vulnerable patients are often the ones left out.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAI for ALL\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers argue that future AI systems must be developed in collaboration with those who don\u2019t fit in the vision of a \u201cperfect patient.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cInnovation without ethics risks reinforcing existing inequalities. It\u2019s about better tech \u003Cem\u003Eand\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003Ebetter outcomes for real people,\u201d Bardzell said. \u201cWe\u2019re not anti-innovation. But technological progress isn\u2019t just about what we can do. It\u2019s about what we \u003Cem\u003Eshould\u003C\/em\u003E do \u2014 and for whom.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWieczorek and Bardzell aren\u2019t trying to stop AI from entering healthcare. They\u2019re asking AI developers to understand who they\u2019re really serving.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFunding:\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis work was supported by the National Science Foundation (Grant #2418059\u003C\/em\u003E).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers are warning that the future of AI-driven healthcare may look sleek and seamless \u2014 but only for those who fit the mold of an \u201cideal patient.\u201d They found that apps and algorithms consistently imagine users as affluent, able-bodied, and tech-savvy, while sidelining patients with chronic illness, disabilities, or complex lives. These systems promise nonstop monitoring, perfect prevention, and optimized bodies \u2014 turning healthcare into a productivity upgrade rather than a lifeline. By giving AI decision-making power, the industry risks shifting authority away from human care and toward algorithms. The researchers argue real innovation isn\u2019t just about efficiency or prediction; it\u2019s about building technologies that serve those most in need, ensuring that progress in healthcare doesn\u2019t leave the most vulnerable patients behind.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers warn that AI reshapes healthcare around an \u201cideal user,\u201d overlooking people who need medical intervention the most."}],"uid":"36410","created_gmt":"2025-09-02 14:26:43","changed_gmt":"2025-09-11 11:38:08","author":"mazriel3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-02T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-02T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677874":{"id":"677874","type":"image","title":"AI_Healthcare_1.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAn illustration representing a doctor working with an AI-powered health device.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1756821332","gmt_created":"2025-09-02 13:55:32","changed":"1756822519","gmt_changed":"2025-09-02 14:15:19","alt":"A doctor on a computer working with an AI-powered health device","file":{"fid":"261825","name":"AI_Healthcare_1.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/02\/AI_Healthcare_1.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/02\/AI_Healthcare_1.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2099622,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/02\/AI_Healthcare_1.png?itok=bkzB_jGF"}}},"media_ids":["677874"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMichelle Azriel, Sr. Writer-Editor\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["mazriel3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"684992":{"#nid":"684992","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Molecular \u2018Fossils\u2019 Offer Microscopic Clues to the Origins of Life \u2013 But They Take Care to\u00a0Interpret","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe questions of how humankind came to be, and whether we are alone in the universe, have \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/S1473550407003692\u0022\u003Ecaptured imaginations for millennia\u003C\/a\u003E. But to answer these questions, scientists must first understand life itself and how it could have arisen.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn our work as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=0SOG_SsAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=vi\u0022\u003Eevolutionary biochemists\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=e_IKMz4AAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003Eprotein historians\u003C\/a\u003E, these core questions form the foundation of our research programs. To study life\u2019s history billions of years ago, we often use clues called \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/embor.2013.162\u0022\u003Emolecular \u201cfossils\u201d\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 ancient structures shared by all living organisms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecently, we discovered that an important molecular fossil found in an ancient protein family \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/molbev\/msaf055\u0022\u003Emay not be what it seems\u003C\/a\u003E. The dilemma centers, in part, on a simple question: What does it mean if a simple molecular structure \u2013 the fossil \u2013 is found in every single organism on Earth? Do molecular fossils point to the seeds that gave rise to modern biological complexity, or are they simply the stubborn pieces that have resisted erosion over time? The answers have far-reaching implications for how scientists understand the origins of biology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFollow the Phosphorus to Follow Life\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELife is made of many different building blocks, one of the most important of which is the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/air-space-magazine\/phosporus-you-cant-have-life-without-it-least-earth-180967243\/\u0022\u003Echemical element phosphorus\u003C\/a\u003E. Phosphorus makes up part of your genetic material, powers complex metabolic reactions and acts as a molecular switch to control enzymes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPhosphorus compounds \u2013 specifically a charged form called phosphate \u2013 have a number of unique chemical properties that other biological compounds cannot match. In the words of the pioneering organic chemist F.H. Westheimer, they are chemically able to \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.2434996\u0022\u003Edo almost everything\u003C\/a\u003E.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir unique combination of stability, versatility and adaptability is why many researchers argue that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.popularmechanics.com\/space\/solar-system\/a19685943\/alien-life-phosphorus\/\u0022\u003Efollowing phosphorus is key to finding life\u003C\/a\u003E. The presence of phosphorus both close to home \u2013 in the ocean or on one of Saturn\u2019s moons \u2013 and in the farthest reaches of our galaxy is strong evidence for the potential for life beyond Earth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690272\/original\/file-20250910-56-jjsn6y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690272\/original\/file-20250910-56-jjsn6y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 alt=\u0022Chemical structure of a nucleotide, made of a phosphate, ribose sugar and base\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPhosphate is part of many essential biological molecules, including the building blocks of DNA. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/biology\/chapter\/9-1-the-structure-of-dna\/\u0022\u003ECharles Molnar and Jane Gair\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\u0022\u003ECC BY-SA\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf phosphorus is so critical to life, how did early biology \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/evolution.berkeley.edu\/from-soup-to-cells-the-origin-of-life\/how-did-life-originate\/\u0022\u003Epredating cells\u003C\/a\u003E first use it?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, biological organisms are able to make use of phosphates \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-is-a-protein-a-biologist-explains-152870\u0022\u003Ethrough proteins\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 molecular machines that regulate all aspects of life. By \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1039\/B9NJ00718K\u0022\u003Ebinding to proteins, phosphates\u003C\/a\u003E regulate metabolism and cellular communication, and they serve as a source of cellular energy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFurther, the process of phosphorylation, or adding a phosphate group to a protein, is ubiquitous in biology and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1098\/rstb.2012.0013\u0022\u003Eallows proteins to perform functions\u003C\/a\u003E their individual building blocks cannot. Without proteins, the existence of organisms such as bacteria and humans may not be possible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGiven how essential phosphorus is to life, scientists hypothesize that phosphate binding was among the first biological functions to emerge on Earth. In fact, current evidence suggests that the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7554\/eLife.64415\u0022\u003Efirst phosphate-binding proteins are truly ancient\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 even older than the last universal common ancestor, the hypothetical mother cell to all life on Earth that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pgen.1007518\u0022\u003Eexisted around 4 billion years ago\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EA Mysterious Phosphate-Binding Fossil\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne family of phosphate-binding proteins, called \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.1812400115\u0022\u003EP-loop NTPases\u003C\/a\u003E, regulates everything from the communication between cells to the storage of energy and are found across the tree of life. Because P-loop NTPases are among the most ancient protein families, analyzing their properties can provide key insights into both the emergence of proteins and how primitive life used phosphates.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough P-loop NTPases are diverse in structure, they share a common motif called a P-loop. This component binds to phosphate by wrapping a nest of amino acids \u2013 the building blocks that make up proteins \u2013 around the molecule. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7554\/eLife.64415\u0022\u003EEvery known organism\u003C\/a\u003E has multiple families of P-loop NTPase, which makes the P-loop an excellent example of a molecular fossil that can provide clues about the evolution of life. Our crude analysis of the human genome estimates that humans have about 5,000 copies of P-loops.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen part of a larger protein structure, the P-loop folds like origami into a shape that is ideal for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.1812400115\u0022\u003Ehugging a phosphate molecule\u003C\/a\u003E. These nests are extremely similar to each other, even when the surrounding proteins are only distantly related in function. A landmark study in 2012 argued that even if the P-loop nest is extracted from a protein, it can \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/prot.24038\u0022\u003Estill bind to phosphate\u003C\/a\u003E. In other words, the ability of a P-loop to form a nest is determined by its interactions with phosphate, not its protein scaffold.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis study provided the first evidence that some forms of the P-loop sequence could have functioned billions of years ago, even before the emergence of large, complex proteins. If true, this implies that P-loop nests may have seeded the emergence and evolution of many of the phosphate-binding proteins seen today.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EInterrogating the History of the P-loop\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe pioneer of bioinformatics, Margaret Oakley Dayhoff, hypothesized in 1966 that the large collection of big proteins seen today \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/anie.201609977\u0022\u003Earose from small peptides\u003C\/a\u003E that were duplicated and fused over long periods of time. Although P-loops may have evolved in a different way, Dayhoff\u2019s realization was the first to clarify how complex forms could have arisen from much simpler ones.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInspired by Dayhoff\u2019s hypothesis, we sought to interrogate the role that simple P-loops may have played in the evolution of the complex proteins key to life. Our findings challenge what\u2019s currently known about these molecular fossils.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690273\/original\/file-20250910-56-q9xtll.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690273\/original\/file-20250910-56-q9xtll.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 alt=\u0022Diagram showing the evolution of amino acids to oligopeptides to complex proteins\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Dayhoff hypothesis proposed that large, complex proteins arose from the duplication and merging of smaller, simpler peptides over time. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/biom12060793\u0022\u003EMerski et al.\/Biomolecules\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\u0022\u003ECC BY-SA\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsing computer models, we compared a range of P-loops from the P-loop NTPase family to a control group made of the same amino acids but in a different order. While these control loops are also found in proteins, they do not form nests.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough the P-loops and the control loops are very different in their nest-forming ability, we found that they both are able to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/molbev\/msaf055\u0022\u003Eform transient nests\u003C\/a\u003E when embedded in proteins. This meant that, contrary to popular belief, the amino acid sequence of P-loops aren\u2019t special in their ability to form nests \u2013 as would be expected if they alone were the seeds for many modern proteins.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EA Fossil Eroded Over Time\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur work strongly suggests that while the P-loop is a molecular fossil, the true nature of its form billions of years ago may have been eroded by the sands of time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, when \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/molbev\/msaf055\u0022\u003Ewe repeated our simulations\u003C\/a\u003E in a different solvent \u2013 specifically methanol \u2013 we found that P-loops situated in their parent proteins were able to regain some of their ability to form nests. This doesn\u2019t mean that being in methanol drove the first proteins with P-loops to form the nests critical for life. But it does emphasize the importance of considering the surrounding environment when studying peptides and proteins.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust as archaeologists know to be careful in how they \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/was-it-a-stone-tool-or-just-a-rock-an-archaeologist-explains-how-scientists-can-tell-the-difference-251126\u0022\u003Einterpret physical fossils\u003C\/a\u003E, historians of protein evolution could take similar care in their interpretation of molecular fossils. Our results complicate the current understanding of early protein evolution and, consequently, some aspects of the origins of life.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn resetting the field\u2019s broader understanding of how these crucial proteins emerged, scientists are poised to start rewriting our own evolutionary history on this planet.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/259271\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/molecular-fossils-offer-microscopic-clues-to-the-origins-of-life-but-they-take-care-to-interpret-259271\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe questions of how humankind came to be, and whether we are alone in the universe, have captured imaginations for millennia. But to answer these questions, scientists must first understand life itself and how it could have arisen.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The questions of how humankind came to be, and whether we are alone in the universe, have captured imaginations for millennia. But to answer these questions, scientists must first understand life itself and how it could have arisen."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-09-17 13:13:05","changed_gmt":"2025-09-18 16:37:43","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678052":{"id":"678052","type":"image","title":"ATP synthase is an enzyme that has been using phosphate to generate life\u2019s energy for millions of years.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EATP synthase is an enzyme that has been using phosphate to generate life\u2019s energy for millions of years. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/photo\/synthase-enzyme-complex-illustration-royalty-free-image\/1328336178\u0022\u003ENanoclustering\/Science Photo Library via Getty Images\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758125600","gmt_created":"2025-09-17 16:13:20","changed":"1758125600","gmt_changed":"2025-09-17 16:13:20","alt":"ATP synthase is an enzyme that has been using phosphate to generate life\u2019s energy for millions of years.","file":{"fid":"262030","name":"file-20250910-66-w313hf.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/17\/file-20250910-66-w313hf.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/17\/file-20250910-66-w313hf.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":182818,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/17\/file-20250910-66-w313hf.jpg?itok=wnfLg1eK"}}},"media_ids":["678052"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/molecular-fossils-offer-microscopic-clues-to-the-origins-of-life-but-they-take-care-to-interpret-259271","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthors:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/caroline-lynn-kamerlin-2416162\u0022\u003ECaroline Lynn Kamerlin\u003C\/a\u003E, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/liam-longo-2423771\u0022\u003ELiam Longo\u003C\/a\u003E, specially appointed associate professor, Earth-Life Science Institute, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/institute-of-science-tokyo-6525\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EInstitute of Science Tokyo\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"684037":{"#nid":"684037","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New NIH-Funded timsTOF HT Mass Spectrometer Boosts Proteomics Power in Georgia Tech IBB Core Facilities","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/bio\/research\/core-facilities\/systems-mass-spectrometry-core\u0022\u003ESystems Mass Spectrometry Core (SyMS-C)\u003C\/a\u003E at the Georgia Institute of Technology proudly announces the acquisition and installation of a cutting-edge Bruker timsTOF HT mass spectrometer integrated with a nanoElute2 liquid chromatography system. This transformative addition, funded by a prestigious S10 Shared Instrumentation Grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and led by Matthew Torres, associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences, reinforces Georgia Tech\u2019s leadership in pioneering proteomics research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe timsTOF HT is a next-generation mass spectrometer that combines trapped ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS) with high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight (qTOF) mass analysis to dramatically improve sensitivity, specificity, and throughput. Unlike traditional mass spectrometers, it uses dual TIMS funnels to separate ions by size-to-charge (rather than only mass-to-charge), enabling an added dimension of separation for complex biological samples. The system employs a method called PASEF (Parallel Accumulation\u2013Serial Fragmentation), which synchronizes ion separation, isolation, and fragmentation to dramatically boost speed and depth of proteome coverage. TIMS also distinguishes between isobaric species\u2014such as phosphopeptide positional isomers or structural isomers\u2014that are indistinguishable by standard mass spectrometry alone. Because it stores and organizes ions rather than filtering them destructively, the timsTOF HT is especially well suited for sensitive and high-throughput omics applications, including plasma and tissue proteomics. As a result, it represents a transformative platform for biological discovery across a wide range of research areas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFunded by the NIH S10 grant, this acquisition empowers the SyMS-C to support a wide range of research initiatives across Georgia Tech and its collaborative partners. The timsTOF HT\u2019s advanced capabilities, including dia-PASEF\u00ae and prm-PASEF\u00ae acquisition modes, will accelerate discoveries in biomarker identification, single-cell proteomics, and multiomics applications, addressing critical challenges in understanding disease mechanisms and developing novel diagnostics and therapies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are thrilled to integrate the Bruker timsTOF HT and nanoElute2 into our Systems Mass Spectrometry Core,\u201d said Rakesh Singh, director of the proteomics services at SyMS-C. \u201cThis advanced platform will enable our researchers to push the boundaries of proteomics, providing deeper insights into cellular mechanisms and supporting transformative biomedical research. We are deeply grateful to the NIH for their support through the S10 grant, which makes this cutting-edge technology accessible to our scientific community.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe installation of the timsTOF HT and nanoElute2 systems enhances the ability of SyMS-C to serve as a hub for interdisciplinary research, offering access to faculty, students, and external collaborators, including those within the Georgia Research Alliance and regional academic and clinical institutions. The core facility will provide technical expertise, consultation, and data analysis support to ensure researchers can fully leverage the system\u2019s capabilities. The SyMS-C anticipates that the new instrumentation will drive high-impact research, contributing to breakthroughs in personalized medicine, cancer research, and neurodegenerative disease studies. For more information about the Systems Mass Spectrometry Core or to inquire about access to the Bruker timsTOF HT and nanoElute2 systems, please contact \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: rsingh475@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ERakesh Singh\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThis transformative addition is funded by a prestigious S10 Shared Instrumentation Grant from the National Institutes of Health.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"This transformative addition is funded by a prestigious S10 Shared Instrumentation Grant from the National Institutes of Health."}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2025-08-21 14:05:19","changed_gmt":"2025-08-22 15:55:12","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-08-21T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-08-21T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677772":{"id":"677772","type":"image","title":"timsTOF HT","body":null,"created":"1755873362","gmt_created":"2025-08-22 14:36:02","changed":"1755877752","gmt_changed":"2025-08-22 15:49:12","alt":"Researchers Rakesh Singh (L) and Ludyanna Lebon with the timsTOF HT and nanoElute2 systems ","file":{"fid":"261709","name":"timsTOF.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/22\/timsTOF.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/22\/timsTOF.png","mime":"image\/png","size":918145,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/22\/timsTOF.png?itok=fUlN0Pd4"}}},"media_ids":["677772"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: rsingh475@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ERakesh Singh\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESenior Research Scientist\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"672055":{"#nid":"672055","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Challenges of Regulating Artificial Intelligence","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn 1950, Alan Turing asked, \u201cCan machines think?\u201d More than 70 years later, advancements in artificial intelligence are creating exciting possibilities and questions about its potential pitfalls.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EA recent executive order issued by President Joe Biden seeks to establish \u0022new standards for AI safety and security\u0022 while addressing consumer privacy concerns and promoting innovation. Georgia Tech experts have examined the key elements of the order and offer their thoughts on its scope and what comes next.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EA Precautionary Tale\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe order calls for the development of standards, tools, and tests to ensure the safe use of AI. From voice scams and phishing campaigns to larger-scale threats, the technology\u2019s potential dangers have been widely documented. But \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/margaret-e-kosal\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMargaret Kosal\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, says that additional context is often needed to dispel hysteria.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022No one is going to be hooking up AI to launch nuclear weapons, but AI capabilities may enable targeting, or enable the command and control and the decision-making time to be compressed,\u201d she said. \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nThe order will create an AI Safety and Security Board tasked with addressing critical threats. Companies developing foundation models that \u0022pose a serious risk to national security, national economic security, or national public health and safety\u201d will be required to notify the federal government when training the model and required to share the results of all red-team safety tests \u2014 a simulated cyberattack to test a system\u0027s defenses.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESince the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2023\/11\/28\/ai-like-chatgpt-is-creating-huge-increase-in-malicious-phishing-email.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ea CNBC report\u003C\/a\u003E details a 1,267% rise in phishing emails. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.cc.gatech.edu\/~srijan\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESrijan Kumar\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant professor in the College of Computing, attributes the increase to the technology\u0027s availability and an inability to rein in \u0022bad actors.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHe says these scams will only continue to get more sophisticated and personalized. They \u201ccan be created by knowing what you might be willing to fall prey to versus what I might fall prey to,\u201d said Kumar, whose systems have influenced misinformation detection on sites like X (formerly Twitter) and Wikipedia. \u201cAI is not going to autonomously do all of those bad things, but this order can ensure there are consequences for people who misuse it.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EA Delicate Balance\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBuilding an AI platform requires large amounts of data regardless of its intended application. Two primary goals of the executive order are protecting privacy and advancing equity.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETo protect personal data, the order tasks Congress with evaluating how agencies collect and use commercially available information and address algorithmic discrimination.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAcknowledging that everyone should be allowed to have their voice represented in the outputs of AI data sets, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/desai\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDeven Desai,\u003C\/a\u003E associate professor in the Scheller College of Business, noted, \u0022There are people who don\u0027t want to be part of data sets, which is their right, but this means their voices won\u0027t be reflected in the outputs.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe order also includes sections to address intellectual property concerns among inventors and creators, though legal challenges will likely set new precedents in the years ahead.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen that time comes, Kosal says that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/12\/27\/business\/media\/new-york-times-open-ai-microsoft-lawsuit.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Edefining \u201ctheft\u201d in the context of AI becomes the true challenge\u003C\/a\u003E and that, ultimately, money will play a significant role. \u0022If you spit out a Harry Potter book and read it yourself, nobody will care. It\u0027s when you start selling it to make money, and you don\u0027t share proceeds with the original people, then it becomes an issue,\u0022 she said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EWhat Does AI-Generated Mean?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe order instructs the Department of Commerce to develop guidelines for content authentication and watermarking to label AI-generated content. Desai questions what it means for something to be truly created by AI.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAn important distinction lies between using AI to assist a writer in organizing their thoughts and using the technology to generate content. He likens the trend to the music industry in the 1980s.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Synthesizers really changed people\u0027s ability to generate music and, for a while, people thought that was horrible. They can just program the music. They\u0027re not. I am still the human responsible for that music, or that article in this case, so what is the point of the label?\u0022 he asks.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAs AI assistance becomes commonplace in content creation, trusting the source of information is increasingly important. Recently, articles published on Sports Illustrated\u0027s website \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/futurism.com\/sports-illustrated-ai-generated-writers\u0022\u003Efeatured AI-generated content\u003C\/a\u003E provided by a third-party company that had used a machine to write the content and create fake bylines. Sports Illustrated, which may not have known of the problem, ran the material without disclosure to readers. CEO Ross Levinsohn was ousted shortly after the story broke.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cPerhaps if the third party had disclosed its use of AI software, SI would have been able to assess how much AI was used and then chosen not to run the material, or to run it with a disclaimer that AI helped write the material,\u201d Desai said. \u0022Of course, even if they label the content as AI-generated, a reader still won\u0027t know exactly how much of the content came from AI or a human.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EAI and the Workforce\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAs AI systems and models become more sophisticated, workers may become more concerned about being replaced. To counteract these concerns, the order calls for a study to examine AI\u2019s potential impact on labor markets and investments in workforce training efforts.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EKumar compares the rise of AI to similar technological innovations throughout history and sees it as an opportunity for workers and industries to adapt. \u0022It\u0027s less a matter of AI replacing workers and more of reskilling people to use the new technology. It\u0027s no different from when assembly lines in the auto industry were created.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EPromoting Innovation and Competition\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe power to harness the full potential of AI has initiated a race to the top. Desai believes that part of the executive order providing resources to smaller developers can help level the playing field.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022There is a possibility here for markets to open up. Current players using models that weren\u0027t built with transparency in mind might struggle, but maybe that\u0027s OK.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe issue of reliability and transparency comes into focus for Desai, especially as it relates to government usage of AI. The order calls on agencies to \u0022acquire specified AI products and services faster, more cheaply, and more effectively through more rapid and efficient contracting.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen taxpayer dollars are at stake, government can\u2019t afford to trust a technology it doesn\u2019t fully understand \u2014 a topic Desai \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2959472\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehas explored elsewhere\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0022You can\u2019t just say, \u2018We don\u2019t know how it works, but we trust it.\u2019 That\u2019s not going to work. So that\u2019s where there may be a slowdown in the government\u2019s ability to use private sector software if they can\u2019t explain how the thing works and to show that it doesn\u2019t have discriminatory issues.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EWhat\u0027s Next\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EPromoting and policing the safe use of AI cannot be done independently. Georgia Tech experts agree that participation on a global scale is necessary. To that end, the European Union will unveil its comprehensive EU AI Act, which includes a similar framework to the president\u0027s executive order.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDue to the evolving nature of AI, the executive order or the EU\u0027s actions will not be all-encompassing. Law often lags behind technology, but Kosal points out that it\u0027s crucial to think beyond what currently exists when crafting policy.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EExperts also agree that AI cannot be regulated or governed through a single document and that this order is likely the first in a series of policymaking moves. Kosal sees tremendous opportunity with the innovation surrounding AI but hopes the growing fear of its rise does not usher in another AI winter, in which interest and research funding fade.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"As innovation surrounding artificial intelligence continues, Georgia Tech experts offer their thoughts on the scope of the recent executive order and the challenges ahead in regulating AI."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs innovation surrounding artificial intelligence continues, Georgia Tech experts offer their thoughts on the scope of the recent executive order and the challenges ahead in regulating AI.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"As innovation surrounding artificial intelligence continues, Georgia Tech experts offer their thoughts on the scope of the recent executive order and the challenges ahead in regulating AI."}],"uid":"36418","created_gmt":"2024-01-11 19:25:53","changed_gmt":"2024-04-10 21:07:00","author":"sgagliano3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-01-11T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-01-11T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"672744":{"id":"672744","type":"image","title":"Artificial Intelligence and Policy","body":null,"created":"1705003002","gmt_created":"2024-01-11 19:56:42","changed":"1705003002","gmt_changed":"2024-01-11 19:56:42","alt":"Artificial Intelligence and Policy","file":{"fid":"256040","name":"GettyImages-1191080384.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/01\/11\/GettyImages-1191080384.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/01\/11\/GettyImages-1191080384.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":15716234,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/01\/11\/GettyImages-1191080384.jpg?itok=QW7a-19y"}}},"media_ids":["672744"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/ai-am-i","title":"AI: Am I...The Future of Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"2556","name":"artificial intelligence"},{"id":"8144","name":"Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"},{"id":"39451","name":"Electronics and Nanotechnology"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESteven Gagliano\u003C\/a\u003E - Institute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"667209":{"#nid":"667209","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Founding Director of Integrated Cancer Research at Tech Publishes \u2018A Patient\u2019s Guide to Cancer: Understanding the Causes and Treatments of a Complex Disease\u2019","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThere are times when John McDonald, emeritus professor in the School of Biological Sciences and founding director of Georgia Tech\u2019s\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/icrc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E Integrated Cancer Research Center\u003C\/a\u003E, is asked to share his special insight into cancer.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOver the years, I\u2019ve gotten calls from non-scientist friends and others who have been diagnosed with cancer, and they call me to get more details on what\u2019s going on, and what options are available,\u201d said McDonald, also a former chief scientific officer with the Atlanta-based Ovarian Cancer Institute.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s the primary motivation why McDonald wrote \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Patients-Guide-Cancer-Understanding-Treatments\/dp\/B0BXNJLYM4\/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=\u0026amp;sr=\u0022\u003EA Patient\u0027s Guide to Cancer: Understanding the Causes and Treatments of a Complex Disease\u003C\/a\u003E, which was published by Raven Press LLC (Atlanta) and is now available at Amazon or Barnes and Noble in paperback and ebook editions. The book describes in non-technical language the processes that cause cancer, and details on how recent advances and experimental treatments are offering hope for patients and their families.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA book for the proactive patient\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMcDonald said he couldn\u2019t go into detail for every type of cancer, but provides a generally applicable background for the disease. For those who want more information, he provides links to other resources, including videos, that provide more detail on specific types of cancer. \u201cThere\u2019s not much out there in one place for patients who want to understand the underlying causes of cancer, and the spectrum of therapies currently available,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMcDonald, who was honored in January by the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (CORE) as one of \u201cToday\u2019s Innovators,\u201d also didn\u2019t want A Patient\u2019s Guide to Cancer to be a lengthy book, and it checks in at only 86 pages.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMcDonald believes that when patients talk to their physicians about cancer treatments, \u0026nbsp;they should ideally have a basic understanding of the underlying cause of their cancer, as well as a general awareness of the range of therapies currently available, and what may be coming down the road in the future.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy book is specifically designed to provide newly diagnosed cancer patients who are not scientists with this kind of background information, empowering them to play a more informed role in the selection of appropriate treatments for their disease\u201d.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe current experimental treatment landscape; McDonald\u2019s 2023 research goals\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMcDonald\u2019s own cancer research has led to two related startup companies, co-founded with School of Biological Sciences colleagues.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMcDonald is working with postdoctoral researcher Nick Housley on using nanoparticles to deliver powerful drugs to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. The other company, founded in collaboration with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Patients-Guide-Cancer-Understanding-Treatments\/dp\/B0BXNJLYM4\/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=\u0026amp;sr=\u0022\u003EJeffrey Skolnick\u003C\/a\u003E, Regents\u0027 Professor, Mary and Maisie Gibson Chair \u0026amp; Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Computational Systems Biology, uses machine learning to create personalized diagnostic tools for ovarian cancer.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHe and his lab team are also preparing to submit a research paper that builds off their 2021 study on gene network interactions that could provide new chemotherapy targets for breast cancer. That paper focuses on the three major subtypes of breast cancer. McDonald and his colleagues will also soon submit another study detailing genetic changes that happen with the onset and progression of ovarian cancer.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen it comes to current experimental treatments, McDonald says he\u2019s especially excited about \u0026nbsp;the potential of cancer immunotherapy, which uses the body\u2019s own immune system to fight cancer cells. But he writes in A Patient\u2019s Guide to Cancer that because these drugs are also delivered systemically, healthy tissues can also be affected, potentially leading to autoimmunity or the self-destruction of our normal cells.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn the future, I believe many of the negative side-effects currently associated with the system-wide delivery of cancer drugs will be averted by the use of nanoparticles designed to target therapies specifically to tumors\u201d.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EProviding newly diagnosed cancer patients with basic understanding of the underlying cause of their cancer, a general awareness of the range of therapies currently available, and what may be coming down the road in the future.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Providing newly diagnosed cancer patients with basic understanding of the underlying cause of their cancer, a general awareness of the range of therapies currently available, and what may be coming down the road in the future.\u00a0"}],"uid":"27195","created_gmt":"2023-04-10 16:48:24","changed_gmt":"2023-04-11 16:49:38","author":"Colly Mitchell","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-04-03T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-04-03T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"670488":{"id":"670488","type":"image","title":"John McDonald, Emeritus Professor in the School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Tech","body":null,"created":"1681145806","gmt_created":"2023-04-10 16:56:46","changed":"1681145862","gmt_changed":"2023-04-10 16:57:42","alt":"John McDonald, Emeritus Professor in the School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Tech","file":{"fid":"253352","name":"john_mcdonald_0.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/04\/10\/john_mcdonald_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/04\/10\/john_mcdonald_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1099148,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/04\/10\/john_mcdonald_0.png?itok=VHjiP2YI"}}},"media_ids":["670488"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:renay.san@cos.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ERenay San Miguel\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECommunications Officer II\/Science Writer\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["renay.san@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"667013":{"#nid":"667013","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Kosal Talks Biotechnology and Security in SIPRI Video Series on Emerging Technology Risks ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMargaret E. Kosal, associate professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, is featured in a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sipri.org\/news\/2023\/new-video-series-biosecurity-risks-and-emerging-technology\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Enew video series\u003C\/a\u003E on biosecurity risks and emerging technology produced by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe series features international experts from fields such as genetics, bioethics, international security, and microbiology and is part of SIPRI\u2019s efforts to develop a bio-risk assessment toolkit for academics and researchers in the life sciences.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EKosal, who earned a Ph.D. in chemistry, focuses her research on reducing the threat of weapons of mass destruction and understanding the role of emerging technologies for security. She was the only expert chosen from the Western hemisphere.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn her \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/youtu.be\/TGyNuigylbo\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Einterview\u003C\/a\u003E, Kosal discusses the key security challenges related to biosecurity and the importance of addressing them.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe need to start thinking about groups of technologies, about how these things converge, and so that, I would say, is one of the biggest challenges,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EKosal\u2019s involvement in the workshop and series illustrates the commitment of the Nunn School and Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts to impactful global engagement and interdisciplinary work bridging the social sciences and technology.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EKosal emphasized the value of collaborative efforts such as SIPRI\u2019s workshop in establishing global norms and reducing the risks surrounding emerging technologies.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s the culmination of these different efforts that build up as we go back, some of us go back to teaching, some go back to positions in governments or if they have chances to influence political actors. There\u2019s a great value in this kind of work.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENunn School Associate Professor Margaret E. Kosal is featured in a Stockholm International Peace Research Institute video series on biosecurity risks and emerging technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Nunn School Associate Professor Margaret E. Kosal is featured in a Stockholm International Peace Research Institute video series on biosecurity risks and emerging technology."}],"uid":"34600","created_gmt":"2023-03-31 21:39:32","changed_gmt":"2023-04-05 15:03:33","author":"mpearson34","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"670456":{"id":"670456","type":"image","title":"White hand holding a smartphone with an opaque digital screen in front.","body":null,"created":"1680706915","gmt_created":"2023-04-05 15:01:55","changed":"1680706915","gmt_changed":"2023-04-05 15:01:55","alt":"White hand holding a smartphone with an opaque digital screen in front.","file":{"fid":"253314","name":"MicrosoftTeams-image (39).png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/04\/05\/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%2839%29.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/04\/05\/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%2839%29.png","mime":"image\/png","size":163400,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/04\/05\/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%2839%29.png?itok=zBUcp0MI"}}},"media_ids":["670456"],"groups":[{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"1285","name":"Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EMichael Pearson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683155":{"#nid":"683155","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Improved Cancer Detection, Better MRI Imaging Among 2025-2026 Biolocity Awardees","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFive teams of researchers from Georgia Tech and Emory University were selected to accelerate their journey from lab to market. Projects include improved cancer detection and therapies, a precise surgical tool and better MRI imaging. Teams will receive funding and commercialization support during the year. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/news\/improved-cancer-detection-better-mri-imaging-among-2025-2026-biolocity-awardees\u0022\u003ERead more about each project here\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECommercialization program in Coulter BME announces project teams who will receive support to get their research to market.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Commercialization program in Coulter BME announces project teams who will receive support to get their research to market."}],"uid":"35963","created_gmt":"2025-07-16 15:50:54","changed_gmt":"2025-09-11 17:21:40","author":"kpetty30","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677435":{"id":"677435","type":"image","title":"Biolocity 2025 Social and Full Pitch Day ","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommercialization program in Coulter BME announces project teams who will receive support to get their research to market.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1752679867","gmt_created":"2025-07-16 15:31:07","changed":"1752680057","gmt_changed":"2025-07-16 15:34:17","alt":"A photo shot from the back of a conference room with people sitting at conference tables while a person at the front of the room shows a presentation on a flat TV screen","file":{"fid":"261331","name":"biolocity-pitch-day-2025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/16\/biolocity-pitch-day-2025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/16\/biolocity-pitch-day-2025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":12505488,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/16\/biolocity-pitch-day-2025.jpg?itok=OCwrhaMN"}}},"media_ids":["677435"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"182840","name":"Biolocity"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"192255","name":"go-commercializationnews"},{"id":"192256","name":"go-commercializationreserach"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kelly.petty@bme.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EKelly Petty\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications\u003Cbr\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"667313":{"#nid":"667313","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Announcing the Recipients of the 2022-2023 Krish Roy \u2013 GRA Travel Awards ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Krish Roy - GRA Travel Award is a new travel award endowed by Professor Krishnendu Roy with funding provided by the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA). Roy is a Regents\u2019 Professor and the Robert A. Milton Endowed Chair in Biomedical Engineering. He also serves as Director of the NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT), the Marcus Center for Cell Therapy Characterization and Manufacturing (MC3M), and the Center for ImmunoEngineering.\u0026nbsp;The award was designed to support to IBB-affiliated undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees conducting research in cell manufacturing, drug delivery, immunoengineering, and regenerative medicine.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETen finalists (pictured left) were selected to receive a stipend to travel to a domestic or international conference or workshop to present their research work.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Krish Roy\u0026nbsp;Travel\u0026nbsp;award allowed me to participate in my first conference of my\u0026nbsp;graduate school career.\u0022 said\u0026nbsp;Parisa Keshavarz-Joud.\u0026nbsp;\u0022I had the opportunity to present a poster on my research at the Physical Virology Gordon Research Conference in January 2023 and interact with experts in the field. This experience broadened my knowledge of the field and helped me in developing new ideas about the next steps of my project.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EElijah Holland used his award in January to attend the\u0026nbsp;Fibronectin Gordon Research Conference in Ventura, California. In expressing gratitude for the award, Holland shared that he was able to meet leaders in the cell adhesion field and gave his first oral research presentation, titled \u0022Mechanotransduction at Focal Adhesions: Interplay among Force, FAs, and YAP.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFourth-year ChemE PhD student Hyun Jee Lee plans to use the award to her\u0026nbsp;support her first experience at an international seminar and conference, where she will present her research and connect with other researchers around the world. Lee\u0027s research focus is developing microfluidic tools to study cellular and molecular mechanisms in small organisms. \u0022I\u0027m particularly interested in investigating brain activity changes associated with learning in\u0026nbsp;C. elegans.\u0022 Lee explained. \u0022I\u0027m very\u0026nbsp;grateful to have received the award.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAwardees (pictured from top left to right):\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EJohn Cox, Graduate Research Assistant, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EYarelis Gonzalez-Vargas, Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETravis Rotterman, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Biological Sciences\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWenting Shi, Graduate Research Assistant, Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EKamisha Hill, Graduate Research Assistant, Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EParis Keshavarz-Joud, Graduate Research Assistant, Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EElijah Holland, Graduate Research Assistant, Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHun Jee Lee, Graduate Student, Chemical Engineering\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMaeve Janecka,\u0026nbsp;Undergraduate Student, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESunny (Chao-yi) Lu, Graduate Research Assistant, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Krish Roy - GRA Travel Award is a new travel award endowed by Professor Krishnendu Roy with funding provided by the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA). Roy is a Regents\u2019 Professor and the Robert A. Milton Endowed Chair in Biomedical Engineering. He also serves as Director of the NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT), the Marcus Center for Cell Therapy Characterization and Manufacturing (MC3M), and the Center for ImmunoEngineering.\u0026nbsp;The award was designed to support to IBB-affiliated undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees conducting research in cell manufacturing, drug delivery, immunoengineering, and regenerative medicine.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETen finalists (pictured left) were selected to receive a stipend to travel to a domestic or international conference or workshop to present their research work.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Spotlight on the recipients of the award"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2023-04-13 14:27:42","changed_gmt":"2023-05-16 21:30:54","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-04-13T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-04-13T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"670528":{"id":"670528","type":"image","title":"Final_GRA awardees.png","body":null,"created":"1681406289","gmt_created":"2023-04-13 17:18:09","changed":"1681406289","gmt_changed":"2023-04-13 17:18:09","alt":"Awardees pictured.","file":{"fid":"253407","name":"Final_GRA awardees.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/04\/13\/Final_GRA%20awardees.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/04\/13\/Final_GRA%20awardees.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2092506,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/04\/13\/Final_GRA%20awardees.png?itok=dNowNokF"}}},"media_ids":["670528"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"192259","name":"cos-students"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager, IBB\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"667720":{"#nid":"667720","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Five Georgia Tech Students Named 2023 Goldwater Scholars","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u00222023 Goldwater Recipients (1080 \u00d7 1080 px).png\u0022 height=\u00221080\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/oue.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/wide\/public\/2023-04\/2023%20Goldwater%20Recipients%20%281080%20%C3%97%201080%20px%29.png?itok=TBLQDtqC\u0022 width=\u00221080\u0022 \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Goldwater reviewers faced the difficult task of selecting scholarship recipients from a pool of 1,267 outstanding undergraduates nominated by 427 institutions. When added to the 70 sophomores from the 2022 competition, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation will support a total of 483 scholars this year.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAmong the recipients are five outstanding undergraduate students from Georgia Tech: Jim James, Maeve Janecka, Velin \u0022Venny\u0022 Kojouharov, Dawei Liu, and Nadia Qutob. These students were selected based on their exceptional achievements and potential for future success in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJim James\u003C\/strong\u003E, a computer science Major who also won an Astronaut Scholarship last year, is focusing his research on a combination of applications of deep learning in materials science and inverse reinforcement learning. James credits mentor Ben Blaiszik for being instrumental in developing his interest in a research career, while Ashwin Pananjady and Vidya Muthukumar helped him connect the math he studied in his coursework to cutting-edge research. \u0022From the start of my undergraduate education, Prestigious Fellowships Advising helped me understand what steps I needed to take to make myself competitive for the Goldwater Scholarship,\u0022 said James. \u0022When it came time to apply for the award, Karen Mura gave me advice on my application essays and helped me revise them several times until they were well-refined.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMaeve Janecka\u003C\/strong\u003E, a chemical and biomolecular engineering major, focused her research on her undergraduate thesis project, which studies the drug deliveries of a novel orthopedic implant material. \u0022I have been fortunate to have had two incredible mentors since my first year at Georgia Tech,\u0022 said Janecka. \u0022Champion is my research advisor, and she has been an invaluable guide as I continue to develop my technical skillset. Chrissy Spencer has been a wonderful academic resource and helped me grow as a leader. I also want to thank my graduate advisor, Thomas Pho, for his support throughout our research process and for the time he has taken to mentor me as a future Ph.D. student.\u0022 In the future, she wants to research diagnostic tools for the early detection of endometriosis.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVelin \u0022Venny\u0022 Kojouharov\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;is a mechanical engineering major whose research is inspired by animals and the way they move. \u0022These bioinspired robots help advance the field of robotics by expanding our ability to move in natural environments,\u0022 said Kojouharov. His mentor, Daniel Goldman, has been his research mentor since his first year at Georgia Tech. \u0022He has given me the resources, motivation, and passion for the research that I do and has inspired me to continue doing it,\u0022 said Kojouharov. \u0022My graduate student mentor, Ph.D. student Tianyu Wang, has also been crucial to my success and is the person responsible for teaching me almost everything that I know about robotics, physics, and biology.\u0022 Kojouharov also thanks Karen Mura for her support in the application process. \u0022Through our numerous meetings, she has helped me figure out my story and made me believe in myself enough to apply for fellowships and scholarships.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDawei Liu\u003C\/strong\u003E, a biomedical engineering major, centered his research around the use of immune cells, specifically those equipped with engineered chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), to target and eliminate tumors. Liu is grateful to have the support of his family, friends, and mentors as he conducted his research. \u0022I want to thank my graduate student mentor Miguel Armenta Ochoa and Krish Roy for their guidance, and faculty mentors Pinaki Banerjee, Hind Rafei, and Katy Rezvani for letting me contribute to their work,\u0022 said Liu. \u0022I know for certain that without their help, I wouldn\u0027t have had any of these amazing opportunities. I hope that receiving this award is one way I can give back.\u0022 Liu worked extensively with Pre-Graduate \u0026amp; Pre-Professional (PGPP) Advising to craft his application materials and met with Karen Mura several times to revise his essays for approval from his research mentors.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENadia Qutob\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;is a physics major whose research focuses on gravitational wave data analysis with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), specifically parameter estimation optimization for the high signal-to-noise ratio regime. Qutob\u0027s mentors, Laura Cadonati and Meg Millhouse, were instrumental during her time at LIGO. \u0022Their guidance and patience have cultivated an environment where I can thrive and reach my full research potential. I wouldn\u0027t be where I am today without them,\u0022 she said. She also took advantage of Prestigious Fellowships Advising for support through the application process. \u0022Karen Mura and Shannon Dobranski were instrumental in the success of my Goldwater application,\u0022 Qutob said. \u0022They were available to proofread my application materials, answer questions, and offer suggestions at every stage of the application process.\u0022 In the future, Qutob wants to pursue a Ph.D. in astrophysics and conduct research on dark matter\u0027s influence on the formation of galaxies.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EKaren Mura, prestigious fellowships advisor, said, \u201cI am so proud of the accomplishments and successes of these students. They worked diligently on their Goldwater applications, which required several short answer essays and a three-page research essay. In addition, this marks the first time that Georgia Tech has had five recipients \u2013 the largest number of recipients allowed by Goldwater. Each institution is allowed to nominate four applicants and a fifth applicant if they are a transfer student for the national competition per year.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years, including 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate. Its goal is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and intend to pursue careers in these fields.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Office of Undergraduate Education is pleased to announce that five Georgia Tech undergraduates have been awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship for 2023.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"5 Georgia Tech undergraduates have been awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship"}],"uid":"28822","created_gmt":"2023-05-11 19:19:05","changed_gmt":"2023-05-11 19:21:54","author":"Cory Hopkins","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-04-14T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-04-14T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/fellowships.oue.gatech.edu","title":"Prestigious Fellowships"},{"url":"https:\/\/oue.gatech.edu","title":"Office of Undergraduate Education"}],"groups":[{"id":"98311","name":"Fellowships Office"},{"id":"281961","name":"Office of Undergraduate Education \u0026 Student Success"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"5731","name":"fellowships"},{"id":"12821","name":"fellowships office"},{"id":"172055","name":"office of undergraduate education"},{"id":"1561","name":"undergraduate education"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["cory.hopkins@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"667339":{"#nid":"667339","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Nucleic Acid-Based Devices Will Rapidly Diagnose Sepsis, Respiratory Infections","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA multidisciplinary team led by Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) researchers has received $14.7 million in funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop novel diagnostic devices able to rapidly identify the bacteria causing sepsis \u2013 and viruses that cause respiratory infections such as RSV, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nThe novel nucleic acid detection devices will use the CRISPR Cas13a enzyme to initiate a synthetic biology workflow that will lead to the production of a visible signal if a targeted infectious agent is present in a sample of blood \u2013 or fluid from a nasal or throat swab. The devices will be simple to use, similar to the lateral-flow technology in home pregnancy tests. The devices will provide diagnostic capabilities to low-resource areas such as clinics and battlefield medical units, allowing treatment of infections to begin more quickly \u2013 potentially saving lives.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis new technology will make it much faster and more cost-effective to diagnose these infections,\u201d said \u003Cstrong\u003EMike Farrell\u003C\/strong\u003E, a Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) principal research scientist who is leading the project. \u201cYou would obtain a sample, put it into a device, diagnose the underlying pathogen, and be able to provide a treatment. This could be a huge leap forward in rapidly diagnosing these diseases where sophisticated laboratory testing isn\u2019t available.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFunded by DARPA\u2019s Detect It with Gene Editing Technologies (DIGET) program, the project \u2013 known as Tactical Rapid Pathogen Identification and Diagnostic Ensemble (TRIAgE) \u2013 also includes researchers from Emory University and two private sector companies. The goal will be to detect 10 different pathogens with each device.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDetection Reaction Begins with CRISPR Cas13a Enzyme\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDetection of a pathogen will begin with exposure of a patient sample to the CRISPR Cas13a enzyme with guide proteins containing RNA genetic sequences from the targeted pathogens. If a genetic sequence in the device matches a sequence in the patient sample, the enzyme will begin breaking down the targeted RNA.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nDevelopment of the CRISPR Cas13a component of the project will be led by \u003Cstrong\u003EPhil Santangelo\u003C\/strong\u003E, a professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University and one of the team\u2019s collaborators. CRISPR Cas13a differs from Cas9 technology, which has become known for its ability to edit DNA, which Cas13A will not do.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOnce the Cas13a enzyme breaks down the pathogen RNA, that will trigger additional reactions to amplify the signal and create a visible blue line in the device within 15 minutes.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESynthetic Biology Workflow Signals Pathogen Presence\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe will be assembling a synthetic biology workflow that takes an initial signal created by CRISPR-based nucleic acid detection and amplifies it using the same cell-free synthetic biology approaches we have used to create sensors for detecting small molecules and metals: turning on genes that create a visual readout so that expensive instruments, and even electricity, are unnecessary,\u201d explained Mark Styczynski, a professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and another team collaborator.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs part of the DIGET project, we will be leveraging my group\u2019s expertise in minimal-equipment diagnostics,\u201d he added. \u201cThe biological \u2018parts\u2019 we develop can be reused to transduce signals for the detection of essentially any nucleic acid sequence.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAnother Georgia Tech researcher, \u003Cstrong\u003EI. King Jordan\u003C\/strong\u003E, professor and director of the Bioinformatics Graduate Program in the School of Biological Sciences, will mine the genomes of the targeted pathogens for optimal Cas13a target sequences as well as the corresponding Cas13a RNA guide sequences.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDevices Must be Both Sensitive and Specific\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBeyond specifically identifying the pathogen or pathogens causing an infection, the diagnostic devices being developed must also be very sensitive \u2013 able to detect as few as 10 copies of the target pathogen in a sample. \u201cA major technological challenge is achieving the level of signal amplification within the device\u2019s synthetic biology circuit to reach the needed level of sensitivity,\u201d Farrell said.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe ability to detect 10 different pathogens with a single lateral-flow assay is an ambitious goal for a device that depends on a synthetic biology circuit and is designed for use in the field, he added. Lateral-flow assays commonly used in home or point-of-care medical tests operate by applying a liquid sample to a pad containing reactive molecules. The molecules may create visible positive or negative reactions, depending on the design.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou just put the sample on the device and it does its thing,\u201d Farrell said. \u201cIf the target pathogen is present, a line turns blue and you can see it with your eye.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEarly Diagnosis Can be Life-Saving\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESepsis is an infection of the bloodstream by any of a number of different bacteria. These bacteria can originate from a lower respiratory infection, kidney or bladder infection, digestive system breakdown, catheter site, wound, or burn. Sepsis results in a severe and persistent inflammatory response that can lead to disrupted blood flow, tissue damage, organ failure, and death.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s important to identify the specific bacteria causing the sepsis because that informs the type of antimicrobial therapy that\u2019s needed,\u201d said Farrell. \u201cThe sooner you can identify the underlying pathogen, the faster you can provide the proper medical care, and the more likely it is that the patient will survive. Current laboratory-based diagnostic methods can take between 24 and 72 hours, and that is just too long.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EImproving diagnostics for sepsis and respiratory diseases will have applications to both the military and civilian worlds, particularly in locations without easy access to laboratory testing.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWounded soldiers in the field are very susceptible to sepsis blood infections, and common respiratory diseases can affect troop readiness, so from a military standpoint, having this rapid diagnostic test would be very significant,\u201d Farrell said. \u201cIn low-resource environments, being able to diagnose these diseases with a single test would be huge as well. Being able to identify the underlying bacteria behind sepsis more quickly could save a lot of lives.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBeyond the university researchers, the project includes Global Access Diagnostics, a manufacturer of lateral-flow devices, and Ginkgo Bioworks, which manufactures proteins essential to the diagnostics.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe five-phase project is expected to last for four years and will conclude with field validation and a transition to manufacturing. The devices will need to win FDA approval before they can be used, so there is a significant regulatory review aspect to the project, Farrell said.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EApproved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWriter: \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:john.toon@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJohn Toon\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nGTRI Communications\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nAtlanta, Georgia\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).\u202fFounded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,900 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $800 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry.\u202fGTRI\u0027s renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMike Farrell, I. King Jordan, and Phil Santangelo working on $14.7 million DARPA funded project to developing novel diagnostic devices able to rapidly identify the bacteria causing sepsis.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Mike Farrell, I. King Jordan, and Phil Santangelo working on $14.7 million DARPA funded project to developing novel diagnostic devices able to rapidly identify the bacteria causing sepsis. "}],"uid":"27195","created_gmt":"2023-04-14 01:26:47","changed_gmt":"2023-05-16 21:33:46","author":"Colly Mitchell","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-03-29T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-03-29T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"192250","name":"cos-microbial"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Toon\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["john.toon@gtri.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683452":{"#nid":"683452","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Doctor Is In","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EShao-Yun Hsu kept seeing the same name on research study after research study: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/dixon\u0022\u003EBrandon Dixon\u003C\/a\u003E, an engineer at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHsu, a microsurgeon in Taiwan, was trying to figure out how to help her patients with lymphedema \u2014 an uncomfortable and life-limiting swelling in limbs that results from lymph nodes failing to drain fluid from an arm or leg.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHsu had what she thought was a basic question: exactly how much fluid each small lymphatic vessel could drain. And as she dug into the clinical research, she saw Dixon\u2019s name over and over.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpoiler alert: There\u2019s no good answer to Hsu\u2019s question. At least not yet. But the search has brought her to Atlanta to pursue a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Ebiomedical engineering\u003C\/a\u003E Ph.D. in Dixon\u2019s lab.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETogether, they\u2019re \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/reporter.nih.gov\/project-details\/11106116\u0022\u003Eembarking on a new project with support from the National Institutes of Health\u003C\/a\u003E (NIH) that could one day help Hsu\u2019s patients by making a lymph node transplant a viable option for many more people who suffer from lymphedema.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/doctor-is-in\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead the full story on the College of Engineering website.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMicrosurgeon Shao-Yun Hsu takes treating her patients all the way to Georgia Tech, where she\u2019s getting a Ph.D. and developing biomaterials to restore function \u2014 and quality of life \u2014 for people with lymphedema.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Microsurgeon Shao-Yun Hsu takes treating her patients all the way to Georgia Tech, where she\u2019s getting a Ph.D. and developing biomaterials to restore function \u2014 and quality of life \u2014 for people with lymphedema."}],"uid":"27446","created_gmt":"2025-07-31 20:29:35","changed_gmt":"2025-08-12 19:40:46","author":"Joshua Stewart","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-31T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-31T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677550":{"id":"677550","type":"image","title":"Brandon-Dixon-Shao-Yun-Hsu-5335-t.jpg","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBrandon Dixon, left, and Shao-Yun Hsu are working to improve lymph node transplant surgery, a delicate procedure Hsu spent years training to perform as a microsurgeon in Taiwan. (Photo: Candler Hobbs)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1753993790","gmt_created":"2025-07-31 20:29:50","changed":"1753993790","gmt_changed":"2025-07-31 20:29:50","alt":"Brandon Dixon and Shao-Yun Hsu pose in their lab, where they\u0027re working on a project to improve lymph node transplant surgery.","file":{"fid":"261461","name":"Brandon-Dixon-Shao-Yun-Hsu-5335-t.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/31\/Brandon-Dixon-Shao-Yun-Hsu-5335-t.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/31\/Brandon-Dixon-Shao-Yun-Hsu-5335-t.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":567036,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/31\/Brandon-Dixon-Shao-Yun-Hsu-5335-t.jpg?itok=ebKDBnrZ"}}},"media_ids":["677550"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"73601","name":"lymphedema"},{"id":"23201","name":"brandon dixon"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187582","name":"go-ibb"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jstewart@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJoshua Stewart\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jstewart@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"672382":{"#nid":"672382","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Robot Musician","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe robot medus\u003Cem\u003Eai\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;knows where you are. It must\u2014because it plays music with you.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMade from beautifully fabricated steel and eight mobile arms, medus\u003Cem\u003Eai\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;can play percussion and strings with human musicians, dance with human dancers, and move in time to multiple human observers.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIt uses AI-driven computer vision to know what human observers are doing and responds accordingly through snake gestures, music, and light.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/music.gatech.edu\/gil-weinberg\u0022\u003EGil Weinberg\u003C\/a\u003E, the director of Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cmt.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Music Technology\u003C\/a\u003E, knows it\u2019s unsettling. Wienberg is also a faculty member of the Institute for People and Technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ERead the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtcmt.gatech.edu\/feature\/medusai\u0022\u003Efull story at Georgia Tech\u0027s Center for Music Technology.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMade from beautifully fabricated steel and eight mobile arms, medus\u003Cem\u003Eai\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;can play percussion and strings with human musicians.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The robot medusai knows where you are. It must\u2014because it plays music with you."}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2024-01-23 14:52:13","changed_gmt":"2024-01-23 15:09:21","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-01-22T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-01-22T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"672840":{"id":"672840","type":"image","title":"Robot Musician-3","body":"\u003Cp\u003EMade from beautifully fabricated steel and eight mobile arms, medus\u003Cem\u003Eai\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;can play percussion and strings with human musicians.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1706022501","gmt_created":"2024-01-23 15:08:21","changed":"1706022534","gmt_changed":"2024-01-23 15:08:54","alt":"Robot Musician-3","file":{"fid":"256161","name":"Robot-Musician3.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/01\/23\/Robot-Musician3.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/01\/23\/Robot-Musician3.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2373518,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/01\/23\/Robot-Musician3.png?itok=d4K_QrLu"}}},"media_ids":["672840"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676142":{"#nid":"676142","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Honoring the Legacy of Lee Herron","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIt is with deep sadness that the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) announces the recent passing of Lee Herron, an accomplished scientist known for his brilliant mind and deep devotion to his family and community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHerron worked as an entrepreneur and veterinarian with a passion for scientific and medical research. He spent the final 16 years of his career with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gra.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Research Alliance (GRA)\u003C\/a\u003E, where he served as the senior vice president and university startup advisor until the spring of 2024. The initiative Herron oversaw in his final role helped drive more university inventions to benefit Georgia farmers and food producers and strengthened the relationships between Georgia\u2019s universities and the state\u2019s agriculture sector.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHerron\u2019s impact and influence were felt by many members of the Georgia Tech community. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/ajit-yoganathan\u0022\u003EAjit Yoganathan\u003C\/a\u003E, Regents\u0027 Professor Emeritus and Wallace H. Coulter Distinguished Faculty Chair in Biomedical Engineering, recalled their time working together.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI met Lee for the first time around 2002, when he came to meet with me in the BME Department to discuss the fledgling Coulter Translational Program. Over the next decade, we worked together closely on establishing and enhancing the Coulter Program, and he advised me on how best to translate my inventions and patents from \u2018Bench to Bedside.\u2019 To this day, I clearly remember him sitting in my office in the Whitaker Building saying, \u2018Ajit, the more shots you take on goal, the higher the percentage of being successful with your ideas and affecting patient lives.\u2019 That mantra has been true for me, and I credit Lee for his advice and friendship over the past 20 years. Since my retirement four years ago, we served on the Coulter review panel for translational research, most recently in March. I will miss his intellect and insights into assessing projects that have the opportunity to help patients.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cLee Herron was an extremely patient and dedicated mentor to me and many colleagues as we navigated entrepreneurship,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/michelle-laplaca\u0022\u003EMichelle LaPlaca\u003C\/a\u003E, associate chair for faculty development and professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia \u0026nbsp;Tech and Emory University. \u201cHe was sincere and had a unique insight into the challenges facing faculty. He not only taught us about the entrepreneurial process, but coached us on how to think like entrepreneurs, how to interact with board members and investors, and how to pivot our ideas. While secretly a Bulldog, he was an enthusiastic member of the Georgia Tech community before moving to the Georgia Research Alliance and will certainly have a lasting impact on people across Georgia and the entire biotechnology business sector.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHerron joined the GRA in 2008 and directed its award-winning venture development program for 15 years. In that time, the GRA successfully launched more than 200 university-based companies that attracted $2 billion in equity investment. Before the GRA, he managed the biosciences division of Georgia Tech\u2019s Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) and founded four biosciences companies: SeaLite Sciences Inc., Biopool International Inc., CytRx Corporation, and Theragenics Corporation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I am greatly saddened to hear about the passing of Lee Herron. I have known Lee for over 10 years,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/cynthia-lee-sundell\u0022\u003ECynthia Sundell\u003C\/a\u003E, senior director of life sciences and VentureLab principal at Georgia Tech. \u201cDuring that time, he was a mentor to me and a wonderful colleague at GRA. Lee was knowledgeable about what it takes to commercialize life science technologies and provided useful feedback to countless entrepreneurs. He was a brave warrior in his fight against cancer and I will always remember his indomitable spirit.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHerron received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Georgia and completed an internship at Cornell University. He also studied experimental pathology at Emory University. He served as a director on multiple boards and was known for his love of family and youth sports. He is survived by his wife, Rita, three children, and eight grandchildren.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIt is with deep sadness that the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) announces the recent passing of Lee Herron, an accomplished scientist known for his brilliant mind and deep devotion to his family and community.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"It is with deep sadness that the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) announces the recent passing of Lee Herron, an accomplished scientist known for his brilliant mind and deep devotion to his family and community."}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-21 15:36:12","changed_gmt":"2024-08-21 18:57:01","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-08-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-08-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674684":{"id":"674684","type":"image","title":"LeeHerron.png","body":null,"created":"1724266591","gmt_created":"2024-08-21 18:56:31","changed":"1724266591","gmt_changed":"2024-08-21 18:56:31","alt":"Lee Heron","file":{"fid":"258237","name":"LeeHerron.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/LeeHerron.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/LeeHerron.png","mime":"image\/png","size":378232,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/21\/LeeHerron.png?itok=fZIQ5Ia2"}}},"media_ids":["674684"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676143":{"#nid":"676143","#data":{"type":"news","title":"IBB Announces FY25 Seed Grant Recipients","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIBB is excited to announce the awardees of the FY25 IBB Interdisciplinary Research Seed Grant Program. Designed to stimulate interdisciplinary research, IBB proudly supports seed grant programs that provide funding opportunities for bio-related breakthroughs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/amirali-aghazadeh\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAmirali Aghazadeh\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/raquel-lieberman\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERaquel Lieberman\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E were selected for funding for their proposal, \u0022Harnessing Generative AI to Identify Mutations Causing Early-Onset Glaucoma.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAghazadeh is an assistant professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and also program faculty of the Machine Learning, Bioinformatics, and Bioengineering Ph.D. programs. He has affiliations with the Institute for Data Engineering and Science (IDEAS) and the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience. His research focuses on developing machine learning and deep learning solutions for protein and small molecular design and engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELieberman is the Sepcic-Pfeil Professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Her research focuses on the biophysical and structural characterization of proteins and the impact of disease-associated mutations on function or dysfunction (e.g., aggregation).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis project will combine our expertise to harness the power of generative artificial intelligence, large language models, and protein sequences to comprehend genetic mutations that cause a severe form of glaucoma that primarily affects children,\u201d said Aghazedeh.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/singh\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnkur Singh\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/mg-finn\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EM.G. Finn\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E were also selected for funding for their proposal, \u0022Modeling Human Immune Responses to \u03b1-Galactosyl Immunogen in Hydrogel-Based Organoids.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESingh is Carl Ring Family Professor with a joint appointment in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. He is also the director of the Center of Immunoengineering at Georgia Tech. His laboratory develops immune organoids and enabling technologies to understand healthy and diseased immune cells and translate therapeutics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinn is a professor and school chair in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the chief scientific officer of the Georgia Tech Pediatric Innovation Network. His lab develops chemical and biological tools for research in a wide range of fields, such as chemistry, biology, immunology, and evolution with viruses.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere is an increasing need to find stronger immunogens that can be used to create more effective vaccines. One promising candidate is \u03b1-galactosyl immunogens, which have shown great potential in animals, but we don\u0027t know much about if and how they would work in humans,\u201d said Singh. \u201cWe are excited that the IBB seed grant will allow us to combine the Singh lab\u2019s expertise in creating human immune tissues in the lab with the Finn lab\u2019s unique skills in designing these immunogens. This collaboration will help us better understand how these potential vaccine ingredients perform in human-like systems.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe projects will each receive an award of $40,000 to be spent by June 30, 2025.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIBB is excited to announce the awardees of the FY25 IBB Interdisciplinary Research Seed Grant Program. Designed to stimulate interdisciplinary research, IBB proudly supports seed grant programs that provide funding opportunities for bio-related breakthroughs.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"IBB is excited to announce the awardees of the FY25 IBB Interdisciplinary Research Seed Grant Program. Designed to stimulate interdisciplinary research, IBB proudly supports seed grant programs that provide funding opportunities for bio-related breakthrou"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-21 16:47:59","changed_gmt":"2024-08-21 16:49:41","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-07-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-07-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674667":{"id":"674667","type":"image","title":"FY25seedgrantwinners.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom top left: M.G. Finn, Raquel Lieberman, Ankur Singh, and Amirali Aghazadeh\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1724258936","gmt_created":"2024-08-21 16:48:56","changed":"1724258936","gmt_changed":"2024-08-21 16:48:56","alt":"FY25seedgrantwinners","file":{"fid":"258219","name":"FY25seedgrantwinners.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/FY25seedgrantwinners_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/FY25seedgrantwinners_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":848957,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/21\/FY25seedgrantwinners_0.png?itok=cjt3C3UC"}}},"media_ids":["674667"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683589":{"#nid":"683589","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Advances 500+ Technologies Toward Market for Real-World Impact ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech has posted its strongest year ever in research commercialization, breaking multiple records for invention disclosures, issued patents, and licensed technologies \u2014 clear indicators of the Institute\u2019s expanding role in delivering research-driven innovation to the marketplace.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cInvention is only the beginning. What sets Georgia Tech apart is our ability to\u202fmove our ideas out of the lab and into the marketplace, where they can make a tangible impact on human life and contribute to our economy,\u201d said \u00c1ngel Cabrera, president of Georgia Tech. \u201cThis year\u2019s record results show that our researchers aren\u2019t just pushing the boundaries of knowledge \u2014 they\u2019re\u202fcreating marketable solutions with the power to improve\u202feveryday lives.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor fiscal year 2025, Georgia Tech reported:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMore than 460 new invention disclosures \u2014 a 30% increase\u003C\/strong\u003E over the previous year and the highest ever recorded by the Institute.\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E70 invention disclosures \u003C\/strong\u003Efor the Georgia Tech Research Institute, marking a \u003Cstrong\u003E70% increase\u003C\/strong\u003E year over year.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA \u003Cstrong\u003E210% increase in technologies licensed\u003C\/strong\u003E, and \u003Cstrong\u003E140% in total licenses executed\u003C\/strong\u003E, reflecting unprecedented industry interest, with \u003Cstrong\u003E65 licenses\u003C\/strong\u003E in total. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E124 U.S. patents were issued\u003C\/strong\u003E, representing a \u003Cstrong\u003E20% increase\u003C\/strong\u003E compared to the prior year.\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAccording to the most recent rankings from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/academyofinventors.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2024-Top-100-US-Universities.pdf\u0022\u003ENational Academy of Inventors\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Tech is in the \u003Cstrong\u003Etop 15 public universities\u003C\/strong\u003E for U.S. utility patents filed.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis momentum strengthens Atlanta\u2019s position as one of the nation\u2019s fastest-growing innovation economies. Georgia Tech plays a leading role in advancing the region\u2019s ambition to become a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/features\/2024\/02\/making-atlanta-top-5-tech-hub\u0022\u003Etop 5 tech hub\u003C\/a\u003E by connecting world-class research with industry, supporting a thriving startup ecosystem, and fueling talent pipelines that serve emerging sectors like AI, cybersecurity, and clean energy. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOmer Inan, a Georgia Tech researcher and faculty member, has launched multiple companies with the support of the Institute\u2019s commercialization resources. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cardiosense.com\/\u0022\u003ECardiosense\u003C\/a\u003E is a medical AI company that leverages sensors to provide better management of cardiovascular disease. Having just achieved FDA 501(k) clearance, its latest device \u2014 CardioTag \u2014 is the first multimodal, wearable sensor that simultaneously captures three cardio signals to provide noninvasive solutions for heart health. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The med tech research I conduct at Georgia Tech delivers new technologies to keep patients with heart failure out of the hospital and enables them to monitor their health status at home,\u201d said Inan. \u201cNow, we are commercializing the technology our lab helped develop, so that this dream of improving the quality of care and life for millions of Americans with heart failure can one day become reality.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs we look to solidify Georgia Tech\u2019s status as a national innovation hub, we are moving research into the marketplace so it can truly make a difference in people\u2019s lives,\u201d said Raghupathy \u201cSiva\u201d Sivakumar, vice president of Commercialization and chief commercialization officer at Georgia Tech. \u201cWe are at a pivotal moment to put Atlanta on the map as a leader in research commercialization and have an opportunity to capitalize on our $1.4 billion in research expenditures that drive meaningful inventions, IP, and industry partnerships.\u201d \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo learn more about the licensing and commercialization process at Georgia Tech, visit \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/licensing.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Elicensing.research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAvailable for Media Interviews\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/raghupathy-sivakumar-phd\u0022\u003ERaghupathy \u0022Siva\u0022 Sivakumar\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EVice President of Commercialization and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EChief Commercialization Officer\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/omer-t-inan\u0022\u003EOmer Inan\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EProfessor and Regents\u2019 Entrepreneur \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMedia Contact:\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ELauren Schiffman\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EPressFriendly \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:lauren@pressfriendly.com\u0022\u003Elauren@pressfriendly.com\u003C\/a\u003E \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAngela Barajas Prendiville \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Media Relations \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:aprendiville@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eaprendiville@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERecord-breaking numbers from the Office of Commercialization drive meaningful inventions, IP, and industry partnerships.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Record-breaking numbers from the Office of Commercialization drive meaningful inventions, IP, and industry partnerships."}],"uid":"28766","created_gmt":"2025-08-06 16:55:57","changed_gmt":"2025-08-12 18:27:37","author":"Shelley Wunder-Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-08-06T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-08-06T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677597":{"id":"677597","type":"image","title":"Omer-Inan-lab.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECardioTag,\u0026nbsp;a device\u0026nbsp;developed in Omer Inan\u2019s lab, is now FDA-cleared and on the path to market through Cardiosense.\u0026nbsp;Georgia Tech\u0026nbsp;supported the technology\u2019s transition from research to real-world application.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1754499369","gmt_created":"2025-08-06 16:56:09","changed":"1754499369","gmt_changed":"2025-08-06 16:56:09","alt":"A man with tan skin and dark hair, wearing a mint-green shirt, is seated at a table and looking at the CardioTag device.","file":{"fid":"261510","name":"Omer-Inan-lab.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/06\/Omer-Inan-lab.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/06\/Omer-Inan-lab.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":7222477,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/06\/Omer-Inan-lab.jpeg?itok=9avC1vJH"}}},"media_ids":["677597"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192255","name":"go-commercializationnews"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676144":{"#nid":"676144","#data":{"type":"news","title":"IBB Shines in Second Annual Art Show","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn Wednesday, July 17, the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) held its second annual summer art show. One of the summer\u2019s most anticipated events, the show featured 46 submissions from members of the broader IBB community. Participants again showcased their talent and creativity through various mediums, ranging from paintings and photography to a sculpture and even a garden-inspired chair. More than 200 attendees were dazzled by the art pieces and enjoyed a reception.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cIBB is so proud to host this fantastic event to showcase the tremendous artistic talents of our community,\u201d said IBB Executive Director Andr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda, Regents\u2019 Professor and the Petit Director\u2019s Chair in Bioengineering and Bioscience. \u201cExperiencing the exhibits, talking with the artists, and sharing this fun event with the community were wonderful.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EA panel of judges voted for awards and selected the winners in three categories, while attendees voted for the Best in Show award. \u003Cstrong\u003EBest in Show\u003C\/strong\u003E was awarded to a submission that stands out across all mediums for its outstanding creativity, innovation, and artistic quality. The \u003Cstrong\u003EFan Favorite\u003C\/strong\u003E award was voted on by IBB Art Show attendees to reflect the collective sentiment of the community and celebrate the artist\u0027s ability to connect with viewers. The new \u003Cstrong\u003EIBB ArtSci Award\u003C\/strong\u003E was a special recognition celebrating the most striking and poignant display of the intersection of art and science. Additionally, the new \u003Cstrong\u003EBRAINiArts Award\u003C\/strong\u003E was given to a piece honoring creative artistic expression through the lens of neuroscience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBRAINiArts Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESakthi Priya Ramamoorthy \u2013 Undergraduate student in neuroscience.\u003Cbr\u003EArtwork Title: \u003Cem\u003EThe Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EMedium\/Description: 3D clay sculpture\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIBB ArtSci Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EHannah Usadi \u2013 Strategy and operations management at McMaster Carr and visual communicator for the Williams Lab at IBB.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EArtwork Title: \u003Cem\u003EWater in the Origin of Life\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EMedium\/Description: 6 pages of 16\u0027\u0027x20\u0027\u0027 digitally illustrated prints\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBest in Show Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESophia Schumaecker \u2013 Undergraduate Student in Chemical Engineering.\u003Cbr\u003EArtwork Title: \u003Cem\u003EThe Gap\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EMedium\/Description: 12\u0022 x 9\u0022 acrylic painting on canvas\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFan Favorite Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EHannah Usadi \u2013 \u003Cem\u003EWater in the Origin of Life\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/news-images\/SakthiR.jpeg\u0022 alt=\u0022Sakthi R.\u0022 width=\u00222899\u0022 height=\u00222804\u0022\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESakthi Priya Ramamoorthy recieved the new BRAINiArts for \u0022The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/news-images\/BestinShow2024.jpeg\u0022 alt=\u0022Best in Show\u0022 width=\u00224096\u0022 height=\u00222300\u0022\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESophia Schumaecker received Best in Show award for \u0022The Gap\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/news-images\/gardeninspiredchair.jpeg\u0022 alt=\u0022Chair\u0022 width=\u00224096\u0022 height=\u00222300\u0022\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIesha M. Jones and her garden-inspired chair \u0022Blooming Serenity\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOn Wednesday, July 17, the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) held its second annual summer art show. One of the summer\u2019s most anticipated events, the show featured 46 submissions from members of the broader IBB community.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"On Wednesday, July 17, the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) held its second annual summer art show. One of the summer\u2019s most anticipated events, the show featured 46 submissions from members of the broader IBB community. "}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-21 16:54:25","changed_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:05:00","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-07-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-07-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674668":{"id":"674668","type":"image","title":"HannahUsadi.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EHannah Usadi received the IBB ArtiSci and Fan Favorite awards for \u0022Water and the Origin of Life\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1724259270","gmt_created":"2024-08-21 16:54:30","changed":"1724259270","gmt_changed":"2024-08-21 16:54:30","alt":"HannahUsadi","file":{"fid":"258220","name":"HannahUsadi.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/HannahUsadi.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/HannahUsadi.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":316917,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/21\/HannahUsadi.jpeg?itok=SsAEh0Zi"}}},"media_ids":["674668"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676145":{"#nid":"676145","#data":{"type":"news","title":"IBB Announces Changes to External Advisory Board","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) is excited to announce the following updates to its external advisory board.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/chrisgemmiti\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChris Gemmiti\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E will serve as the new board chair. Gemmiti was the vice president of technical operations at CRISPR Therapeutics. He has dedicated his 25-year career to cell therapy and regenerative medicine, through both industry and academic roles. Before his last role, Gemmiti was the CMC lead for CASGEVY, the first CRISPR gene-edited therapeutic approved by any health authority (sickle cell anemia and b-thalassemia). He is also credited with establishing TechOps and CMC for the In Vivo delivery franchise, resulting in two programs currently in clinical trials.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPreviously, he was the senior vice president of operations at Sentien, where he had broad operational responsibilities for the clinical-stage MSC company. He held a key role in opening and executing Sentien\u2019s IND for Covid-19 patients experiencing multi-organ failure. Gemmiti joined Sentien from Harvard\u2019s Wyss Institute, where he guided translation strategy and technical development of early-stage regenerative medicine technologies. While at Organogenesis Inc., he was the business unit director responsible for the clinical development, FDA approval (2012), and commercial launch of GINTUIT\u2122, the first manufactured allogeneic cell therapy approved by BLA. He holds a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Georgia Tech, where he was an NSF fellow in entrepreneurship, and a B.S. in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Gemmiti has served on advisory boards at Georgia Tech, Johns Hopkins, Duke University, TERMIS, Cell Therapy Bioprocessing, and Alliance for Regenerative Medicine.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/erin-d-1b13b12b\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EErin Dasher\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E will serve as vice chair of the board. She is the founder and CEO of Glui Inc., a global advertising company that creates engagement experiences in all digital environments. An accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and lawyer, Dasher has more than 25 years of experience in venture capital, private equity, M\u0026amp;A, and investment management. Her diverse career includes serving as principal and general counsel at STW Fixed Income Management, where she helped grow assets under management to more than $12 billion and co-led the firm\u0027s sale to Schroders.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDasher began her career as an attorney at O\u2019Melveny \u0026amp; Myers and Sheppard, Mullin, Richter \u0026amp; Hampton, managing significant transactions in venture capital, public and private offerings, and M\u0026amp;A. Her passion for innovation and community involvement is evident through her support of the Georgia Tech community and local scientific research. Dasher serves on the advisory boards for the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience and the Alexander-Tharpe Athletic Fund at Georgia Tech and is a member, past board member, and president-elect of the ARCS Foundation, which supports STEM students at Morehouse, Emory, UGA, and Georgia Tech. She graduated magna cum laude from Cornell Law School and is a member of the Order of the Coif. She also holds an undergraduate degree in European intellectual history, graduating with honors from the University of California, Santa Cruz.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/vincentling\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVincent Ling\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E will serve as a new board member. Ling is the senior director of search and evaluation at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. For more than 30 years, Ling led successful research and business innovation groups in diverse biotechnology fields, including cell devices, protein engineering, biosimilars, stem cell differentiation, checkpoint inhibitors, and molecular evolution of antibody scaffolds. He has held leadership positions in large, midsized, and startup environments, creating practical biotherapeutics. His current interests lie in novel drug delivery technologies, which include drug particles, energy guidance, and biomaterial scaffolds. Ling currently serves as senior director within search and evaluation, and business development at Takeda, after directorship roles in external innovation and pharmaceutical sciences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore Takeda, Ling was head of biological sciences developing cell therapies for wet AMD at Neurotech. He has held positions including vice president at Dragonfly Sciences, managing all scientific operations and marketing functions, director of molecular genetics at Adnexus (Compound Therapeutics), and other scientific roles in discovery research at Genetics Institute and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Ling earned a B.A. in molecular biology at the University of California, Berkeley, followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, and postdoctoral training at the Harvard Biological Laboratories.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIBB extends its gratitude to \u003Cstrong\u003EAnjali Kumar\u003C\/strong\u003E for her service as the board chair. Kumar will remain on the board as a member. Additionally, we would like to thank \u003Cstrong\u003EBruce Rowan\u003C\/strong\u003E and \u003Cstrong\u003ERandy Schiestl\u003C\/strong\u003E for their service on the board.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) is excited to announce the following updates to its external advisory board.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) is excited to announce the following updates to its external advisory board."}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-21 16:57:48","changed_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:04:32","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-06-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-06-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674669":{"id":"674669","type":"image","title":"IBBboardchanges_June2024.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003ELeft to right: Chris Gemmiti, Vincent Ling, and Erin Dasher\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1724259473","gmt_created":"2024-08-21 16:57:53","changed":"1724259473","gmt_changed":"2024-08-21 16:57:53","alt":"IBB EAB","file":{"fid":"258221","name":"IBBboardchanges_June2024.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/IBBboardchanges_June2024.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/IBBboardchanges_June2024.png","mime":"image\/png","size":648910,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/21\/IBBboardchanges_June2024.png?itok=QVrAyrFW"}}},"media_ids":["674669"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676146":{"#nid":"676146","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Children\u2019s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center (PTC) Announces Gian-Gabriel Garcia, Ph.D., as New Pillar 1-Co Lead","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Children\u0027s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center at Georgia Tech (PTC) is excited to announce that \u003Cstrong\u003EGian-Gabriel Garcia \u003C\/strong\u003Ewill serve as its Pillar 1 Co-Lead. Pillar 1 focuses on data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. In his new role, Garcia\u2019s responsibilities will include setting the pillar\u2019s strategy and vision, selecting and managing projects, overseeing various pillar activities, and working collaboratively across research groups and institutions. He will also identify cutting-edge technology and engineering solutions to implement priority projects while balancing the pragmatism and feasibility of these approaches.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ptc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPTC\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;brings\u0026nbsp;clinical experts together with Georgia Tech scientists and engineers to develop technological solutions to problems in the health and care of children. The Center provides extraordinary opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in pediatrics, creating breakthrough discoveries that often can only be found at the intersection of multiple disciplines.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarcia will work under the leadership of PTC Co-Directors Dr. Stanislav Emelianov (Georgia Tech) and Dr. Wilbur Lam (Children\u2019s) of Georgia Tech\u2019s Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. Dr. Naveen Muthu of Children\u2019s Physician Group will be Garcia\u2019s counterpart in leading Pillar 1.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince 2021, Garcia has served as an assistant professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. His research group has published numerous journal and conference papers, and book chapters related to data-driven machine learning and optimization in healthcare, including various applications in diagnosis and disease management of concussion, opioids, cardiovascular disease, glaucoma, and maternal health. He has received federal funding as a primary investigator from both the National Institutes for Health and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. He and his research group have received several national and international recognitions for their work.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarcia also teaches graduate-level courses in machine learning and optimization for healthcare. He received his Ph.D. in industrial and operations engineering at the University of Michigan and was a postdoctoral fellow at the MGH Institute for Technology Assessment.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Children\u0027s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center at Georgia Tech (PTC) is excited to announce that \u003Cstrong\u003EGian-Gabriel Garcia \u003C\/strong\u003Ewill serve as its Pillar 1 Co-Lead.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Children\u0027s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center at Georgia Tech (PTC) is excited to announce that Gian-Gabriel Garcia will serve as its Pillar 1 Co-Lead."}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:01:24","changed_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:02:18","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674670":{"id":"674670","type":"image","title":"garcia-gian-gabriel.jpg","body":null,"created":"1724259689","gmt_created":"2024-08-21 17:01:29","changed":"1724259689","gmt_changed":"2024-08-21 17:01:29","alt":"Garcia Gian Gabriel ","file":{"fid":"258222","name":"garcia-gian-gabriel.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/garcia-gian-gabriel.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/garcia-gian-gabriel.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":70606,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/21\/garcia-gian-gabriel.jpg?itok=T3Ffc7Ct"}}},"media_ids":["674670"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676147":{"#nid":"676147","#data":{"type":"news","title":"2024 Suddath Winners Announced","body":[{"value":"\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJoin us in congratulating the 2024 Suddath Award Winners!\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe \u0026nbsp;F.L. \u0022Bud\u0022 Suddath and Frances \u0022Lee\u0022 Gafford Suddath Fellowship Award was established by Bud Suddath\u0027s family, friends, and colleagues in memory of his contributions to Georgia Tech. The award is given annually to graduate students at Georgia Tech who have\u0026nbsp;demonstrated significant bio-research accomplishments while conducting biological or biochemical research at the molecular or cellular level.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAfter considerable deliberation, a committee of IBB faculty selected three Ph.D. candidates as the 2024 Suddath Award winners from an extremely strong group of applicants:\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIn Third place, with a cash award of $250\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERaghav Tandon\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaghav is working on his Ph.D. in Machine Learning with Prof. Cassie S. Mitchell within the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaghav\u2019s research is focused on using machine learning algorithms to identify biomarkers, from diverse data modalities such as omics and neuroimaging, to model the progression of neuro-degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer\u2019s Disease.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIn Second place, with a cash award of $500\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKathryn Loeffler\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKathryn is working on her Ph.D. in Bioengineering with Prof. Ravi Kane within the School of Chemical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKathryn\u2019s research has focused on the design of broadly protective coronavirus vaccines. This includes a vaccine that protects against multiple coronaviruses variants, as well as a cocktail vaccine developed to protect against not just SARS-CoV-2 and CoV-1 variants, but also various bat and pangolin coronaviruses that could pose a threat to humans.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIn First place, with a cash award of $1000, and the opportunity to present a research seminar at the start of the 2024 Suddath Symposium this coming March.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndrew Cazier\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAndrew is working on his Ph.D. with Prof. Johnny Blazeck within the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAndrew\u0027s research has focused on the development of technologies for targeted DNA diversification in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for applications in antibody engineering and directed evolution. Thenovel yeast-based platform developed by Andrew will facilitate the study of immune receptor repertoires and the isolation of clinically relevant antibodies with enhanced affinities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIBB is excited to congratulate our 2024 Suddath Awardees and to all of the year\u2019s applicants for their impressive accomplishments!\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJoin us in congratulating the 2024 Suddath Award Winners!\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Join us in congratulating the 2024 Suddath Award Winners!"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:10:49","changed_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:16:05","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-01-05T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-01-05T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674671":{"id":"674671","type":"image","title":"andrewcazier_suddith2024.jpg","body":null,"created":"1724260256","gmt_created":"2024-08-21 17:10:56","changed":"1724260256","gmt_changed":"2024-08-21 17:10:56","alt":"Andrew Cazier","file":{"fid":"258223","name":"andrewcazier_suddith2024.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/andrewcazier_suddith2024.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/andrewcazier_suddith2024.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":456738,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/21\/andrewcazier_suddith2024.jpg?itok=aHINR88a"}}},"media_ids":["674671"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676148":{"#nid":"676148","#data":{"type":"news","title":"2023 Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience Annual Awards","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2023\u0026nbsp;ABOVE \u0026amp; BEYOND AWARDS\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECongratulations to these members of the IBB community, who were recognized for their dedication and excellence in 2023!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFaculty\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/levi-wood\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELevi Wood\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E - \u003Cem\u003EAssociate Professor, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELevi is a collaborative and supportive PI and provides amazing mentorship to his trainees. He goes above and beyond for everyone he interacts with. His research focuses on applying systems analysis approaches and engineering tools to identify novel clinical therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/hang-lu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHang Lu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E - \u003Cem\u003EAssociate Dean for Research and Innovation, College of Engineering\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHang provides tremendous leadership for the Bio-E program and through her guidance, the number of Bio-E students has grown. She knows the importance of community building for both the students and advisors and oversees several events each year to accomplish that sense of community.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEntrepreneurship\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ozlinktech.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOZ-Link Technologies \u0026amp; Team\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E - Kasie Collins, CEO (Postdoc), Jasmine Hwang, CSO (Postdoc), Steve Seo, COO (GT Affiliate), Wenting Shi, Lead Scientist (Ph.D. Candidate), Prof. M.G. Finn, Scientific Advisor\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis team\u2019s groundbreaking research has consistently translated scientific discoveries into practical, real-world solutions. The group\u0027s work in developing innovative diagnostics and therapeutics has had a profound impact on our field, demonstrating exceptional ability to bridge the gap between research and tangible, game-changing solutions. They have participated in Create-X and Nucleate and fostered collaboration from other academic institutions and stakeholders to maximize their technology and real-world impact for patients.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETrainees\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAthena Chien, Ph.D. \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E- Biomedical Engineering, Craig Forest, Advisor\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAthena provides outstanding contributions as the leader in the BBUGS Outreach and Education Committee. She spends a significant amount of her free time visiting schools, organizing science and engineering demonstrations, and actively engaging with students to spark their interest in these fields. Her passion for science outreach comes through in every exchange with her! Athena does all of this while remaining an exemplary student in her academic pursuits. Her dedication to both research and community engagement demonstrates a well-rounded commitment to advancing her field of research while actively contributing to the broader community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaniel Shah, Ph.D. \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E- Biomedical Engineering, Edward Botchwey, Advisor\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDaniel is a CTENG trainee and has\u0026nbsp;served as a mentor for CMaT and\u0026nbsp;as a Petit mentor, passing down his scientific skills to underprivileged students in the Atlanta area. He also supports graduate recruitment efforts year-after-year, engaging with his cohort, and incoming cohorts bringing a sense of ease into every conversation while including others to make the community more inviting.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStaff\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELisa Redding\u003C\/strong\u003E - \u003Cem\u003EAcademic Program Manager, Bioinformatics and Quantitative Biosciences\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELisa is foundational to the operation of the QBioS and Bioinformatics Ph.D. programs. She provides prompt and personalized support to dozens of students and excellent co-ordination and management for the Bioinformatics Program. She values and prioritizes every student\u0027s needs, and\u0026nbsp;her unfailing optimism is inspiring.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELeonard Law\u003C\/strong\u003E - \u003Cem\u003EBuilding Coordinator\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELeonard makes a great first impression on all visitors thanks to his smile and positive attitude. He brings joy to IBB in all that he does, from welcoming visitors, rearranging our atrium for events, and answering and unending stream of questions from new students, faculty and guests.\u0026nbsp;He embodies Bob Nerem\u0027s Rule of Life #10 - \u0022People will remember not what you said, but only how you made them feel.\u0022 He exhibits a contagious earnestness and warmth. Leonard is a true gem to have as part of our community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/news-images\/holidayparty2023_ibb.jpeg\u0022 alt=\u0022Holiday Party 2023\u0022 width=\u00222090\u0022 height=\u00221574\u0022\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIBB\u0027s 2023 Holiday Party\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECongratulations to these members of the IBB community, who were recognized for their dedication and excellence in 2023!\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Congratulations to these members of the IBB community, who were recognized for their dedication and excellence in 2023!"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:13:26","changed_gmt":"2024-08-21 18:58:21","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-01-04T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-01-04T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674685":{"id":"674685","type":"image","title":"2023awards_agleonard.png","body":null,"created":"1724266666","gmt_created":"2024-08-21 18:57:46","changed":"1724266666","gmt_changed":"2024-08-21 18:57:46","alt":"A. G. Leonard","file":{"fid":"258238","name":"2023awards_agleonard.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/2023awards_agleonard.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/2023awards_agleonard.png","mime":"image\/png","size":3316088,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/21\/2023awards_agleonard.png?itok=VFUUX0WG"}}},"media_ids":["674685"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676149":{"#nid":"676149","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Johnna Temenoff Appointed Director of Marcus Center for MC3M","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Marcus Center for Therapeutic Cell Characterization and Manufacturing (MC3M) at the Georgia Institute of Technology is excited to officially welcome \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/johnna-temenoff\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJohnna Temenoff\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E as the center\u2019s new director. MC3M brings together clinicians, industry researchers, and product developers with scientists and engineers of multiple disciplines to tackle the challenge of highly controlled, well-characterized, efficient, reproducible, and high-quality cell manufacturing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am extremely honored to be named the director of the Marcus Center for Therapeutic Cell Characterization and Manufacturing,\u201d said Temenoff. \u201cThe Center has demonstrated significant and sustained impact on the field of cell manufacturing since its founding in 2016, and along with our NSF ERC on Cell Manufacturing Technologies, has positioned Georgia Tech on the cutting edge of technologies to improve quality and affordability of cell-based therapeutics.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETemenoff joined the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at Georgia Tech\/Emory University in 2005 and is currently the\u0026nbsp;Carol Ann and David D. Flanagan Professor in BME. She also currently serves as the director of the NSF Engineering Research Center in Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT). Temenoff has received several awards and honors for her work in scaling culture of therapeutic cells and biomaterials for regenerative medicine applications. These include the Society for Biomaterials (SFB) Clemson Award for Contributions to the Literature, College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineers (AIMBE), Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), Fellow of the International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering (IAMBE) and Fellow of Biomaterials Science and Engineering, International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering (IUSBSE).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETemenoff is preceded by Krishnendu \u201cKrish\u201d Roy, professor in the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering. In August, Roy left Georgia Tech\/Emory to begin a leadership position at Vanderbilt University as Dean of Engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am particularly excited to be taking on a leadership role in MC3M at this time as the field has grown tremendously in the past five-plus years. The types of tools and technologies we are developing are increasingly important to assure that advanced biotherapeutics are available to all who need them,\u201d stated Temenoff.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Marcus Center for Therapeutic Cell Characterization and Manufacturing (MC3M) at the Georgia Institute of Technology is excited to officially welcome \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/johnna-temenoff\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJohnna Temenoff\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E as the center\u2019s new director.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Marcus Center for Therapeutic Cell Characterization and Manufacturing (MC3M) at the Georgia Institute of Technology is excited to officially welcome Johnna Temenoff as the center\u2019s new director. "}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:18:25","changed_gmt":"2024-09-09 17:51:50","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-11-07T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2023-11-07T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674664":{"id":"674664","type":"image","title":"JT Headshot","body":null,"created":"1724248684","gmt_created":"2024-08-21 13:58:04","changed":"1724248684","gmt_changed":"2024-08-21 13:58:04","alt":"JT Headshot","file":{"fid":"258216","name":"JohnnaTemenoff_headshot.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/JohnnaTemenoff_headshot.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/JohnnaTemenoff_headshot.png","mime":"image\/png","size":322847,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/21\/JohnnaTemenoff_headshot.png?itok=l741Lu5e"}}},"media_ids":["674664"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676150":{"#nid":"676150","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Industry Visit Spotlight: Resilience","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn early July, IBB professors and researchers Ed Botchwey and Andr\u00e9s Garc\u00eda led a team of graduate students from the NIH \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/bio\/nih-cell-and-tissue-engineering\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECell and Tissue Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (CTEng) and NSF Engineering Research \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cellmanufacturingusa.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECenter for Cell Manufacturing Technologies\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (CMaT) programs on an industry visit to\u0026nbsp;Resilience\u0026nbsp;in Pennsylvania. With 11 locations across the U.S., the Resilience Cell Therapy Center of Excellence is dedicated to creating processes and platforms that will allow scientists to make their novel therapies quickly, safely, and at scale. Resilience offers solutions with expertise across five core modalities: biologics, cell therapy, gene therapy, nucleic acids, and vaccines.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Industry Visit Program is a key component of IBB\u2019s NIH\/NIGMS-funded T32 Biotechnology Training Program focused on developing the next generation of leaders for biotechnology industries. The program supports some of Georgia Tech\u2019s brightest Ph.D. students, with professional development activities and travel expenses to biotech industry sites covered. These visits provide students with a firsthand look inside some of the best biotech companies, as well as excellent networking opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELuiza DaMotta, a second-year bioengineering Ph.D. student in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, was among the students who joined the trip. DaMotta is researching antimicrobial hydrogels for bone healing in Andr\u00e9s Garc\u00eda\u2019s lab.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis trip to the\u0026nbsp;Resilience\u0026nbsp;site was an exciting experience to meet like-minded Ph.D. students interested in pursuing a career in industry,\u201d DaMotta said. \u201cThis was my first exposure to the CTEng students and first time touring a bioindustry site. I was introduced to industry terminology and the operations of industries from the inside through this unique opportunity. My favorite part was talking to current employees about their journey from Ph.D. students to industry and their advice for current students. Everyone was incredibly friendly and truly enjoyed working there. I learned a lot about myself, and I am stepping into my second year more confident in the direction of my future.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPast companies visited include Genentech, Celgene, Boston Scientific, and Kimberly Clark. Several of our trainees have obtained internships or permanent employment with these companies, highlighting the immense value of industry visits and partnerships.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/news-images\/Resilience2.png\u0022 alt=\u0022Resilience and IBB researchers\u0022 width=\u00221219\u0022 height=\u0022721\u0022\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn early July, IBB professors and researchers Ed Botchwey and Andr\u00e9s Garc\u00eda led a team of graduate students from the NIH \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/bio\/nih-cell-and-tissue-engineering\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECell and Tissue Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (CTEng) and NSF Engineering Research \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cellmanufacturingusa.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECenter for Cell Manufacturing Technologies\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (CMaT) programs on an industry visit to\u0026nbsp;Resilience\u0026nbsp;in Pennsylvania. With 11 locations across the U.S., the Resilience Cell Therapy Center of Excellence is dedicated to creating processes and platforms that will allow scientists to make their novel therapies quickly, safely, and at scale.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In early July, IBB professors and researchers Ed Botchwey and Andr\u00e9s Garc\u00eda led a team of graduate students from the NIH Cell and Tissue Engineering (CTEng) and NSF Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT) programs on an indu"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:23:23","changed_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:24:00","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-09-12T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-09-12T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674672":{"id":"674672","type":"image","title":"Resiliencetrip.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIBB researchers and trainees made an industry visit to Resilience in Pennsylvania.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1724261010","gmt_created":"2024-08-21 17:23:30","changed":"1724261010","gmt_changed":"2024-08-21 17:23:30","alt":"Resilience Trip","file":{"fid":"258224","name":"Resiliencetrip.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/Resiliencetrip.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/Resiliencetrip.png","mime":"image\/png","size":390770,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/21\/Resiliencetrip.png?itok=dghAVl-7"}}},"media_ids":["674672"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676151":{"#nid":"676151","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Partners With Shepherd Center to Advance Rehabilitative Patient Care and Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShepherd Center and Georgia Tech have announced a partnership that will unite researchers and clinicians to improve care and create more success stories for people with spinal cord and brain injuries, pain, multiple sclerosis, and related neurological conditions. Areas of collaboration will include the development of new technologies, strategies, and approaches to improve neurorehabilitation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.shepherd.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EShepherd Center\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an Atlanta hospital that provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions \u2014 including spinal cord and brain injuries, multitrauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain \u2014 is ranked among the top rehabilitation hospitals in the nation by \u003Cem\u003EU.S. News \u0026amp; World Report\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENinety percent of Shepherd\u2019s patients return to their communities after receiving care at Shepherd Center, which exceeds the national average by more than 30%. In addition to patient care, Shepherd Center has a robust research program, typically participating in 20 grants and\u0026nbsp;75\u0026nbsp;research projects concurrently. It is also one of the few institutions recognized as both a Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model System by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cShepherd and Georgia Tech will build upon Shepherd\u2019s expertise to conduct and integrate research and technology throughout the entire continuum of care and Georgia Tech\u2019s research and technology development to create new solutions for the people Shepherd serves and beyond,\u201d said Deborah Backus, vice president of Research and Innovation at Shepherd Center. \u201cPotential collaborative research and development efforts can occur in many disciplines \u2014 from developing new devices and technologies to fellowships and training for the next generation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELeaders from Georgia Tech and Shepherd Center met in late August to celebrate the partnership.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cShepherd Center leads the world in treating brain and spinal cord injuries with an innovative research program that implements technology throughout inpatient and outpatient programs to get patients back to leading active, independent lives,\u201d said Julia Kubanek, professor and vice president for Interdisciplinary Research at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKubanek was joined by Andr\u00e9s Garc\u00eda, executive director of the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB), Petit Director\u2019s Chair in Bioengineering and Bioscience, and Regents\u2019 Professor; and Stephen Sprigle, a professor and researcher in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering who directs Georgia Tech\u2019s Rehabilitation Engineering and Applied Research Lab (REARLab), which focuses on applied disability research and development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe were inspired by our recent visit and tour, where we observed clinicians and researchers working directly with patients,\u201d Garc\u00eda said. \u201cGeorgia Tech\u2019s mission of using technology to improve the human condition is a perfect fit for our collaboration with Shepherd. I\u2019m grateful for Stephen Sprigle and IBB for their goals of increasing the breadth and depth of our partnership. There will be wonderful upcoming opportunities for Georgia Tech students and faculty to bring their expertise in data science, AI, robotics, cell therapies, exercise physiology, and neuroscience, among many strengths, to join with Shepherd clinicians to help patients.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDriven by a shared vision for transforming healthcare, the two institutions will utilize their complementary capabilities to provide technical solutions for clinical needs. The teams are identifying challenges to tackle and will establish a series of workshops to bring researchers and clinicians together.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor inquiries to support the collaboration, please contact \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jaimie.hayes@me.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJaimie Hayes\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (Senior Director of Development, Office of Development at Georgia Tech)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EShepherd Center and Georgia Tech have announced a partnership that will unite researchers and clinicians to improve care and create more success stories for people with spinal cord and brain injuries, pain, multiple sclerosis, and related neurological conditions. Areas of collaboration will include the development of new technologies, strategies, and approaches to improve neurorehabilitation.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Shepherd Center and Georgia Tech have announced a partnership that will unite researchers and clinicians to improve care and create more success stories for people with spinal cord and brain injuries, pain, multiple sclerosis, and related neurological con"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:26:14","changed_gmt":"2024-08-29 17:54:56","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-09-06T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-09-06T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674686":{"id":"674686","type":"image","title":"ShepherdTech.png","body":null,"created":"1724266742","gmt_created":"2024-08-21 18:59:02","changed":"1724266742","gmt_changed":"2024-08-21 18:59:02","alt":"Group Photo of Shepard Center and Georgia Tech partnership","file":{"fid":"258239","name":"ShepherdTech.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/ShepherdTech.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/ShepherdTech.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1214750,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/21\/ShepherdTech.png?itok=UWOmQEsB"}}},"media_ids":["674686"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676152":{"#nid":"676152","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Partners With UH BRAIN Center","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe World Health Organization reports that millions of adults worldwide live with neurological disorders and brain or brain-related injuries. Globally, 5 million people are left permanently disabled each year after suffering a stroke or spinal cord injury, creating a critical need for advances in patient care and support. The IUCRC BRAIN Center (Industry-University Cooperative Research Center for Building Reliable Advances and Innovations in Neurotechnology) was formed in 2017 to address complex challenges and opportunities in the field of neurotechnology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHoused at the University of Houston, the BRAIN Center is a collaborative and creative research effort to develop new neurotechnologies. It began as a partnership between the University of Houston and Arizona State University and is supported by the National Science Foundation. The partnership recently expanded to include the Georgia Institute of Technology and West Virginia University.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech is very excited to join the BRAIN IUCRC with other leading neuroengineering institutions, all passionate about bringing faculty and students together with industry to collaborate on cutting-edge neurotechnology development,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Michelle-C.-LaPlaca\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMichelle C. LaPlaca\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering. LaPlaca\u0027s broad research interests are in neurotrauma, injury biomechanics, and neuroengineering as they relate to traumatic brain injury. \u201cThe Center partnerships are an excellent opportunity for small and large companies to invest in pre-translational research that both meets industry needs and harnesses academic expertise in order to ultimately improve patients\u2019 lives.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERead more about the partnership and the BRAIN Center in the University of Houston\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.uh.edu\/news-events\/stories\/2023\/august-2023\/08232023-brain-center-expands-two-universities.php\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Epress release\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/news-images\/MichelleLaPlaca.jpeg\u0022 alt=\u0022Michelle LaPlaca\u0022 width=\u0022500\u0022 height=\u0022500\u0022\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Michelle-C.-LaPlaca\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMichelle C. LaPlaca\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGlobally, 5 million people are left permanently disabled each year after suffering a stroke or spinal cord injury, creating a critical need for advances in patient care and support. The IUCRC BRAIN Center (Industry-University Cooperative Research Center for Building Reliable Advances and Innovations in Neurotechnology) was formed in 2017 to address complex challenges and opportunities in the field of neurotechnology.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Globally, 5 million people are left permanently disabled each year after suffering a stroke or spinal cord injury, creating a critical need for advances in patient care and support. The IUCRC BRAIN Center (Industry-University Cooperative Research Center f"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:32:34","changed_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:33:10","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-08-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-08-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674673":{"id":"674673","type":"image","title":"brain-center-and-pepe-newsroom.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;UH\u0026nbsp;Brain Center, supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, allows research that would not be possible within the traditional silos of academic, industry, regulatory and clinical communities.\u0026nbsp;At right, center director Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal prepares to map brain activity during a creative task.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1724261559","gmt_created":"2024-08-21 17:32:39","changed":"1724261559","gmt_changed":"2024-08-21 17:32:39","alt":"Brain Center","file":{"fid":"258225","name":"brain-center-and-pepe-newsroom.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/brain-center-and-pepe-newsroom.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/brain-center-and-pepe-newsroom.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":56304,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/21\/brain-center-and-pepe-newsroom.jpg?itok=hdL_qjd6"}}},"media_ids":["674673"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676153":{"#nid":"676153","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Inside IBB\u0027s First Summer Art Show","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn Thursday, July 27, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/bio\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInstitute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(IBB) held a highly anticipated summer art show. Co-hosted by IBB and BBUGS, the\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bbugs.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBioengineering and Bioscience Unified Graduate Students\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the art show featured over 70 submissions from members of the broader IBB community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe art show proved to be a summer highlight and source of excitement in the community. Participants showcased their creative talents through diverse mediums ranging from oil paintings to photography and blues music. More than 350 attendees admired the art pieces and mingled while enjoying refreshments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The intention of the IBB Art Show was to bring the IBB and Georgia Tech communities together for a fun event to highlight the fantastic talents of our faculty, staff, and trainees,\u0022 said IBB Executive Director\u0026nbsp;Andr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda. \u0022I was blown away at the tremendous response, beautiful and creative works of art, and fellowship that we shared in this special event.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA panel of judges selected the winners and attendees voted for a fan favorite award. Garc\u00eda presented awards to the competition\u0027s winners, listed below. The winning submissions will be displayed at IBB.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst Place\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMadolyn Penuel \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013 Executive assistant to the dean of the Scheller College of Business. Penuel has worked at Georgia Tech for more than six years.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArtwork Title: \u003Cem\u003EAtlantis\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMedium\/Description: Digital print on canvas, 16\u0022x30\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESecond Place (Tie)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYenho Chen\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Machine learning Ph.D. student and research assistant in the Signal and Information Processing Lab advised by Christopher Rozell. Research focus is on interpretable ML models for complex time series data.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArtwork Title: \u003Cem\u003EDon\u2019t Forget to Breathe\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMedium\/Description: Digital video\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChad Pozarycki\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Ph.D. candidate in analytical chemistry and graduate student in the lab of Amanda Stockton studying analytical chemistry and applications of capillary electrophoresis to the detection of astrobiologically relevant small molecules.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArtwork Title:\u003Cem\u003E Ninety-Five Theses\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMedium\/Description: Mixed media\u0026nbsp;\u2013 door with a stack of thesis papers with a stake driven through them.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThird Place\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJohn McDonald\u003C\/strong\u003E - Emeritus professor, School of Biological Sciences, and director, Integrated Cancer Research Center.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArtwork Title: \u003Cem\u003ETouched by the Blues\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMedium\/Description: Original music album\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFan Favorite\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETimothy Hunter\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Graduate student at Georgia Tech in the lab of Will R. Gutekunst.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArtwork Title: \u003Cem\u003EFree Thugger\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMedium\/Description: 5\u0027x4\u0027 oil portrait painting on canvas of a woman surrounded by various doodles found in a notebook.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/news-images\/MadolynPenuel.jpeg\u0022 alt=\u0022Madolyn Penuel\u0022 width=\u00221500\u0022 height=\u0022998\u0022\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMadolyn Penuel poses with her piece \u003Cem\u003EAtlantis\u003C\/em\u003E, which won first place.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/news-images\/artshow.jpeg\u0022 alt=\u0022IBB summer art show\u0022 width=\u00221500\u0022 height=\u0022998\u0022\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIBB\u0027s summer art show.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOn Thursday, July 27, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/bio\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInstitute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(IBB) held a highly anticipated summer art show. Co-hosted by IBB and BBUGS, the\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bbugs.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBioengineering and Bioscience Unified Graduate Students\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the art show featured over 70 submissions from members of the broader IBB community.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"On Thursday, July 27, the Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u00a0(IBB) held a highly anticipated summer art show. "}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:35:39","changed_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:37:29","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-07-31T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-07-31T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674674":{"id":"674674","type":"image","title":"Timothy\u0026Chad.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETimothy Hunter (left) poses with his fan favorite piece \u003Cem\u003EFree Thugger\u003C\/em\u003E.\u0026nbsp;Chad Pozarycki (right) tied for second place with his recreation of\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003ENinety-Five Theses.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1724261745","gmt_created":"2024-08-21 17:35:45","changed":"1724261745","gmt_changed":"2024-08-21 17:35:45","alt":"Timothy and Chad","file":{"fid":"258226","name":"Timothy\u0026Chad.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/Timothy%26Chad.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/Timothy%26Chad.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2967518,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/21\/Timothy%26Chad.jpeg?itok=726kP652"}}},"media_ids":["674674"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676154":{"#nid":"676154","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Announcing the Recipients of the 2022-2023 Krish Roy \u2013 GRA Travel Awards","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Krish Roy - GRA Travel Award is a new travel award endowed by Professor Krishnendu Roy with funding provided by the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA). Roy is a Regents\u2019 Professor and the Robert A. Milton Endowed Chair in Biomedical Engineering. He also serves as Director of the NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT), the Marcus Center for Cell Therapy Characterization and Manufacturing (MC3M), and the Center for ImmunoEngineering.\u0026nbsp;The award was designed to support to IBB-affiliated undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees conducting research in cell manufacturing, drug delivery, immunoengineering, and regenerative medicine.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETen finalists (pictured left) were selected to receive a stipend to travel to a domestic or international conference or workshop to present their research work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Krish Roy\u0026nbsp;Travel\u0026nbsp;award allowed me to participate in my first conference of my\u0026nbsp;graduate school career.\u0022 said\u0026nbsp;Parisa Keshavarz-Joud.\u0026nbsp;\u0022I had the opportunity to present a poster on my research at the Physical Virology Gordon Research Conference in January 2023 and interact with experts in the field. This experience broadened my knowledge of the field and helped me in developing new ideas about the next steps of my project.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElijah Holland used his award in January to attend the\u0026nbsp;Fibronectin Gordon Research Conference in Ventura, California. In expressing gratitude for the award, Holland shared that he was able to meet leaders in the cell adhesion field and gave his first oral research presentation, titled \u0022Mechanotransduction at Focal Adhesions: Interplay among Force, FAs, and YAP.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFourth-year ChemE PhD student Hyun Jee Lee plans to use the award to her\u0026nbsp;support her first experience at an international seminar and conference, where she will present her research and connect with other researchers around the world. Lee\u0027s research focus is developing microfluidic tools to study cellular and molecular mechanisms in small organisms. \u0022I\u0027m particularly interested in investigating brain activity changes associated with learning in\u0026nbsp;C. elegans.\u0022 Lee explained. \u0022I\u0027m very\u0026nbsp;grateful to have received the award.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAwardees (pictured from top left to right):\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJohn Cox, Graduate Research Assistant, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYarelis Gonzalez-Vargas, Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETravis Rotterman, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Biological Sciences\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWenting Shi, Graduate Research Assistant, Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKamisha Hill, Graduate Research Assistant, Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParis Keshavarz-Joud, Graduate Research Assistant, Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElijah Holland, Graduate Research Assistant, Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHun Jee Lee, Graduate Student, Chemical Engineering\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaeve Janecka,\u0026nbsp;Undergraduate Student, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESunny (Chao-yi) Lu, Graduate Research Assistant, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Krish Roy - GRA Travel Award is a new travel award endowed by Professor Krishnendu Roy with funding provided by the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA). The award was designed to support to IBB-affiliated undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees conducting research in cell manufacturing, drug delivery, immunoengineering, and regenerative medicine.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Krish Roy - GRA Travel Award is a new travel award endowed by Professor Krishnendu Roy with funding provided by the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA)."}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:41:16","changed_gmt":"2024-08-21 17:57:14","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-04-13T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-04-13T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674676":{"id":"674676","type":"image","title":"Final_GRA awardees 1.png","body":null,"created":"1724263000","gmt_created":"2024-08-21 17:56:40","changed":"1724263000","gmt_changed":"2024-08-21 17:56:40","alt":"GRA Awardees","file":{"fid":"258229","name":"Final_GRA awardees 1.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/Final_GRA%20awardees%201.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/Final_GRA%20awardees%201.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2099833,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/21\/Final_GRA%20awardees%201.png?itok=xouriBMi"}}},"media_ids":["674676"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676420":{"#nid":"676420","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Ph.D. Student Receives Patent for Thermographic Breast Cancer Detection Device ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMammograms can be an effective resource for detecting breast cancer, but for some women, it can be an invasive and uncomfortable experience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s why Gianna Slusher, Ph.D. student in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, developed a device that could serve as an effective alternative to traditional early detection methods for breast cancer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESlusher and her partner, Caitlin Reina, received an official patent for inventing a mounted thermographic imaging system that can be used at home to detect medical issues such as breast cancer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe device includes a mount that can attach to a wall and a clamp that holds a smartphone or tablet. Through an app programmed by the pair, it uses thermal images as a non-invasive and radiation-free way to capture changes in breast temperature associated with cancerous tumors. The mount can be positioned in multiple discreet and various angles, which can allow for consistent imaging. The user would be instructed on the app to see a doctor if an anomaly is detected.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-07\/Device_Patent.jpeg\u0022 alt=\u0022Breast cancer screening device\u0022 width=\u00222611\u0022 height=\u0022707\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESlusher and Reina began working on the project at the Invention Factory \u2013 a summer program they attended at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City while the pair were working towards their bachelor\u0027s degrees in mechanical engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESlusher hopes the thermal imaging system and ease of use can help women battle all types of breast cancer in the early stages from the convenience of their own home.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring the summer of the Invention Factory when the device was created, Slusher\u2019s aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer, which Slusher says deeply influenced her work.\u201cHer journey inspired the creation of this device, and I am pleased to share that she is now healthy!\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow Slusher hopes the invention can help other women gain easier access to a solution to a problem that many women will face in their lifetime.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs a woman in mechanical engineering, I have strived to use my education and research to contribute to efforts that benefit other women,\u201d she says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter graduating from Cooper Union, Slusher was inspired to continue her research at the Georgia Institute of Technology through the bioengineering Ph.D. program under the supervision of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/fedorov\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndrei Fedorov\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, who serves as associate chair for graduate studies, professor, Rae S. and Frank H. Neely Chair, \u0026nbsp;and Regents\u0027 Entrepreneur in the Woodruff School.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe patent was filed independently by Slusher and Reina. However, Slusher credits her advisor, Fedorov, as a significant source of support and inspiration when it comes to innovation and design throughout her research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFedorov says Slusher embodies the Georgia Tech motto of \u201cProgress and Service,\u201d and is grateful the graduate program can attract such brilliant and caring students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBecoming a lead inventor on a patented technology speaks volumes about the student\u2019s thoughtfulness and ingenuity, as well as fearlessness of an innovator,\u201d Fedorov says. \u201cIt takes not only the engineering talent and confidence in one\u2019s ability to innovate and invent, but also the passion for helping others.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe next stages of the invention involve refining the technology, conducting clinical trials if necessary, and ultimately bringing the innovation to market. Slusher hopes the patent gains recognition and interest from potential collaborators and investors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESlusher continues to research cancer technologies in her Ph.D. studies, but at a micro-level, focusing on therapeutic cells and microfluidic device design and fabrication. She is designing and fabricating devices aimed at enabling rapid processing and analyses of cell therapies, thereby making this life-changing treatment more easily monitored, manufactured, affordable, and accessible to all.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESlusher is undecided on her plans after completing her Ph.D., but hopes to continue working in a capacity that allows her the freedom to research and design topics that inspire her, and where she can contribute meaningfully to advancements in her field.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-07\/PatentImage1_0.png\u0022 alt=\u0022Breast cancer screening device\u0022 width=\u0022852\u0022 height=\u0022717\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGianna Slusher, Ph.D. student in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, developed a device that could serve as an effective alternative to traditional early detection methods for breast cancer.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Gianna Slusher, Ph.D. student in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, developed a device that could serve as an effective alternative to traditional early detection methods for breast cancer."}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-30 16:16:55","changed_gmt":"2024-08-30 16:19:39","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-07-19T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-07-19T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674776":{"id":"674776","type":"image","title":"Gianna Slusher_0.jpg","body":null,"created":"1725034718","gmt_created":"2024-08-30 16:18:38","changed":"1725034718","gmt_changed":"2024-08-30 16:18:38","alt":"GS","file":{"fid":"258337","name":"Gianna Slusher_0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/30\/Gianna%20Slusher_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/30\/Gianna%20Slusher_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1072384,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/30\/Gianna%20Slusher_0.jpg?itok=JWZq-LjZ"}}},"media_ids":["674776"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/news\/phd-student-receives-patent-thermographic-breast-cancer-detection-device?utm_source=newsletter\u0026utm_medium=email\u0026utm_content=Full%20Story%0A\u0026utm_campaign=Daily%20Digest%20-%20July%2019%2C%202024","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBy Mikey Fuller\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676492":{"#nid":"676492","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Generating Buzz:  Using AI to Detect and Treat Cancer","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETwenty million people\u0026nbsp;worldwide\u0026nbsp;were diagnosed with cancer\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/about-cancer\/understanding\/statistics#:~:text=Cancer%20is%20among%20the%20leading,related%20deaths%20to%2015.3%20million.\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/about-cancer\/understanding\/statistics#:~:text=Cancer%20is%20among%20the%20leading,related%20deaths%20to%2015.3%20million.\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ein 2022\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;However, misdiagnoses, high costs, and the toxic side effects of\u0026nbsp;some\u0026nbsp;treatments are common\u0026nbsp;roadblocks.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Anant-Madabhushi\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Anant-Madabhushi\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnant\u0026nbsp;Madabhushi\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, is\u0026nbsp;using\u0026nbsp;artificial intelligence to improve the diagnosis and\u0026nbsp;treatment of\u0026nbsp;certain cancers. As the executive director of the Emory Empathetic AI for Health Institute,\u0026nbsp;Madabhushi\u0027s\u0026nbsp;research aims to expand access to testing and reduce the financial and emotional\u0026nbsp;strain on\u0026nbsp;patients and providers when developing\u0026nbsp;treatment plans.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAnant Madabhushi, a professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, is using artificial intelligence to improve the diagnosis and treatment of certain cancers.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":" Anant Madabhushi, a professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, is using artificial intelligence to improve the diagnosis and treatment of certain cancers."}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-09-03 19:55:42","changed_gmt":"2024-09-10 17:48:56","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-08-29T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-08-29T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674862":{"id":"674862","type":"image","title":"GettyImages-1477214805 copy.jpg","body":null,"created":"1725646361","gmt_created":"2024-09-06 18:12:41","changed":"1725646361","gmt_changed":"2024-09-06 18:12:41","alt":"buzz","file":{"fid":"258427","name":"GettyImages-1477214805 copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/06\/GettyImages-1477214805%20copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/06\/GettyImages-1477214805%20copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":365486,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/06\/GettyImages-1477214805%20copy.jpg?itok=vjR4IfP-"}}},"media_ids":["674862"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/features\/2024\/08\/generating-buzz-using-ai-detect-and-treat-cancer?utm_source=newsletter\u0026utm_medium=email\u0026utm_content=Listen%20Now%0A\u0026utm_campaign=Daily%20Digest%20-%20Sept.%203%2C%202024","title":""},{"url":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/gatech\/generating-buzz-using-ai-to-detect-and-treat-cancer?utm_source=clipboard\u0026utm_campaign=wtshare\u0026utm_medium=widget\u0026utm_content=https%253A%252F%252Fsoundcloud.com%252Fgatech%252Fgenerating-buzz-using-ai-to-detect-and-treat-cancer","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESteven Gagliano\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676510":{"#nid":"676510","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Regenerative Engineering and Medicine Center Collaborative Seed Grant Awardees Announced","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIBB is excited to announce the awardees of the \u003Cstrong\u003E2024-25 \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.regenerativeengineeringandmedicine.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegenerative Engineering and Medicine Center (REM)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E Collaborative Seed Grant\u003C\/strong\u003E. REM is a partnership with Georgia Tech, Emory University, and the University of Georgia that supports and facilitates inter-institutional collaborations in research in regenerative medicine.\u0026nbsp;Since 2010, competitive peer-reviewed seed grants have been awarded annually to groups with representation from at least two of the three institutions, leading to external funding for new research.\u0026nbsp;In addition to the center\u2019s core focus areas, this year\u2019s cycle was particularly interested in proposals that explore the intersection of regenerative medicine and aging.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIn Cho\u003C\/strong\u003E of the University of Georgia and \u003Cstrong\u003EPeng Jin\u003C\/strong\u003E of Emory were selected for funding for their proposal, \u0022Developing Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular\u0026nbsp;Assembloid.\u201d\u0026nbsp;This project\u0026nbsp;aims to create\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;pioneering 3D organoid model that replicates the interactions between these critical tissues. The research could lead to breakthroughs in understanding male reproductive health\u0026nbsp;and fertility, potentially paving the way for new therapeutic strategies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis grant builds on the pioneering works of our collaborative team, including my work with Charles Easley on the in vitro spermatogenesis and testicular organoid model and Peng Jin at Emory on the brain-region-specific organoid model,\u201d Cho said. \u201cThe development of\u0026nbsp;3D hypothalamic-pituitary-testis\u0026nbsp;assembloids will facilitate important research on male reproductive health and disease.\u0026nbsp;It will also offer solutions to many of the challenges inherent in this field by providing more relevant, ethical, and detailed models for research, ultimately holding the promise of improved understanding, prevention, and treatment of male reproductive health issues.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJin Xie\u003C\/strong\u003E of the University of Georgia and \u003Cstrong\u003EYong Teng\u003C\/strong\u003E of Emory were selected for funding for their proposal, \u201cEnhancing Dendritic Cell Migration\u0026nbsp;and Maturation in\u0026nbsp;Aged Individuals Using Calcium Nanoparticles.\u201d Focused on\u0026nbsp;addressing the challenges of\u0026nbsp;aging in cancer treatment, this project seeks to enhance the function of dendritic cells in older individuals using cutting-edge calcium nanoparticle technology. The goal is to improve immune response in\u0026nbsp;aged patients, making cancer immunotherapies more effective\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;accessible for this vulnerable population.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cImmune checkpoint blockade has revolutionized cancer treatment, but many patients, especially the elderly, fail to respond effectively due to a lack of tumor infiltration of conventional type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1s), which are crucial for robust antitumor immunity,\u201d Xie said. \u201cTo address this issue, we propose a novel approach using calcium nanoparticles to enhance cDC1 migration, maturation, and function. This strategy has the potential to improve immunotherapy outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and potentially other cancers.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENicole Schmitt\u003C\/strong\u003E of Emory and \u003Cstrong\u003EGabe Kwong\u003C\/strong\u003E of Georgia Tech were selected for funding for their proposal, \u201cNLRC5 Lipid Nanoparticles for Rescue of Sensitivity to Immunotherapy in Head\u0026nbsp;and Neck Cancer.\u201d This research\u0026nbsp;aims to revolutionize the treatment of head\u0026nbsp;and neck cancers by developing lipid nanoparticles that enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy. By targeting immune signaling pathways, this project holds promise for significantly improving patient outcomes in cancers that\u0026nbsp;are notoriously difficult to treat.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cResistance to immunotherapy is a major problem in head and neck cancers, due to deficiencies in the cellular machinery needed to process and present tumor antigens to T lymphocytes,\u201d said Schmidt. \u201cThis project will explore the use of a lipid nanoparticle to deliver mRNA encoding a deficient transcription factor called NLRC5 as a potential strategy for restoring sensitivity to immunotherapy in preclinical models of head and neck cancer.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFranklin West\u003C\/strong\u003E of the University of Georgia and \u003Cstrong\u003ELevi Wood\u003C\/strong\u003E of Georgia Tech were selected for funding for their proposal, \u201cIlluminating the Neuroprotective\u0026nbsp;and Regenerative Effects of NSC-Derived Extracellular Vesicles for Treatment of TBI in\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;Translationally Relevant Swine Model.\u201d This\u0026nbsp;ambitious project explores the potential of neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles to promote healing\u0026nbsp;and regeneration in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Utilizing\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;swine model, which closely resembles human biology, this research could lead to new, effective treatments for TBI, ultimately improving recovery outcomes for patients.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a devastating\u0026nbsp;condition that affects over 2 million people in the U.S. every year with no FDA-approved treatment,\u201d said West and Wood in a joint statement. \u201cIn this study, we are evaluating neural stem cell extracellular vesicles as a promising therapeutic that is neuroprotective and regenerative and is now going into human clinical trials for stroke. This study is foundational and will likely lead to rapid translation to clinical trials for TBI.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIBB is excited to announce the awardees of the \u003Cstrong\u003E2024-25 \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.regenerativeengineeringandmedicine.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegenerative Engineering and Medicine Center (REM)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E Collaborative Seed Grant\u003C\/strong\u003E. REM is a partnership with Georgia Tech, Emory University, and the University of Georgia that supports and facilitates inter-institutional collaborations in research in regenerative medicine.\u0026nbsp;Since 2010, competitive peer-reviewed seed grants have been awarded annually to groups with representation from at least two of the three institutions, leading to external funding for new research.\u0026nbsp;In addition to the center\u2019s core focus areas, this year\u2019s cycle was particularly interested in proposals that explore the intersection of regenerative medicine and aging.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"IBB is excited to announce the awardees of the 2024-25 Regenerative Engineering and Medicine Center (REM) Collaborative Seed Grant. "}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-09-04 15:20:50","changed_gmt":"2024-09-04 15:22:35","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-09-04T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-09-04T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674814":{"id":"674814","type":"image","title":"REM2.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1725463302","gmt_created":"2024-09-04 15:21:42","changed":"1725463302","gmt_changed":"2024-09-04 15:21:42","alt":"REM","file":{"fid":"258377","name":"REM2.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/04\/REM2.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/04\/REM2.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1979731,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/04\/REM2.jpeg?itok=KRuencrZ"}},"674813":{"id":"674813","type":"image","title":"REM1.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1725463273","gmt_created":"2024-09-04 15:21:13","changed":"1725463273","gmt_changed":"2024-09-04 15:21:13","alt":"REM","file":{"fid":"258376","name":"REM1.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/04\/REM1.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/04\/REM1.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1535555,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/04\/REM1.jpeg?itok=r6EqS6s-"}}},"media_ids":["674814","674813"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676527":{"#nid":"676527","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Cassie Mitchell Pursues a 4th Paralympic Medal at Her 4th Straight Games","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s tough to say what keeps pushing Cassie Mitchell to compete in the Paralympics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaybe it\u2019s stubbornness, a refusal to let the degenerative neurological condition that has paralyzed much of her body control what she does.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaybe it\u2019s the fact that, despite three trips to the Paralympic Games going back to London in 2012 and despite medaling in 2016 and 2021, she still doesn\u2019t have an elusive gold medal.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaybe it\u2019s simply that she\u2019s been an athlete her entire life and thrives by pushing herself.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhatever the motivation, Mitchell has qualified for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.teamusa.com\/profiles\/cassie-mitchell-849540\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eher fourth straight Paralympic Games\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and will compete in the discus throw in Paris when \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.teamusa.com\/paris-2024\/paralympics\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ethe events get underway Aug. 28 \u2013 Sept. 8\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy goal has been to be on the top of the podium, to see the flag come up, to hear the national anthem at a Paralympic Games. I have been blessed to get that at World Championships and some other events, but not at a Paralympic Games,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Cassie-S.-Mitchell\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMitchell\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an associate professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech and Emory University. \u201cThat just keeps me coming back. It\u2019s like this sign I keep on my shelf: \u2018Never, never, never give up.\u2019 As long as I am able to go out, be competitive, and have a chance, then I want to keep going.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDiscus has been one of Mitchell\u2019s signature events for multiple Paralympic cycles. She won silver in 2016 and just missed the medal stand at the Covid-delayed 2021 Games.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETwo of her nine American Paralympic track and field records are in discus, and she currently holds the world record for athletes with her level of physical disability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EImage\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/gtcoe_wide\/public\/2024-08\/Cassie-Mitchell-US-Para-Trials-rev.jpg?itok=YqBofvOJ\u0022 alt=\u0022Cassie Mitchell throws the discus\u0022 width=\u00221075\u0022 height=\u00221354\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMitchell at the Paralympic Team Trials. (Photo: Joe Kusumoto, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStill, Mitchell said she\u2019ll likely need to best her own record to have a chance at a medal.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s because the discus event will combine athletes with different levels of capability. Mitchell is classified as a 51 athlete, those with the most physical impairment. She will compete against women in the 52 and 53 classes, which have significantly more function in their limbs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen you start to mix classes, a paraplegic is going to throw farther than a quadriplegic. I can train to the ends of the Earth, and there\u2019s only a certain amount I\u2019m going to be able to overcome based upon the degree of paralysis in my upper body,\u201d Mitchell said. \u201cI\u2019m doing my best to find what that limit is.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EImage\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/gtcoe_wide\/public\/2024-08\/Cassie-Mitchell-US-Para-Trials-qualified.jpg?itok=O8Gv-z2s\u0022 alt=\u0022Cassie Mitchell holds an oversized ticket as a qualifier for the Paralympic Games\u0022 width=\u00221200\u0022 height=\u0022960\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMitchell at the naming ceremony for the 2024 Paralympic Games after the track and field trials. (Photo: Joe Kusumoto, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn fact, she said she\u2019s training harder now than she ever has. Partly, that\u2019s a result of focusing her training on this discus rather than the club throw, an event where she has won Paralympic silver and bronze but that\u2019s not on the event schedule for these Games.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough she\u2019s always competed in both events, she always felt she had a better shot at a medal with the club, so she focused on cardio and speed training. Now she\u2019s dialing in on power and strength so she can compete with the athletes she\u2019ll face in Paris.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s going to take a world record to get on the medal stand, and even then, it may not happen. But that\u2019s all I can control. If I can go and break my own world record as a 51, what more can you do?\u201d Mitchell said. \u201cI\u2019ll know I left everything out there.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMitchell has been training in Atlanta and Oklahoma, where her coach is based. Throughout, Mitchell has continued to teach classes and conduct research focused on harnessing the power of big data and machine learning to forecast disease, identify new therapeutics, and optimize treatments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer engineering mindset is part of her athletic endeavors, too, helping her train smarter rather than just harder, she said: \u201cI\u2019ve always done a biomechanical breakdown in my throw. I also am coming in with a different throwing chair setup to try to get better balance. Discus is heavier, so I\u2019m trying to get a little bit more balanced and see if that helps me go farther.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStill, stubbornness sometimes wins out, which is when it\u2019s nice to have her coach also happen to be her mom \u2014 the first time that\u2019s officially been the case prior to a Paralympic Games.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe nice thing about having my mom as coach is she can control that knob a little better than some people,\u201d Mitchell said. \u201cShe probably lets me throw more than what most coaches would. She\u2019s also still mom. She will still put her foot down and say, \u2018Enough.\u2019\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt 43, Mitchell doesn\u2019t think she\u2019s hit her ceiling yet. She\u2019s really drawn to the idea of competing on home turf at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. She\u2019s picked up another sport called \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.lakeshore.org\/activity\/boccia-united-states\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eboccia\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to increase her chances of making those Games. It\u2019s somewhat similar to bocce, where players have to throw balls as close to a target ball as possible. She has teamed with former wheelchair tennis player \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.teamusa.com\/profiles\/nick-taylor\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENick Taylor\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and they\u2019ve already medaled in an international competition.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019m a very patriotic person,\u201d she said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t say Mitchell on my uniform, it says USA. And I think to compete on home soil would be really special.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIt may be harder than ever to medal this time, but the BME faculty member is also working harder than ever to make it happen.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"It may be harder than ever to medal this time, but the BME faculty member is also working harder than ever to make it happen."}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-09-04 17:41:34","changed_gmt":"2024-09-06 18:13:59","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-08-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-08-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674863":{"id":"674863","type":"image","title":"Cassie-Mitchell-US-Para-Trials-rev.png","body":null,"created":"1725646417","gmt_created":"2024-09-06 18:13:37","changed":"1725646417","gmt_changed":"2024-09-06 18:13:37","alt":"Cassie Mitchell","file":{"fid":"258428","name":"Cassie-Mitchell-US-Para-Trials-rev.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/06\/Cassie-Mitchell-US-Para-Trials-rev.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/06\/Cassie-Mitchell-US-Para-Trials-rev.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2098601,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/06\/Cassie-Mitchell-US-Para-Trials-rev.png?itok=uk8Mzj9m"}}},"media_ids":["674863"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/cassie-mitchell-pursues-4th-paralympic-medal-her-4th-straight-games?utm_source=newsletter\u0026utm_medium=email\u0026utm_content=Full%20Story%0A\u0026utm_campaign=Daily%20Digest%20-%20Aug.%2027%2C%202024","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJoshua Stewart\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jstewart@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676605":{"#nid":"676605","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Geometry of Life: Physicists Determine What Controls Biofilm Growth","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFrom plaque sticking to teeth to scum on a pond, biofilms can be found nearly everywhere. These colonies of bacteria grow on implanted medical devices, our skin, contact lenses, and in our guts and lungs. They can be found in sewers and drainage systems, on the surface of plants, and even in the ocean.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cSome research says that 80% of infections in human bodies can be attributed to the bacteria growing in biofilms,\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/aawaz-pokhrel\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAawaz Pokhrel\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Esays, lead author of a groundbreaking new study that uses physics to investigate how these biofilms grow.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe paper, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41567-024-02572-3\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Biophysical Basis of Bacterial Colony Growth\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u201d was published in\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003ENature Physics\u003C\/em\u003E this week, and it shows that the fitness of a biofilm \u2014 its ability to grow, expand, and absorb nutrients from the medium or the substrate \u2014 is largely impacted by the contact angle that the\u0026nbsp;biofilm\u2019s edge makes with the substrate. The study also found that this geometry has a bigger influence on fitness than anything else, including the rate at which the cells can reproduce.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThat was the big surprise for us,\u201d says corresponding author\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/yunkerlab.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPeter Yunker\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an associate professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/peter-yunker\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Physics\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cWe expected that the geometry would play an important role, and we thought that figuring out exactly what the geometry is would be important for understanding why the range expansion rate, for example, [the rate at which the biofilm spreads across the surface over time] is constant. But we didn\u0027t start the project thinking that geometry would be the single most important factor.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EUnderstanding how biofilms grow \u2014 and what factors contribute to their growth rate \u2014 could lead to critical insights on controlling them, with applications for human health, like slowing the spread of infection or creating cleaner surfaces. \u201cWhat got me excited was this opportunity to use physics to learn about complex biological systems,\u201d Pokhrel,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/yunkerlab.gatech.edu\/members\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ewho is also a Ph.D. student in Yunker\u2019s lab\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, adds. \u201cEspecially on a project that has so many applications. The combination of the importance for human health and exciting research was really intriguing for me.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA new method\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWhile biofilms are ubiquitous in nature, studying them has proven difficult. Because these \u201ccities of microorganisms\u201d are comprised of tiny individuals, scientists have struggled to image them successfully.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThat changed in 2015, when Yunker began wondering if\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003Einterferometry\u003C\/em\u003E, a commonly used imaging technique in physics and materials science, could be applied to biofilms. \u201cGiven my background in physics, I was familiar with its use in materials applications,\u201d Yunker recalls. \u201cI thought applying this technique more broadly might be interesting, because we know from decades of physics that surface interfaces contain a lot of information about the processes that create them.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe technique proved to be simple, effective, and time-efficient, providing nanometer-scale resolution of bacterial colonies. \u201cIt allows us to essentially get a picture of the topography \u2014 the shape of the surface of the bacterial population \u2014 with super-resolution,\u201d Yunker adds.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELeveraging interferometry, the team began conducting new biofilm experiments, investigating how colonies\u2019 shapes changed over time. Co-first author\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/weitzgroup.umd.edu\/people\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGabi Steinbach\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, formerly a postdoctoral scholar in Yunker\u2019s lab and now a scientific research coordinator at the University of Maryland, noticed that every colony had a specific shape when it was small: a spherical cap, like a slice from the top of a sphere, or a droplet of water. It\u2019s a shape that shows up often in physics, and that sparked the team\u2019s interest.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cA spherical cap in physics is very interesting, because it is a surface-minimizing shape,\u201d Pokhrel adds. \u201cI was curious why a biological material was growing in this shape, and we started wondering if there was some physics to it \u2013 perhaps geometry was involved. And that made us think that maybe we could develop a model. And that got me really excited.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA mathematical mystery\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EHowever, the researchers soon hit a roadblock. \u201cWhile we could see that the colonies were spherical caps at first, they would deviate from that shape as they grew,\u201d Pokhrel says. \u201cAnd the shape that they grew into was difficult to describe with existing spherical cap geometry.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe middle didn\u2019t grow as quickly as it should to keep the spherical cap shape, and we wanted to connect all of this to the range expansion [the rate at which the colony spread across a surface],\u201d Yunker adds. \u201cBut we knew that somehow, geometry was playing a very important role.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFinally,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EThomas Day\u003C\/strong\u003E, a former graduate student in Yunker\u2019s lab, now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Southern California, and one of the authors of the paper, suggested a quirky problem of geometry called the\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003Enapkin ring problem.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cAs soon as we started to think about the napkin ring problem, we were able to start developing a mathematical toolkit,\u201d Yunker says, though the solution wasn\u2019t effortless. \u201cWe couldn\u0027t find anyone who\u0026nbsp; had ever looked at a spherical cap napkin ring before, because the application is very rare.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EPokhrel, alongside two co-authors, was responsible for working out the geometry. He discovered that the cells grew exponentially at the edge of the shape, expanding further onto the medium, while the cells in the middle grew upward, creating a shape not unlike an egg in a frying pan \u2014 if the egg white was expanding outwards, while the yolk was only growing taller.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThis was the breakthrough discovery: Because the cells at the middle were only contributing to the biofilm\u2019s height, the team only needed to account for how many cells were at the edge of the biofilm, and the shape they needed to be in to grow and spread.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAfter incorporating their findings into a mathematical model, the team found that the contact angle was the most important factor: the angle that the very edge of the biofilm made when it touched the surface it was growing on. That single geometric quality is even more important to a biofilm\u2019s growth than the rate at which it can reproduce cells.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe physics-biology connection\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOverall, the project took more than three years, from conception to publication.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E\u201c\u003C\/strong\u003EAawaz really made an incredible effort seeing this work through,\u201d Yunker says. \u201cIt was many years and many, many experiments. But the finished product is 100% worth it.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe team hopes the research will pave the way for future studies, which could lead to applications like controlling biofilm growth to help prevent infections.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cGoing forward, there are still a lot of research avenues,\u201d Pokhrel says. \u201cFor example, looking at competition experiments between biofilms \u2014 do taller colonies change their contact angle so that they can spread faster? What role does this geometry play in competition?\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cBiology is complex,\u201d Yunker adds. In nature, the surface a biofilm grows on may not be as consistent as a laboratory surface, and colonies may have different mutations or may consist of more than one species. And while the model is based on how biofilms behave in a controlled lab environment, it\u2019s a critical first step in understanding how they may behave in nature.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECitation\u003C\/strong\u003E: Pokhrel, A.R., Steinbach, G., Krueger, A. et al. The biophysical basis of bacterial colony growth. Nat. Phys. (2024). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41567-024-02572-3\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFunding information:\u003C\/strong\u003E This research was funded by the NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences and NSF Biomaterials\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom plaque sticking to teeth to scum on a pond, biofilms can be found nearly everywhere.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"From plaque sticking to teeth to scum on a pond, biofilms can be found nearly everywhere."}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-09-06 18:48:57","changed_gmt":"2024-09-06 18:49:39","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-07-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-07-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674870":{"id":"674870","type":"image","title":"biofilm.jpg","body":null,"created":"1725648543","gmt_created":"2024-09-06 18:49:03","changed":"1725648543","gmt_changed":"2024-09-06 18:49:03","alt":"biofilm","file":{"fid":"258434","name":"biofilm.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/06\/biofilm.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/06\/biofilm.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":826490,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/06\/biofilm.jpg?itok=SDxd0Hpo"}}},"media_ids":["674870"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWritten by \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:%20sperrin6@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESelena Langner\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["sperrin6@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"675247":{"#nid":"675247","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Children\u2019s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center (PTC) Announces Gian-Gabriel Garcia, Ph.D., as New Pillar 1-Co Lead","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Children\u0027s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center at Georgia Tech (PTC) is excited to announce that \u003Cstrong\u003EGian-Gabriel Garcia \u003C\/strong\u003Ewill serve as its Pillar 1 Co-Lead. Pillar 1 focuses on data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. In his new role, Garcia\u2019s responsibilities will include setting the pillar\u2019s strategy and vision, selecting and managing projects, overseeing various pillar activities, and working collaboratively across research groups and institutions. He will also identify cutting-edge technology and engineering solutions to implement priority projects while balancing the pragmatism and feasibility of these approaches.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ptc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EPTC\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;brings\u0026nbsp;clinical experts together with Georgia Tech scientists and engineers to develop technological solutions to problems in the health and care of children. The Center provides extraordinary opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in pediatrics, creating breakthrough discoveries that often can only be found at the intersection of multiple disciplines.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarcia will work under the leadership of PTC Co-Directors Dr. Stanislav Emelianov (Georgia Tech) and Dr. Wilbur Lam (Children\u2019s) of Georgia Tech\u2019s Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. Dr. Naveen Muthu of Children\u2019s Physician Group will be Garcia\u2019s counterpart in leading Pillar 1.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince 2021, Garcia has served as an assistant professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. His research group has published numerous journal and conference papers, and book chapters related to data-driven machine learning and optimization in healthcare, including various applications in diagnosis and disease management of concussion, opioids, cardiovascular disease, glaucoma, and maternal health. He has received federal funding as a primary investigator from both the National Institutes for Health and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. He and his research group have received several national and international recognitions for their work.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarcia also teaches graduate-level courses in machine learning and optimization for healthcare. He received his Ph.D. in industrial and operations engineering at the University of Michigan and was a postdoctoral fellow at the MGH Institute for Technology Assessment.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Children\u0027s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center at Georgia Tech (PTC) is excited to announce that \u003Cstrong\u003EGian-Gabriel Garcia \u003C\/strong\u003Ewill serve as its Pillar 1 Co-Lead. Pillar 1 focuses on data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. In his new role, Garcia\u2019s responsibilities will include setting the pillar\u2019s strategy and vision, selecting and managing projects, overseeing various pillar activities, and working collaboratively across research groups and institutions. He will also identify cutting-edge technology and engineering solutions to implement priority projects while balancing the pragmatism and feasibility of these approaches.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Children\u0027s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center at Georgia Tech (PTC) is excited to announce that Gian-Gabriel Garcia will serve as its Pillar 1 Co-Lead. "}],"uid":"27233","created_gmt":"2024-06-27 13:00:53","changed_gmt":"2024-06-27 13:00:53","author":"Andy Haleblian","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674235":{"id":"674235","type":"image","title":"garcia-gian-gabriel_1.jpg","body":null,"created":"1719259011","gmt_created":"2024-06-24 19:56:51","changed":"1719259011","gmt_changed":"2024-06-24 19:56:51","alt":"Gian-Gabriel Garcia","file":{"fid":"257725","name":"garcia-gian-gabriel_1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/06\/24\/garcia-gian-gabriel_1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/06\/24\/garcia-gian-gabriel_1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":70711,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/06\/24\/garcia-gian-gabriel_1.jpg?itok=q2mNErYb"}}},"media_ids":["674235"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"6185","name":"pediatrics"},{"id":"8899","name":"Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"674335":{"#nid":"674335","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Electron Videography Technique Captures Dance Between Proteins and Lipids","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article was first published in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign newsroom. Read the full story \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.illinois.edu\/view\/6367\/34729291\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ehere\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers at Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a first-of-its-kind technique called electron videography to capture moving images at the molecular scale. In the first demonstration of the technique, the team took a microscopic moving picture of the delicate dance between proteins and lipids found in cell membranes. The study, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.adk0217\u0022\u003EElectron videography of a lipid\u2013protein tango\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d was published last week in the journal \u003Cem\u003EScience Advances\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022This is the first time we are looking at a protein on an individual scale and haven\u0027t frozen it or tagged it,\u0022 says \u003Cstrong\u003EAditi Das\u003C\/strong\u003E, a corresponding author and associate professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/aditi-das\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElectron microscopy techniques image at the molecular or atomic scale, yielding detailed, nanometer-scale pictures. However, they often rely on samples that have been frozen or fixed in place, leaving scientists to try to infer how molecules move and interact \u2014 like trying to map the choreography of a dance sequence from a single frame of film.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Usually, we have to crystalize or freeze a protein, which poses challenges in capturing high-resolution images of flexible proteins. Alternately, some techniques use a molecular tag that we track, rather than watching the protein itself,\u201d Das says. \u201cIn this study we are seeing the protein as it is, behaving how it does in a liquid environment, and seeing how lipids and proteins interact with each other.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe technique can be used to study the dynamics of other biomolecules, breaking free of constraints that have limited microscopy to still images of fixed molecules. In this study, the team examined nanoscale discs of lipid membranes and how they interacted with proteins normally found on the surface of or embedded in cell membranes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese membrane proteins are significant for medical treatments, and are involved in processes including muscle contraction, brain function, and immune system functions. Moving forward, the researchers plan to use their electron videography technique to study other types of membrane proteins and other classes of molecules and nanomaterials.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDOI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.adk0217\u0022\u003E10.1126\/sciadv.adk0217\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe new technique can be used to study the dynamics of other biomolecules, breaking free of constraints that have limited microscopy to still images of fixed molecules. \u201cThis is the first time we are looking at a protein on an individual scale and haven\u0027t frozen it or tagged it,\u201d says Aditi Das, associate professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The new technique can be used to study the dynamics of other biomolecules, breaking free of constraints that have limited microscopy to still images of fixed molecules."}],"uid":"35599","created_gmt":"2024-04-23 14:51:02","changed_gmt":"2024-09-10 16:33:53","author":"sperrin6","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-04-23T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-04-23T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"673811":{"id":"673811","type":"image","title":"Aditi Das","body":null,"created":"1713884130","gmt_created":"2024-04-23 14:55:30","changed":"1713884130","gmt_changed":"2024-04-23 14:55:30","alt":"Aditi Das","file":{"fid":"257253","name":"AditiDas.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/23\/AditiDas.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/23\/AditiDas.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":554462,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/04\/23\/AditiDas.jpeg?itok=LGtwlGGH"}},"673812":{"id":"673812","type":"image","title":"A computational model, based on raw video from electron videography, showing the motion of a nanodisc composed of lipids (red) and a membrane protein (green) in water.  GIF courtesy of John W. Smith","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA computational model, based on raw video from electron videography, showing the motion of a nanodisc composed of lipids (red) and a membrane protein (green) in water.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EGIF courtesy of John W. Smith\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1713884130","gmt_created":"2024-04-23 14:55:30","changed":"1713884130","gmt_changed":"2024-04-23 14:55:30","alt":"A computational model, based on raw video from electron videography, showing the motion of a nanodisc composed of lipids (red) and a membrane protein (green) in water.  GIF courtesy of John W. Smith","file":{"fid":"257254","name":"GIF.gif","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/23\/GIF.gif","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/23\/GIF.gif","mime":"image\/gif","size":3019331,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/04\/23\/GIF.gif?itok=0cAudx4c"}}},"media_ids":["673811","673812"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"193659","name":"go-microbial"},{"id":"193266","name":"cos-research"},{"id":"192250","name":"cos-microbial"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EContact:\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: jess.hunt@cos.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJess-Hunt Ralston\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Communications\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Sciences\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jess@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676141":{"#nid":"676141","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Johnna Temenoff Receives Rosalind Franklin Award in Biotechnology and Regenerative Medicine","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience is excited to announce that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/johnna-temenoff\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJohnna Temenoff\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E has received a Rosalind Franklin Award in Biotechnology and Regenerative Medicine. Temenoff is the Carol Ann and David D. Flanagan Professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. She is also the director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cellmanufacturingusa.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENSF Engineering Research Center in Cell Manufacturing Technologies\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cellmanufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMarcus Center for Therapeutic Cell Characterization and Manufacturing\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Rosalind Franklin Society Awards are given annually to recognize outstanding scientific papers from women and minorities and, in partnership with Mary Ann Liebert Inc., the Rosalind Franklin Society has awarded $100,000 to exceptional researchers featured in their 2023 anthology. The anthology includes the biography of each winner and an abstract of their published paper. Temenoff is among 14 award winners in biotechnology and regenerative medicine.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer paper features a collaboration with former IBB researcher Manu Platt and current IBB researcher Younan Xia to develop a new controlled release platform for the localized delivery of a drug that can inhibit enzymatic activity to reduce tissue damage in orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tears.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am extremely honored to receive this award from the Rosalind Franklin Society for our publication in \u003Cem\u003ETissue Engineering Methods\u003C\/em\u003E (Part C),\u201d said Temenoff. \u201cI remember first hearing about Franklin\u2019s pioneering work in my undergraduate biochemistry class and she has always been an inspiration to me.\u0026nbsp;Special thanks and recognition goes to my laboratory, especially former trainee Elda Trevino, who led this work.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETemenoff\u2019s research is focused on scaling culture of therapeutic cells and developing new biomaterials as carriers for proteins and cells for use in regenerative medicine applications.\u0026nbsp;Her laboratory focuses primarily on promoting the repair of orthopedic tissues, including cartilage, tendon, and muscle.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFind more award details \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.rosalindfranklinsociety.org\/rfs-award-in-science\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehere\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience is excited to announce that Johnna Temenoff has received a Rosalind Franklin Award in Biotechnology and Regenerative Medicine.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience is excited to announce that Johnna Temenoff has received a Rosalind Franklin Award in Biotechnology and Regenerative Medicine. "}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-08-21 13:57:29","changed_gmt":"2024-08-21 14:03:32","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-08-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-08-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674664":{"id":"674664","type":"image","title":"JT Headshot","body":null,"created":"1724248684","gmt_created":"2024-08-21 13:58:04","changed":"1724248684","gmt_changed":"2024-08-21 13:58:04","alt":"JT Headshot","file":{"fid":"258216","name":"JohnnaTemenoff_headshot.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/JohnnaTemenoff_headshot.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/21\/JohnnaTemenoff_headshot.png","mime":"image\/png","size":322847,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/21\/JohnnaTemenoff_headshot.png?itok=l741Lu5e"}}},"media_ids":["674664"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Eswilliamson40@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"675560":{"#nid":"675560","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Ph.D. Student Receives Patent for Thermographic Breast Cancer Detection Device","body":"","field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGianna Slusher, Ph.D. student in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, developed a device that could serve as an effective alternative to traditional early detection methods for breast cancer.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Early detection at home"}],"uid":"34727","created_gmt":"2024-07-22 21:03:55","changed_gmt":"2024-07-22 21:06:25","author":"okotlyar3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-07-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-07-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674401":{"id":"674401","type":"image","title":"Gianna Slusher_0.jpg","body":null,"created":"1721682249","gmt_created":"2024-07-22 21:04:09","changed":"1721682249","gmt_changed":"2024-07-22 21:04:09","alt":"Gianna Slusher","file":{"fid":"257906","name":"Gianna Slusher_0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/22\/Gianna%20Slusher_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/22\/Gianna%20Slusher_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1072384,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/07\/22\/Gianna%20Slusher_0.jpg?itok=XS3i6ojC"}}},"media_ids":["674401"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/news\/phd-student-receives-patent-thermographic-breast-cancer-detection-device?utm_source=newsletter\u0026utm_medium=email\u0026utm_content=Ph.D.%20Student%20Receives%20Patent%20for%20Breast%20Cancer%20Detection%20Device\u0026utm_campaign=Daily%20Digest%20-%20July%2019%2C%202024","title":"Learn more"}],"groups":[{"id":"660371","name":"Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"180401","name":"#gtinnovation"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676545":{"#nid":"676545","#data":{"type":"news","title":"mRNA and Gene Editing Tools Offer New Hope for Dengue Virus Treatment","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDengue virus, a painful and sometimes fatal mosquito-borne infection well known in tropical countries, is surging rapidly across the planet. Now, 4 billion people live in places \u2014 like the southeastern United States \u2014 at risk for the disease, which doesn\u2019t have an effective antiviral treatment. Yet.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA team of researchers led by biomedical engineer\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Philip-Santangelo\u0022\u003EPhil Santangelo\u003C\/a\u003E has developed a breakthrough therapy to target and kill the virus using the gene editing tool CRISPR-Cas13. The team\u2019s systemic delivery of the treatment was successful in treating dengue virus in mice, as\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41564-024-01726-6\u0022\u003Ethe researchers explained in \u003Cem\u003ENature Microbiology\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDengue is difficult to treat in part because there are four different serotypes of the virus, which means four different targets for a vaccine. People infected with one serotype who then contract a second version of the virus can end up with a serious disease. That second attack can end up amplifying the first. Symptoms include fever, nausea, rash, aches and pains (including behind the eyes), and in some cases, internal bleeding, shock, and death.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are several challenges with trying to treat dengue, so we wondered, is it possible for us to produce an mRNA-based, CRISPR-based antiviral where one shot can clear the virus,\u201d said Santangelo, professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. \u201cAnd that\u2019s basically what we\u2019ve shown.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENew Use for the Tech\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith the global proliferation of the Aedes mosquito that spreads dengue and other viruses, the timing of such a treatment would be fortuitous.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cUnfortunately, climate change is enabling an increase of these virus-causing mosquitos,\u201d said Santangelo, also a researcher in the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience at Georgia Tech. \u201cSo, it\u2019s a good idea to be prepared.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is the first time an mRNA-based CRISPR treatment has worked against systemic viral infections in animal models. But Santangelo demonstrated its efficacy in earlier studies focused on lung diseases, including a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/healing-breath-researchers-dramatically-improve-inhalable-mrna-therapy\u0022\u003Etreatment for coronavirus\u003C\/a\u003E. That was an inhalable treatment using polymeric nanoparticles \u2014 large, biodegradable molecules ideal for delivering medicine directly to the lungs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor the dengue virus study, the team used lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which are like tiny fat bubbles that transport drugs through the bloodstream and into cells. The nanoparticles carried a custom-coded messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe mRNA was encoded with Cas13a (a CRISPR protein that can cut viral RNA) and guide RNAs (to direct the Cas13a to the viral RNA that needs to be cut). The process basically created a set of instructions. When the encoded mRNA is delivered to infected cells via the LNPs, the cell uses those instructions to build Cas13a and guide RNAs, which degrade the viral RNA within those targeted cells.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMilitary Precision\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA single dose of the treatment was given to mice infected with lethal doses of two serotypes of dengue virus, DENV-2 and DENV-3. All the treated mice survived with no unintended damage to their RNA. Following treatment, the researchers also looked for evidence of the virus in the mice\u2019s brains but couldn\u2019t find any.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt looks like our treatment precludes the virus from getting into the brain,\u201d Santangelo said. \u201cThis may not be super critical for dengue, which doesn\u2019t end up in the human brain. But this discovery could be really important for Zika virus, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile, and other viruses that do affect the human brain.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which is interested in protecting soldiers from mosquito-borne illnesses. Santangelo\u2019s team now is testing their approach on dengue\u2019s other serotypes and will study the treatment in other viruses.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re very interested in trying these kinds of approaches to go after as many viruses as we can with one, potent treatment,\u201d said Santangelo, whose team included researchers from Georgia State University as well as Emory\u2019s Computational Core. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to find the most efficient way to kill these viruses. We\u2019re not quite there yet, but we\u2019re going to get there eventually.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECITATION:\u003C\/strong\u003E Basu, M., Zurla, C., Auroni, T.T. \u003Cem\u003Eet al.\u003C\/em\u003E mRNA-encoded Cas13 can be used to treat dengue infections in mice. \u003Cem\u003ENat Microbiol\u003C\/em\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003E9\u003C\/strong\u003E, 2160\u20132172 (2024). \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41564-024-01726-6\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41564-024-01726-6\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis research was supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, grant No. HR0011-19-2-0008. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of any funding agency.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPhil Santangelo has developed a treatment for dengue virus using mRNA and CRISPR technology. It could also work for other mosquito-borne viruses.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Phil Santangelo has developed a treatment for dengue virus using mRNA and CRISPR technology."}],"uid":"28153","created_gmt":"2024-09-05 15:56:30","changed_gmt":"2024-09-12 16:33:26","author":"Jerry Grillo","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-09-05T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-09-05T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674832":{"id":"674832","type":"image","title":"Phil Santangelo","body":"\u003Cp\u003EPhil Santangelo has led development of a new treatment for dengue virus, using mRNA and CRISPR technology. \u0026nbsp;\u2014 Photo by Jack Kearse\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1725551522","gmt_created":"2024-09-05 15:52:02","changed":"1725551669","gmt_changed":"2024-09-05 15:54:29","alt":"Phil Santangelo, faculty member of the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, has led development of a new treatment for dengue virus, using mRNA and CRISPR technology.","file":{"fid":"258396","name":"M110701-23JK-058 Final06.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/05\/M110701-23JK-058%20Final06.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/05\/M110701-23JK-058%20Final06.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1746442,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/05\/M110701-23JK-058%20Final06.jpg?itok=uiPzaROU"}}},"media_ids":["674832"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"6718","name":"Phil Santangelo"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"193939","name":"Dengue"},{"id":"191727","name":"mRNA therapies"},{"id":"985","name":"mRNA"},{"id":"170522","name":"CRISPR"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJerry Grillo\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"677366":{"#nid":"677366","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Unlocking the Brain: Using Microbubbles and Ultrasound for Drug Delivery","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe brain is a stronghold, the central command center for the body, protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This network of blood vessels and tissues acts as a biological gatekeeper, a selective filter that prevents harmful substances in the bloodstream from entering the brain\u2019s complex ecosystem.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s protection that comes at a cost. While the BBB lets some things in \u2014 like water, oxygen, general anesthetics made of very small molecules \u2014 it also prevents many vital therapeutics from reaching the brain, limiting the treatment options for neurological problems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut a multinational team of researchers led by Georgia Tech biomedical engineer\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/costas-arvanitis\u0022\u003ECostas Arvanitis\u003C\/a\u003E is tackling the challenge with a technique that combines microbubbles \u2014 tiny gas-filled spheres \u2014 and ultrasound technology. Their innovative approach aims to temporarily open the BBB, allowing drugs or immune cells in to take on the fight against disease, offering therapeutic hope for patients battling conditions like brain cancer or Alzheimer\u2019s disease.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe found that microbubble-enhanced ultrasound, an emerging technology that offers a noninvasive way to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, allows blood-borne therapeutics to reach the brain,\u201d said Arvanitis, associate professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/\u0022\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe technique can potentially be fine-tuned to establish windows of opportunity to target brain diseases, he added. Costas and his collaborators\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52329-y\u0022\u003Edescribe their work in a recent edition of \u003Cem\u003ENature Communications\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBouncing Bubbles\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrobubbles, smaller than the diameter of human hair, have shells made of a lipid or protein. In healthcare, they\u2019re often used to help enhance visibility in ultrasound, acting as contrast agents, illuminating details inside the body.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUltrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images. When microbubbles are exposed to focused ultrasound waves, they rapidly expand and contract. This gentle mechanical force shakes the protective barrier surrounding the brain, creating small openings for aid to pass through.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDespite their simple structure, microbubbles have complex behaviors,\u201d Arvanitis said. \u201cThey can resonate at specific frequencies, allowing us to manipulate their oscillations to enhance permeability at the blood-brain barrier. And their behavior also depends on their size and shell composition.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor instance, microbubbles with elastic shells are more effective in increasing the permeability of the BBB. In their research, Arvanitis and his collaborators noted a 12-fold increase in drug delivery effectiveness using elastic-shelled (lipid-based) microbubbles.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMath Before Mice\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers conducted studies using mice but began with a mathematical model to simulate microbubble dynamics in brain vessels. They identified a resonant frequency that enhances microbubble movement and explored the correlation between frequency, bubble dynamics, and inflammatory responses in the brain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir model and later experiments showed that specific ultrasound frequencies can enhance immune cell movement and increase drug accumulation in brain tumors. They also found that higher ultrasound frequencies, while effective in opening the BBB, were also accompanied by increased expression of inflammatory markers on the endothelia cells of the BBB \u2014 an important finding, as excessive inflammation can lead to further complications in patients with neurological disorders.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022By understanding and controlling the frequency dynamics of microbubbles, we can create a system that maximizes drug delivery efficacy,\u201d Arvanitis said. \u201cOur findings suggest that using lower frequencies may be beneficial for delivering therapeutics while reducing inflammation, which can be crucial for treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer\u0027s and Parkinson\u0027s.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe research has implications that could extend beyond drug delivery, paving the way for new diagnostic techniques. Using ultrasound to open the BBB could allow clinicians to gather important information directly from the brain, improving diagnostic techniques, like ultrasound-enhanced biopsies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe scientific principles established by our work not only enhance our ability to develop safer and more effective treatments for brain diseases, but also lays the groundwork for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies within and beyond the brain,\u201d said Arvanitis, whose team included graduate students from his lab as well as researchers from the University of California (San Francisco), Stanford, and the University of Edinburgh.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe added, \u201cThe dynamics of microbubbles interacting with blood vessels could have important implications in other areas of medicine that we haven\u2019t yet explored.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECITATION:\u003C\/strong\u003E Yutong Guo, Hohyun Lee, Chulyong Kim, Christian Park, Akane Yamamichi, Pavlina Chuntova, Marco Gallus, Miguel Bernabeu, Hideho Okada, Hanjoong Jo, Costas Arvanitis.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52329-y\u0022\u003E\u201cUltrasound frequency-controlled microbubble dynamics in brain vessels regulate the enrichment of inflammatory pathways in the blood-brain barrier.\u201d\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E Nature Communications \u0026nbsp;doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-024-52329-y\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFUNDING:\u003C\/strong\u003E This study was supported by NIH grants R37 CA239039, R01CA273878, R35NS105068, HL119798, HL139757, HL151358, and T32HL166146. This study was also supported by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Ians Friends Foundation, and the German Research Foundation, and the Leducq Foundation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EResearchers led by Costas Arvanitis at Georgia Tech have developed a method using microbubbles and ultrasound to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier (BBB), enhancing drug delivery to the brain. This breakthrough could improve treatments for brain cancer, Alzheimer\u0027s, and more, by safely targeting the BBB.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers led by Costas Arvanitis at Georgia Tech have developed a method using microbubbles and ultrasound to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier (BBB), enhancing drug delivery to the brain"}],"uid":"28153","created_gmt":"2024-10-08 13:50:22","changed_gmt":"2024-10-23 14:36:57","author":"Jerry Grillo","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-08T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-08T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675241":{"id":"675241","type":"image","title":"Costas Arvanitis","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECostas Arvanitis is developing a method using microbubbles and ultrasound to breach the blood-brain barrier. \u2014 Photo by Jerry Grillo\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1728395115","gmt_created":"2024-10-08 13:45:15","changed":"1728395197","gmt_changed":"2024-10-08 13:46:37","alt":"Costas Arvanitis BME researcher","file":{"fid":"258843","name":"Costas Lab.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/08\/Costas%20Lab.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/08\/Costas%20Lab.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":7213847,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/08\/Costas%20Lab.jpg?itok=Jo_fxvYz"}}},"media_ids":["675241"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"193999","name":"microbubbles"},{"id":"7677","name":"ultrasound"},{"id":"7615","name":"ultrasound drug delivery pharmaceutical therapy"},{"id":"178946","name":"blood-brain barrier"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"677704":{"#nid":"677704","#data":{"type":"news","title":"15 Georgia Tech Ph.D. Students Awarded Fellowship to Propel STEM Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EARCS Foundation Atlanta awarded a total of $117,500 to 15 Ph.D. students who show exceptional promise of making a significant contribution to the worldwide advancement of science and technology. Eight first-year ARCS Scholars will join seven returning scholars who were recognized as outstanding doctoral students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFaculty may nominate candidates pursuing doctoral studies for the prestigious fellowship. The Graduate Education Fellowships Selection Committee, established by the Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, reviews the candidates for final selection.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year, each Georgia Tech scholar will receive $7,500 and two will receive the Global Impact Award of $10,000. The Foundation grants the Global Impact Awards to students working on research problems having a broader global context or addressing global issues.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA scholars award ceremony will be held in November to honor the Atlanta chapter\u2019s recipients. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECongratulations to the following Georgia Tech 2024-25 ARCS Scholars:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReturning Scholars\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENoam Altman-Kurosaki is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Herz Global Impact Award. Altman-Kurosaki is a Ph.D. candidate in biology with a research interest in understanding the processes that drive coral reef decline and recovery.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAnjana Dissanayaka is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Northside Hospital Award. Dissanayaka is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering with a research interest in leveraging and applying microfluidic techniques to develop low-cost diagnostic devices.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEmily Hughes is a second-year ARCS Scholar who received the Lim Award. Hughes is a Ph.D. candidate in earth and atmospheric sciences with a research interest in the geologic history of the planet Mars, specifically how spectroscopy, field analogue studies, and in situ Martian data can be coupled to reconstruct ancient environments.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETawfik Hussein is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Boice\/Reid Award. Hussein is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering with a research interest in the mechanics of the heart, specifically, simulating computationally the mechanical changes in the heart of patients with heart failure to help predict early stages of heart failure.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EKC Jacobson is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Herz Global Impact Award. Jacobson is a Ph.D. student in bioengineering, chemical and biochemical engineering, with a research interest in the neural mechanisms of impaired sensory processing in a human-relevant mouse model of autism spectrum disorder.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECassandra Shriver is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Chambers\/Jones Award. Shriver is a Ph.D. student in quantitative biosciences, biological sciences, with a research interest in comparative biomechanics, specifically mammalian climbing mechanics with an emphasis on conservation applications.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENaoki Yokoyama is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Dodson Award. Yokoyama is a Ph.D. candidate in robotics, electrical and computer engineering, with a research interest in developing intelligent robots that can assist the elderly and disabled in home environments. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENew Scholars\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAlivia Eng is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the David, Helen and Marian Woodward Award. Eng is a Ph.D. student in earth and atmospheric sciences with a research interest in planetary science, specifically the geologic history of Mars.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EKierra Franklin is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Burke Award. Franklin is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering with a research interest in combining synthetic biology and epigenetics to study chromatin biology and disease pathology.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMarrissa Izykowicz is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Roche Award. Izykowicz is a Ph.D. student in chemical biology with a research interest in designing and synthesizing nanohydrogels for targeted drug delivery in metastatic cancers.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EZachary Mobille is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the HA (Gus) Peed Award. Mobille is a Ph.D. candidate in quantitative biosciences with a research interest in how anatomical structure and precisely-timed dynamics are interrelated in networks of biological neurons.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHeriberto Nieves is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Wahlen Award. Nieves is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering, robotics, with a research interest in applying deep learning to automate the quality control and measurement processes for staging liver fibrosis with magnetic resonance elastography.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJohn Pederson is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Joslin\/Mary Jo Peed Award. Pederson is a Ph.D. student in chemistry with a research interest in multi-scale modeling of complex chemical systems to study reactions at solid\/liquid interfaces.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETheodore St. Francis is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the ARCS Atlanta Century Award. St. Francis is a Ph.D. student in aerospace engineering with a research interest in electrolysis for both oxygen generation for astronauts and hydrogen production on Earth.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGianna Slusher is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Swensson\/ARCS Atlanta Award. Slusher is a Ph.D. student in bioengineering, mechanical engineering, with a research interest in developing innovative nano-scale technologies to enhance the manufacturing and monitoring of cell-based therapeutics.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe ARCS fellowship is made possible each year by way of fundraising and the continued generous support of the ARCS-Atlanta Foundation.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe mission of the ARCS Foundation is to advance science and technology in the United States by providing financial rewards to academically outstanding U.S. citizens studying to complete degrees in science, engineering, and medical research.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESince its inception in 1992, the ARCS Foundation Atlanta has awarded more than $4.5 million to over 400 science scholars at Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Morehouse College, and the University of Georgia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EFor more information about the 2024-25 ARCS Atlanta Scholars, please visit \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atlanta.arcsfoundation.org\/scholars\/current-scholars-4\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ewww.atlanta.arcsfoundation.org\/scholars\/current-scholars-4.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EARCS Foundation Atlanta awarded a total of $117,500 to 15 Ph.D. students who show exceptional promise of making a significant contribution to the worldwide advancement of science and technology.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"ARCS Foundation Atlanta awarded a total of $117,500 to 15 Ph.D. students who show exceptional promise of making a significant contribution to the worldwide advancement of science and technology"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-10-17 18:37:16","changed_gmt":"2024-10-17 18:38:08","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675347":{"id":"675347","type":"image","title":"New-ARCS-Scholars-Collage.jpg","body":null,"created":"1729190244","gmt_created":"2024-10-17 18:37:24","changed":"1729190244","gmt_changed":"2024-10-17 18:37:24","alt":"ARCS Scholars","file":{"fid":"258960","name":"New-ARCS-Scholars-Collage.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/17\/New-ARCS-Scholars-Collage.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/17\/New-ARCS-Scholars-Collage.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":667645,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/17\/New-ARCS-Scholars-Collage.jpg?itok=46fqsnQW"}}},"media_ids":["675347"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:sara.franc@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESara Franc\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["sara.franc@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"677688":{"#nid":"677688","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Brain Change: Ming-fai Fong using CAREER Award to enhance lives through community-driven research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Ming-fai-Fong\u0022\u003EMing-fai Fong\u003C\/a\u003E has always been interested in what she thinks of as the existential struggle embedded in her research; this notion of focusing simultaneously on the science and the people it can impact.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt turns out, the struggle is more like a loop, with the research impacting the people, and the people impacting the direction of the research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019m interested in how things work, in the science, in exploring and researching. But I always ask myself, \u2018what or who am I doing this for?\u2019 So, I try my best to stay connected with the community, with the people whose health and wellbeing we\u2019re ultimately working to improve,\u201d said Fong, assistant professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/\u0022\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech and Emory University.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFong\u2019s desire to stay connected to communities through her work manifested while she was an undergraduate mechanical engineering student at M.I.T. She wanted to make assistive devices for individuals with disabilities. So, she moved to northwestern Mexico for a fellowship designing wheelchairs for people who had been impacted by drug violence in the region.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat experience indirectly led her to the Coulter Department, where \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/fong-lab.github.io\/\u0022\u003Ethe Fong lab\u003C\/a\u003E studies how activity and experience shape brain circuits, with the goal of developing treatments for neurological disorders. Currently, her team is investigating the central visual pathway and visual impairments.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd when they aren\u2019t working on research, Fong and the students in her lab volunteer with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cviga.org\/\u0022\u003ECenter for the Visually Impaired\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gablindsports.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Blind Sports Association\u003C\/a\u003E. And whether they are repairing specialized typewriters called Braillers or working with athletes and coaches at a goalball match, those activities are helping to guide the research. It\u2019s all part of the existential loop.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur latest research proposal really grew out of our interactions with the blind and visually impaired community in Atlanta,\u201d said Fong, who recently won a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, and will use the funding to support her lab\u2019s study of plasticity \u2014 the ability to adapt and learn \u2014 in the adult brain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe were inspired by the residual sensory abilities of many people we\u2019ve interacted with,\u201d Fong added. \u201cFor example, some visually impaired people may develop a heightened sense of hearing. Motivated by a lack of accommodations and infrastructure for this community, we want to study how these enhanced sensory capacities emerge in people with irreversible visual impairment.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPlasticity City\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile Fong is referring to a lack of real-world infrastructure suitable for blind and visually impaired people, the concept is an appropriate metaphor when explaining the brain and plasticity.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThink of the brain as a growing city when we\u2019re young, constantly under construction, new infrastructure rapidly emerging everywhere. This is known as the \u201ccritical period.\u201d When we\u2019re children, that\u2019s a period time when the brain is very adaptable and capable of easily learning new things. As our brains age (or the city grows), development slows down \u2014 because neuroplasticity decreases as we get older.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen you experience vision loss, it\u2019s kind of like what happens when a major road closes and the city has to work quickly to find other routes to keep traffic moving. When vision is lost, the flexible brain reconfigures itself to adapt, finding new ways to process information through other senses, like hearing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut it\u2019s a matter of timing, a window of opportunity that Fong and her team want to keep open, if possible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe want to understand the critical period, and how this reconfiguration process works,\u201d said Fong. \u201cUltimately, we think that by depriving the brain of one sense, like vision, we can reopen the critical period, making the brain more adaptable again, even in adulthood.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo test their ideas, Fong\u2019s team will observe how the brains of mice change when vision is impaired, paying close attention to areas of the brain responsible for hearing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHopefully, we can reveal new ways to help people with sensory impairments by making their brains more adaptable, like they were in childhood,\u201d said Fong, who is quick to point out a common misconception: losing your vision does not automatically improve your audition, or sense of hearing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes, there are people with vision loss who learn to expertly use echolocation \u2014 making sounds and listening to the echoes \u2014 to navigate their surroundings. But that may be the exception, particularly when thinking of people who lose their vision as adults.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFor every one of those stories, there are 100 others in which someone can\u2019t tell you what direction a sound is coming from,\u201d said Fong.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to studying ways to identify and leverage the critical period of plasticity, Fong will use the CAREER Award to help support her lab\u2019s education initiatives targeting blind and visually impaired youth. With hands-on Brailler repair workshops and multi-sensory teaching tools, the program seeks to create inclusive learning environments for all non-visual learners, while promoting broader diversity in STEM fields.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond the lab and the research, Fong is considering her initial motivation for the work, \u201cthe lack of inclusive infrastructure for individuals with disabilities. One long term goal we have is to provide a neuro-scientific basis for advocating for improved accommodations,\u201d she said. \u201cIf our work can help make it possible for this remarkable community to participate in and contribute to society more broadly, that would be huge.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMing-fai Fong, assistant professor at Georgia Tech and Emory, researches brain plasticity and its role in adapting to vision loss. Her work, informed by community outreach with the visually impaired, aims to develop treatments for neurological disorders and advocate for inclusive infrastructure.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Ming-fai Fong, assistant professor at Georgia Tech and Emory, researches brain plasticity and its role in adapting to vision loss."}],"uid":"28153","created_gmt":"2024-10-17 14:22:33","changed_gmt":"2024-10-29 15:40:25","author":"Jerry Grillo","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675340":{"id":"675340","type":"image","title":"Ming-fai Fong in lab","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen we lose one sense, like vision, do our other senses get stronger? Ming-fai Fong is using her NSF CAREER Award to find out. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Photo by Jerry Grillo\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1729174508","gmt_created":"2024-10-17 14:15:08","changed":"1729174620","gmt_changed":"2024-10-17 14:17:00","alt":"Ming-fai Fong, BME researcher","file":{"fid":"258951","name":"Ming in lab.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/17\/Ming%20in%20lab.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/17\/Ming%20in%20lab.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2617818,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/17\/Ming%20in%20lab.jpg?itok=NIx3zm2O"}}},"media_ids":["675340"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194034","name":"brain plasticity"},{"id":"173478","name":"neural plasticity"},{"id":"194035","name":"visual impairment"},{"id":"194036","name":"blindness"},{"id":"1912","name":"brain"},{"id":"187320","name":"brain activity"},{"id":"11322","name":"brain adaptation"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJerry Grillo\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"677420":{"#nid":"677420","#data":{"type":"news","title":"15 Georgia Tech Ph.D. Students Awarded Fellowship to Propel STEM Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EARCS Foundation Atlanta awarded a total of $117,500 to 15 Ph.D. students who show exceptional promise of making a significant contribution to the worldwide advancement of science and technology. Eight first-year ARCS Scholars will join seven returning scholars who were recognized as outstanding doctoral students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFaculty may nominate candidates pursuing doctoral studies for the prestigious fellowship. The Graduate Education Fellowships Selection Committee, established by the Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, reviews the candidates for final selection.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year, each Georgia Tech scholar will receive $7,500 and two will receive the Global Impact Award of $10,000. The Foundation grants the Global Impact Awards to students working on research problems having a broader global context or addressing global issues.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA scholars award ceremony will be held in November to honor the Atlanta chapter\u2019s recipients. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECongratulations to the following Georgia Tech 2024-25 ARCS Scholars:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EReturning Scholars\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENoam Altman-Kurosaki is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Herz Global Impact Award. Altman-Kurosaki is a Ph.D. candidate in biology with a research interest in understanding the processes that drive coral reef decline and recovery.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAnjana Dissanayaka is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Northside Hospital Award. Dissanayaka is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering with a research interest in leveraging and applying microfluidic techniques to develop low-cost diagnostic devices.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEmily Hughes is a second-year ARCS Scholar who received the Lim Award. Hughes is a Ph.D. candidate in earth and atmospheric sciences with a research interest in the geologic history of the planet Mars, specifically how spectroscopy, field analogue studies, and in situ Martian data can be coupled to reconstruct ancient environments.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETawfik Hussein is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Boice\/Reid Award. Hussein is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering with a research interest in the mechanics of the heart, specifically, simulating computationally the mechanical changes in the heart of patients with heart failure to help predict early stages of heart failure.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EKC Jacobson is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Herz Global Impact Award. Jacobson is a Ph.D. student in bioengineering, chemical and biochemical engineering, with a research interest in the neural mechanisms of impaired sensory processing in a human-relevant mouse model of autism spectrum disorder.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECassandra Shriver is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Chambers\/Jones Award. Shriver is a Ph.D. student in quantitative biosciences, biological sciences, with a research interest in comparative biomechanics, specifically mammalian climbing mechanics with an emphasis on conservation applications.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENaoki Yokoyama is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Dodson Award. Yokoyama is a Ph.D. candidate in robotics, electrical and computer engineering, with a research interest in developing intelligent robots that can assist the elderly and disabled in home environments. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ENew Scholars\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAlivia Eng is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the David, Helen and Marian Woodward Award. Eng is a Ph.D. student in earth and atmospheric sciences with a research interest in planetary science, specifically the geologic history of Mars.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EKierra Franklin is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Burke Award. Franklin is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering with a research interest in combining synthetic biology and epigenetics to study chromatin biology and disease pathology.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMarrissa Izykowicz is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Roche Award. Izykowicz is a Ph.D. student in chemical biology with a research interest in designing and synthesizing nanohydrogels for targeted drug delivery in metastatic cancers.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EZachary Mobille is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the HA (Gus) Peed Award. Mobille is a Ph.D. candidate in quantitative biosciences with a research interest in how anatomical structure and precisely-timed dynamics are interrelated in networks of biological neurons.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHeriberto Nieves is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Wahlen Award. Nieves is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering, robotics, with a research interest in applying deep learning to automate the quality control and measurement processes for staging liver fibrosis with magnetic resonance elastography.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJohn Pederson is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Joslin\/Mary Jo Peed Award. Pederson is a Ph.D. student in chemistry with a research interest in multi-scale modeling of complex chemical systems to study reactions at solid\/liquid interfaces.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETheodore St. Francis is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the ARCS Atlanta Century Award. St. Francis is a Ph.D. student in aerospace engineering with a research interest in electrolysis for both oxygen generation for astronauts and hydrogen production on Earth.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGianna Slusher is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Swensson\/ARCS Atlanta Award. Slusher is a Ph.D. student in bioengineering, mechanical engineering, with a research interest in developing innovative nano-scale technologies to enhance the manufacturing and monitoring of cell-based therapeutics.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe ARCS fellowship is made possible each year by way of fundraising and the continued generous support of the ARCS-Atlanta Foundation.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe mission of the ARCS Foundation is to advance science and technology in the United States by providing financial rewards to academically outstanding U.S. citizens studying to complete degrees in science, engineering, and medical research.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESince its inception in 1992, the ARCS Foundation Atlanta has awarded more than $4.5 million to over 400 science scholars at Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Morehouse College, and the University of Georgia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EFor more information about the 2024-25 ARCS Atlanta Scholars, please visit \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atlanta.arcsfoundation.org\/current-scholars-2024-25\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eatlanta.arcsfoundation.org\/current-scholars-2024-25\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EARCS Foundation Atlanta awarded a total of $117,500 to 15 Ph.D. students who show exceptional promise of making a significant contribution to the worldwide advancement of science and technology.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"ARCS Foundation Atlanta awarded a total of $117,500 to 15 Ph.D. students who show exceptional promise of making a significant contribution to the worldwide advancement of science and technology."}],"uid":"36249","created_gmt":"2024-10-09 13:38:57","changed_gmt":"2024-10-18 14:41:19","author":"Sara Franc","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675258":{"id":"675258","type":"image","title":"New-ARCS-Scholars-Collage.jpg","body":null,"created":"1728484686","gmt_created":"2024-10-09 14:38:06","changed":"1728484686","gmt_changed":"2024-10-09 14:38:06","alt":"New ARCS Scholars","file":{"fid":"258862","name":"New-ARCS-Scholars-Collage.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/09\/New-ARCS-Scholars-Collage.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/09\/New-ARCS-Scholars-Collage.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":667645,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/09\/New-ARCS-Scholars-Collage.jpg?itok=XvtIhBZt"}}},"media_ids":["675258"],"groups":[{"id":"221981","name":"Graduate Studies"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"193157","name":"Student Honors and Achievements"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1808","name":"graduate students"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:sara.franc@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESara Franc\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003Cbr\u003EOffice of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"677783":{"#nid":"677783","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Couple Celebrates 25 Years at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn the summer of 2023, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/garcia\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E Regents\u0027 Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Michelle-C.-LaPlaca\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMichelle C. LaPlaca\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Associate Chair for Faculty Development and professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, reached a joint milestone, their 25th anniversary at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe pair\u0027s achievement was celebrated earlier this year at a symposium, \u0022Celebration of Science and Mentoring,\u0022 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The event was attended by Georgia Tech alumni and trainees and organized by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/singh\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnkur Singh\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Carl Ring Family Professor in the Woodruff School, as well as alumnus Charles Gersbach, Ph.D. BME 2006. Gershbach now serves as the John W. Strohbehn Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Andr\u00e9s and Michelle have had a remarkable 25 years. It was a great time reflecting on careers, camaraderie, mentoring, and science,\u0022 said Singh.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarc\u00eda and LaPlaca, who married after they met at the University of Pennsylvania in grad school, joined Georgia Tech in 1998 after completing their postdoctoral fellowships. \u0022It was a combination of excitement, nervousness, and fear,\u0022 said Garc\u00eda when describing his first weeks at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022A blur!\u0022 said LaPlaca, remembering her excitement in those first few days. \u0022But I also sensed the endless possibilities ahead of me.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E25 years is an impressive term, and both have achieved incredible success and distinction over their time at Georgia Tech. Garc\u00eda serves as executive director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/bio\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Medicine, and National Academy of Inventors. In addition to her Associate Chair position, LaPlaca is an elected fellow in the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and the Biomedical Engineering Society.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor some, remaining in one place for 25 years may be unfathomable, and the fear of monotony may be too much. However, Garc\u00eda and LaPlaca have only felt themselves and their careers grow and expand with Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The school has grown in many ways.\u0026nbsp;The new buildings and international reputation are what some people see. However, I have also seen the continued excellence in education and research reflect the commitment and caring of the faculty, staff, and students,\u0022 said LaPlaca.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I feel very valued by the whole community. I have enjoyed working with outstanding faculty and staff and the best students in the world,\u0022 said Garc\u00eda.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is undoubtedly a family affair for the pair. Their two sons are both graduates of the Woodruff School, and their beloved family dog carries a namesake famous in the Jackets\u0027 community, Buzz.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"In the summer of 2023, Andr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda, Regents\u0027 Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, and Michelle C. LaPlaca, Associate Chair for Faculty Development and professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engin"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn the summer of 2023, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/garcia\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E Regents\u0027 Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Michelle-C.-LaPlaca\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMichelle C. LaPlaca\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Associate Chair for Faculty Development and professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, reached a joint milestone, their 25th anniversary at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In the summer of 2023, Andr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda, Regents\u0027 Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, and Michelle C. LaPlaca, Associate Chair for Faculty Development and professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engin"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-10-21 17:06:59","changed_gmt":"2024-10-21 17:13:34","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-03T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-03T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675376":{"id":"675376","type":"image","title":"Garci\u0301a_LaPlaca_0.jpg","body":null,"created":"1729530461","gmt_created":"2024-10-21 17:07:41","changed":"1729530461","gmt_changed":"2024-10-21 17:07:41","alt":"AG","file":{"fid":"258990","name":"Garci\u0301a_LaPlaca_0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/21\/Garci%CC%81a_LaPlaca_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/21\/Garci%CC%81a_LaPlaca_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1149862,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/21\/Garci%CC%81a_LaPlaca_0.jpg?itok=gwiOA4nR"}}},"media_ids":["675376"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/news\/couple-celebrates-25-years-georgia-tech","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBy Chloe Arrington\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"677788":{"#nid":"677788","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Improving the Odds for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAtrial fibrillation, or AF, is the unpredictable musician throwing the symphony of the heart out of whack, causing the upper chambers to beat haphazardly, out of sync with the steady rhythm of the lower chambers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd unfortunately, AF is all too common, affecting one in 100 people. It can be brief or persistent. It can wear you out, leaving you dizzy and out of breath, causing chest pains and palpitations. By itself, AF usually isn\u2019t life-threatening, but it reduces the heart\u2019s efficiency and can lead to blood clots and strokes \u2014 which definitely are life threatening.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are some helpful treatments for AF, but they are suboptimal,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Yue-Chen\u0022\u003EYue Chen\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant professor of biomedical engineering in the Coulter Department, where he runs the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.google.com\/view\/bm2lab\u0022\u003EBiomedical Mechatronics Lab\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cFor too many patients, the treatment is incomplete.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETreatments like radiofrequency ablation (RFA), for example, have proven effective. \u0026nbsp;A catheter delivers radiofrequency energy to create scar tissue inside the heart. Scar tissue can\u2019t conduct electricity, so it blocks AF\u2019s abnormal signals, restoring normal rhythm to the heart. But 30-50% of patients have a recurrence of symptoms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s partly because controlling the surgical tools inside the heart\u2019s complex environment isn\u2019t easy. The idea is to create a continuous line of lesions without any gaps, to completely block the faulty electric signals.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSometimes, there are gaps,\u201d said Chen, who aims to close them, and he\u2019s using a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to find a solution. Chen and his collaborators are developing a continuum robotic system that can efficiently perform procedures like RFA while the patient is inside a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis CAREER Award means a lot to me and my lab,\u201d said Chen, one of three Coulter BME faculty members, with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/news\/investigating-brain-change\u0022\u003EMing-fai Fong\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/news\/ahmet-coskun-wins-nsf-career-award\u0022\u003EAhmet Coskun\u003C\/a\u003E, to win the honor this year.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019m honored that my past work as well as my future research visions are being recognized,\u201d he added. \u201cThis is a great opportunity for us to explore some new directions \u2014 MRI-safe continuum robots. Our goal is to develop robot-based medical interventions for improved treatment outcomes.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESmart Snake\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EContinuum robots are long and slender and made of flexible materials that allow them to bend and twist and move with a great deal of dexterity, like a snake.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt makes them perfect for minimally invasive surgeries, such as cardiac ablation, intracerebral hemorrhage removal, drug delivery, and many other procedures,\u201d Chen said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut that\u2019s not what makes the Chen team\u2019s system unique. Unlike traditional robotic systems, this one is designed to work inside an MRI machine, offering doctors more precision than ever.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMRI provides high-resolution tissue imaging and real-time tracking, making it superior to other types of imaging. In addition to its diagnostic power, MRI is being used increasingly as part of clinical procedures.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut most robotic surgical systems haven\u2019t been compatible with MRI, said Chen, \u201cmainly due to the strong magnetic field generated by the MRI scanner, which precludes the use of ferromagnetic materials.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo overcome this problem, Chen\u2019s team created a new type of flexible robot made from polymers, including a plastic, 3D-printed transmission mechanism. The motors that give the robot mobility are made of 3D-printed resin and are powered by pressurized air. Since no electricity is used, there is no interference with the MRI\u2019s magnetic fields.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019ve also devised a controller that ensures the motors will move accurately and designed them in a way that allows easy customization with just a few key settings,\u201d Chen said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EControlling the Outcome\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA key challenge in RFA is manipulating the catheter in the heart, which is not unlike driving a car through a twisting, unfamiliar road. Chen\u2019s robotic system is basically a smart GPS that ensures the car stays on the right path at the right speed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur system will use MR imaging and catheter tracking to provide real-time feedback to the physician, which will help them guide the catheter more accurately,\u201d Chen said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdditionally, the research team has developed sensors that will monitor the contact force between the catheter and the heart tissue \u2014 the right amount of pressure is crucial for delivering heat energy, creating effective and continuous lesions, and reducing the chances of AF recurrence.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe project has multiple phases,\u201d Chen said. \u201cFirst, we\u2019ll develop the navigation software to merge MR imaging, catheter tracking, and contact force estimation into a single interface. This will provide physicians with comprehensive feedback during the procedure.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team will enhance the robotic system to control both the catheter, developing algorithms to ensure precise placement inside the patient. Then they\u2019ll test the system on a heart model in an MRI scanner before testing it on animal models.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is a multi-institutional effort. In addition to Chen\u2019s students \u2014 Yifan Wang, Anthony L. Gunderman, and Milad Azizkhani \u2014 his collaborators include Ehud Schmidt and Aravindan Kolandaivelu from Johns Hopkins University, and Junichi Tokuda from Harvard University.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe believe this platform will significantly improve the outcomes of AF treatments by providing physicians with better tools to perform precise, effective ablations,\u201d said Chen. \u201cThis technology could improve the quality of life for many patients.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Georgia Tech biomedical engineer Yue Chen using NSF CAREER Award to develop MRI-safe surgical robot"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech biomedical engineer Yue Chen\u0027s team is developing new MRI-safe robots to improve atrial fibrillation treatment, making heart procedures more precise and effective.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech biomedical engineer Yue Chen using NSF CAREER Award to develop MRI-safe surgical robot."}],"uid":"28153","created_gmt":"2024-10-21 21:06:22","changed_gmt":"2024-10-23 15:17:18","author":"Jerry Grillo","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-21T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-21T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675384":{"id":"675384","type":"image","title":"Yue Chen, BME researcher","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researcher Yue Chen is using his NSF CAREER Award to lead development of a new MRI-safe surgical robot.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1729544395","gmt_created":"2024-10-21 20:59:55","changed":"1729544513","gmt_changed":"2024-10-21 21:01:53","alt":"Yue Chen, BME roboticist","file":{"fid":"258999","name":"YueChen2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/21\/YueChen2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/21\/YueChen2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3610936,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/21\/YueChen2.jpg?itok=618dqrD4"}},"675385":{"id":"675385","type":"image","title":"Yue Chen with robotic device","body":"\u003Cp\u003EYue Chen\u0027s MRI-safe surgical robot\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1729544530","gmt_created":"2024-10-21 21:02:10","changed":"1729544595","gmt_changed":"2024-10-21 21:03:15","alt":"Yue Chen and his surgical robot","file":{"fid":"259000","name":"Yue with Device.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/21\/Yue%20with%20Device.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/21\/Yue%20with%20Device.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4723014,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/21\/Yue%20with%20Device.jpg?itok=Au2EMpXe"}}},"media_ids":["675384","675385"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"152","name":"Robotics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187991","name":"go-robotics"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"167861","name":"surgical robotics"},{"id":"194041","name":"atrial fibrillation"},{"id":"194042","name":"MRI-safe robots"},{"id":"1613","name":"Biomedical Engieering"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJerry Grillo\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"677796":{"#nid":"677796","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Prausnitz Elected to National Academy of Medicine","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor his work creating new kinds of drug delivery techniques and bringing those technologies to patients, Mark Prausnitz is one of the new members of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Academy announced his election Oct. 21 alongside 99 others. Membership in NAM is considered one of the highest recognitions in health and medicine, reserved for those who\u2019ve made major contributions to healthcare, medical sciences, and public health. The roster is small: only 2,400 or so individuals have been honored.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be elected to the National Academy of Medicine and have the work of our team at Georgia Tech recognized in this way,\u201d said Prausnitz, Regents\u2019 Professor and J. Erskine Love Jr. Chair in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Academy cited Prausnitz for innovating microneedle and other advanced drug delivery technologies. He also was honored for translating those methods and devices into clinical trials and products and founding companies to bring the advances to patients. NAM praised Prausnitz for \u201cinspiring students to be creative and impactful engineers.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/10\/prausnitz-elected-national-academy-medicine\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead the full story on the College of Engineering website.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe chemical engineer, microneedle pioneer, and entrepreneur is the fourth College of Engineering faculty member to join the Academy since 2020.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The chemical engineer, microneedle pioneer, and entrepreneur is the fourth College of Engineering faculty member to join the Academy since 2020."}],"uid":"27446","created_gmt":"2024-10-22 14:12:48","changed_gmt":"2024-11-01 15:58:16","author":"Joshua Stewart","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675395":{"id":"675395","type":"image","title":"Mark-Prausnitz-Lab-t.jpg","body":null,"created":"1729606377","gmt_created":"2024-10-22 14:12:57","changed":"1729606377","gmt_changed":"2024-10-22 14:12:57","alt":"Mark Prausnitz poses with arms crossed in his lab with shelves of materials and bottles in the background.","file":{"fid":"259011","name":"Mark-Prausnitz-Lab-t.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/22\/Mark-Prausnitz-Lab-t.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/22\/Mark-Prausnitz-Lab-t.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":989589,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/22\/Mark-Prausnitz-Lab-t.jpg?itok=pV2qTX4Z"}}},"media_ids":["675395"],"groups":[{"id":"1237","name":"College of Engineering"},{"id":"1182","name":"General"},{"id":"660369","name":"Matter and Systems"}],"categories":[{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"}],"keywords":[{"id":"495","name":"Mark Prausnitz"},{"id":"186042","name":"National Academy of Medicine"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jstewart@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJoshua Stewart\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jstewart@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"677864":{"#nid":"677864","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Bridge to Employment Program Shows Students How STEM Can Shape Their Future","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/gtcoe_wide\/public\/2024-10\/Bridge-to-Employment-Group-9953-banner.jpg?itok=8zflQC19\u0022 alt=\u0022Group photo of Bridge to Employment participants in a building atrium\u0022 width=\u00221200\u0022 height=\u0022473\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn a quiet Saturday morning, while many high school students were sleeping in or making weekend plans, Rhyland Oneill and Axum Nickerson were sitting in a college classroom, fully immersed in the story of a guest speaker who had overcome immense obstacles to achieve success.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese two juniors are among nearly 50 high school students spending one Saturday a month at Georgia Tech in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/projectengages.gatech.edu\/bridge-to-employment\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ea new program called Bridge to Employment\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (BTE). Yet for Oneill and Nickerson, the program is more than just a monthly commitment \u2014 it\u2019s a glimpse into career paths and opportunities they might never have imagined.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough hands-on activities, mentorship, and field trips to places like the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, BTE is showing students from underserved communities how science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) can shape their futures.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELaunched in October 2023 through a partnership with Johnson \u0026amp; Johnson, the BTE program connects high school students from historically marginalized and underrepresented communities to STEM careers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt each monthly session, about a dozen Johnson \u0026amp; Johnson volunteers, along with professionals from various fields, lead students through workshops, field trips, and guest lectures.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBTE is a national program that works with students for three years starting in 10th grade. The program Georgia Tech has a unique flavor however: It\u2019s the only site bringing students to a college campus rather than going to their schools.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou can\u2019t see yourself in a college environment if you\u2019ve never been there,\u201d said Lakeita Servance, assistant\u0026nbsp;director of K-20 programs in the College of Engineering. \u201cOur goal is to make them feel comfortable here and show them what\u2019s possible when they put in the effort.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EServance said this approach gives students positive experience a college environment and makes Georgia Tech a more familiar place.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/gtcoe_wide\/public\/2024-10\/Bridge-to-Employment-pipette-9868-h.jpg?itok=-0Ki7tbb\u0022 alt=\u0022A student at a table holding a pipette over a green tray of samples. \u0022 width=\u00221200\u0022 height=\u0022801\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA student practices using a pipette to work with samples. (Photo: Jihoon Kim)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to STEM activities and exposure, the program also focuses on college readiness \u2014\u0026nbsp; writing application essays, FAFSA and financial aid support, and preparing for college visits \u2014 particularly in the second year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe want them to be ready for whatever path they choose \u2014 college, apprenticeships, or straight into careers. But it\u2019s about more than that. We\u2019re preparing them for life,\u201d Servance said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENickerson and Oneill, both sophomores when they started, had been thinking about studying engineering but weren\u2019t sure what that might look like.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI joined because my counselor recommended it, and I thought it would be good for my resume and college applications. But I didn\u2019t realize how much it would open my eyes to different career paths,\u201d Oneill said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENickerson echoed the sentiment: \u201cI thought I wanted to do just engineering, but now I see all these different ways I could pursue it.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/gtcoe_wide\/public\/2024-10\/Bridge-to-Employment-portable-pcr-test-9937-sq_0.jpg?itok=IEdGWoyD\u0022 alt=\u0022Two hands holding a smartphone over a box sitting on a small blue platform. On the screen, the camera app is showing a biological sample in the box. (Photo: Jihoon Kim)\u0022 width=\u00221200\u0022 height=\u00221200\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents in the Bridge to Employment program participate in a variety of workshops and hands-on activities, like this one using a simple system and a smartphone to do electrophoresis tests. (Photo: Jihoon Kim)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program\u2019s mix of guest speakers, field trips, and hands-on activities is helping the students understand the wide range of opportunities available in STEM.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth Oneill and Nickerson talked about how inspiring it was to hear speakers share stories of persevering through hardship to achieve impactful careers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the most memorable moments for was a guest speaker\u2019s emotional account of overcoming poverty to become successful in STEM: \u201cIt motivated me to keep chasing my dreams,\u201d he reflected.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENickerson said that field trips, such as the visit to the Tellus Museum and a session on optics, were highlights of the program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt gave us a chance to see the science in action, and it was eye-opening,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to the BTE program, both Nickerson and Oneill have gotten involved in Georgia Tech\u2019s research-focused \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/projectengages.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EENGAGES program\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E for 11th and 12th graders.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOneill is working in John Blazeck\u2019s lab in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, while Nickerson is part of Edward Botchwey\u2019s lab in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBTE helped connect them to these opportunities earlier in their high school careers, allowing them to gain practical experience in real-world lab settings.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the BTE program moves into its second year, and the focus on college readiness intensifies, Servance and the Johnson \u0026amp; Johnson volunteers will continue to guide students and help them gain the confidence and skills they\u2019ll needed for whatever path they choose.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Oneill and Nickerson, that future now seems full of possibilities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s made me more focused on going to a STEM-based college,\u201d Oneill said, \u201cand now I know there are so many different paths I could take.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBTE is a partnership with Johnson \u0026amp; Johnson to offer high schoolers from underserved communities hands-on experience and mentorship in STEM fields, providing a pathway to college and beyond.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"BTE is a partnership with Johnson \u0026 Johnson to offer high schoolers from underserved communities hands-on experience and mentorship in STEM fields, providing a pathway to college and beyond."}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-10-23 15:58:29","changed_gmt":"2024-10-23 16:06:53","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-23T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-23T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/10\/bridge-employment-program-shows-students-how-stem-can-shape-their-future","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDhanesh Amin\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"677938":{"#nid":"677938","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Ahmet Coskun Named CMBE Young Innovator for 2024","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-10\/Coskun1_0.jpg\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/max_1300x1300\/public\/2024-10\/Coskun1_0.jpg?itok=JNN6kRgy\u0022 alt=\u0022Coskun with sample slide\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECoulter BME\u0027s Ahmet Coskun is a CMBE Young Innovator for his research into drug resistant cancers. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Photo by Jerry Grillo\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBy Jerry Grillo\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome cancers are stubbornly resistant to the drugs designed to kill them, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Ahmet-F-Coskun\u0022\u003EAhmet Coskun\u003C\/a\u003E wants to know why. So, the Georgia Tech biomedical engineer and his research team has developed a precise molecular tool to help clear up the mystery.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir graph-based super-resolution protein-protein interaction (GSR-PPI) technique creates a detailed, three-dimensional map of protein interactions within single cells. And it could lead to a better understanding and treatment of drug-resistant cancers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECoskun will share the results of their work with the rest of the biomedical engineering world this week. As one of this year\u2019s 12 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s12195-024-00826-x\u0022\u003EYoung Innovators of Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering\u003C\/a\u003E (CMBE), he\u2019s been invited to present a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s12195-024-00822-1\u0022\u003Epaper about his research\u003C\/a\u003E on Friday, Oct. 25, at the 2024 Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bmes.org\/bmes2024\u0022\u003EAnnual Meeting\u003C\/a\u003E in Baltimore.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCancer treatments fail in many individuals and pinpointing what goes on at the single cell level is paramount,\u201d said Coskun, assistant professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, where he holds the Bernie Marcus Early Career Professorship.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe noted that while sequencing and molecular imaging have shed light on the molecules associated with disease, there is no definitive test available to decode the communication between two interacting molecules that lead to drug resistance.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAt BMES we\u2019ll showcase a novel direction that creates a high-definition view of lung cancers in individual cells using a graphical representation of molecular wiring diagrams,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECurrent methods don\u2019t adequately capture the detailed spatial interactions of proteins in cells, which is crucial for understanding drug resistance. Coskun\u2019s team used single-cell spatial proximity ligation assays and advanced microscopy to examine protein interactions in lung cancer cells treated with the drug Osimertinib. Deep learning models analyzed these images to classify the drug treatment states of the cells.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGSR-PPI significantly outperformed the traditional methods in predicting how cells respond to the drug. It classified how drugs performed in both cancer cells and human lung tissues with high accuracy and differentiated between single and combination drug therapies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBasically, it\u2019s like watching a 4k movie of cancer,\u201d said Coskun, the first person from Georgia Tech to receive the Young Innovator honor from CMBE, a leading research journal, in more than a decade.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGetting acknowledged by peers and mentors is an affirming feeling,\u201d he said. \u201cOur curiosity driven projects, and their translational impacts are being recognized. meets expectations. It\u2019s a sign of my group\u2019s passion to take chances and try new things.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBiomedical engineer will present groundbreaking mapping tool aimed at drug resistant cancers at BMES Annual Meeting\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Biomedical engineer will present groundbreaking mapping tool aimed at drug resistant cancers at BMES Annual Meeting"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-10-28 16:06:27","changed_gmt":"2024-10-28 16:08:54","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/news\/ahmet-coskun-named-cmbe-young-innovator-2024","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBy Jerry Grillo\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"677937":{"#nid":"677937","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Andrei Fedorov and Collaborators Awarded $4.81 Million to Develop New Instrumentation for Biomedical Research ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/fedorov\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndrei Fedorov\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, Rae S. and Frank H. Neely Chair, and professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, has received two Research Project Grants (R01) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe funding, a combined $4.81 million to be distributed over the next five years, will be used to develop new instrumentation for biomedical research.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGuided Intracellular Delivery using Precise Area Introduction and Transfection (PAINT)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe first project, supported by $1.87 million from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), aims to develop a new method for highly localized, versatile, and efficient biochemical delivery for \u0022direct-write\u0022 guided administration at single-cell to multi-cell resolution. PAINT permits the simple and quick production of heterogeneously modified samples, including in vitro cell and tissue cultures.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EModifying cells by introducing biomolecules has become a critical process for fundamental biomedical research and is gaining traction as a treatment approach. This project will provide a significant leap forward in the capability and utility of microinjection and other state-of-the-art delivery methods.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis novel approach to cell modification, invented in Fedorov\u2019s lab, is primarily based on its versatility, ease of use, and rapidity. As PAINT modification of cells does not require direct contact, several steps of the cargo introduction process for micro-injection are eliminated, allowing for continuous, more straightforward cell modification.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis project is a collaboration with Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/ravi-kane\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERavi Kane\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and Professor Randolph Ashton from the University of Wisconsin.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESynergistic Advancements in MR Thermometry and Predictive Thermal Modeling Towards Improved Characterization of Human Brain Temperature\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe second project, supported by $2.94 million from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, aims to develop non-invasive, repeatable, in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) brain thermometry and a novel, quantitative, hemodynamic biophysical model for interpreting MR images and predicting brain temperature.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Brain thermoregulation is a poorly understood but critical modulator of neural activity and hemodynamics,\u0022 said Fedorov. Though brain and body temperatures are highly correlated indicators of health, the way the body regulates them is distinct. Brain temperature fluctuations can contribute to ischemia-induced brain damage and mortality after traumatic brain injury.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project will leverage the expertise in MR thermometry, thermal modeling, clinical neurology, and neuroradiology to facilitate the development of clinically viable methods for in vivo brain thermometry and temperature predictions, provide mechanistic insight into brain thermoregulation, and identify urgently needed biomarkers for injury and neuroprotection.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis interdisciplinary project is a long-term collaboration with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Candace-Fleischer\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECandace Fleischer\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the Department of Radiology at Emory University School of Medicine and assistant professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Emory University and Georgia Tech\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-10\/Fedorov_R01.png\u0022 alt=\u0022Malik McRae (front) and Ire Adaramola (back) are conducting experiments with the early prototype of the PAINT device for \u0026quot;direct-write\u0026quot; guided drug delivery to biological cells.\u0022 width=\u0022907\u0022 height=\u00221128\u0022\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMalik McRae (front) and Ire Adaramola (back) are conducting experiments with the early prototype of the PAINT device for \u0022direct-write\u0022 guided drug delivery to biological cells. McRae, a Morehouse College student and a Petit Scholar in Bioengineering in the Fedorov laboratory, won the Marshall Fellowship for his research and is currently pursuing his MD\/Ph.D. at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Adaramola is completing the first year of her master\u2019s degree in mechanical engineering at the Woodruff School.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/fedorov\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndrei Fedorov\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, Rae S. and Frank H. Neely Chair, and professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, has received two Research Project Grants (R01) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Andrei Fedorov, Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, Rae S. and Frank H. Neely Chair, and professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, has received two Research Project Grants (R01) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)."}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-10-28 16:03:10","changed_gmt":"2024-10-28 16:04:13","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675444":{"id":"675444","type":"image","title":"Andrei_FEdorov_22x3web.jpg","body":null,"created":"1730131399","gmt_created":"2024-10-28 16:03:19","changed":"1730131399","gmt_changed":"2024-10-28 16:03:19","alt":"Andrei Federov","file":{"fid":"259068","name":"Andrei_FEdorov_22x3web.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/28\/Andrei_FEdorov_22x3web.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/28\/Andrei_FEdorov_22x3web.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":127964,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/28\/Andrei_FEdorov_22x3web.jpg?itok=LkQBAHfe"}}},"media_ids":["675444"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/news\/andrei-fedorov-and-collaborators-awarded-481-million-develop-new-instrumentation-biomedical","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBy Chloe Arrington\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678252":{"#nid":"678252","#data":{"type":"news","title":"How Physical Force Affects Cancer Treatment","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EProgrammed Cell Death-1, or PD-1, has become a headline-grabbing molecule best known for its role in cancer immunotherapies called checkpoint inhibitors.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2\u0022\u003EA study from Georgia Tech and Emory University\u003C\/a\u003E researchers is offering improved understanding of why these inhibitors work \u2014 and how to make them effectively fight cancer for more patients.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a normal, healthy body, PD-1 is a receptor protein that serves as an important off-switch, or checkpoint. Found on a cell\u2019s surface, it binds with a ligand \u2014 either PD-L1 or PD-L2 \u2014 on another cell surface. This interaction signals the immune systems\u2019 T cells not to attack healthy cells. But sometimes, invading cancer cells also carry a ligand that will bind with PD-1, fooling the body\u2019s immune system into calling off the attack when T cells are needed most.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPD-1 blockade therapy is a checkpoint inhibitor that blocks this signaling process, unleashing the full fury of T cells. Still, only 20% to 40% of patients receive clear benefits from this kind of immunotherapy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere\u2019s the thing: Part of what remains unclear is how PD-1 initiates the stand-down order to T cells. Sometimes, ligands bind with PD-1 and \u003Cem\u003Edon\u2019t\u003C\/em\u003E suppress T cell activity. So, solving the mystery of what else causes PD-1 to work as a checkpoint can open the door to more effective cancer therapies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering researcher \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Cheng-Zhu\u0022\u003ECheng Zhu\u003C\/a\u003E and his collaborators may have found a key: physical force.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMechanical forces are an important but previously overlooked component of immunology in general, and specifically in PD-1 activity,\u201d said Zhu, professor Regents\u0027 Professor and J. Erskine Love Jr. Chair. \u201cThey play a critical role in regulating immune responses.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZhu and his team presented their research in \u003Cem\u003ENature Communications\u003C\/em\u003E, demonstrating that PD-1 is not activated just through interacting or binding with ligands. These ligands must also be anchored to a surface, like a cell membrane, which enables T cells to exert small but measurable forces.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe show that T cells exert force on this interaction between PD-1 and the ligand. Without that reactive force on the cancer cell ligand, PD-1 doesn\u2019t function,\u201d Zhu said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd that means T cells can be fully armed and ready for the fight.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMeasuring the Force\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe recent study is a sequel to research \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/news\/zhu-lab-explains-inhibitory-role-worlds-most-famous-molecule-0\u0022\u003EZhu\u2019s team published in 2021\u003C\/a\u003E that explained PD-1\u2019s suppressive role and its value in immunotherapy. This time, the researchers went deeper, identifying and measuring the physical force involved in PD-1\u2019s function.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey used special tools called molecular tension probes and biomembrane force probes to evaluate the tiny physical force exerted by T cells and understand the connection between this molecular jostling and PD-1 activity.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn a solid cell membrane with the appropriate ligand (PD-L1 for example), T cells exert a force of 4.7 to 12 piconewtons. When the force applied was less than 7 piconewtons, the bond between PD-1 and the ligand got stronger and lasted longer. When the force was higher than 8, the bond weakened and broke more easily.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf the force is too high, the bond breaks, and that weakens PD-1\u2019s ability to stop T cells,\u201d Zhu explained. \u201cIt\u2019s a molecular balancing act, and the right amount of physical force makes all the difference.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile they confirmed that T cells exert small forces on PD-1 attached to a surface-bound ligand, they also discovered that soluble PD-L1 ligands floating freely in the bloodstream lack the mechanical support needed to activate PD-1.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis explains why soluble ligands don\u2019t trigger T cell inhibition in the same way,\u201d Zhu said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUltimately, the research showed that immune cells need physical as well as chemical cues to properly manage PD-1 activity, and even the tiniest show of force could play a role in our body\u2019s ability to protect itself, against cancer and potentially other diseases.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNext, we would like to test our in vitro findings in an in vivo setting, using animal models,\u201d Zhu said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECITATION:\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2#auth-Kaitao-Li-Aff1-Aff2-Aff7\u0022\u003EKaitao Li\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2#auth-Paul-Cardenas_Lizana-Aff1-Aff2-Aff8\u0022\u003EPaul Cardenas-Lizana\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2#auth-Jintian-Lyu-Aff1-Aff2-Aff9\u0022\u003EJintian Lyu\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2#auth-Anna_V_-Kellner-Aff1-Aff10\u0022\u003EAnna V. Kellner\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2#auth-Menglan-Li-Aff1-Aff2\u0022\u003EMenglan Li\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2#auth-Peiwen-Cong-Aff1-Aff2\u0022\u003EPeiwen Cong\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2#auth-Valencia_E_-Watson-Aff1-Aff2\u0022\u003EValencia E. Watson\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2#auth-Zhou-Yuan-Aff1-Aff2-Aff3-Aff11\u0022\u003EZhou Yuan\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2#auth-Eunseon-Ahn-Aff4-Aff5-Aff12\u0022\u003EEunseon Ahn\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2#auth-Larissa-Doudy-Aff1-Aff2\u0022\u003ELarissa Doudy\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2#auth-Zhenhai-Li-Aff1-Aff3-Aff13\u0022\u003EZhenhai Li\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2#auth-Khalid-Salaita-Aff1-Aff6\u0022\u003EKhalid Salaita\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2#auth-Rafi-Ahmed-Aff4-Aff5\u0022\u003ERafi Ahmed\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-52565-2#auth-Cheng-Zhu-Aff1-Aff2-Aff3\u0022\u003ECheng Zhu\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cMechanical force regulates ligand binding and function of PD-1.\u201d \u003Cem\u003ENature Communications\u003C\/em\u003E. doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-024-52565-2\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFUNDING:\u003C\/strong\u003E This research was supported by the National Science Foundation, grant No. MCA08X014, and the National Institutes of Health, grant Nos. R01CA243486, U01CA250040, U01CA250040S2, RM1GM145394, and F31CA243502. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of any funding agency.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Cheng Zhu and collaborators probe the underlying mechanisms of PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor therapy"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECheng Zhu and collaborators probe the underlying mechanisms of PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor therapy and discover the critical role of physical force at the molecular level.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Cheng Zhu and collaborators probe the underlying mechanisms of PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor therapy and discover the critical role of physical force."}],"uid":"28153","created_gmt":"2024-11-07 15:56:19","changed_gmt":"2024-11-08 15:32:26","author":"Jerry Grillo","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-11-07T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-11-07T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675541":{"id":"675541","type":"image","title":"Zhu lab","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECheng Zhu\u0027s research team studied how mechanical force plays a critical role in the body\u0027s immune system. \u0026nbsp; \u2014 Photo by Jerry Grillo\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1730993470","gmt_created":"2024-11-07 15:31:10","changed":"1730994774","gmt_changed":"2024-11-07 15:52:54","alt":"Cheng Zhu lab","file":{"fid":"259177","name":"Cheng Zhu lab.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/07\/Cheng%20Zhu%20lab.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/07\/Cheng%20Zhu%20lab.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3148396,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/07\/Cheng%20Zhu%20lab.jpg?itok=z1Zs4JCB"}}},"media_ids":["675541"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187886","name":"PD-1"},{"id":"181927","name":"BME cancer"},{"id":"2470","name":"cancer therapy"},{"id":"187887","name":"checkpoint inhibitor"},{"id":"194075","name":"programmed cell death"},{"id":"1613","name":"Biomedical Engieering"},{"id":"108031","name":"College of Engineering; Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:Jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJerry Grillo\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678346":{"#nid":"678346","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Pinar Keskinocak Named Chair of H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/pinar-keskinocak\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPinar Keskinocak\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E has been selected as the next leader of Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EH. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. She will serve as the H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School Chair beginning January 1.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKeskinocak is the\u0026nbsp;William W. George Chair and Professor and serves as ISyE\u2019s associate chair for faculty development.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe will be ISyE\u2019s ninth permanent chair, leading a school renowned for its top-ranked graduate and undergraduate industrial engineering programs.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/09\/undergrad-engineering-program-ranks-no-4-us-news-best-colleges\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EU.S. News \u0026amp; World Report\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E has consistently ranked ISyE as the nation\u0027s best since the mid-1990s.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cPinar is a proven and respected leader both on campus and within her academic and research community,\u201d said Raheem Beyah, dean of the College of Engineering and Southern Company Chair. \u201cShe is well-positioned to continue advancing ISyE\u2019s national prominence and accelerate the School\u2019s trajectory.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKeskinocak is the cofounder and director Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chhs.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECenter for Health and Humanitarian Systems\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an interdisciplinary research center focused on education, outreach, and developing innovative solutions via advanced modeling, analytics, and systems engineering.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EKeskinocak\u2019s research has had broad societal impact. This includes policies and practices for improved emergency preparedness\u0026nbsp;and response, disease prevention and public health, healthcare access, resource allocation, and supply chain management.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKeskinocak has collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Carter Center, and other governmental and nongovernmental organizations to translate research into real-world solutions that benefit people and communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am honored to have the privilege of serving our School in this important leadership role,\u201d Keskinocak said. \u201cAs ISyE continues to expand our core activities in education and research, we will strive to advance our excellence and leadership and grow our impact. I look forward to collaborating with our faculty, staff, students, and alumni, as well as with the leadership of the College, Georgia Tech, and our broader community and partners.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA highly regarded researcher, Keskinocak has published extensively in top-tier academic journals. She served in various leadership roles within professional societies, including as the 2020 president and a two-time board member of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.informs.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EINFORMS (The Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. She is the cofounder, and has been president, of multiple INFORMS subdivisions. She also has served on several National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committees.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKeskinocak is a fellow of INFORMS and recipient of the society\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.informs.org\/Recognizing-Excellence\/INFORMS-Prizes\/George-E.-Kimball-Medal\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorge E. Kimball Medal\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.informs.org\/Recognizing-Excellence\/INFORMS-Prizes\/INFORMS-President-s-Award\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPresident\u2019s Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.informs.org\/Recognizing-Excellence\/Wagner-Prize\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaniel H. Wagner Prize\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. At Georgia Tech, she has been recognized with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/institute-research-awards\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOutstanding Achievement in Research Program Development\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E Award, Class of 1934 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2022\/05\/11\/tech-celebrates-outstanding-faculty-staff-members\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOutstanding Service Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/provost.gatech.edu\/news\/pinar-keskinocak-honored-outstanding-professional-education-award\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOutstanding Professional Education Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2016\/03\/faculty-spotlight-isye-health-humanitarian-faculty-members-receive-denning-faculty\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDenning Award for Global Engagement\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA dedicated mentor, educator, and advocate for broadening participation in STEM fields, Keskinocak served as the College\u2019s ADVANCE Professor from 2014 to 2020. She was recognized with the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/news\/pinar-keskinocak-honored-2021-recipient-award-advancement-women-orms#:~:text=Pinar%20Keskinocak%2C%20the%20William%20W,of%20Women%20in%20OR%2FMS.\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EINFORMS Women in OR\/MS Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and the Georgia Tech Women in Engineering Excellence Teaching Faculty Award.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKeskinocak replaces Edwin Romeijn, who will return to the ISyE faculty after 10 years as chair.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am thankful to Edwin for his very successful tenure, during which ISyE enrollment grew from 1,800 students to more than 8,000,\u201d Beyah said. \u201cI\u2019m also grateful to our search committee and chair Arijit Raychowdhury. This group of students, faculty, and staff diligently worked to help identify a national, diverse pool of strong candidates.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDistinguished ISyE professor will lead the nation\u2019s No. 1 industrial engineering program.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Distinguished ISyE professor will lead the nation\u2019s No. 1 industrial engineering program. "}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-11-12 14:57:56","changed_gmt":"2024-11-12 14:59:07","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-11-12T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-11-12T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675585":{"id":"675585","type":"image","title":"Pinar-Keskinocak-headshot2.png","body":null,"created":"1731423487","gmt_created":"2024-11-12 14:58:07","changed":"1731423487","gmt_changed":"2024-11-12 14:58:07","alt":"Pinar","file":{"fid":"259225","name":"Pinar-Keskinocak-headshot2.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/12\/Pinar-Keskinocak-headshot2.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/12\/Pinar-Keskinocak-headshot2.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2944409,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/12\/Pinar-Keskinocak-headshot2.png?itok=GuYKC1db"}}},"media_ids":["675585"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/11\/pinar-keskinocak-named-chair-h-milton-stewart-school-industrial-and-systems","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJason Maderer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["maderer@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678347":{"#nid":"678347","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Frugal Science Academy Enhancing Science Education across Georgia","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELevi Phillips\u0027 path to enrollment as a first-year major in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) in fall 2024 included interning in the Frugal Science Academy, which a ChBE professor created to nurture the next generation of engineers, inventors, and change makers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPhillips learned of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/fsa.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrugal Science Academy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (FSA) as a student at Lambert High School through his biotechnology teacher Janet Standeven, who had developed a collaboration with FSA founder \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bhamla.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESaad Bhamla\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an associate professor in ChBE.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Frugal Science Academy is building a world where synthetic biology is accessible to everyone who wishes to participate through the creation of affordable equipment,\u201d Bhamla said. \u201cWe help high school students build synthetic biology tools using everyday objects and share those technologies with others.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrugal innovations that have emerged from the Bhamla lab include an automated tracking microscope, a 3D-printed centrifuge, and an inexpensive cell lysis device for molecular biology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring his senior year at Lambert in Suwanee, Georgia, Phillips worked remotely with Bhamla\u2019s FSA conducting an independent project on a PIO reactor, an affordable open-source bioreactor.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFSA Boot Camp and Teacher Training\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPhillips\u2019 project continued in summer 2024 as he worked in campus labs at Georgia Tech as part of the two-week\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EFSA Boot Camp and Teacher Training, which involved, at various times, 15 high school interns and 20 other high school students working with undergraduate mentors on various projects from new hardware devices to innovative synthetic biology projects.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESix high school teachers also took part in the teacher development portion of the Boot Camp.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPhillips, who said the overall experience with the FSA attracted him to apply and enroll at Georgia Tech, described the mentorship and lab experiences during the\u0026nbsp;Boot Camp as exceptional.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf I had to give a star rating, it would be six stars out of five, just fantastic,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFormation and Funding of FSA\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPhillips\u2019 former biotechnology teacher at Lambert, Janet Standeven, organized the Boot Camp in her role as program manager of the FSA.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe began partnering with ChBE\u2019s Professor Bhamla in 2017 when her Lambert students wanted to take part in the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition. Standeven reached out to Bhamla to see if her students could use an open-source centrifuge from his lab for a project.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/chbe.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/gtcoe_wide\/public\/2024-10\/478da80b-3e65-42f5-97e9-9b61a3c7c9e1%20%281%29.jpg?itok=mPcI84F8\u0022 alt=\u0022Teachers participating in the lab \u0022 width=\u00221024\u0022 height=\u0022768\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETeachers from across Georgia participated in the Frugal Science Academy Boot Camp and Teacher Training.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/chbe.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/gtcoe_wide\/public\/2024-10\/461990296_10161002267828823_8459367522110830400_n.jpg?itok=NaeW34iV\u0022 alt=\u0022Undergraduate mentor in the lab\u0022 width=\u00221200\u0022 height=\u00221600\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EUndegraduate mentors assisted the 35 high school students participating the Summer Boot Camp and Teacher Training\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough the years, their partnership continued and evolved into Standeven, a former Georgia Biotechnology Teacher of the Year, joining the FSA in ChBE full time in 2023. Earlier this year, Georgia Tech\u0027s Center for Teaching Learning recognized FSA with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ctl.gatech.edu\/faculty\/awards\/ed-partnership\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEducation Partnership Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA five-year Science Education Partnership Award from the National Institutes of Health has enabled Bhamla and Standeven to expand frugal science access beyond Lambert to high schools across Georgia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to students, the grant focuses on training teachers on how to conduct academic-level research from anywhere using frugal equipment. Teachers in rural areas often do not have access to university research labs that those in Atlanta and other larger cities might.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe will grow a STEM-engaged workforce by enabling teachers to provide immersive research opportunities at their high schools.\u201d Standeven said. \u201cWe\u2019ve found teachers are the multiplier of shared resources.\u0026nbsp;When you train teachers in rapidly evolving technology, they can bring real-life examples into the classroom, enriching\u0026nbsp;their\u0026nbsp;teaching content and student understanding.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIGEM Competition Preparation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA major focus of the teacher and student training in the summer 2024 FSA Boot Camp included the frugal technologies of a Lambert High School project for the International Genetically Engineering Machine Competition (IGEM).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELambert is one of only eight high schools in the country to have a team competing in IGEM, which is typically intended for college students.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom 2018 -2023, Lambert IGEM teams won gold medals at the Grand Jamboree International Competition. In 2022, the Lambert team was awarded The Grand Prize for the best high school project in the world for their early diagnostic tool detecting micro RNA associated with Coronary Artery Disease.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELambert\u2019s current team, consisting of 24 students, will compete at the 2024 international competition in October in Paris, France.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECombating Antimicrobial Resistance\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis team is developing a multi-faceted approach (called SHIELD) for combating the growing threats posed by antimicrobial resistance, which can be accelerated by the misuse of antibiotics in agriculture.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne component of SHIELD is ThermoX, a portable device for diagnosing bacterial diseases quickly. Another is a CRISPR-interference (CRISPRi) system designed to target and suppress essential genes in antibiotic-resistant bacteria without using traditional antibiotics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo measure the effectiveness of CRISPRi in real-world scenarios, the team designed a biosensor called a \u0022toehold,\u0022 which helps quantify CRISPRi\u0027s impact by detecting changes in bacterial genes. Team members also investigated local water contamination caused by antibiotic runoff from livestock, highlighting how this practice fosters resistance.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELambert senior Christiana Cho, a member of the IGEM team, said that the opportunity to use Georgia Tech\u2019s labs over the summer was a great experience and huge help in advancing their project.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe didn\u2019t have to cram all of all experiments into the fall, so the boot camp was great in getting our project moving and ensuring that we have results,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re able to get everything set in time for the IGEM competition.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EValuable Lab Time\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKate Sharer, a biotechnology teacher and IGEM advisor at Lambert, reiterated the value of the lab time made possible by the generosity of the School of Biological Sciences\u2019 lab manager Alison Onstine, who provided space in the Boggs building.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTo have a solid eight hours a day in the lab is something we never get in high school,\u201d said Sharer, a Georgia Tech alum (CHEM 1996).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTo have that has been wonderful as well as the collaborations with the undergraduate mentors and access to the postdocs and faculty members who\u2019ve been generous with their time and expertise.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnstine said: \u201cThe biology labs are delighted to support these valuable and impactful outreach programs. We are fortunate to have a set of newly renovated teaching labs in the Boggs building that can easily accommodate summer programs and special events. That this program is having such an outsized impact on science education in the local community is all the better.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/chbe.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/gtcoe_wide\/public\/2024-10\/462105081_10161002261333823_771834687092981532_n.jpg?itok=T1BZRYJL\u0022 alt=\u0022Poster competition\u0022 width=\u00221200\u0022 height=\u0022900\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EHigh school students in the Frugal Science Academy presented their work in a poster showcase at the end of the two-week Boot Camp.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/chbe.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/gtcoe_wide\/public\/2024-10\/d19516df-586f-4a97-9da8-7d8421bba364.jpg?itok=wNkJuyZy\u0022 alt=\u0022Poster Competition\u0022 width=\u00221024\u0022 height=\u0022768\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFrugal Science Academy Founder Saad Bhamla learns about a student\u0027s research project in the poster showcase.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EImage\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/chbe.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/gtcoe_wide\/public\/2024-10\/a62c3911-5e1a-4e5e-b327-b9c76e54a086.jpg?itok=XGbtLWWX\u0022 alt=\u0022High school students in group setting\u0022 width=\u00221024\u0022 height=\u0022768\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThirty-five high school students participated in the Boot Camp.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EImage\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/chbe.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/gtcoe_wide\/public\/2024-10\/16b28b04-2dd9-4827-ad17-99757ff3145b.jpg?itok=yKFh1_ft\u0022 alt=\u0022Teachers in lab\u0022 width=\u00221024\u0022 height=\u0022768\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Frugal Science Academy instructs teachers on how to conduct academic-level research from anywhere using frugal equipment.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMaking Impact Statewide\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMelissa Rowe, a teacher at Chattooga High School in Summerville, Georgia, attended the FSA boot camp in both 2023 and 2024.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s really increased the rigor of my classes and provided my students with new lab experiences, skills, and knowledge,\u201d she said. \u201cMy goal is to help my students understand the topics or concepts of science are not standalone but interconnected.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe said that learning lab techniques and technology involved in the IGEM student project on preventing antimicrobial resistance (aggravated by the misuse of antibiotics in agriculture) was of particular interest to her because of personal background. She lives on her family\u2019s farm, and many of the people in her community grow some of their own crops.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFuture Farmers of America and 4-H are big in our area,\u201d Rowe said. \u201cI\u2019m planning to apply for grants to test soil from different areas for antibiotic resistance. That\u2019s important to us in the health of our crops and farm animals in our area.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERowe said she is grateful to be part of the growing impact that FSA is making on science education across Georgia. \u201cIt\u2019s been an amazing experience coming and working in the labs at Georgia Tech.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESharing FSA Resources\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFSA student projects are added to a website open-sources that other classrooms can access for their experiments. The formation of virtual networks of teachers and classrooms to test new designs and give critiques to the inventors will provide a feedback loop to improve the projects as well as data for possible publications.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cStudents at every high school need and deserve these opportunities,\u201d Standeven said. \u201cEventually, every high school will be able to support a\u0026nbsp;bio-engineering mindset and the opportunity to develop ideas into projects.\u0026nbsp; Eventually, communities will see that synthetic biology is doable,\u0026nbsp;achievable, and a way to solve major world problems.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBoot Camp Provided Campus Lab Experience to Students, Teachers\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Boot Camp Provided Campus Lab Experience to Students, Teachers"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-11-12 15:00:55","changed_gmt":"2024-11-12 15:05:36","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675586":{"id":"675586","type":"image","title":"frugalscience.jpg","body":null,"created":"1731423919","gmt_created":"2024-11-12 15:05:19","changed":"1731423919","gmt_changed":"2024-11-12 15:05:19","alt":"frugal science","file":{"fid":"259226","name":"frugalscience.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/12\/frugalscience.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/12\/frugalscience.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":133575,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/12\/frugalscience.jpg?itok=vEbVO05b"}}},"media_ids":["675586"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/chbe.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/10\/frugal-science-academy-enhancing-science-education-across-georgia?utm_source=newsletter\u0026utm_medium=email\u0026utm_content=Frugal%20Science%20Academy%20Enhancing%20Education%20in%20Georgia\u0026utm_campaign=The%20Whistle%20-%20Nov.%204%2C%202024","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBrad Dixon\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678390":{"#nid":"678390","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Lab-Grown Human Immune System Model Uncovers Weakened Response in Cancer Patients","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETo better\u0026nbsp;understand why some cancer patients struggle to fight off infections, Georgia Tech\u0026nbsp;researchers have created tiny lab-grown models of human immune systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese miniature models \u2014 known as human immune organoids \u2014\u0026nbsp;mimic the\u0026nbsp;real-life environment where immune cells learn to\u0026nbsp;recognize and attack harmful invaders\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;respond to vaccines. Not only are these organoids powerful new tools for studying and observing immune function in cancer, their use is likely to accelerate vaccine development, better predict disease treatment response for patients, and even speed up clinical trials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur synthetic hydrogels create a breakthrough environment for human immune organoids, allowing us to model antibody production from scratch, more precisely, and for a longer duration,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/singh\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnkur Singh\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Carl Ring Family Professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and professor in\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;at Georgia Tech and Emory.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFor the first time, we can recreate and sustain complex immunological processes in a synthetic gel, using blood, and effectively track B cell responses,\u201d he added. \u201cThis is a gamechanger for understanding and treating immune vulnerabilities in patients with lymphoma who have undergone cancer treatment \u2014 and hopefully other disorders too.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELed by Singh, the team created lab-grown immune systems that mimic human tonsils and lymph node tissue to study immune responses more accurately. Their \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41563-024-02037-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eresearch findings\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, published in the journal \u003Cem\u003ENature Materials\u003C\/em\u003E, mark a shift toward in vitro models that more closely represent human immunology. The team also included investigators from Emory University, Children\u2019s Hospital of Atlanta, and Vanderbilt University.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDesigning a Tiny Immune System Model\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers were inspired to address a critical issue in biomedical science: the poor success rate of translating preclinical findings from animal models into effective clinical outcomes, especially in the context of immunity, infection, and vaccine responses.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhile animal models are valuable for many types of research, they often fail to accurately mirror realistic human immune biology, disease mechanisms, and treatment responses,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioengineering.gatech.edu\/user\/1585\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMonica (Zhe) Zhong\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a Bioengineering Ph.D. student and the paper\u2019s first author. \u201cTo address this, we designed a new model that faithfully replicates the unique complexity of human immune biology across molecular, cellular, tissue, and system levels.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team used synthetic hydrogels to recreate a microenvironment where B cells from human blood and tonsils can mature and produce antibodies. When immune cells from healthy donors or lymphoma patients are cultured in these gel-like environments, the organoids support longer cell function, allowing processes like antibody formation and adaptation to occur \u2014\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Esimilar to the human body. Utilizing the organoids for individual patients helps predict how that individual will respond to infection.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe models also enable researchers to control and test immune responses under various conditions. The team discovered that not all tissue sources are the same, and tonsil cells struggled with longevity issues. They used a specialized setup to study how healthy immune cells react to signals that help them fight infections, which failed to trigger the same response in cells from lymphoma survivors who seemingly have recovered from immunotherapy treatment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsing organoids embedded in a novel immune organ-on-chip technology, the team observed that immune cells from lymphoma survivors treated with certain immunotherapies do not organize themselves into specific \u201czones,\u201d the way they normally would in a strong immune response. This lack of organization may help explain some immune challenges cancer survivors face, as evidenced by recent clinical findings.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Game-Changing Technology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis research is primarily of interest to infectious disease researchers, cancer researchers, immunologists, and healthcare professionals\u0026nbsp; dedicated to improving patient outcomes. By studying these miniature immune systems, they can identify why current treatments may not be effective and explore new strategies to enhance immune defenses.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Lymphoma patients treated with CD20-targeted therapies often face increased susceptibility to infections that can persist years after completing therapy.Understanding these long-term impacts on antibody responses could be key to improving both safety and quality of life for lymphoma survivors,\u201d said Dr. Jean Koff, associate professor in the department of Hematology and Oncology at Emory University\u2019s Winship Cancer Institute and a co-author on the paper.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis technology provides deeper biological insights and an innovative way to monitor for recovery of immunological defects over time. It could help clinicians better identify patients who would benefit from specific interventions that reduce infection risk,\u201d Koff added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother critical and promising aspect of the research is its scalability: An individual researcher can make hundreds of organoids in a single sitting. The model\u2019s capability to target different populations \u2014 both healthy and immunosuppressed patients \u2014 vastly increases its usability for vaccine and therapeutic testing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Singh, who directs the \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/immunoengineering.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECenter for Immunoengineering at Georgia Tech\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the team is already pushing the research into new dimensions, including developing cellular therapies and an aged immune system model to address aging-related questions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAt the end of the day, this work most immediately affects cancer patients and survivors, who often struggle with weakened immune responses and may not respond well to standard treatments like vaccines,\u201d Singh explained. \u201cThis breakthrough could lead to new ways of boosting immune defenses, ultimately helping vulnerable patients stay healthier and recover more fully.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe work was initially funded by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/wellcomeleap.org\/hope\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWellcome Leap HOPE program\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. This support has led to a boost in recent funding, including \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/nih-awards-75-million-ankur-singh-pioneering-human-immune-organoid-research\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ea recent $7.5M grant\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECitation\u003C\/strong\u003E: Zhong, Z., Qui\u00f1ones-P\u00e9rez, M., Dai, Z.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003Eet al.\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;Human immune organoids to decode B cell response in healthy donors and patients with lymphoma.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003ENat. Mater.\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;(2024).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDOI\u003C\/strong\u003E: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41563-024-02037-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41563-024-02037-1\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFunding\u003C\/strong\u003E: Wellcome Leap HOPE Program, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Cancer Institute, and Georgia Tech Foundation\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe miniature models could exponentially accelerate vaccine development, cancer treatment research, and improved health outcomes across a spectrum of diseases.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The miniature models could exponentially accelerate vaccine development, cancer treatment research, and improved health outcomes across a spectrum of diseases."}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-11-13 15:23:24","changed_gmt":"2024-11-13 15:30:00","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-11-12T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-11-12T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675617":{"id":"675617","type":"image","title":"Ankur article.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe left image shows the immune organ-on-chip, where the organoids (right) are grown to study the response of human donors. The right image shows development of types of immune cells relevant to the antibody response. (Credit: Ankur Singh)\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1731511766","gmt_created":"2024-11-13 15:29:26","changed":"1731511766","gmt_changed":"2024-11-13 15:29:26","alt":"Ankur","file":{"fid":"259259","name":"Ankur article.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/13\/Ankur%20article_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/13\/Ankur%20article_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":687294,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/13\/Ankur%20article_0.png?itok=vk-5bjmJ"}},"675616":{"id":"675616","type":"image","title":"singh zhong.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAnkur Singh, Carl Ring Family Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory, and Monica (Zhe) Zhong, a Bioengineering Ph.D. student and the paper\u2019s first author.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1731511717","gmt_created":"2024-11-13 15:28:37","changed":"1731511717","gmt_changed":"2024-11-13 15:28:37","alt":"Singh Zhong","file":{"fid":"259258","name":"singh zhong.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/13\/singh%20zhong.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/13\/singh%20zhong.png","mime":"image\/png","size":63422,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/13\/singh%20zhong.png?itok=OLp4Y6o7"}}},"media_ids":["675617","675616"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/11\/12\/lab-grown-human-immune-system-model-uncovers-weakened-response-cancer-patients","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECatherine Barzler, Senior Research Writer\/Editor\u003Cbr\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["catherine.barzler@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678377":{"#nid":"678377","#data":{"type":"news","title":"No Matter the Task, This New Exoskeleton AI Controller Can Handle It","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA leap forward in artificial intelligence control from Georgia Tech engineers could one day make robotic assistance for everyday activities as easy as putting on a pair of pants.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers have developed a task-agnostic controller for robotic exoskeletons that\u2019s capable of assisting users with all kinds of leg movements, including ones the AI has never seen before.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s the first controller able to support a dozens of realistic human lower limb movements, including dynamic actions like lunging and jumping, as well as more typical unstructured movements like starting and stopping, twisting, and meandering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPaired with a slimmed down exoskeleton integrated into a pair of athletic pants that was designed by X, \u201cThe Moonshot Factory,\u201d the system requires no calibration or training. Users can put on the device, activate the controller, and go.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study was led by researchers in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E (ME) and the Georgia Tech \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/robotics\u0022\u003EInstitute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir system takes a first big step toward devices that could help people navigate the real world, not just the controlled environment of a lab. That could mean helping airline baggage handlers move hundreds of suitcases or factory workers with heavy, labor-intensive tasks. It could also mean improving mobility for older adults or stroke patients who can\u2019t get around as well as they used to.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe idea is to provide real human augmentation across the high diversity of tasks that people do in their everyday lives, and that could be for clinical applications, industrial applications, recreation, or the military,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/young\u0022\u003EAaron Young\u003C\/a\u003E, ME associate professor and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.epic.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Esenior researcher\u003C\/a\u003E on a study describing the controller published Nov. 13 in the journal \u003Cem\u003ENature\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/11\/no-matter-task-new-exoskeleton-ai-controller-can-handle-it\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead the full story on the College of Engineering website.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EResearchers created a deep learning-driven controller that helps users in real-world tasks, even those it wasn\u2019t trained for.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers created a deep learning-driven controller that helps users in real-world tasks, even those it wasn\u2019t trained for."}],"uid":"27446","created_gmt":"2024-11-12 19:58:56","changed_gmt":"2024-11-15 15:36:26","author":"Joshua Stewart","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-11-13T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-11-13T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675603":{"id":"675603","type":"video","title":"Task-Agnostic Exoskeleton Controller","body":null,"created":"1731444109","gmt_created":"2024-11-12 20:41:49","changed":"1731515323","gmt_changed":"2024-11-13 16:28:43","video":{"youtube_id":"UVfo__lCNfo","video_url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/UVfo__lCNfo"}},"675601":{"id":"675601","type":"image","title":"Exoskeleton-AI-Controller-Keaton-Dean-Tug-of-War-9111-t.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA new exoskeleton controller developed by Georgia Tech engineers works for dozens of dozens of realistic human lower limb movements, including dynamic actions like tug-of-war and jumping, as well as more typical unstructured movements like starting and stopping, twisting, and meandering. (Photo: Candler Hobbs)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1731441555","gmt_created":"2024-11-12 19:59:15","changed":"1731441555","gmt_changed":"2024-11-12 19:59:15","alt":"Two men wearing exoskeleton devices on their legs engaged in tug-of-war with a wooden pole.","file":{"fid":"259243","name":"Exoskeleton-AI-Controller-Keaton-Dean-Tug-of-War-9111-t.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/12\/Exoskeleton-AI-Controller-Keaton-Dean-Tug-of-War-9111-t.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/12\/Exoskeleton-AI-Controller-Keaton-Dean-Tug-of-War-9111-t.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1185010,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/12\/Exoskeleton-AI-Controller-Keaton-Dean-Tug-of-War-9111-t.jpg?itok=2JkEMCLv"}}},"media_ids":["675603","675601"],"groups":[{"id":"1237","name":"College of Engineering"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"168835","name":"Aaron Young"},{"id":"182630","name":"exoskeletons"},{"id":"89521","name":"Exoskeleton"},{"id":"2556","name":"artificial intelligence"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jstewart@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJoshua Stewart\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jstewart@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678571":{"#nid":"678571","#data":{"type":"news","title":" Douglas-Green Lab Advancing Nanoparticle Research for Drug Delivery","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESimone Douglas-Green, an asst. professor at the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, has recently been awarded the 2024 Sloan Scholars Mentoring Network (SSMN) seed grant.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThis $10,000 award, the first independent funding for the Douglas-Green lab, will support her research on protein coronas \u2014 protein complexes that form when proteins are absorbed to the surface of nanoparticles.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re excited about receiving the grant,\u201d said Douglas-Green. \u201cSloan was integral to my career as a Ph.D. student, and now the SSMN Seed Grant is a catalyst for our research group\u2019s first project.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe grant was established specifically to support research. But the SSMN program, formed through a collaboration between the Social Science Research Council and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, does more than offer grants. It also provides workshops, mentoring, and networking opportunities to support scholars in their academic journey.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWith this grant, the Douglas-Green lab will address the challenge of isolating and characterizing protein coronas on nanoparticles, particularly small ones like polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers, a class of nanoparticles which hold significant potential for drug delivery.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cHaving the right tools and techniques to accurately study bio-nano interactions will make this endeavor possible, and our new group will be at the forefront in developing them,\u201d said Douglas-Green.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWhat sets her research apart is her lab\u2019s use of the electrophoresis process to characterize protein coronas. Building on her post-doctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Douglas-Green\u2019s lab is employing a nondenaturing electrophoresis technique combined with mass spectrometry to separate and identify these tiny protein coronas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElectrophoresis is a lab technique used to separate molecules, like proteins, based on their size and charge, helping scientists understand the composition and behavior of these proteins. When an electric current is applied, proteins move through a gel at different speeds depending on their size and charge, so researchers can analyze the types of proteins involved. The technique can be used to study nanoparticle-protein complexes on nanoparticles with smaller sizes and densities in ways that existing methods, like centrifugation or dynamic light scattering, cannot.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDouglas-Green\u2019s lab has turned the challenges of nanoparticle-protein separation into an opportunity for innovation. By avoiding the use of SDS, a common detergent that interferes with PEG (a polymer that makes nanoparticles more compatible with the body), they found a way to better characterize protein coronas on PEG-coated nanocarriers.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe separation technique developed by Douglas-Green\u2019s lab ensured compatibility with the surface chemistry of dendrimers, a priority as the research team continues advancing nanoparticle separation techniques.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cOur engineering goal is to develop tools and techniques to study protein coronas on various types of nanoparticles,\u201d said Douglas-Green. \u201cUsing these tools, we can uncover some biological questions to understand person- or disease-specific protein coronas.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe work is part of a broader effort to build a toolkit of techniques for scientists to better understand bio-nanoparticles interactions\u2013leading to more targeted nanoparticle-based treatments and therapeutics.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cFor me, this is more than seed funding to pursue science,\u201d Douglas-Green said. \u201cThis is funding the start of a dream realized!\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBME assistant professor using Sloan Scholars Mentoring Network seed grant to support her lab\u0027s work\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"BME assistant professor using Sloan Scholars Mentoring Network seed grant to support her lab\u0027s work"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-11-20 18:35:50","changed_gmt":"2024-11-20 18:36:35","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-28T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-28T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675684":{"id":"675684","type":"image","title":"simone-douglas-green_0.png","body":null,"created":"1732127758","gmt_created":"2024-11-20 18:35:58","changed":"1732127758","gmt_changed":"2024-11-20 18:35:58","alt":"SDG","file":{"fid":"259336","name":"simone-douglas-green_0.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/20\/simone-douglas-green_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/20\/simone-douglas-green_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1100158,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/20\/simone-douglas-green_0.png?itok=SwOyBsAp"}}},"media_ids":["675684"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/news\/douglas-green-lab-advancing-nanoparticle-research-drug-delivery","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBy Yanet Chernet\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EContact:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kelly.petty@bme.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EKelly Petty\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications\u003Cbr\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678583":{"#nid":"678583","#data":{"type":"news","title":"LLS Funds Immunoengineers and Cancer Specialists to Tackle Health Disparities","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EA multi-institutional research initiative aims to address lymphoma survival disparities in African American and EBV-infected patients.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA new interdisciplinary initiative with researchers at Georgia Tech, Emory University, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Weill Cornell Medical aims to address the knowledge gap in lymphomas \u2014 particularly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common form of blood cancer. Survival rates for DLBCL are lower among African American patients and those with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is prevalent in Latin America. The team uses immunoengineering tools to facilitate this discovery.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETackling Health Disparities in Lymphoma Treatment\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo address these health disparities, the team combines expertise in cancer biology and immunoengineering. At Georgia Tech, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/7480\u0022\u003EAnkur Singh\u003C\/a\u003E works with oncologists and cancer biologists from partner institutions to create innovative cancer technologies, such as lab-grown, lymph node-mimicking models of DLBDL tumors. Singh is Carl Ring Family Professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E and the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/\u0022\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E (BME)\u0026nbsp;and directs\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/immunoengineering.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Immunoengineering\u003C\/a\u003E. These models will mimic the tumor environments in lymphoma from African American patients and\u0026nbsp;model specific mutations prevalent in these patients. Researchers will observe how various genetic changes work in concert with the\u0026nbsp;immune system to impact a tumor\u0027s response to treatments.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe want to understand the full makeup of these tumors; not just the cancer cells but the surrounding supportive cells and proteins,\u201d said Singh, who serves as co-investigator for LLS SCOR.\u0026nbsp; \u201cThis study will help us pinpoint which parts of the tumor are critical for its survival and how we can disrupt those mechanisms, including the immune cells.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChallenges for Understanding Tumor Biology in High-Risk Groups\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDiffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common form of blood cancer. While many patients respond well to standard therapies, a significant portion \u2014 including a disproportionate number of African Americans and individuals with EBV-related conditions, experience poorer outcomes. The reasons behind these disparities are still largely unknown. Current barriers include a lack of diverse representation in research studies and a paucity of engineered technologies dedicated to understanding cancers in patients from underrepresented backgrounds.\u003Ca\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Most lymphoma studies don\u0027t include nearly enough African American or Hispanic patients,\u0022 said Jean Koff, lead investigator and associate professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University\u2019s Winship Cancer Institute. \u201cThis means we are likely missing key insights into the unique biology and treatment needs of these populations.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Collaboration Focused on Advancing Lymphoma Research and Care\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis new initiative, funded by The\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.lls.org\/research\/specialized-center-research-program-scor\u0022\u003ELeukemia \u0026amp; Lymphoma Society\u0027s Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) Program\u003C\/a\u003E, will analyze a comprehensive collection of DLBCL tumor samples that includes many cases from Black and Hispanic patients. By examining genetic differences and tumor structures, the researchers hope to identify the factors most important for improving therapy for these groups.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis program is groundbreaking because it addresses both biological and structural barriers in treatment, leveraging the\u0026nbsp;latest bioengineered technologies,\u201d Singh noted. \u201cWe\u2019re looking at factors that have been overlooked for too long in cancer research, especially in high-risk communities.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo explore the composition and diversity of cells within tumors of African American patients and better understand how they grow and respond to treatments, the team leverages the expertise of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/5349\u0022\u003EAhmet Coskun\u003C\/a\u003E. Coskun is a Georgia Tech immunoengineer known for his innovative approaches to understanding the immune response to cancer. An assistant professor in BME, Coskun holds the Bernie Marcus Early Career Professorship. He and his team use advanced imaging techniques and engineering principles to analyze tumor microenvironments in unprecedented detail. By examining how different immune cells interact with cancer cells, they hope to uncover the complexities of tumor biology and identify factors that contribute to treatment resistance.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis five-year, multi-million-dollar LLS SCOR award is the culmination of years of collaboration among leading researchers in the field of lymphoma. Singh, with colleagues Koff, Coskun, Christopher Flowers at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and\u0026nbsp;Cornell Medicine\u2019s Ari Melnick, Ethel Cesarman, and Leandro Cerchietti, are fostering a partnership in lymphomas and EBV-related cancers, which is instrumental in advancing research on lymphoma treatment health disparities. Their longstanding partnership reflects a commitment to addressing the complex challenges different populations face when battling deadly cancers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022With this unique partnership, leveraging new cancer technologies, biology, and clinical expertise, we hope to make breakthroughs in lymphoma research and begin to address health disparities in lymphoma at multiscale levels,\u201d said Melnick, a co-lead for LLS SCOR and Gebroe Family Professor of Hematology and Oncology\u0026nbsp;at New York\u2019s Weill Cornell Medicine.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe group also played a significant role in organizing, moderating, and presenting at the inaugural conference \u201cHealth Disparities in Hematologic Malignancies: From Genes to Outreach,\u201d held in May 2023 in New York. The conference served as a vital platform for discussing the latest research, sharing best practices, and highlighting the importance of outreach initiatives aimed at improving care for underserved populations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The research will provide a unique window into the intricate structure of lymphomas and how these complexities influence treatment,\u201d said Flowers, a physician-scientist and division head of\u0026nbsp;Cancer Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. \u201cBy studying lymphoma microenvironments in patient tissues and organoids, we can begin addressing health disparities in lymphoma, identifying why certain populations may respond differently to therapies. No other technology currently provides this level of insight or potential for tailored patient care.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis unique research collaboration is crucial, as understanding tumor heterogeneity can inform the development of more personalized treatment strategies, particularly for underserved communities that often face disparities in cancer care. By integrating engineering with oncology, the team hopes to create more effective therapies tailored to individual patient profiles, ultimately aiming to improve outcomes for all lymphoma patients. This multi-site collaboration aims to fast-track the development of therapies against lymphomas in African Americans and individuals with EBV-related conditions and eventually bring them to clinical trials\u003Ca\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProject Title: \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.lls.org\/award\/translating-molecular-profiles-treatment-approaches-target-disparities-lymphoma\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETranslating molecular profiles into treatment approaches to target disparities in lymphoma\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E(Funding and award period: $5 million, October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2029)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA multi-institutional research initiative aims to address lymphoma survival disparities in African American and EBV-infected patients.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A multi-institutional research initiative aims to address lymphoma survival disparities in African American and EBV-infected patients."}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-11-21 14:19:08","changed_gmt":"2024-11-21 16:30:41","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-11-21T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-11-21T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675692":{"id":"675692","type":"image","title":"AnkurKoff.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJean Louise Koff and Ankur Singh\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1732198779","gmt_created":"2024-11-21 14:19:39","changed":"1732198779","gmt_changed":"2024-11-21 14:19:39","alt":"Jean Louise Koff and Ankur Singh","file":{"fid":"259344","name":"AnkurKoff.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/AnkurKoff.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/AnkurKoff.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":182419,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/21\/AnkurKoff.jpg?itok=ycics0US"}},"675693":{"id":"675693","type":"image","title":"Immunoengineering.jpg","body":null,"created":"1732198838","gmt_created":"2024-11-21 14:20:38","changed":"1732198838","gmt_changed":"2024-11-21 14:20:38","alt":"Immunoengineering","file":{"fid":"259345","name":"Immunoengineering.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/Immunoengineering.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/Immunoengineering.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":189295,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/21\/Immunoengineering.jpg?itok=euHjBY_v"}}},"media_ids":["675692","675693"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBy: Savannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678582":{"#nid":"678582","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Mapping Protein Interactions to Fight Lung Cancer: Coskun Pioneering New Field of Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs Ahmet F. Coskun and his team of researchers continue their mission to create a 3D atlas of the human body, mapping cells and tissues, they\u2019re making discoveries that could lead to better treatments for the most common type of lung cancer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile they\u2019re at it, they\u2019re pioneering new fields of research, and possibly spinning the work into a new commercial venture.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast year, Coskun and his team introduced a new study in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2023\/12\/20\/coskun-lab-pioneering-new-field-research-single-cell-spatial-metabolomics\u0022\u003E\u201csingle cell spatial metabolomics,\u201d\u003C\/a\u003E which explores the distribution of small molecules \u2014 metabolites \u2014 within tissues and organs. Now they\u2019re spearheading \u201cspatial interactomics,\u201d a research area concerned with interactions between various biomolecules inside of individual cells.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo study these interactions, they\u2019ve developed an innovative technique, or tool, to better understand why non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, resists treatment in so many patients. They call it the \u201cintelligent sequential proximity ligation assay,\u201d or iseqPLA.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s a smart test that can look at proteins and how they interact with each other in space,\u201d said Coskun, Bernie Marcus Early Career Professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBasically, we\u2019re the first to create a new research area on spatial protein-protein interactions, which can tell us more about cell types and their functions,\u201d said Coskun. \u201cWith spatial interactomics, we can validate how cells physically touch, sense, and regulate nearby cells through the interaction of pairs of proteins.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, the immediate goal of spatial interactomics is to investigate how protein-protein interactions drive drug resistance in NSCLC. And iseqPLA allows researchers to visualize how it\u2019s all happening at the subcellular level. Coskun\u2019s team described its work recently in the journal \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41551-024-01271-x\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ENature Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. He\u2019s also forming a company to commercialize the technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESmarter Tools\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDrugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs, like Osimertinib) have been successful in treating people with NSCLC. But many patients who initially respond well to the regimen, eventually develop a resistance. Protein interactions, a molecular kind of crosstalk, are a prime suspect in causing this resistance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProteins interact with each other all the time, and this mingling controls how cells grow, divide, or survive. Coskun and his team want to see how these interactions change in response to cancer treatment, and iseqPLA shows them, essentially attaching glowing tags to proteins, lighting up their locations and interactions under a microscope.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThink of it like a super detailed map showing how different proteins in a cell are connected,\u201d Coskun said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe iseqPLA can examine 47 protein interactions in a single sample, which saves a lot of time (and resources) when compared to older methods, which look at two to three interactions at a time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers also created a computer model to analyze the spatial data they collected from iseqPLA, identifying patterns in protein interactions to help predict whether a cell was responding to a treatment or developing resistance.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe showed that the test works not only in lab-grown cells but also in tissues from mice and humans,\u201d Coskun said. \u201cIt can really help us understand how patients respond to certain treatments.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding a Spatial Omics Market\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGoing forward, Coskun aims to enhance iseqPLA to study interactions among RNA, proteins, and metabolites, as well as the RNA, proteins, metabolites, etc., and other subcellular dynamics. He also hopes to get the technology into the hands of other researchers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe believe it will be a groundbreaking tool,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith that in mind, Coskun is planning to form a startup company called SpatAllize. He\u2019s working with VentureLab, the nonprofit organization at Georgia Tech that provides entrepreneurship programs for students and faculty.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are currently performing customer interviews and forming a strategy for a viable plan towards the marketplace,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe also plans to expand iseqPLA\u2019s utility into other areas of research, focusing on how protein interactions influence the immune system, the heart, and brain health. His team is also developing a spatial interactomics robot that integrates iseqPLA with advanced imaging and automated deep learning.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis will allow us to map all molecules within cells and tissues for an even better understanding of drug-cell interactions, particularly in cancer treatment planning,\u201d Coskun said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECITATION:\u003C\/strong\u003E Shuangyi Cai, Thomas Hu, Abhijeet Venkataraman, Felix G. Rivera Moctezuma, Efe Ozturk, Nicholas Zhang, Mingshuang Wang, Tatenda Zvidzai, Sandip Das, Adithya Pillai, Frank Schneider, Suresh S. Ramalingam, YouTake Oh, Shi-Yong Sun, and Ahmet F. Coskun. \u201cSpatially resolved subcellular protein\u2013protein interactomics in drug-perturbed lung-cancer cultures and tissues.\u201d \u003Cem\u003ENature Biomedical Engineering.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41551-024-01271-x\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41551-024-01271-x\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFUNDING:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, grant Nos. P50CA217691, P30CA138292, and R33CA291197; and the National Science Foundation, grant No. R35GM151028. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of any funding agency.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECOMPETING INTERESTS:\u003C\/strong\u003E Coskun, Cai, and Hu declare a patent application related to the spatial-signaling interactomics assay (U.S. Provisional 63\/399,427 and U.S. Application No. 18\/452,178).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAhmet Coskun\u2019s team developed new tool for mapping protein interactions in cells to study drug resistance in the most common form of lung cancer and its part of a new research area called \u0022spatial interactomics.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Spatial Interactomics: Mapping Protein Interactions to Fight Lung Cancer Coskun pioneering new research area and building a company around iseqPLA technology "}],"uid":"28153","created_gmt":"2024-11-21 14:15:54","changed_gmt":"2024-11-21 15:13:42","author":"Jerry Grillo","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-11-21T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-11-21T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675691":{"id":"675691","type":"image","title":"Ahmet in lab","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAhmet Coskun\u0027s lab has developed iseqPLA to map protein interactions.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1732198211","gmt_created":"2024-11-21 14:10:11","changed":"1732198270","gmt_changed":"2024-11-21 14:11:10","alt":"Ahmet in lab with iseqPLA","file":{"fid":"259343","name":"ahmet robot4.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/ahmet%20robot4.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/ahmet%20robot4.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3061812,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/21\/ahmet%20robot4.jpg?itok=0DMsSbGA"}},"675690":{"id":"675690","type":"image","title":"Cell activity","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn artistic rendering of sub-cellular activity: The cell membrane is seen at the top, nucleus on the bottom\/right. Protein pairs are being targeted by antibodies (sets of two). Then antibodies are linked to DNA pieces that glow when proteins were found to be closely interacting with each other. The glowing fluorescence DNA signal is then imaged by a microscope indicating the spatial locations of protein interactions as dots, which researchers use to generate graph models. The straight lines connecting the antibody and protein pairs indicate their graph wiring that gets altered in drug resistance. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1732198084","gmt_created":"2024-11-21 14:08:04","changed":"1732198196","gmt_changed":"2024-11-21 14:09:56","alt":"An artistic rendering of sub-cellular activity","file":{"fid":"259342","name":"cell world.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/cell%20world.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/cell%20world.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5629141,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/21\/cell%20world.jpg?itok=mc1snlho"}}},"media_ids":["675691","675690"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"14906","name":"lung cancer"},{"id":"168013","name":"spatial"},{"id":"184359","name":"Omics"},{"id":"14641","name":"protein-protein interactions"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJerry Grillo\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678595":{"#nid":"678595","#data":{"type":"news","title":"RNA\u2019s Surprising Role in DNA Repair","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA multi-institutional team of researchers, led by Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/francesca-storici\u0022\u003EFrancesca Storici\u003C\/a\u003E, has discovered a previously unknown role for RNA. Their insights could lead to improved treatments for diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders while changing our understanding of genetic health and evolution.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERNA molecules are best known as protein production messengers. They carry genetic instructions from DNA to ribosomes \u2014 the factories inside cells that turn amino acids into the proteins necessary for many cell functions. But Storici\u2019s team found that RNA can also help cells repair a severe form of DNA damage called a double-strand break, or DSB.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA DSB means both strands of the DNA helix have been severed. Cells have the tools to make some repairs, but a DSB is significant damage \u2014 and if not properly fixed can lead to mutations, cell death, or cancer. (Interestingly, cancer treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation, can cause DSBs.)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStorici, a professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Biological Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E, has dedicated her research to studying the molecules and mechanisms underlying damaged DNA repairs. Ten years ago, she and collaborators discovered that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/nature13682\u0022\u003ERNA could serve as a template for DSB repair\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNow we\u2019ve learned that RNA can directly promote DSB repair mechanisms,\u201d said Storici, whose lab teamed with mathematics experts in the lab of Nata\u0161a Jonoska from the University of South Florida. They\u2019re all part of the Southeast Center for Mathematics and Biology based at Georgia Tech. They \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-024-51457-9\u0022\u003Eexplain their discovery\u003C\/a\u003E in the journal \u003Cem\u003ENature Communications\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese findings open up a new understanding of RNA\u0027s potential role in maintaining genome integrity and driving evolutionary changes,\u201d added Storici.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers used variation-distance graphs to visualize millions of DSB repair events, offering a comprehensive snapshot of sequence variations. The graphs highlighted major differences in repair patterns, depending on the DSB position.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis mathematical approach also uncovered significant differences in repair efficiency, pointing to RNA\u0027s potential in modulating DSB repair outcomes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese findings underscore the critical role of mathematical visualization in understanding complex biological mechanisms and could pave the way for targeted interventions in genome stability and therapeutic research,\u201d said Jonoska.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMolecular Grunt Work\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen a DSB happens in DNA, it\u2019s like a load-bearing beam in a building breaking. A careful, precise repair is needed to ensure the building\u2019s \u2014 or the DNA\u2019s \u2014 stability. The pieces must be rejoined accurately to prevent further damage or mutation. Repairing a damaged building requires having a reliable foreman on the job site. A DSB requires something very similar.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cA key mechanism we identified is that RNA can help position and hold the broken DNA ends in place, facilitating the repair process,\u201d explained Storici, whose team conducted the research in both human and yeast cells.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpecifically, they found that RNA molecules and the broken section of DNA can match up like puzzle pieces. When RNA has this kind of complementarity with the DNA break site, it acts as a scaffold, or a guide, beyond its traditional coding function, showing the cellular machinery where to make repairs. Over millennia, cells have evolved complex mechanisms to fix DSB, each of them functioning like different tools from the same toolbox.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStorici\u2019s team showed that RNA can influence which tools are used, depending on its complementarity to the broken DNA strands. This means that in addition to being the important protein production messenger, RNA acts as both a foreman and laborer when it comes to DNA repair.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA deeper understanding of RNA\u2019s role in DNA repair could lead to new strategies for strengthening repair mechanisms in healthy cells, potentially reducing the harmful effects of treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cRNA has a much broader function than we knew,\u201d Storici said. \u201cWe still have a lot of research to do into these mechanisms, but this work opens up new ways for exploring how RNA could be harnessed in healthcare, potentially leading to new treatments for cancer and other genetic diseases.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs Storici and other researchers continue probing RNA\u2019s effects in DNA repair, their revelations could have a lasting impact on human health and evolution. That means better gene therapies, new cancer treatments and anti-aging strategies \u2014 and also the ability to influence how organisms adapt and evolve.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECITATION:\u003C\/strong\u003E Youngkyu Jeon, Yilin Lu, Margherita Maria Ferrari, Tejasvi Channagiri, Penghao Xu, Chance Meers, Yiqi Zhang, Sathya Balachander, Vivian S. Park, Stefania Marsili, Zachary F. Pursell, Nata\u0161a Jonoska, Francesca Storici. \u201cRNA-mediated double-strand break repair by end-joining mechanisms.\u201d\u003Cem\u003E Nature Communications\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-024-51457-9\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-024-51457-9\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFUNDING:\u003C\/strong\u003E NIH grants GM115927, ES028271; NSF grant MCB-1615335; Howard Hughes Medical Institute Faculty Scholar grant 55108574; Southeast Center for Mathematics and Biology NSF DMS-1764406; Simons Foundation grant 59459; NSF grants CCF-2107267 and DMS-2054321.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"New insights could lead to improved treatments for cancer and other diseases."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EStorici lab discovers RNA\u2019s surprising role in DNA repair, developing new insights could lead to improved treatments for cancer and other diseases.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"RNA\u2019s Surprising Role in DNA Repair New insights could lead to improved treatments for cancer and other diseases."}],"uid":"28153","created_gmt":"2024-11-21 19:07:26","changed_gmt":"2024-11-22 18:33:11","author":"Jerry Grillo","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-11-21T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-11-21T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675715":{"id":"675715","type":"image","title":"Storici in lab_0.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFrancesca Storici and her research team discovered a surprising role for RNA in DNA repair, insights that could lead to better treatments for cancer and other diseases. \u0026nbsp;Photo by Chris McKenney\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1732215541","gmt_created":"2024-11-21 18:59:01","changed":"1732220465","gmt_changed":"2024-11-21 20:21:05","alt":"Francesca Storici in her lab studying RNA and DNA","file":{"fid":"259374","name":"Storici in lab_0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/Storici%20in%20lab_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/Storici%20in%20lab_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1617361,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/21\/Storici%20in%20lab_0.jpg?itok=FllsbSfh"}},"675716":{"id":"675716","type":"image","title":"Janoska and Jeon","body":"\u003Cp\u003ENata\u0161a Jonoska and Youngkyu Jeon. Jonoska\u0027s lab collaborated with the lab of Francesca Storici. Jeon, a former PhD student in the Storici lab, was lead author of the study.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1732215675","gmt_created":"2024-11-21 19:01:15","changed":"1732215925","gmt_changed":"2024-11-21 19:05:25","alt":"Janoska and Jeon co authors","file":{"fid":"259372","name":"Jonoska and Jeon.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/Jonoska%20and%20Jeon.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/Jonoska%20and%20Jeon.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":794283,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/21\/Jonoska%20and%20Jeon.jpg?itok=b2UBwq8H"}}},"media_ids":["675715","675716"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"173581","name":"go-COS"},{"id":"2638","name":"DNA repair"},{"id":"174619","name":"RNA repair"},{"id":"9513","name":"Cancer Reserach"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"192250","name":"cos-microbial"},{"id":"193266","name":"cos-research"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJerry Grillo\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678794":{"#nid":"678794","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Heck, Xia Elected to National Academy of Inventors","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/academyofinventors.org\/\u0022\u003ENational Academy of Inventors\u003C\/a\u003E (NAI) is adding two more Georgia Tech researchers to its roster of innovators: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/larry-p-heck\u0022\u003ELarry Heck\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Younan-Xia\u0022\u003EYounan Xia\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHeck is an artificial intelligence and speech recognition pacesetter who helped create virtual assistants for Microsoft, Samsung, Google, and Amazon. Xia is a nanomaterials pioneer whose inventions include silver nanowires commercialized for use in touchscreen displays, flexible electronics, and photovoltaics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElection to NAI is the highest professional distinction specifically awarded to inventors. Founded in 2012, the NAI Fellows program has recognized 22 Georgia Tech innovators \u2014 12 in just the last five years. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/academyofinventors.org\/nai-announces-2024-class-of-fellows\/\u0022\u003EXia and Heck join a 2025 class of 170 new fellows representing university, government, and nonprofit organizations worldwide.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/12\/heck-xia-elected-national-academy-inventors\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead the full story on the College of Engineering website.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EResearchers honored for their innovations in AI speech processing and nanomaterials for medicine and electronics.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers honored for their innovations in AI speech processing and nanomaterials for medicine and electronics."}],"uid":"27446","created_gmt":"2024-12-09 23:13:18","changed_gmt":"2024-12-11 16:18:27","author":"Joshua Stewart","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-12-10T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-12-10T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675795":{"id":"675795","type":"image","title":"Xia-Heck-Natl-Acad-Inventors-t.jpg","body":null,"created":"1733786053","gmt_created":"2024-12-09 23:14:13","changed":"1733786053","gmt_changed":"2024-12-09 23:14:13","alt":"Younan Xia and Larry Heck.","file":{"fid":"259461","name":"Xia-Heck-Natl-Acad-Inventors-t.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/09\/Xia-Heck-Natl-Acad-Inventors-t.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/09\/Xia-Heck-Natl-Acad-Inventors-t.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":719906,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/12\/09\/Xia-Heck-Natl-Acad-Inventors-t.jpg?itok=8qlieYSX"}}},"media_ids":["675795"],"groups":[{"id":"660369","name":"Matter and Systems"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"186604","name":"Larry Heck"},{"id":"24841","name":"Younan Xia"},{"id":"87401","name":"National Academy of Inventors"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jstewart@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJoshua Stewart\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jstewart@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678781":{"#nid":"678781","#data":{"type":"news","title":"In a Very Close Galaxy: How Georgia Tech Researchers Use Earth Analogs to Understand Space","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe surface is covered with fine ash. The lava fields stretch for miles, punctuated only by basalt mountains. But life could be found here if you look hard enough.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis barren land isn\u0027t Mars or Pluto, but volcanic deserts in Iceland. The environment is so comparable to Mars\u0027 arid landscape that researchers can use it as an analog. From Earth, they can extrapolate how planets in our galaxy and beyond could sustain life and what tools humans might need to make homes on these planets.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers explore everywhere from Oregon\u0027s mountaintops to Arizona\u0027s deserts to better understand space \u2014 and life on this planet.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/feature\/very-close-galaxy\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"From deserts in Arizona to salty lakes in Canada, these environments give scientists an idea of what Mars and Jupiter\u2019s moons might be like."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe volcanic deserts in Iceland, covered in fine ash and basalt mountains, resemble Mars\u0027 landscape. Researchers use this environment to study how planets might sustain life and what tools humans would need for habitation. Georgia Tech researchers also explore various terrains in the U.S. to better understand space and life on Earth.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers explore U.S. terrains to understand space and life on Earth."}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2024-12-06 17:51:30","changed_gmt":"2025-06-30 16:06:57","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-12-10T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-12-10T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675788":{"id":"675788","type":"image","title":"Frances2.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EStudents using handheld portable chemical analysis instrumentation analogous to those used on Mars.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1733507498","gmt_created":"2024-12-06 17:51:38","changed":"1733507498","gmt_changed":"2024-12-06 17:51:38","alt":"Students using handheld portable chemical analysis instrumentation analogous to those used on Mars.","file":{"fid":"259454","name":"Frances2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/06\/Frances2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/06\/Frances2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":156652,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/12\/06\/Frances2.jpg?itok=nfFpDNYq"}}},"media_ids":["675788"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"193266","name":"cos-research"},{"id":"192252","name":"cos-planetary"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"679470":{"#nid":"679470","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Biosensors Could Revolutionize Cancer Detection","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers have developed biosensors with advanced sleuthing skills and the technology may revolutionize cancer detection and monitoring.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe tiny detectives can identify key biological markers using logical reasoning inspired by the \u201cAND\u201d function in computers \u2014 like, when you need your username and password to log in. And unlike traditional biosensors comprised of genetic materials \u2014\u0026nbsp;cells, bits of DNA \u2014 these are made of manufactured molecules.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese new biosensors are more precise and simpler to manufacture, reducing the number of false positives and making them more practical for clinical use. And because the sensors are cell-free, there\u2019s a reduced risk for immunogenic side effects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe think the accuracy and simplicity of our biosensors will lead to accessible, personalized, and effective treatments, ultimately saving lives,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/gabe-kwong\u0022\u003EGabe Kwong\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor and Robert A. Milton Endowed Chair in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, who led the study, published this month in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41565-024-01834-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ENature Nanotechnology\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBreaking With Tradition\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers set out to address the limitations in current biosensors for cancer, like the ones designed for CAR-T cells to allow them to recognize tumor cells. These advanced biosensors are made of genetic material, and there is growing interest to reduce the potential for off-target toxicity by using Boolean \u201cAND-gate\u201d computer logic. That means they\u2019re designed to release a signal only when two specific conditions are met.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTraditionally, these biosensors involve genetic engineering using cell-based systems, which is a complex, time-consuming, and expensive process,\u201d said Kwong.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, his team developed biosensors made of iron oxide nanoparticles and special molecules called cyclic peptides. Synthesizing nanomaterials and peptides is a simpler, less costly process than genetic engineering, according to Kwong, \u201cwhich means we can likely achieve large-scale, economical production of high-precision biosensors.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUnlocking the AND-gate\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBiosensors detect cancer signals and track treatment progress by turning biological signals into readable outputs for doctors. With AND-gate logic, two distinct inputs are required for an output.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccordingly, the researchers engineered cyclic peptides \u2014 small amino acid chains \u2014 to respond only when they encounter two specific types of enzymes, proteases called granzyme B (secreted by the immune system) and matrix metalloproteinase (from cancer cells). The peptides generate a signal when both proteases are present and active.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThink of a high-security lock that needs two unique keys to open. In this scenario, the peptides are the lock, activating the sensor signal only when cancer is present and being confronted by the immune system.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur peptides allow for greater accuracy in detecting cancer activity,\u201d said the study\u2019s lead author, Anirudh Sivakumar, a postdoctoral researcher in Kwong\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lsi.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ELaboratory for Synthetic Immunity\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cIt\u2019s very specific, which is important for knowing when immune cells are targeting and killing tumor cells.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESuper Specific\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn animal studies, the biosensors successfully distinguished between tumors that responded to a common cancer treatment called immune checkpoint blockade therapy \u2014 ICBT, which enhances the immune system \u2014 from tumors that resisted treatment.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring these tests, the sensors also demonstrated their ability to avoid false signals from other, unrelated health issues, such as when the immune system confronted a flu infection in the lungs, away from the tumor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis level of specificity can be game changing,\u201d Kwong said. \u201cImagine being able to identify which patients are responding to the therapy early in their treatment. That would save time and improve patient outcomes.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe first step toward this simpler, precise form of cancer diagnostics began with an ambitious but humble ($50,000) seed grant from the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience five years ago for a collaboration between Kwong\u2019s lab and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/finnlab\/\u0022\u003Elab of M.G. Finn\u003C\/a\u003E, professor and chair in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt evolved into a multi-institutional project supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health that included researchers from the University of California-Riverside, as well as Georgia Tech faculty researchers Finn and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Peng-Qiu\u0022\u003EPeng Qiu\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the Coulter Department.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe progression of the research, from an initial seed grant all the way to animal studies, was very smooth,\u201d Kwong said. \u201cUltimately, a collaborative, multidisciplinary effort turned our early vision into something that could have a great impact in healthcare.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECitation:\u003C\/strong\u003E Anirudh Sivakumar,\u0026nbsp;Hathaichanok Phuengkham,\u0026nbsp;Hitha Rajesh,\u0026nbsp;Quoc D. Mac,\u0026nbsp;Leonard C. Rogers, Aaron D. Silva Trenkle, Swapnil Subhash Bawage,\u0026nbsp;Robert Hincapie,\u0026nbsp;Zhonghan Li,\u0026nbsp;Sofia Vainikos,\u0026nbsp;Inho Lee,\u0026nbsp;Min Xue,\u0026nbsp;Peng Qiu,\u0026nbsp;M. G. Finn, Gabriel A. Kwong. \u201cAND-gated protease-activated nanosensors for programmable detection of anti-tumour immunity.\u201d \u003Cem\u003ENature Nanotechnology\u003C\/em\u003E (January 2025).\u0026nbsp; \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41565-024-01834-8\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41565-024-01834-8\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFunding:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;This research was supported in part by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants 5U01CA265711, 5R01CA237210, 1DP2HD091793, and 5DP1CA280832.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"BME researchers combine precision and simplicity in transforming diagnostic tools."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBME researchers combine precision and simplicity in cell-free biosensors, transforming diagnostic tools.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"BME researchers combine precision and simplicity in cell-free biosensors, transforming diagnostic tools."}],"uid":"28153","created_gmt":"2025-01-13 14:43:32","changed_gmt":"2025-01-13 14:54:09","author":"Jerry Grillo","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-13T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-13T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675994":{"id":"675994","type":"image","title":"Gabe and Anirudh","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAnirudh Sivakumar (right) and Gabe Kwong led development of new gene-free biosensors for cancer detection. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1736779096","gmt_created":"2025-01-13 14:38:16","changed":"1736780077","gmt_changed":"2025-01-13 14:54:37","alt":"Anirudh Sivakumar (right) and Gabe Kwong led development of new gene-free biosensors for cancer detection.  ","file":{"fid":"259691","name":"Gabe research.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/13\/Gabe%20research.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/13\/Gabe%20research.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3604973,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/13\/Gabe%20research.jpg?itok=Uqf-tUst"}}},"media_ids":["675994"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"385","name":"cancer"},{"id":"9513","name":"Cancer Reserach"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"10454","name":"biosensors"},{"id":"143471","name":"Cancer diagnostics"},{"id":"173581","name":"go-COS"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJerry Grillo\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680250":{"#nid":"680250","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Andr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda Awarded 2025 Biomaterials Global Impact Award ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIBB is excited to announce that\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/garcia\u0022\u003EAndr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda\u003C\/a\u003E is the recipient of the \u003Cstrong\u003E2025 Biomaterials Global Impact Award\u003C\/strong\u003E, which\u0026nbsp;aims to recognize distinguished research and development accomplishments in the field of biomaterials. \u003Cem\u003EBiomaterials\u003C\/em\u003E is an international journal covering the science and clinical application of biomaterials and is the flagship title in Elsevier\u0027s biomaterials science portfolio.\u0026nbsp;Garc\u00eda is executive director of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/bio\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E, the Petit Director\u2019s Chair in Bioengineering and Bioscience, and Regents\u2019 Professor in the George Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. He has also co-founded three start-up companies. Garc\u00eda\u2019s research centers on cellular and tissue engineering, areas which integrate engineering and biological principles to control cell function in order to restore and\/or enhance function in injured or diseased organs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am deeply honored by this recognition,\u201d shared\u0026nbsp;Garc\u00eda. \u201cI am thankful to all of those that made this award possible, notably my exceptional past and current trainees and collaborators as well as sponsors and funders. A big shout out to IBB and Georgia Tech \u2013 the supportive and collaborative multi-disciplinary ecosystem is truly unique and I am very proud to be part of this fantastic team.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarc\u00eda was nominated for the award by IBB faculty member Ankur Singh.\u0026nbsp;Singh is Carl Ring Family Professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(BME)\u0026nbsp;and directs\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/immunoengineering.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECenter for Immunoengineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u201cAndr\u00e9s is an extraordinary, internationally acknowledged scholar who has also made exceptional contributions to the intellectual advancement of the field of bioengineering as a whole,\u201d said Singh. \u201cHis work has revolutionized the design and application of biomaterial platforms, focusing on eliciting targeted tissue repair and developing innovative technologies that exploit cell-adhesive interactions. His work has generated deep mechanistic insights into the complex interplay between cell biology and mechanics, which have led to impactful translational applications that have significantly advanced healthcare solutions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarc\u00eda will be honored and present his recent work at an\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EAward Ceremony\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eduring\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ETERMIS EU 2025\u003C\/strong\u003E, which will take place from May 20-23 in Freiburg, Germany.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFull press release\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/journal\/biomaterials\/about\/news\/biomaterials-award-announcement-2025\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;Andr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda announced as recipient of the prestigious 2025 Biomaterials Global Impact Award\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"\u00a0Andr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda announced as recipient of the prestigious 2025 Biomaterials Global Impact Award"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2025-02-05 21:36:41","changed_gmt":"2025-02-05 21:43:25","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-02-05T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-02-05T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680344":{"#nid":"680344","#data":{"type":"news","title":"BME Researcher Co-Leading ARPA-H Cancer Initiative","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBME researcher Anant Madabhushi is co-leading a team from Emory University, including researchers at Winship Cancer Institute, in a project that has been awarded up to $17.6 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team is developing innovative technology aimed at improving outcomes for patients undergoing cancer surgery. The project, entitled \u201cMarginCall,\u201d is set to transform how surgical margins are evaluated during cancer surgeries, with an initial focus on breast and ovarian cancer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis innovative system enables real-time, precise evaluation of surgical margins, potentially reducing the need for repeat surgeries and enhancing patient care. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/winshipcancer.emory.edu\/newsroom\/articles\/2025\/emory-researchers-awarded-up-to-17.6-million-dollars-from-arpa-h-to-innovate-cancer-surgery-improve-outcomes.php\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead the full story here\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMarginCall\u201d is set to transform how surgical margins are evaluated during cancer surgeries, with an initial focus on breast and ovarian cancer. (Image: iStock.com)\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"\u201cMarginCall\u201d is set to transform how surgical margins are evaluated during cancer surgeries, with an initial focus on breast and ovarian cancer. (Image: iStock.com)"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2025-02-10 16:23:57","changed_gmt":"2025-02-10 16:24:32","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-13T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-13T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676245":{"id":"676245","type":"image","title":"close-up-of-surgeon-in-the-or_0.jpg","body":null,"created":"1739204654","gmt_created":"2025-02-10 16:24:14","changed":"1739204654","gmt_changed":"2025-02-10 16:24:14","alt":"surgeon","file":{"fid":"259988","name":"close-up-of-surgeon-in-the-or_0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/10\/close-up-of-surgeon-in-the-or_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/10\/close-up-of-surgeon-in-the-or_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":70292,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/02\/10\/close-up-of-surgeon-in-the-or_0.jpg?itok=bxJhX_jX"}}},"media_ids":["676245"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJerry Grillo\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications\u003Cbr\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680964":{"#nid":"680964","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Point-of-Care Test Cracks Code for Cell-Free Protein Detection","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EChemical and biomolecular engineers at Georgia Tech have developed a plug-and-play platform for detecting protein biomarkers of disease that\u2019s simple, flexible, and easy to use without costly lab equipment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir work could unlock a new wave of at-home testing options and provide new diagnostic capabilities in parts of the world where medical resources are scarce.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe testing platform fills a gap in using cell-free synthetic biology for disease detection. Existing cell-free tools have proven effective at measuring DNA, RNA, and other small molecules, but not proteins. That\u2019s an important advance because proteins in viruses or bacteria tend to change less than the DNA or RNA sequences that encode those proteins. They\u2019re also easier to detect since they can be found on the outside of cell walls or free-floating in biofluids.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDiagnosing disease and democratizing medical care by putting it into the public\u0027s hands has great potential. You can have a big impact on a lot of people,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/mark-styczynski\u0022\u003EMark Styczynski\u003C\/a\u003E, William R. McLain Endowed Professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI think about that a lot in terms of the developing world, but also there\u0027s a lot of healthcare inequality even in the United States. Studies have shown your ZIP code can determine your life expectancy. You can think about people in sub-Saharan Africa or people in rural Appalachia all benefiting. They\u2019re among those who need more access to low-cost tools.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/styczynski\/\u0022\u003EStyczynski\u003C\/a\u003E and a group of researchers led by former Ph.D. student Megan McSweeney \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/sciadv.ado6280\u0022\u003Epresented their test in late February in the journal \u003Cem\u003EScience Advances\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/03\/point-care-test-cracks-code-cell-free-protein-detection\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead the full story on the College of Engineering website.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWith a flexible, no-equipment-needed platform, ChBE researchers are creating a new way to test for disease at home or anywhere medical resources are limited.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"With a flexible, no-equipment-needed platform, ChBE researchers are creating a new way to test for disease at home or anywhere medical resources are limited."}],"uid":"27446","created_gmt":"2025-03-06 16:34:32","changed_gmt":"2025-03-06 16:42:40","author":"Joshua Stewart","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-03-06T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-03-06T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676486":{"id":"676486","type":"image","title":"Mark-Styczynski-Protein-Biosensor-0372-h.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe team\u0027s modular cell-free protein biosensor platform produces a simple color output based on the amount of protein detected in a sample. That makes it easy for any user, without specialized training, to read the results of a test at home or in areas with limited access to medical resources. (Photo: Candler Hobbs)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1741278901","gmt_created":"2025-03-06 16:35:01","changed":"1741278901","gmt_changed":"2025-03-06 16:35:01","alt":"Five large vials and five small vials with colored liquid ranging from yellow to orange, red, and deep purple. (Photo: Candler Hobbs)","file":{"fid":"260283","name":"Mark-Styczynski-Protein-Biosensor-0372-h.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/06\/Mark-Styczynski-Protein-Biosensor-0372-h.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/06\/Mark-Styczynski-Protein-Biosensor-0372-h.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":205316,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/06\/Mark-Styczynski-Protein-Biosensor-0372-h.jpg?itok=DmxSYo6z"}}},"media_ids":["676486"],"groups":[{"id":"1237","name":"College of Engineering"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"13510","name":"Mark Styczynski"},{"id":"9461","name":"Chemical and Biolmolecular Engineering"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jstewart@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJoshua Stewart\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jstewart@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681137":{"#nid":"681137","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Virtual Reality Transforms Assessment of Patients With Upper Limb Movement Challenges","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EShriners Children\u2019s is a pediatric healthcare system for orthopedic, spine, and burn injuries, as well as other specialty care and rehabilitation. Shriners provides treatment for nearly 20,000 children and families from over 130 countries around the world with one mission: compassionate, innovative care that improves the quality of life for children and their families. As part of its research mission, Shriners Children\u0027s collaborates with academic and industry partners to develop leading tools, processes, and programs that improve pediatric care.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pediatrics.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EPediatric Innovation Network\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E(PIN) has collaborated with Shriners Children\u2019s since 2017. The initiative connects researchers \u2014 including engineers, data analysts, scientists, and others \u2014 with frontline pediatric clinicians to create new technologies for unmet pediatric healthcare needs. This dynamic collaboration began with a conversation between Marc Lalande, vice president of research at Shriners\u2019 Children\u2019s, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/leanne-west\u0022\u003ELeanne West\u003C\/a\u003E, chief engineer of pediatric technologies at Georgia Tech, who were introduced by a mutual colleague.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat conversation has resulted in 22 projects to date, spanning topics such as artificial intelligence, data management, robotic exoskeletons, augmented reality games, wearable sensors, and more. The collaboration between Shriners Children\u2019s and GT PIN works to engage faculty and students within Georgia Tech\u2019s cutting-edge research ecosystem and multiple hospitals within Shriners\u2019 network.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFrom the very beginning, this has been an amazing collaboration. Our faculty love working on the real-world problems brought to us by Shriners\u2019 clinicians,\u201d said West.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.shrinerschildrens.org\/en\/news-and-media\/news\/2025\/03\/virtual-reality-helps-upper-limb-challenges\u0022\u003ELearn more\u003C\/a\u003E about one of these projects on how virtual reality is transforming assessment of patients with upper limb movement challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EHighlighting an Innovative Collaboration Between Georgia Tech\u0027s Pediatric Innovation Network and Shriners Children\u0027s\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"An innovative collaboration between Georgia Tech\u0027s Pediatric Innovation Network and Shriners Children\u0027s is improving patient care."}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2025-03-12 20:57:47","changed_gmt":"2025-03-12 21:07:58","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-03-12T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-03-12T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.shrinerschildrens.org\/en\/news-and-media\/news\/2025\/03\/virtual-reality-helps-upper-limb-challenges","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunications Manager, IBB\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681369":{"#nid":"681369","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Curing the Incurable: Georgia Tech\u2019s $40M Medical Mission ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech stands on the brink of a medical revolution, fueled by a monumental award from the Marcus Foundation. This transformative $40 million endeavor, with a principal investment of $20 million from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/marcusfoundation.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMarcus Foundation\u003C\/a\u003E, promises to make high-quality, life-saving cell therapies more affordable, reliable, and accessible than ever before.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis was among the final initiatives personally directed by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/marcusfoundation.org\/#obituary\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBernie Marcus,\u003C\/a\u003E the philanthropist, entrepreneur, and The Home Depot co-founder, before his passing in November 2024. Marcus invited Georgia Tech President \u00c1ngel Cabrera to his home in Boca Raton, Florida, to discuss Georgia Tech\u2019s capability to usher in a new era of regenerative medicine.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019ll never forget my conversation with Bernie,\u201d Cabrera said. \u201cHis challenge to Georgia Tech was clear: Use our engineering expertise to make cell therapies more accessible and cost-effective and develop cures for incurable diseases.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis generous award is a testament to our shared belief in the power of innovation and technology to improve lives, and it\u2019s an honor for Georgia Tech to fulfill Bernie\u2019s vision for the future of healthcare,\u201d he added.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe funding will ignite innovation at Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cellmanufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EMarcus Center of Excellence for Cell Biomanufacturing\u003C\/a\u003E, formerly named the\u202fMarcus Center for Therapeutic Cell Characterization and Manufacturing, which has been bioengineering potential cellular cures for more than seven years. \u202fIt will enable Georgia Tech engineers to advance work at the center and within the National Science Foundation-funded \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cellmanufacturingusa.org\/\u0022\u003EEngineering Research Center in Cell Manufacturing Technologies\u003C\/a\u003E (CMaT), to develop automated bioreactor systems that eliminate the need for costly cleanrooms.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMarcus\/CMaT Director \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Johnna-S.-Temenoff\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJohnna Temenoff\u003C\/a\u003E compared the current state of cell therapies to the early days of the automobile industry. She explained this new injection of funds will allow her team to shift from handcrafted production to an assembly-line approach.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI firmly believe that for us to make good on the promises of these biotechnologies to improve healthcare worldwide, we must be able to manufacture them in a more reproducible and cost-effective manner. Georgia Tech\u2019s distinctive strength lies in our engineering expertise, allowing us to tackle difficult biological problems,\u201d Temenoff said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe impact of this award extends beyond the laboratory. It has the potential to significantly boost Georgia\u0027s bioeconomy, making the state a hub for advanced therapy development and biomanufacturing. It will attract jobs and top-tier talent to the region.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jonathan-w-simons-md-a4247911\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDr. Jonathan Simons\u003C\/a\u003E, chief science officer and medical director of the Marcus Foundation, said Bernie Marcus liked to think of cells as \u201cliving drugs.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESimons explained, \u201cThis is life-extending, lifesaving, and life-changing material. It\u0027s not like making a drug like penicillin or Tylenol. This is not like a little blister pack of pills. This is a whole new frontier for pharmacology and the pharmaceutical industry.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESimons emphasized this is the latest chapter of both the Marcus Foundation\u2019s investment in biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech and Bernie Marcus\u2019s enduring biomedical research philanthropy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI think Bernie would say, \u2018I\u2019m not interested in my legacy. I\u2019m interested in how many patients in five years will benefit from this $40 million effort. It\u2019s all about lives changed, lives saved, and diseases ended,\u2019\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo learn more about Georgia Tech\u2019s research in cell and gene therapy biomanufacturing, visit \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cellmanufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Ecellmanufacturing.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA significant grant from the Marcus Foundation will support the Institute\u0027s research into making cell therapies more affordable.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A significant grant from the Marcus Foundation will support the Institute\u0027s research into making cell therapies more affordable."}],"uid":"28766","created_gmt":"2025-03-26 13:00:26","changed_gmt":"2025-03-26 13:58:34","author":"Shelley Wunder-Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-03-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-03-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676668":{"id":"676668","type":"image","title":"A researcher in the Marcus Center of Excellence for Cell Biomanufacturing removes cultured cells from an incubator for further characterization and testing.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA researcher in the Marcus Center of Excellence for Cell Biomanufacturing removes cultured cells from an incubator for further characterization and testing.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1742946387","gmt_created":"2025-03-25 23:46:27","changed":"1742946492","gmt_changed":"2025-03-25 23:48:12","alt":"A researcher in the Marcus Center of Excellence for Cell Biomanufacturing removes cultured cells from an incubator for further characterization and testing.","file":{"fid":"260481","name":"image001.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/25\/image001.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/25\/image001.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1166641,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/25\/image001.jpg?itok=Os-wYfZj"}}},"media_ids":["676668"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:swundersmith3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Research Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swundersmith3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681459":{"#nid":"681459","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Amid a Tropical Paradise Known as \u2018Lizard Island,\u2019 Researchers are Cracking Open Evolution\u2019s Black Box","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEvery morning in Miami, our fieldwork begins the same way. Fresh Cuban coffee and pastelitos \u2013 delicious Latin American pastries \u2013 fuel our team for another day of evolutionary detective work. Here we\u2019re tracking evolution in real time, measuring natural selection as it happens in a community of Caribbean lizards.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=2QdWvJ4AAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003Eassistant professor\u003C\/a\u003E of ecology and evolution at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E, my journey with these remarkable reptiles has taken me \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/james-stroud\u0022\u003Efar from my London roots\u003C\/a\u003E. The warm, humid air of Miami feels natural now, a far cry from the gray, drizzly and lizard-free streets of my British upbringing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur research takes place on a South Florida island roughly the size of an American football field \u2013 assuming we\u2019re successful in sidestepping the American crocodiles that bask in the surrounding lake. We call it Lizard Island, and it\u2019s a special place.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere, since 2015, we\u2019ve been conducting evolutionary research on five species of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iz1wlgWn8D0\u0022\u003Eremarkable lizards called anoles\u003C\/a\u003E. By studying the anoles, our team is working to understand one of biology\u2019s most fundamental questions: How does natural selection drive evolution in real time?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach May, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/biolinnean\/blae088\u0022\u003Ecoinciding with the start of the breeding season\u003C\/a\u003E, we visit Lizard Island to capture, study and release all adult anoles \u2013 a population that fluctuates between 600 to 1,000. For the entire summer, female anoles lay a single egg every seven to 10 days. By October, a whole new generation has emerged.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022An illustration of five species of anoles.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=326\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=326\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=326\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=410\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=410\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=410\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EThe anoles of Lizard Island, clockwise from top left: Cuban knight anole, Hispaniolan bark anole, American green anole, Cuban brown anole, Puerto Rican crested anole.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/kitiifdrdsv1kvtrrzmvd\/ACUVItoWdPhtDv7ClsTpuB0\/Day\u0026apos;s%20Edge%20Prods?rlkey=szjea3hyh7uw81fp71d28ijip\u0026amp;subfolder_nav_tracking=1\u0026amp;dl=0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003ENeil Losin\/Day\u0027s Edge Prods.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe Secret Lives of Lizards\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnoles aren\u2019t early risers, so we don\u2019t expect much activity until the Sun strengthens around 9:30 a.m.; this gives us time to prepare our equipment. Our team catches anoles with telescopic fishing poles fitted with little lassos, which we use to gently pluck the lizards off branches and tree trunks. Ask any lizard biologist about \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.anoleannals.org\/2011\/01\/17\/forum-what-makes-the-best-noose\/\u0022\u003Etheir preferred lasso material\u003C\/a\u003E and you\u2019ll spark the age-old debate: fishing line or dental floss? For what it\u2019s worth, we recently converted \u2013 we\u2019re now on Team Fishing Line.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPicture yourself as an anole on Lizard Island. Your life is short \u2013 typically just one year \u2013 and filled with daily challenges. You need to warm up in the Sun, find enough food to survive, search for a mate, guard your favorite branch from other lizards and avoid being eaten by a predator.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike human beings, each lizard is unique. Some have longer legs, others stronger jaws, and all behave slightly differently. These differences could determine who survives and who doesn\u2019t; who has the most babies and who doesn\u2019t.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese outcomes drive \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.amnh.org\/exhibitions\/darwin\/evolution-today\/natural-selection-vista\u0022\u003Eevolution by natural selection\u003C\/a\u003E, the process where organisms with traits better suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more. These advantageous traits are then passed on to future generations, gradually changing the species over time. However, scientists still have an incomplete understanding of exactly how each of these features predicts life\u2019s winners and losers in the wild.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo understand how species evolve, researchers need to crack open this black box of evolution and investigate natural selection in wild populations. My colleagues and I are doing this by studying the anoles in exquisite detail. Last year was especially exciting: We ran what we called the Lizard Olympics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A researcher catches a lizard with a dental floss lasso.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=708\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=708\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=708\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=890\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=890\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=890\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003ECatching an anole with a lizard lasso. Look closely \u2013 the anole blends in quite well with the tree.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/kitiifdrdsv1kvtrrzmvd\/ACUVItoWdPhtDv7ClsTpuB0\/Day\u0026apos;s%20Edge%20Prods?rlkey=szjea3hyh7uw81fp71d28ijip\u0026amp;subfolder_nav_tracking=1\u0026amp;dl=0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003ENeil Losin\/Day\u0027s Edge Prods.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ETiny Fishing Poles\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the morning heat builds, we spot our first lizards: Cuban brown anoles near to the ground, and the mottled scales of Hispaniolan bark anoles just above them. Further up, in the leafy tree canopies, are American green anoles, and the largest species, the Cuban knight anole, about the size of a newborn kitten.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2018, a new challenger entered the arena \u2013 the Puerto Rican crested anole, a species already present in Miami but one that hadn\u2019t yet made it to Lizard Island. Its arrival provided us with an unexpected opportunity to study how species may evolve in real time \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-024-54302-1\u0022\u003Ein response to a new neighbor\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECatching these agile athletes requires patience and precision. With our modified fishing poles, we carefully loop the dental floss over their heads. Each capture site is marked with bright pink tape and a unique ID number; all lizards are then transported to our field laboratory just a short walk away.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022An anole, inside a container, is weighed in the laboratory by a researcher.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=436\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=436\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=436\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=549\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=549\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=549\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EIn the laboratory, Stroud weighs a green anole.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/kitiifdrdsv1kvtrrzmvd\/ACUVItoWdPhtDv7ClsTpuB0\/Day\u0026apos;s%20Edge%20Prods?dl=0\u0026amp;rlkey=szjea3hyh7uw81fp71d28ijip\u0026amp;subfolder_nav_tracking=1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003ENeil Losin\/Day\u0027s Edge Prods.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe Lizard Olympics\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere, the real Olympic trials begin. Every athlete goes through a comprehensive evaluation. Our portable X-ray machine reveals their skeletal structure, and high-resolution scans capture the intricate details of their feet. This is particularly critical: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/47307-how-geckos-stick-and-unstick-feet.html\u0022\u003ELike their gecko cousins\u003C\/a\u003E, anoles possess remarkable sticky toes that allow them to cling to smooth surfaces such as leaves and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/natural-selection-in-action-hurricanes-irma-and-maria-affected-island-lizards-100371\u0022\u003Emaybe even survive hurricanes\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe also measure the shape and sharpness of their claws, as both features are crucial for these tree climbers. DNA samples provide a genetic fingerprint for each individual, allowing us to map family relationships across the island and see which is the most reproductively successful.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-right zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022An X-ray image of a lizard.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=237\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=476\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=476\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=476\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=599\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=599\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=599\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EA portable X-ray machine takes detailed measurements of a lizard\u2019s skeleton.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/no%20source\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EJames Stroud\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe performance trials are where things get interesting. Imagine a tiny track meet for lizards. Using high-speed video cameras, we precisely test how fast each lizard runs, and using specialist equipment we measure how hard it bites and how strong it grips rough branches and smooth leaves.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese aren\u2019t arbitrary measurements \u2013 each represents a potential evolutionary advantage. Fast lizards might better escape predators. Strong bites might determine winners in territorial disputes. Excellent grip is crucial for tree canopy acrobatics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach measurement helps us answer fundamental questions about evolution: Do faster lizards live longer? Do stronger biters produce more offspring? These are the essential metrics of evolution by natural selection.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-left zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A researcher shows us the lizard\u0026apos;s identification code.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=237\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=676\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=676\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=676\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=850\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=850\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=850\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EThe identification code lets researchers track the lizard\u2019s growth and survival.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/kitiifdrdsv1kvtrrzmvd\/AEl6nBJ9FAcZOo5vXhFvKWE?rlkey=szjea3hyh7uw81fp71d28ijip\u0026amp;e=1\u0026amp;dl=0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003ENeil Losin\/Day\u0027s Edge Prods.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs afternoon approaches, the team relocates each piece of bright pink tape and returns the corresponding lizard to the exact branch it was caught on. The anoles now sport two tiny 3-millimeter tags with a unique code that lets us identify it when we recapture it in future research trips, along with a small dot of white nail polish so we know not to catch it immediately after we let it go.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt 8:30 p.m., with the Lizard Olympics done for the day, we return to the island donning headlamps. Night brings a different perspective. Some of the most wily lizards are difficult to catch when fully charged by the midday Sun, so our nocturnal jaunts allow us to find them while they sleep. However, it\u2019s often a race against time. Hungry lizard-eating corn snakes are also out hunting, trying to find the anoles before we do. As we wrap up another 16-hour day around 11:30 p.m., the team shares stories of the night.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A baby lizard is asleep on a leaf.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=507\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=507\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=507\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=637\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=637\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=637\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EShould a snake climb along a branch where a baby anole sleeps, the lizard will wake up and drop to the ground to escape.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/no%20source\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EJames Stroud\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EEvolution on the Island\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow spanning 10 years, 10 generations and five species, our Lizard Island dataset represents \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41586-025-08597-9\u0022\u003Eone of the longest-running active studies\u003C\/a\u003E of its kind in evolutionary biology. By tracking which individuals survive and reproduce, and linking their success to specific physical traits and performance abilities, we\u2019re documenting natural selection with unprecedented detail.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo far we have uncovered two fascinating patterns. Initially, it didn\u2019t pay to be different on Lizard Island. Anoles with very average shapes and sizes lived longer compared with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.2222071120\u0022\u003Ethose that are slightly different\u003C\/a\u003E. But when the crested anoles arrived, everything changed: Suddenly, brown anoles with longer legs \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-024-54302-1\u0022\u003Ehad a survival advantage\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-right zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022Next to a rock, a brown lizard shows its orange dewlap.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=237\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=859\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=859\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=859\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1080\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1080\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1080\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EAnoles communicate with their dewlap, an expandable throat fan that signals other lizards.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/awu72ov5qbr9vmxcg788o\/ALTbYwipLuM9Iz7crKE5cTY?rlkey=oaaktbmuvcvcglwyavxmybuag\u0026amp;e=2\u0026amp;dl=0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EJon Suh\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Lizard Olympics is helping us understand why. The larger, more aggressive crested anoles are forcing brown anoles to spend more time on the ground, where those with longer legs might run faster to escape predators \u2013 allowing them to better survive and pass on their long-leg genes, while shorter-legged anoles might be eaten before they can reproduce.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy watching natural selection unfold in response to environmental changes, rather than inferring it from fossil records, we\u2019re providing cutting-edge evidence for evolutionary processes that Charles Darwin could only theorize about.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese long days of observation are slowly revealing one of biology\u2019s most fundamental processes. Every lizard we catch, every measurement we take adds another piece to our understanding of how species adapt and evolve in an ever-changing world.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/246474\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/amid-a-tropical-paradise-known-as-lizard-island-researchers-are-cracking-open-evolutions-black-box-scientist-at-work-246474\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEach May, coinciding with the start of the breeding season, we visit Lizard Island to capture, study and release all adult anoles \u2013 a population that fluctuates between 600 to 1,000.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Each May, coinciding with the start of the breeding season, we visit Lizard Island to capture, study and release all adult anoles \u2013 a population that fluctuates between 600 to 1,000."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-03-31 14:51:12","changed_gmt":"2025-07-01 00:50:34","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-03-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-03-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"673890":{"id":"673890","type":"image","title":"James Stroud examines an anole (Day\u2019s Edge Productions)","body":null,"created":"1714494317","gmt_created":"2024-04-30 16:25:17","changed":"1714494317","gmt_changed":"2024-04-30 16:25:17","alt":"James Stroud examines an anole (Day\u2019s Edge Productions)","file":{"fid":"257341","name":"original_stroudresearchmiami_003_daysedgeprods.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/30\/original_stroudresearchmiami_003_daysedgeprods.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/30\/original_stroudresearchmiami_003_daysedgeprods.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":494176,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/04\/30\/original_stroudresearchmiami_003_daysedgeprods.jpg?itok=cfKU82J9"}}},"media_ids":["673890"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/amid-a-tropical-paradise-known-as-lizard-island-researchers-are-cracking-open-evolutions-black-box-scientist-at-work-246474","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/james-t-stroud-1477595\u0022\u003EJames T. Stroud\u003C\/a\u003E, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolution, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681458":{"#nid":"681458","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Measles Can Ravage the Immune System and Brain, Causing Long-Term Damage \u2013 A Virologist\u00a0Explains","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe measles outbreak that began in west Texas in late January 2025 continues to grow, with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dshs.texas.gov\/news-alerts\/measles-outbreak-2025\u0022\u003E400 confirmed cases in Texas\u003C\/a\u003E and more than 50 in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nmhealth.org\/about\/erd\/ideb\/mog\/\u0022\u003ENew Mexico\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oklahoma.gov\/health\/health-education\/acute-disease-service\/rash-illness\/measles.html\u0022\u003EOklahoma\u003C\/a\u003E as of March 28.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPublic health experts believe the numbers are much higher, however, and some worry about a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/03\/26\/health\/measles-kansas-ohio-texas.html\u0022\u003Ebigger resurgence of the disease\u003C\/a\u003E in the U.S. In the past two weeks, health officials have identified potential measles exposures \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/dchealth.dc.gov\/release\/health-officials-investigating-measles-exposures-dc\u0022\u003Ein association with planes, trains and automobiles\u003C\/a\u003E, including \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/dc-md-va\/2025\/03\/20\/measles-maryland-travel-airport-metro\/\u0022\u003Eat Washington Dulles International Airport\u003C\/a\u003E and on an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/dchealth.dc.gov\/release\/health-officials-investigating-possible-measles-exposures-dc\u0022\u003EAmtrak train from New York City to Washington, D.C.\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 as well as at health care facilities where the infected people sought medical attention.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeasles infections can be extremely serious. So far in 2025, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/measles\/data-research\/index.html\u0022\u003E14% of the people who got measles had to be hospitalized\u003C\/a\u003E. Last year, that number was 40%. Measles can damage the lungs and immune system, and also inflict permanent brain damage. Three in 1,000 people who get the disease die. But because measles vaccination programs in the U.S. over the past 60 years \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/d41586-024-03412-3\u0022\u003Ehave been highly successful\u003C\/a\u003E, few Americans under 50 have experienced measles directly, making it easy to think of the infection as a mere childhood rash with fever.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a biologist who studies \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=OQ7vzu0AAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003Ehow viruses infect and kill cells and tissues\u003C\/a\u003E, I believe it is important for people to understand how dangerous a measles infection can be.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EUnderappreciated Acute Effects\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeasles is one of the most contagious diseases on the planet. One person who has it will infect \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/measles\/about\/index.html\u0022\u003Enine out of 10 people nearby\u003C\/a\u003E if those people are unvaccinated. A two-dose regimen of the vaccine, however, is \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nfid.org\/resource\/frequently-asked-questions-about-measles\/\u0022\u003E97% effective at preventing measles\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen the measles virus infects a person, it binds to specific proteins on the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/nature10639\u0022\u003Esurface of cells\u003C\/a\u003E. It then inserts its genome and replicates, destroying the cells in the process. This first happens in the upper respiratory tract and the lungs, where the virus can damage the person\u2019s ability to breathe well. In both places, the virus \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/35022579\u0022\u003Ealso infects immune cells\u003C\/a\u003E that carry it to the lymph nodes, and from there, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/asm.org\/articles\/2019\/may\/measles-and-immune-amnesia\u0022\u003Ethroughout the body\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\u0022440\u0022 height=\u0022260\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/66rSGj35N3k?wmode=transparent\u0026amp;start=0\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 allowfullscreen=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EMeasles can wipe out immune cells\u2019 ability to recognize pathogens.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat generally lands people with measles in the hospital is the disease\u2019s effects on the lungs. As the virus destroys lung cells, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-94-017-9882-2_23\u0022\u003Epatients can develop viral pneumonia\u003C\/a\u003E, which is characterized by severe coughing and difficulty breathing. Measles pneumonia afflicts \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/measles\/signs-symptoms\/index.html\u0022\u003Eabout 1 in 20 children who get measles\u003C\/a\u003E and is the most common cause of death from measles in young children.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe virus can \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1172\/JCI118306\u0022\u003Edirectly invade the nervous system\u003C\/a\u003E and also damage it by causing inflammation. Measles can cause \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/qjmed\/hcu113\u0022\u003Eacute brain damage in two different ways\u003C\/a\u003E: a direct infection of the brain that occurs in roughly 1 in 1,000 people, or inflammation of the brain two to 30 days after infection that occurs with the same frequency. Children who survive these events \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/measles\/hcp\/clinical-overview\/index.html\u0022\u003Ecan have permanent brain damage\u003C\/a\u003E and impairments such as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.survophthal.2003.12.005\u0022\u003Eblindness\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/2331216514541361\u0022\u003Ehearing loss\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EYearslong Consequences of Infection\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn especially alarming but still poorly understood effect of measles infection is that it can reduce the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.coviro.2020.08.002\u0022\u003Eimmune system\u2019s ability to recognize pathogens\u003C\/a\u003E it has previously encountered. Researchers had long suspected that children who get the measles vaccine also tend to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.aaa3662\u0022\u003Ehave better immunity to other diseases\u003C\/a\u003E, but they were not sure why. A study published in 2019 found that having a measles infection \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.aaa3662\u0022\u003Edestroyed between 11% and 75% of their antibodies\u003C\/a\u003E, leaving them vulnerable to many of the infections to which they previously had immunity. This effect, called immune amnesia, lasts until people are reinfected or revaccinated against each disease their immune system forgot.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOccasionally, the virus can lie undetected in the brain of a person who recovered from measles and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK560673\/\u0022\u003Ereactivate typically seven to 10 years later\u003C\/a\u003E. This condition, called \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/cid\/cix302\u0022\u003Esubacute sclerosing panencephalitis\u003C\/a\u003E, is a progressive dementia that is almost always fatal. It occurs in about 1 in 25,000 people who get measles but is about five times more common in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/adc.2003.038489\u0022\u003Ebabies infected with measles before age 1\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers long thought that such infections were caused by a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00415-008-0032-6\u0022\u003Especial strain of measles\u003C\/a\u003E, but more recent research suggests that the measles virus can acquire mutations that enable it to infect the brain \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/sciadv.adf3731\u0022\u003Eduring the course of the original infection\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is still much to learn about the measles virus. For example, researchers are exploring \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.adm8693\u0022\u003Eantibody therapies to treat severe measles\u003C\/a\u003E. However, even if such treatments work, the best way to prevent the serious effects of measles is to avoid infection by getting vaccinated.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/252354\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/measles-can-ravage-the-immune-system-and-brain-causing-long-term-damage-a-virologist-explains-252354\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMeasles can damage the lungs and immune system, and also inflict permanent brain damage.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Measles can damage the lungs and immune system, and also inflict permanent brain damage. "}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-03-31 14:36:14","changed_gmt":"2025-04-02 16:38:49","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-03-31T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-03-31T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676719":{"id":"676719","type":"image","title":"Measles infections send 1 in 5 people to the hospital.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EMeasles infections send 1 in 5 people to the hospital. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/photo\/measles-outbreak-royalty-free-image\/2163958662\u0022\u003Ewildpixel\/ iStock via Getty Images Plus\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1743432009","gmt_created":"2025-03-31 14:40:09","changed":"1743432009","gmt_changed":"2025-03-31 14:40:09","alt":"Measles infections send 1 in 5 people to the hospital. ","file":{"fid":"260542","name":"file-20250328-56-699t74.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/31\/file-20250328-56-699t74.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/31\/file-20250328-56-699t74.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":109272,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/31\/file-20250328-56-699t74.jpg?itok=BwZklNnS"}}},"media_ids":["676719"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/measles-can-ravage-the-immune-system-and-brain-causing-long-term-damage-a-virologist-explains-252354","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/peter-kasson-1297400\u0022\u003EPeter Kasson\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681729":{"#nid":"681729","#data":{"type":"news","title":"3D Microchip Mimics Blood Clots, Potentially Enhancing Treatment Options","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a groundbreaking study published in \u003Cem\u003ENature\u003C\/em\u003E, researchers from Georgia Tech and Emory University have \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41586-025-08804-7\u0022\u003Edeveloped a new model that could enable precise, life-saving medication delivery for blood clot patients\u003C\/a\u003E. The novel technique uses a 3D microchip\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2848\u0022\u003EWilbur Lam\u003C\/a\u003E, professor at Georgia Tech and Emory University, and a clinician at Children\u2019s Healthcare of Atlanta, led the study. He worked closely with Yongzhi Qiu, an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe significance of the thromboinflammation-on-a-chip model, is that it mimics clots in a human-like way, allowing them to last for months and resolve naturally. This model helps track blood clots and more effectively test treatments for conditions including sickle cell anemia, strokes, and heart attacks.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.emory.edu\/stories\/2025\/04\/hs_blood_clot_conditions_04-04-2025\/story.html\u0022\u003ERead the full story from Emory University\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech and Emory researchers developed a novel thromboinflammation-on-a-chip model that could offer medication delivery for blood clot treatments\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech and Emory researchers developed a novel thromboinflammation-on-a-chip model that could offer medication delivery for blood clot treatments"}],"uid":"35272","created_gmt":"2025-04-10 19:17:08","changed_gmt":"2025-04-11 17:33:12","author":"aneumeister3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676810":{"id":"676810","type":"image","title":"blood_clot_model.jpg","body":null,"created":"1744312638","gmt_created":"2025-04-10 19:17:18","changed":"1744312638","gmt_changed":"2025-04-10 19:17:18","alt":"Model of a blood clot","file":{"fid":"260654","name":"blood_clot_model.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/10\/blood_clot_model.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/10\/blood_clot_model.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1650802,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/10\/blood_clot_model.jpg?itok=pzf6-6I0"}}},"media_ids":["676810"],"groups":[{"id":"660369","name":"Matter and Systems"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187582","name":"go-ibb"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:amelia.neumeister@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAmelia Neumeister\u003C\/a\u003E | Research Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["amelia.neumeister@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682412":{"#nid":"682412","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Offers New Astrobiology Minor","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EStudents from all majors are invited to register for the new\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astrobiology.gatech.edu\/astrobiology-minor\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMinor in Astrobiology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech. Welcoming its first enrolled students in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/catalog.gatech.edu\/programs\/#minorstext\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFall 2025\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the minor is the latest degree offering from the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECollege of Sciences\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astrobiology.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Astrobiology Program\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. Scholars from the \u003Cstrong\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts \u003C\/strong\u003Ewill teach several classes offered as part of the minor, including INTA 3043: Space Policy, and School of Literature, Media, and Communication classes on topics such as the age of scientific discovery, the rhetoric of scientific inquiry, and science fiction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAstrobio in Focus\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe Minor in Astrobiology will provide a broad, interdisciplinary introduction to the field of astrobiology while encouraging exploration beyond students\u2019 primary fields of study.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe program will foster the development of well-rounded scientists and engineers who will graduate with confidence in their knowledge and ability to engage in cutting-edge endeavors across the astrobiology discipline.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0022One of the most exciting aspects of the GT astrobiology minor is that it is truly interdisciplinary, enabling students to see how the arts and sciences operate synergistically,\u0022 said Regents\u0027 Professor Lisa Yaszek, who teaches some of the classes. \u0022This is particularly true of science fiction, which is often called \u0027the premier art form of modernity\u0027 because it emerged in tandem with the scientific and industrial revolutions and enables artists to communicate their experiences with science and technology and their hopes and fears about the future across centuries, continents, and cultures.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe Minor in Astrobiology is open to all undergraduates at Georgia Tech. Students who enroll now and meet program requirements may graduate with the minor designation as early as the end of Fall 2025 term.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMariel Borowitz, who teaches space policy in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, said it\u0027s crucial for scientists and engineers to understand the implications of technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Including space policy ensures that students understand how policy decisions and institutions affect the path and priorities for research. This gives them the tools to understand \u2014 and potentially engage in \u2014 policy development in this area, preparing them to be leaders in the field,\u0022 said Borowitz.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EEnrolled students will learn about the physical and chemical conditions for development of a habitable planet; deeply understand Earth, space, and planetary science\u0026nbsp;as well as the origin and evolution of life on Earth; and critically evaluate scientific issues related to astrobiology in media and popular culture.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHabitable Planet\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe foundation of the new minor is the popular\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E course EAS 1601: Habitable Planet. Led by EAS\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EAssistant Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/people\/rivera-hernandez-dr-frances\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrances Rivera-Hern\u00e1ndez\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the course enrolls up to 300 students a semester and expands options for study and career horizons.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0022Students from a lot of different majors enjoy 1601 where they get a true sense for the broadness of astrobio \u2014 stars, galaxies, biology, life beyond Earth, and how we create technology and science to explore those places,\u201d Rivera-Hern\u00e1ndez explains.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELike the new minor, EAS 1601 is also open to all majors. The class is offered in person across fall and spring semesters, and also available online during the summer term.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re purposely very flexible with that course and the overall minor,\u201d adds EAS Jean \u201cChris\u201d Purvis Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/people\/glass-dr-jennifer\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJennifer Glass\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cStudents use EAS 1601 as a launchpoint to pick their interests for their wider field of study and to hone career interests \u2014 whether that\u2019s space, biology, and autonomous rovers; hunting for chemical signs of life beyond our planet; or becoming an entrepreneur.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOver the past five years, students in the class frequently asked for formal degree offerings in astrobiology. Glass and fellow faculty partnered with then-graduate fellow\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/tylerproche\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETyler Roche\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to explore the idea of a minor, leveraging\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/12-proposals-achieve-college-sciences-strategic-goals-funded-sutherland-deans-chair\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESutherland Dean\u0027s Chair funding\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E in 2021 to officially launch the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astrobiology.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Astrobiology Program\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E in tandem with the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astrobiology.gatech.edu\/graduate-certificate\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAstrobiology Graduate Certificate Program\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astrobiology.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-astrobiology-fellowship\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAstrobiology Fellows\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/astrobiology.gatech.edu\/exo\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExplOrigins\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E young researcher group.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAstrobio and Beyond\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe Astrobiology Program is now supported by the new\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Space Research Initiative\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and co-directed by Rivera-Hern\u00e1ndez and EAS\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EAssistant Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/christopher-carr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChristopher E. Carr\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, who holds a primary appointment in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EGlass and Rivera-Hern\u00e1ndez co-direct the Astrobiology Graduate Certificate Program, and co-direct the Astrobiology Minor with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/nicholas-hud\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENicholas Hud\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003ERegents\u0027 Professor and Julius Brown Professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe team\u2019s collaborative approach to interdisciplinary leadership mirrors unique opportunities ahead for students who are interested in exciting careers across the field of astrobiology and beyond.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe minor is designed across three broad divisions of study,\u201d Glass adds. \u201cWhether you\u2019re curious about \u2018Foundations of Life,\u2019 want to dive deep into \u2018Earth, Space, and Other Worlds,\u2019 or are exploring career ideas for \u2018Astrobiology in a Wider World,\u2019 we\u2019ve built a solid home for you in Astrobio at Tech.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astrobiology.gatech.edu\/astrobiology-minor\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMinor in Astrobiology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E will be listed in the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/catalog.gatech.edu\/programs\/#minorstext\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2025-26 Catalog\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E beginning May 12.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIvan Allen College scholars will teach classes in the new minor.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Ivan Allen College scholars will teach classes in the new minor."}],"uid":"34600","created_gmt":"2025-05-15 20:28:22","changed_gmt":"2025-09-19 16:52:48","author":"mpearson34","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677080":{"id":"677080","type":"image","title":"murchison_image2-jd-169.jpg","body":null,"created":"1747341060","gmt_created":"2025-05-15 20:31:00","changed":"1747341060","gmt_changed":"2025-05-15 20:31:00","alt":"A piece of meteorite inside a glass jar.","file":{"fid":"260945","name":"murchison_image2-jd-169.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/15\/murchison_image2-jd-169.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/15\/murchison_image2-jd-169.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":225532,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/15\/murchison_image2-jd-169.jpg?itok=B-JpAk7M"}}},"media_ids":["677080"],"groups":[{"id":"660370","name":"Space"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194767","name":"go-cspir"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EMichael Pearson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681759":{"#nid":"681759","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Wearable Device Monitors Skin Health in Real Time","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom sun damage and pollution to cuts and infections, our skin protects us from a lot. But it isn\u2019t impenetrable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe tend to think of our skin as being this impermeable barrier that\u2019s just enclosing our body,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/matthew-t-flavin\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMatthew Flavin\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cOur skin is constantly in flux with the gases that are in our environment and our atmosphere.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELed by the Georgia Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST),\u0026nbsp;researchers have developed a novel wearable device that can monitor the flux of vapors through the skin, offering new insights into skin health and wound healing. This technology, detailed in a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41586-025-08825-2\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Erecent \u003Cem\u003ENature\u003C\/em\u003E publication\u003C\/a\u003E, represents a significant advancement in the field of wearable bioelectronics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou could think of this being used where a Band-Aid is being used,\u201d said Flavin, one of the lead authors of the study. The compact, wireless device is the first wearable technology able to continuously and precisely measure water vapor, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide fluxes in the skin in real time. Because increases in these factors are associated with infection and delayed healing, Flavin notes that this kind of wireless monitoring \u201ccould give clinicians a new tool to understand the properties of the skin.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Measurement Barrier\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur skin is our first line of defense against environmental hazards. Measuring how effectively it protects us from harmful pollutants or infections has been a significant challenge, especially over extended periods.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe vapors coming from your skin are in very, very low concentration,\u201d explained Flavin. \u201cIf we just put a sensor next to your skin, it would be almost impossible to control that measurement.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new device features a small chamber that condenses and measures vapors from the skin using specialized sensors hovering above the skin. A low-energy, bi-stable mechanism periodically refreshes the air in the chamber, allowing for continuous measurements communicated to a smartphone or tablet through Bluetooth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are other devices that can measure certain parts of what we\u0027re talking about here,\u201d said Flavin, \u201cbut they are not feasible for a wearable device, can\u0027t do this continuously, and are not able to get all the information that our device can get.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EScratching the Surface\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy tracking the skin\u0027s water vapor flux, also known as transepidermal water loss, the device can assess skin barrier function and wound healing. This capability is particularly valuable for tracking the healing process in diabetic patients, who often have sensory issues that complicate wound monitoring. \u201cWhat you see in diabetes is that even after the wound looks like it\u0027s healed, there\u0027s still a persistent impairment of that barrier,\u201d said Flavin. This new non-invasive device tracks those properties.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are many areas where people don\u0027t have great access to healthcare, and there aren\u2019t doctors monitoring wound healing processes,\u201d Flavin added. \u201cSomething that can be used to monitor that remotely could make care more accessible to people with these conditions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe device\u2019s wearable nature also makes it ideal for studying the long-term effects of exposure to environmental hazards like wildfires or chemical fumes on skin function and overall health.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough the applications in health are numerous, the research team is continuing to explore different ways to use the device. \u201cThis measurement modality is very new and we\u0027re still learning what we can do with it,\u201d saidJaeho Shin, a senior researcher at KIST and a co-leader of the study.\u0026nbsp;\u201cIt\u0027s a new way of measuring what\u0027s inside the body.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is a great example of the kind of technology that can emerge from research at the interface between engineering science and medical practice,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mccormick.northwestern.edu\/research-faculty\/directory\/profiles\/rogers-john.html\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJohn Rogers\u003C\/a\u003E, a materials science professor at Northwestern and another co-leader of the study. \u201cThe capabilities provided by this device will not only improve patient care, but they will also lead to improved understanding of the skin, the skin microbiome, the processes of wound healing, and many others.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a new faculty member and a member of Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ENeuro Next Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E, a burgeoning interdisciplinary research hub for neuroscience, neurotechnology, and society, Flavin attributes the success of this research to its interdisciplinary nature.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cA broad challenge we have in these fields of research is that they integrate a lot of different areas. One of the reasons I came to Georgia Tech is because it\u0027s a place where you have access to all those different areas of expertise.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDOI:\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41586-025-08825-2\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41586-025-08825-2\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFunding: Querrey-Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics and the Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E (CARE), Northwestern University; \u003Cstrong\u003ENational Research Foundation of Korea\u003C\/strong\u003E; \u003Cstrong\u003ENational Institutes of Health\u003C\/strong\u003E (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe device is the first of its kind to continuously monitor how the skin exchanges gases with the environment, helping to monitor skin health and wound healing.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The device is the first of its kind to continuously monitor how the skin exchanges gases with the environment, helping to monitor skin health and wound healing."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2025-04-11 21:16:43","changed_gmt":"2025-05-14 13:39:44","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-14T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-14T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676823":{"id":"676823","type":"image","title":"skin-breathing1940__FitMaxWzk3MCw2NTBd.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe wireless device measures only two centimeters in length and one-and-a-half centimeters in width, and is the first of its kind to continuously monitor the skin\u0027s exchange of vapors with the environment.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1744406209","gmt_created":"2025-04-11 21:16:49","changed":"1744406209","gmt_changed":"2025-04-11 21:16:49","alt":"The wireless device measures only two centimeters in length and one-and-a-half centimeters in width, and is the first of its kind to continuously monitor the skin\u0027s exchange of vapors with the environment.","file":{"fid":"260667","name":"skin-breathing1940__FitMaxWzk3MCw2NTBd.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/11\/skin-breathing1940__FitMaxWzk3MCw2NTBd.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/11\/skin-breathing1940__FitMaxWzk3MCw2NTBd.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":73723,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/11\/skin-breathing1940__FitMaxWzk3MCw2NTBd.jpg?itok=elYw3seN"}}},"media_ids":["676823"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/new-wearable-brain-computer-interface","title":"New Wearable Brain-Computer Interface"}],"groups":[{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"}],"keywords":[{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"},{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"},{"id":"187582","name":"go-ibb"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter:\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAudra Davidson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager\u003Cbr\u003ENeuro Next Initiative\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMedia contact\u003C\/strong\u003E: \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:aprendiville@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAngela Barajas Prendiville\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDirector\u003Cbr\u003EInstitute Media Relations\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682481":{"#nid":"682481","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Working Smarter: Improving Personalized Stem Cell Treatments for Kids","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EStem cell therapies are improving recovery and survival rates for pediatric cancer patients. But the treatments can be risky. They can weaken the immune system, making children highly vulnerable to infections. And there are other potential long-term complications, including damage to tissues and organs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA team of researchers at Georgia Tech has addressed this challenge, creating a new way to predict how these cutting-edge treatments might work in a particular patient. And it could revolutionize treatments for kids with complex immune system challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERead full story \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/news\/working-smarter-improving-personalized-stem-cell-treatments-kids\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENew research from Georgia Tech helps doctors predict how therapies will interact with a child\u0027s immune system, potentially improving outcomes and reducing risks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"New research from Georgia Tech helps doctors predict how therapies will interact with a child\u0027s immune system, potentially improving outcomes and reducing risks."}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2025-05-20 19:28:43","changed_gmt":"2025-05-20 19:30:34","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677102":{"id":"677102","type":"image","title":"stem.png","body":null,"created":"1747769331","gmt_created":"2025-05-20 19:28:51","changed":"1747769331","gmt_changed":"2025-05-20 19:28:51","alt":"stem ","file":{"fid":"260969","name":"stem.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/20\/stem.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/20\/stem.png","mime":"image\/png","size":861736,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/20\/stem.png?itok=LQNVwSG6"}}},"media_ids":["677102"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/news\/working-smarter-improving-personalized-stem-cell-treatments-kids","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBy Jerry Grillo\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682491":{"#nid":"682491","#data":{"type":"news","title":"A Photo of a Fingernail Can Now be Used to Detect and Monitor for Anemia, Emory and Georgia Tech Research Finds","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA team of researchers from Emory University and Georgia Tech, led by IBB researcher\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/wilbur-lam\u0022\u003EWilbur Lam\u003C\/a\u003E, have developed a groundbreaking, non-invasive way to screen and monitor anemia using just a smartphone photo of a fingernail. The AI-powered app analyzes the fingernail\u2019s paleness to detect anemia with high accuracy instead of requiring a conventional blood test. The technology can be personalized for users with chronic anemia by incorporating their clinical hemoglobin levels to enhance precision. This approach makes anemia screening more accessible, particularly for underserved communities, and removes barriers to care. The team\u2019s findings were recently published in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.pnas.org\/doi\/10.1073\/pnas.2424677122\u0022\u003EPNAS\u003C\/a\u003E, with Lam as the paper\u2019s senior author.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERead the full press release\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.emory.edu\/stories\/2025\/05\/hs-anemia-detection-technology_13-05-2025\/story.html\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECitation:\u003C\/strong\u003E Robert G. Mannino, Julie Sullivan, Jennifer K. Frediani, Wilbur A. Lam. \u201cReal-world Implementation of a Noninvasive, AI-augmented, Anemia-screening Smartphone App and Personalization for Hemoglobin Level Self-monitoring,\u201d \u003Cem\u003EPNAS\u003C\/em\u003E. DOI: 10.1073\/pnas.2424677122\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA team of researchers from Emory University and Georgia Tech, led by IBB researcher\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/wilbur-lam\u0022\u003EWilbur Lam\u003C\/a\u003E, have developed a groundbreaking, non-invasive way to screen and monitor anemia using just a smartphone photo of a fingernail.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A team of researchers from Emory University and Georgia Tech, led by IBB researcher Wilbur Lam, have developed a groundbreaking, non-invasive way to screen and monitor anemia using just a smartphone photo of a fingernail. "}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2025-05-21 15:29:01","changed_gmt":"2025-05-27 21:45:54","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-13T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-13T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677107":{"id":"677107","type":"image","title":"lam.jpg","body":null,"created":"1747841349","gmt_created":"2025-05-21 15:29:09","changed":"1747841349","gmt_changed":"2025-05-21 15:29:09","alt":"Lam","file":{"fid":"260975","name":"lam.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/21\/lam.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/21\/lam.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":132393,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/21\/lam.jpg?itok=yxyK9S7E"}}},"media_ids":["677107"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/news.emory.edu\/stories\/2025\/05\/hs-anemia-detection-technology_13-05-2025\/story.html","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBy Savannah Williamson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swilliamson40@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"685844":{"#nid":"685844","#data":{"type":"news","title":"C21U Announces Inaugural Bill Kent AI in Higher Education Fellows","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Center for 21st Century Universities (C21U) has announced the inaugural cohort of \u003Cem\u003EBill Kent Family Foundation AI in Higher Education Faculty Fellows\u003C\/em\u003E for 2025\u201326. This C21U-led fellowship program supports faculty projects that explore innovative, ethical, and impactful uses of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe fellows are Professor Flavio Fenton from the College of Sciences, Joy Arulraj from the College of Computing, Patrick Danahy from the College of Design, and Professor and Associate Chair of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering Ying Zhang, from the College of Engineering. Each fellow will lead a project that advances AI\u2019s role in higher education.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe deeply appreciate the generosity of the Dr. Bill Kent family in establishing this first philanthropic gift to our new College. Their generous support will allow us to encourage practical applications of AI and foster an appreciation for its ethical use,\u201d said William Gaudelli, inaugural dean of the Georgia Tech College of Lifetime Learning. \u201cThis Fellowship will ensure we grow and learn about its use thoughtfully, developing highly innovative and engaging pedagogical experiences for all life\u2019s stages.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EArulraj\u2019s TokenSmith: Fast, Local, Citable LLM Tutoring\u003C\/em\u003E introduces a privacy-conscious AI tutoring system for database courses that provides verifiable, course-aligned answers. Fenton\u2019s \u003Cem\u003EAI as a Learning Assistant \u003C\/em\u003Edevelops AI-enabled instructional modules for physics, neuroscience, and scientific writing to improve conceptual understanding and promote ethical AI use. Danahy\u2019s A\u003Cem\u003EI-Enabled Design Ideation and Robotic 3D Printing with Open-Source Platforms\u003C\/em\u003E integrates AI-driven design and robotic fabrication into architecture education while addressing ethics and sustainability. Zhang\u2019s \u003Cem\u003EAI-Enabled Personalized Engineering Education\u003C\/em\u003E expands personalized learning in large engineering courses through AI tutoring frameworks and integrates AI literacy into the curriculum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Bill Kent Family Fellowship gives our faculty the resources and flexibility to experiment with AI in ways that directly benefit students and inform the future of higher education,\u201d said Stephen Harmon, executive director of C21U.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe fellowship received 21 applications from all seven Georgia Tech colleges, reflecting the educational AI subject-matter experts for their units and the Institute as a whole. Fellows will develop and implement their projects during the 2025\u201326 academic year and share outcomes through C21U Learning Labs and other campus events.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Bill Kent Family Foundation partnered with C21U to establish this fellowship and support faculty innovation at Georgia Tech. Through this program, the Foundation invests in projects that explore responsible and impactful uses of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning. By funding this initiative, the Foundation aims to empower educators to develop scalable instructional models, promote ethical AI practices, and prepare students for a future shaped by emerging technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EC21U launched the 2025\u201326 Bill Kent Family Foundation AI in Higher Education Faculty Fellows, funding four faculty projects to advance ethical, innovative AI in teaching and learning.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"C21U launched the 2025\u201326 Bill Kent Family Foundation AI in Higher Education Faculty Fellows, funding four faculty projects to advance ethical, innovative AI in teaching and learning."}],"uid":"33969","created_gmt":"2025-10-20 18:03:03","changed_gmt":"2025-10-20 18:07:39","author":"ymrv3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-10-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-10-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678393":{"id":"678393","type":"image","title":"BFKKAI-2025Fellows1.jpg","body":null,"created":"1760983416","gmt_created":"2025-10-20 18:03:36","changed":"1760983416","gmt_changed":"2025-10-20 18:03:36","alt":"A graphic with the title of the fellowship and a photo of each fellow.","file":{"fid":"262413","name":"BFKKAI-2025Fellows1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/20\/BFKKAI-2025Fellows1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/20\/BFKKAI-2025Fellows1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":843918,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/20\/BFKKAI-2025Fellows1.jpg?itok=2RnHCzSu"}}},"media_ids":["678393"],"groups":[{"id":"66244","name":"C21U"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ymrv3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYelena M. Rivera-Vale, M.A\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;(she\/her(s)\/ella)\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Program Manager\u003Cbr\u003ECenter for 21st Century Universities\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Lifetime Learning\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003Cbr\u003EStrategic, Learner, Relator, Intellection,\u0026nbsp;Input\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}