Translational Research
Robert Dodde
PhD Candidate
Robert is studying the impact of compression on tissue material properties and how it can be applied to surgical instrument design. In his research with BME Professor Joseph Bull and Dr. James Geiger from Pediatric Surgery, they have found that the electrical resistivity of tissue can rise as much as five to ten times under 80-90% compression. They are applying this finding to the development of electrosurgical instrumentation that will minimize collateral thermal damage by applying steep compression gradients to electrically isolate tissue outside the profile of the instrument. This research will help create surgical instruments that are safer and more precise.
This research is partially funded by the U-M Coulter Translational Research Partnership Program.
Scott Medina
PhD Candidate
Scott works in the Cellular Engineering and Nano-Therapeutics (CENT) Laboratory studying the application of biopolymers in drug delivery and nanotechnology. His research focuses on the development of nano-sized polymeric particles that can selectively and efficiently shuttle a large dose of anti-cancer drugs into liver cancer cells. Through this interdisciplinary research project, Scott and his mentor, BME Professor Mohamed El-Sayed, are actively collaborating with clinical oncologists and pharmacologists at U-M to develop the next generation of nano-medicines for the treatment of hepatic cancer. This research is partially funded by the U-M Coulter Translational Research Partnership Program.
This research is partially funded by the U-M Coulter Translational Research Partnership Program.
Stephanie Grainger
PhD Student
Stephanie works with BME Professor Mohamed El-Sayed in the Cellular Engineering and Nano- Therapeutics Laboratory. Her research focuses on the development of dually functional "smart" particles that can enhance the intracellular delivery of anticancer drugs while allowing real-time in vivo imaging of solid tumors with a special emphasis on breast cancer. This project is combining bio-nanotechnology, cancer biology, and in vivo imaging techniques and is allowing Stephanie to collaborate with in vivo imaging experts and breast cancer oncologists at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center. It is hoped that successful completion of this project will lead to the development of "smart" tools for imaging and therapy of breast cancer.