Fischell Department of Bioengineering: 2016-2017 Year in Review

2016-2017 Academic Year in Review

THE FISCHELL DEPARTMENT RESEARCHERS DEVELOP BLOOD TEST TO
OF BIOENGINEERING HELP DOCTORS DIAGNOSE SCHIZOPHRENIA

Established in 2006 Researchers from the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) and Baltimore (UMB)
campuses have developed a blood test that could help doctors more quickly diagnose schizo-
Research Expenditures by Sponsor for phrenia and other disorders.Their study, Redox Probing for Chemical Information of Oxidative
2016-2017: Stress, was recently published in the journal Analytical Chemistry.
National Institute of Standards and
Technology “We hope our new technique will allow a more rapid detection and intervention for schizo-
phrenia, and ultimately lead to better outcomes,” said Gregory Payne, one
$3.22 million of the authors and a joint professor with UMD’s Fischell Department of
Nonprofit & Individual Gifts Bioengineering (BIOE) and the Institute for Bioscience and Biotech-
nology Research (IBBR).
$2.19 million
National Science Foundation Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe mental disorder that affects approx-
imately 1 percent of the U.S. adult population and influences how
$1.91 million a person thinks, feels, and behaves.The onset of symptoms usually
National Institutes of Health begins between ages 16 and 30. Symptoms can range from
visual and auditory hallucinations and movement disorders to
$1.59 million difficulty beginning and sustaining activities.
Designated Research Initiative Fund
Currently, diagnosing schizophrenia and similar disorders
$1.21 million requires a thorough psychological evaluation and
Department of Defense a comprehensive medical exam to rule out other
conditions.A patient may be evaluated for six months
$876,000 or more before receiving a diagnosis and beginning
Food and Drug Administration treatment, particularly if he or she shows only early signs
of the disorder.
$443,000
State Recent studies have indicated that patient outcomes DR. GREGORY PAYNE
could be improved if the time elapsed between the
$431,000
Industry onset of symptoms and the initiation of treatment is much shorter. For this reason, researchers

$411,000 believe a chemical test that could detect oxidative stress in the blood—a state commonly
U.S. Department of Agriculture
linked with schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders—could be invaluable in helping to
$194,000
diagnose schizophrenia more quickly.
TOTAL: $12.5 MILLION
The UMD and UMB team, led by research associate Eunkyoung Kim, used a discovery-driven
LEARN MORE BY FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER approach based on the assumptions that chemical biomarkers relating to oxidative stress could
AND INSTAGRAM: @UMDBIOE be found in blood, and that they could be measured by common electrochemical instruments.

Building on an understanding of how foods are tested for antioxidants, an iridium salt was used
to probe blood serum samples for detectable optical and electrochemical signals that indicate
oxidative stress in the body.The promising initial tests have shown that various biological
reductants can be detected, including glutathione, the most prominent antioxidant in the body.

STROKA LAB DRAWS NEW CONNECTIONS BETWEEN
BRAIN ENVIRONMENT, BREAST CANCER METASTASIS

Members of assistant professor Kimberly Stroka’s lab have discovered a connection between
biochemical cues from cells in the brain environment and breast tumor cell migration.Their
findings, published in Astrocytes from the brain microenvironment alter migration and morphology of
metastatic breast cancer cells in the FASEB Journal, point to key factors that cause breast cancer to
metastasize to the brain.

“Metastasis to the brain is one of the most deadly aspects of breast cancer, and it often leads
to a poor prognosis for patients,” said Stroka, an alumna of the department (Ph.D. ’11).
“When tumor cells travel from the breast to the brain, they get transported through the
bloodstream. Once they enter the brain, they need to travel out of the bloodstream into the
brain environment, commonly referred to as brain tissue. But, there is still so little researchers
know about how and why tumor cells cross what is known as the blood-brain barrier to enter this

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space.” The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a semi-permeable barrier made from astrocytes could be affecting tumor cell
up of brain endothelial cells that line the blood vessels in the brain.This behavior directly or through modifications to
barrier plays a critical role in protecting the brain from foreign substances their extracellular matrix,” said BIOE graduate
in the blood, while allowing essential nutrients to reach the brain. Unfortu- student Marina Shumakovich, first author on
nately, the BBB is so effective that it also hinders the delivery of potentially the paper.“Understanding these mechanisms,
life-saving therapeutics to the brain. such as examining the role of astrocyte-secreted
matrix metalloproteinases – enzymes that
To understand why breast tumor cells can overcome this barrier – while degrade the extracellular matrix and are
many targeted treatments cannot – Stroka and researchers from her Cell secreted by astrocytes – brings us closer
and Microenvironment Engineering Lab looked to study astrocytes, one of to understanding cancer metastasis to the
the most abundant cell types found in the brain.Astrocytes play a key role brain and thus potentially developing
in supporting the BBB and brain homeostasis, but recent research indicates new targets for therapeutics.”
that they are also linked to brain metastasis and tumor cell survival across
the BBB. In fact, Stroka and her team have found that biochemical cues Moving forward, Stroka and her lab
from astrocytes actually increase the speed of breast tumor cell migration
by changing their shape. group aim to further explore how

Even more, the research group discovered that when they applied the same biochemical cues from astrocytes
biochemical cues directly to the extracellular matrix – the collection of
proteins and carbohydrates that surrounds the cells – there was an even can change the extracellular matrix DR. KIMBERLY STROKA
greater increase in tumor cell velocity. in such a way that impacts tumor

“These findings are significant because they show that biochemical cues cell migration. One way they hope

to do this is by developing a BBB-on-a-chip model that will allow them

to accurately mimic the brain endothelial layer such that they can use

engineering strategies to inform development of regenerative therapies for

diseases.

JEWELL LAB DEVELOPS NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO DRIVE NEXT-GENERATION
THERAPIES FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Researchers in BIOE associate professor Christopher Jewell’s laboratory reveal that changing the way myelin
are using quantum dots – tiny semiconductor particles commonly used is processed and presented to the
in nanotechnology – to decipher the features needed to design specific immune system can drive tolerance
and effective therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune instead of inflammation. Knowing
diseases.Their findings were published earlier this year as the cover story this, Jewell teamed up with Dr. Igor
of Advanced Functional Materials. Medintz and his colleagues at the
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to
In MS, the immune system incorrectly recognizes components of the develop a precision system that uses
central nervous system, causing inflammation and destruction of myelin, quantum dots to control how many
the fatty substance that surrounds and protects nerve fibers.When this self-antigens are displayed on each
happens, nerve fibers and cells are damaged, leading to loss of motor dot. One reason Jewell and his team
function and other complications. Symptoms of MS can vary greatly from looked to quantum dots is because
patient to patient, but can produce extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, and they are uniform and very small,
spasticity, and significant pain. allowing efficient draining through
lymphatic vessels and accumulation
One promising strategy to overcome these hurdles is generation of what in the lymph nodes.
are known as regulatory T cells (TREGS), the type of white blood cells
responsible for turning off immune responses in the body.These cells Quantum dots are also fluorescent, which allows real-time tracking in
are capable of restraining the inflammatory response against myelin that cells and animals.The team hypothesized that, by using quantum dots
occurs in MS, while keeping healthy functions of the immune system displaying defined densities of myelin peptides, they could reveal how the
intact. number or density of peptides alters the processing and trafficking of the
peptide and, in turn, promotes TREGS that control the disease.
In the human body, the immune system uses antigens – molecules
that are present on all cells and vary according to the type of cell – to “One of our exciting findings is that tolerance and elimination of
distinguish self-cells from foreign cells. Because the immune system paralysis in a pre-clinical mouse model was much better when myelin
recognizes specific types of antigens as those displayed by human cells, peptides were displayed on many quantum dots at a low density of 25
it can quickly activate an immune response once it detects foreign per dot, instead of fewer quantum dots displaying the same number of
substance, such as bacteria, toxins, or a virus. Recent studies focused on peptides but at a high density of 65 per dot,” Jewell said. “Developing
specific MS treatments have revealed that the development of inflamma- specific knowledge or design guidelines such as these might enable more
tion or tolerance against self-molecules is influenced by the concentra- selective – and effective – therapies to treat MS and other diseases.”
tion and form of antigens reaching the tissues that coordinate immune
function – namely, lymph nodes and the spleen. Even more, new studies

DR. CHRISTOPHER JEWELL ALSO RECEIVED THE 2017 CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOENGINEERING EDITORS’ CHOICE AWARD,
AND WAS NAMED ONE OF SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE’S ASSOCIATE SCIENTIFIC ADVISERS FOR 2017-2018.

BIOE SPINOUT DEVELOPING PEDIATRIC CANCER DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM TO
PREVENT HEARING LOSS FROM CHEMOTHERAPY

Fischell Department of Bioengineering (BIOE) spinout Otomagnetics from cisplatin
recently announced the development of a magnetic drug delivery regimens, and
system to enable prevention of a major side effect of chemotherapy in magnetic delivery
children – hearing loss. Earlier this year, the company was awarded a of newly-emerging
$2.3 million Fast Track National Institutes of Health (NIH) National therapies could
Cancer Institute (NCI) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) provide an even
contract to support these efforts. greater benefit.
Furthermore, topical
“We are honored and excited to be working closely with the National and non-invasive
Institutes of Health to address a pressing clinical need,” said BIOE and magnetic delivery
Institute of Systems Research (ISR) professor Benjamin Shapiro, the of a small dose of an
company’s president and CEO.“There should not have to be a choice otoprotective drug
between effective chemo and lifelong hearing loss. Our technology to the cochlea would
has the potential to allow treatment by chemotherapy without the not interfere with
attendant risk of hearing loss.” the intended systemic anti-tumor action of the chemotherapy.

The company was launched out of Dr. Shapiro’s UMD laboratory, Otomagnetics’ device acts like a syringe that uses non-invasive
through collaborations with ISR associate research scientist Didier magnetic forces instead of a needle to safely and effectively deliver
Depireux, and with co-founders Dr. Irving Weinberg and David Beylin. therapy to hard-to-reach targets.The company plans to use funding
support to progress the delivery system through Food and Drug
Platin-based chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin and carboplatin, can Administration (FDA) milestones, in order to reach patients.
cause significant hearing loss, particularly in children.This can have a
dramatic impact on subsequent quality of life and lead to substantial In addition to preventing hearing loss in chemotherapy patients,
cognitive and speech development deficits in pediatric cases. Otomagnetics is developing magnetic delivery to reach middle ear
and eye targets, to enable treatment of other conditions.Additional
To address this, Otomagnetics’ drug delivery technique enables support for Otomagnetics’ efforts has been provided by the Action on
application of a topical therapy to the ear’s cochlea to prevent damage Hearing Loss,TEDCO, BioMaryland, the National Institutes of Health,
that could be caused by toxins, such as cisplatin. Pre-clinical studies AngelMD (a physician-backed investment group), and the National
have shown that magnetic delivery even of a common off-the-shelf Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation.
anti-inflammatory steroid can substantially reduce hearing loss

RESEARCHERS CREATE ELECTROGENETIC DEVICE FOR ACTIVATING GENE
EXPRESSION VIA ELECTRODES

Researchers are working to develop an electrogenetic device to direct and the electrode. Building on this, the team is now modulating redox
gene expression, an achievement that holds promise for controlling molecules in order to link electrode-actuated signals to cells specifically
biological systems and could help shape the future of biosensors, as well engineered to respond by activating gene expression.This methodology
as wearable – and possibly implantable – bio-hybrid devices. could open doors for scientists looking to drive intricate biological
behaviors – such as by controlling biofilms or even producing
The team, led by William Bentley, UMD Distinguished University therapeutics in microdevices.
Professor and director of the Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical
Devices, is using redox biomolecules – tiny cellular messengers that are Expanding on previous applications of electrogenetic devices in
vital to the health of all body cells – to carry electronic information synthetic biology, Bentley, along with fellow Fischell Department of
to engineered bacterial cells.To do this, the group has developed Bioengineering professor Gregory Payne, and the research team have
a patent-pending electrogenetic device that uses an electrode and demonstrated that small molecules offer a wide repertoire for molecular
engineered cells to control how and when genes are expressed from a communication.As noted in the group’s Nature Communications paper
synthetic gene circuit. published earlier this year, once scientists gain the ability to measure,
disrupt, or enhance these biomolecular signals, they will be well-posi-
“Researchers have long used microelectronic devices embedded with tioned to develop advanced technologies to study and manipulate the
biological components, such as high throughput DNA sequencing biological environment.
technologies, to interrogate biology, but such devices have the potential
to do much more – perhaps even allow scientists to control biology,” “Electronics have transformed the way we live our lives, and there
Bentley said. have been increasing efforts to ‘connect’ devices to biology, such as
with glucometers or fitness trackers that access biological information,”
Previously, Bentley’s team took a first step by developing a Payne said.“But, there are far fewer examples of electronics communi-
methodology to load and control enzymes onto microelectronic chips cating in the other direction to provide the cues that guide biological
by modulating natural redox molecules located between the enzymes responses. Such capabilities could offer the potential to apply devices to

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better fight diseases such as cancer or to guide inflammatory responses to promote wound healing.”

Applying their methodology, the team demonstrated the ability to control gene expression to induce the movement of bacteria – known as
“bacterial swimming” – and to build a cellular information relay in which one group of bacteria interprets the electronic signal and passes the
information to another group to change its gene expression.

The team’s circuit relies on redox signaling processes prevalent in most biological systems, including the human body. Redox processes are
involved in protecting the body from oxidative damage, such as when a person is exposed to bright sunlight.“Like our bodies, bacteria have
adapted ways to escape oxidative damage,” Bentley said.“Our team has engineered bacterial cells to instead interpret the oxygen signaling
processes, and we have developed a genetic circuit that relies on the associated molecular cues for actuating a programmed response.”

John T. Consoli / University of Maryland

FISCHELL DEPARTMENT OF BIOENGINEERING LEADS NIH-FUNDED
CENTER FOR ENGINEERING COMPLEX TISSUES

The Fischell Department of Bioengineering announced earlier this director, and James Yoo,WFIRM associate director, will serve as
year that it will lead a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded co-principal investigators. Curt Civin, director of the Center for Stem
Biomedical Technology Resource Center (BTRC) aimed at advancing Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Maryland
techniques to create complex tissues and parts for the body, such as for School of Medicine in Baltimore will also provide collaborative support
organs and bone.The NIH awarded a $6.25 million grant to the newly as part of the MPowering the State partnership between the University
established Center for Engineering Complex Tissues (CECT), for of Maryland, College Park and Baltimore campuses.
which Rice University and the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative
Medicine (WFIRM) will serve as key partners. Building on the group’s longstanding bioengineering, biomaterials, and
additive manufacturing expertise, the center will serve as a national hub
“For years, tissue engineers have worked to improve quality of life for transforming current tissue engineering and 3D printing technolo-
for millions impacted by illness or trauma,” said John P. Fisher, CECT gies into new and improved platforms for everyday uses in regenerative
director and Fischell Family Distinguished Professor and Chair of medicine.
UMD’s Fischell Department of Bioengineering.“By bringing together
experts in bioengineering, biomaterials, and additive manufacturing, At the core of CECT’s research capabilities are three technology
CECT will serve a critical role in fostering the kind of technological research and development projects that will promote development
advancement that has the potential to transform how bones, tissue, and across three main biological systems: stem cell culture (UMD),
organs are repaired or replaced.” fabrication of cellular constructs (WFIRM), and construction of
heterogeneous tissue scaffolds (Rice).Additionally, CECT will oversee
Alongside Fisher, Rice University Louis Calder Professor of Bioengi- six collaborative projects, six service projects, and multiple training
neering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Antonios Mikos programs to foster expert collaboration for the advancement of tissue
will serve as the center’s associate director.Anthony Atala,WFIRM engineering.

»LEARN MORE BY VISITING WWW.CECT.UMD.EDU

NEW MICROSCOPY TECHNIQUE SHEDS LIGHT ON HOW CELLS
SENSE ENVIRONMENT

Assistant professor Giuliano Scarcelli is collaborating response or tumor metastasis – cell growth, wound healing, and tissue
with researchers from the United Kingdom who have formation and repair.As such, researchers have long sought a method
developed a new microscopy method that could for monitoring these forces in a robust and non-disruptive manner.
revolutionize scientists’ understanding of how cells
find their way through the body. “Our microscopy records very high color resolution images of the
light reflected by a thin and soft probe,” Gather said.“From these
The research, published in Nature Cell images, we then create a highly accurate map of the thickness of the
Biology, is led by Malte Gather, a probe – with mind-blowing precision of one-billionth part of a meter.
professor with the School of Physics If cells apply forces to the probe, the probe thickness changes locally,
and Astronomy at the University thus providing information about the position and magnitude of the
of St.Andrews, United Kingdom, applied forces.Although researchers have recorded forces applied by
and a long-time collaborator with cells before, our interface-based approach gives an unprecedented
Scarcelli and fellow researchers in resolution and, in addition, provides an internal reference that makes
the fields of optics and biophysics. our technique extremely robust and relatively easy to use.”

DR. GIULIANO SCARCELLI The new microscopy method, According to a recent press release issued by St.Andrews, this
Elastic Resonator Interference robustness means that measuring cell forces could soon become a
tool in clinical diagnostics, through which doctors could complement
Stress Microscopy (ERISM), images the extremely weak mechanical existing techniques to assess the invasiveness of cancer.

forces that living cells apply when they move, divide, and probe their

environment. Forces exerted by cells are fundamental for many physio-

logical processes including locomotion – such as during immune

DUNCAN AWARDED BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND CAREER AWARD
FOR PULMONARY DISEASE RESEARCH

Newly appointed Fischell Department of Bioengineering (BIOE) is that this will provide a more accurate and complete picture of the
assistant professor Gregg Duncan was named one of 12 recipients of the process.
2017 Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) Career Award at the Scientific
Interface. “Mucus in the lung is designed to trap any disease-causing particulate
where it is subsequently cleared by the motion
This prestigious award is intended to foster the early career of densely packed cilia on the airway surface,”
development of researchers in the U.S. or Canada who have transi- Duncan explained.“Our research team will
tioned or are transitioning from collegiate work in the physical, develop nanoparticle-based imaging tools to
mathematical, computational sciences or engineering into postdoctoral carefully interrogate how mucus and cilia
work in the biological sciences.The BWF Career Award provides interact in order to identify what disrupts
$500,000 over five years to bridge advanced postdoctoral training and mucus clearance in patients with these
their first faculty service. diseases.”

Duncan was recognized for his research on microscale airway surface If successful, Duncan believes this
liquid interactions and their role in lung health. new sensitive method to examine
lung health could lead to the
One of the many ways the human body protects against infection by development of better therapies
inhaled viruses and bacteria is through the generation and movement for patients with these diseases,
of mucus from the lung airways to the throat. Unfortunately, this and resulting health benefits.
movement – referred to as “MCC” – is impaired in individuals with
lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease “The support of the BWF will
(COPD), and cystic fibrosis.This impairment can lead to the deterioration
of lung function and susceptibility to infections. allow me to perform founda- DR. GREGG DUNCAN
tional studies forming the
Still, the reason for these disease symptoms is unclear, in part, due to
limitations of current measurement techniques used to analyze MCC. basis of my research program

with the goal of providing a new perspective on pulmonary disease

onset and progression,” he said.

Recognizing this, Duncan is working to develop new measure- Duncan, who specializes in nanodiagnostics, nanotherapeutics,
ments that will resolve the primary components of the lung airways biological fluids and interfaces, and lung diseases, officially joined the
responsible for maintaining MCC on a microscopic scale. His hope Fischell Department of Bioengineering in summer 2017.

BIOE GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDED LEMELSON-MIT STUDENT PRIZE

Ph.D. student Lisa Tostanoski won a $15,000 Lemelson-MIT Student cord to control inflammation and disease.The research team, which
Prize for efforts to develop two novel biomaterials-based strategies joins together the Jewell Lab and the immunology lab of Dr. Jonathan
to combat multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases. Bromberg at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, is
Tostanoski, a researcher in BIOE assistant professor Christopher Jewell’s currently working to understand the mechanism as well as the transla-
lab, is the first University of Maryland student to win the prestigious prize. tional potential to other disease models.Their findings were recently
highlighted in the journal Cell Reports.
Recently, scientists have explored the potential to use vaccine-like
therapies to treat autoimmunity. Such techniques aim to specifically In the second approach,Tostanoski and fellow researchers use
control the attack of self-molecules – like myelin in multiple sclerosis – specialized technology to create immune polyelectrolyte multilayers
while leaving the rest of the immune system intact. In MS, the immune (iPEMs) built entirely from immune signals.These iPEMs are
system incorrectly recognizes myelin that insulates and protects nerves self-assembled on particle templates during production.Then, the
fibers in the brain. Immune cells enter the brain and attack, leading to templates are dissolved to leave hollow capsules that consist only of the
slow loss of motor function and other complications. Current therapies immune cues the lab wants to deliver, eliminating the need for carrier
for MS work by decreasing the activity of the immune system; but, they components. University of Maryland School of Medicine Professor
do so in a broadly-suppressive way that often leaves patients vulnerable of Neurology Walter Royal and members of his lab collaborated with
to infection. Tostanoski and Jewell to conduct pilot studies investigating how iPEMs
interact with samples from human MS patients. Findings from these
In search of a solution, researchers like Tostanoski are working to studies were published in ACS Nano.
develop new strategies that enable control over combinations and doses
of therapies that reach particular tissues in the body. Tostanoski, Jewell, and the research team have shown that this approach
controls inflammation in samples from human multiple sclerosis
Tostanoski’s first project applies a targeted injection technique to patients, and eliminates disease in mouse models of multiple sclerosis.
deposit degradable polymer carriers – loaded with the desired This cutting-edge technique mimics useful features of biomaterial
therapeutic cargos – directly in lymph nodes, the tissues that coordinate therapeutics – such as co-delivery, targeting, and “cargo” protection –
the body’s immune responses.These particles slowly degrade in the but is much simpler because no carrier components are needed. Even
lymph nodes, releasing signals that program cells not to attack “self ” more, this feature also eliminates the risk of activating the immune
tissues. Instead, these cues aim to expand regulatory immune cells that system in the unintended or unexpected ways sometimes associated
could then leave the lymph nodes and move to the brain and spinal with synthetic materials.

THE PH.D. PROGRAM In addition to the Ph.D., Fischell Department of Bioengineering
program degree options include a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
75 students enrolled degree, Graduate Certificate in Bioengineering, Doctor of
3.52 average GPA for admitted students Medicine/Master of Science (M.D./M.S.), and a Doctor of
162 average GRE Q for admitted students Medicine/Doctor of Philosophy (M.D./Ph.D.).
40% newly enrolled were women
For more information:
To apply for a graduate application fee waiver: www.bioe.umd.edu/graduate
go.umd.edu/2017waiver

GEL-E ANNOUNCES $3.1 MILLION IN PRIVATE FINANCING

gel-e Inc., a startup company launched by Fischell Department of highly durable under a wide range of environmental conditions.
Bioengineering alumnus Matthew Dowling (Ph.D. ’10), announced
that it has raised $3.1 million in private financing, led by early-stage When applied to wounds, the bandage quickly creates a three-dimen-
investment funds and life science investors. sional nanoscale mesh that coagulates blood and stops hemorrhaging.
Despite its effective bonds with tissue, the bandage is gentle enough to
The announced financing will allow gel-e to expand its initial U.S. be removed from
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory clearance for the a patient without
management of bleeding wounds – including vascular access sites causing further
(Vascular gel-e®) – to a broader hemostatic product line for the injury.The pad is
treatment of external wounds. designed to be used
by surgeons, soldiers,
gel-e specializes in developing a broad range of advanced hemostatic first responders,
and wound treatment products, including bandages for the treatment or even unskilled
of routine cuts and scrapes, foams, putties for traumatic and military helpers in locations
injuries, and surgical gels and powders. ranging from the
operating room to
“gel-e’s objective is to build products that stop bleeding rapidly and the battlefield.
reliably in a variety of clinical settings, regardless of the patient’s
coagulation state,” Dowling said.“Even routine bleeding from In 2015, the FDA
common lacerations, such as cuts and nicks from shaving, is becoming cleared gel-e’s
problematic given the meteoric rise in the use of blood-thinning vascular access
medications throughout the world.” hemostat for sale,
paving the way for the company to commercialize additional, unique
As a student in UMD Department of Chemical and Biomolecular products based on the same technology.Today, gel-e boasts a product
Engineering (ChBE) professor Srinivasa Raghavan’s Complex Fluids line featuring next-generation vascular access hemostats, as well
and Nanomaterials Lab, Dowling co-created a fast-acting, blood-clot- as bandages and flowable gels to treat nuisance bleeds and chronic
ting bandage.This patented, life-saving technology is based on modified wounds.
chitosan, a biopolymer derived from chitin, which is found in the
exoskeletons of shrimp, crabs, and other crustaceans. Chitosan is a »LEARN MORE BY VISITING WWW.GEL-E.CO
unique natural material because it is biocompatible, anti-microbial, and

ALUM NAMED TO FORBES “30 UNDER 30: HEALTHCARE” LIST

Adam Behrens (Ph.D.‘15) was named to Forbes’ prestigious “30 Under Behrens, a Clark School Future
30: Healthcare” list for 2017 in recognition of his recent efforts to Faculty Fellow, was recently
advance the development of vaccines and diagnostic testing. awarded an honorable mention
in the competition for the 2016
“Being selected for Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30’ is really an amazing honor,” Council on Graduate Schools
Behrens said.“The recognition equally speaks to the great people that I (CGS) ProQuest Distin-
have worked with and the opportunities they have afforded me.” guished Dissertation Award in
Mathematics, Physical Sciences,
Throughout his undergraduate and graduate years of study at the Clark and Engineering. Behrens’ disser-
School, Behrens worked towards developing a hemostatic (blood-clotting) tation,“Polymeric Materials for
gel designed to quickly stop hemorrhaging, and a low-cost alternative Hemostatic and Surgical Sealant
– or adjuvant – to sutures for use in a surgical setting.Today, Behrens Applications” placed in the top
is a postdoctoral associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s three from more than 45 disser-
Langer Lab, which focuses on the interface of biotechnology and tations from institutions across
materials science. the United States and Canada
to be recognized by a panel of
Forbes noted that Behrens is “taking on germs in the developing world judges from the graduate dean
with two projects: an effort to make vaccines that don’t require refrig- community with expertise in the STEM fields.
eration, and a push to develop diagnostic tests that can detect infectious
diseases at patients’ bedsides.”

THE NEW HOME OF THE FISCHELL DEPARTMENT OF BIOENGINEERING, A. JAMES CLARK HALL,
FEATURES FIVE MEETING SPACES FOR STUDENT STARTUPS.

UNDERGRADS DEVELOP DEVELOP TOOLS TO DIAGNOSE ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
BEFORE PATIENTS SHOW SYMPTOMS

A team of seven undergraduates earned the top prize in this year’s diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Such methods are expensive and, at times,
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Design by Biomedical Undergrad- invasive, so many patients are diagnosed based only on their symptoms.
uate Teams (DEBUT) challenge for their efforts to develop low-cost
tools to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease before patients show symptoms. “It can take up to two years after clinical symptoms arise for patients to
receive a proper diagnosis, and by then, he or she may have already seen
“Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United significant progression of the disease,” Patel said.“To address this, our
States, costing the nation close to $259 billion this year,” said BIOE technique allows us to characterize an Alzheimer’s patient’s brainwave
undergraduate and the team’s captain Dhruv Patel, citing data from using a variety of mathematical analytical tools and compare it with a
the Alzheimer’s Association.“Diagnosing the disease early on allows healthy patient’s brainwave to create a machine-learning model that
patients to open up treatment options, manage the disease properly, and can then accurately predict the probability of the patient having the
slow its progression.” disease.”

The cross-disciplinary UMD team, known as “Synapto,” will use the Organized by the UMD student chapter of the Biomedical
$20,000 in their development of a portable electroencephalogram Engineering Society, Synapto’s team members are: BIOE students
(EEG) that uses a headset designed and manufactured by OpenBCI David Boegner, Megha Guggari, Chris Look (a computer science
and a new software analysis tool to detect Alzheimer’s disease before double-major),Anoop Patel, and Dhruv Patel; and Department of
a patient displays clinical symptoms.The device exploits changes Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering students Megan Forte and
observed in the brainwaves of Alzheimer’s patients in response to special Brianna Sheard.The group’s participation in the competition was led,
auditory tones.The team, which recently filed for a company LLC in in part, by the Biomedical Engineering Society-UMD executive board
Maryland, believes their work could help make dementia diagnosis and supported by faculty advisor Steven Jay, a BIOE assistant professor.
more quantitative, more systematic, and less costly – allowing doctors to Bill Idsardi, chair of UMD’s Department of Linguistics, provided the
use it at regular check-ups. initial hardware that helped accelerate the project.

Today, PET scans, MRIs, and spinal taps are most commonly used to

THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

438 students enrolled The undergraduate program of the Fischell Department of Bioengineer-
4.47 average GPA for admitted students ing is founded in biology,driven by human health issues,and emphasizes
760: Math SAT, 75th percentile innovation.Our objective is to merge the principles and applications
690: Math SAT, 25th percentile embedded in engineering with the sciences of biology,medicine,and health.
60% newly enrolled were women
For more information:
www.bioe.umd.edu/undergraduate

FISCHELL DEPARTMENT OF BIOENGINEERING ANNOUNCES SIX NEW FACULTY

The Fischell Department of Bioengineering announced six additions University of Maryland Vice President for Research and Professor
to its faculty this year: assistant professor Gregg Duncan (beginning Laurie Locascio specializes in bioengineering, toxicology, and analytical
August 2017), professor Xiaoming (Shawn) He (beginning December chemistry. She has extensive experience leading federal research
2017), assistant professor Huang-Chiao (Joe) Huang (beginning programs and laboratories, and building strategic partnerships among
January 2018), University of Maryland Vice President for Research and universities, industry, and government labs. Locascio previously worked
Professor Laurie Locascio (beginning October 2017), research professor at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), rising
Zhongjun Wu, and professor Li-Qun Zhang (beginning May 2017). from a research biomedical engineer to senior leadership positions
including, most recently, acting principal deputy director and associate
Assistant Professor Gregg Duncan specializes in nanodiagnostics, director for laboratory programs, providing leadership and operational
nanotherapeutics, complex biological fluids and interfaces, and guidance for NIST’s seven scientific and mission-focused laboratories.
pulmonary diseases. His current research focuses on using nanoparticles
as diagnostic probes to monitor changes in the biophysical properties Research professor Zhongjun Wu is a tenured full professor of surgery
of airway mucus from individuals with cystic fibrosis lung disease. He is at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he is engaged
developing an inhaled viral gene delivery system as a means to correct in the basic and applied research of cardiovascular and pulmonary
the genetic defect that causes cystic fibrosis. disease and the fundamental technical problems associated with
artificial and bio-hybrid organ development. His most recent research
Professor Xiaoming (Shawn) He focuses much of his research on projects include the use of ventricular assist devices in heart failure,
micro/nanotechnology, cancer theranostics, and tissue regeneration. His development of pediatric ventricular assist devices, development of
most recent work has centered on developing bioinspired micro and artificial pumping lungs, and computational design and modeling of
nanoscale biomaterials and devices to engineer normal stem cells for biomedical devices.
tissue regeneration, target cancer stem cells for cancer theranostics, and
prepare cells/tissues/organs for cryogenic and ambient-temperature Professor Li-Qun Zhang’s work focuses on developing single and
banking. multi-joint intelligent rehabilitation robotics to diagnose, treat, and
evaluate neurological disorders and musculoskeletal injuries, investigate
Assistant Professor Huang-Chiao (Joe) Huang specializes in organic reflex/non-reflex and dynamic/static factors contributing to impaired
and inorganic photoactivatable nanoparticles, nanotechnology-enabled motor control, and study injury and compensation mechanisms
drug delivery, mechanism-based combination treatment regimens, of pathological knee conditions. His most recent work centers on
photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and photoimmunother- developing rehabilitation protocols and devices, and conducting clinical
apy. His recent work focuses on establishing the concept of a mutually trials on people with neurological disorders or musculoskeletal injuries.
reinforcing combination therapy, based on two or more cooperative
regimens directed against non-overlapping molecular targets, such that
each component overcomes the other’s resistance pathways to reinforce
the benefits of each modality.

GREGG DUNCAN XIAOMING HE HUANG-CHIAO LAURIE LOCASCIO ZHONGJUN WU LI-QUN ZHANG
HUANG

The Fischell Department of Bioengineering is home to 21 state-of-the-
art labs, including Immune Engineering, Vascular Pharmacoengineering
and Biotherapeutics, Biomolecular and Metabolic Engineering, Tissue
Engineering, and Nanoscale Interfacial Biology and Engineering.

John T. Consoli / University of Maryland

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND ANNOUNCES UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENT FROM
THE A. JAMES & ALICE B. CLARK FOUNDATION

On October 4th, the University of Maryland announced a transfor- urgent national problems. Creating this path for the most promising
mative investment of $219,486,000 from the A. James & Alice B. students in engineering and other fields may well prove to be Mr.
Clark Foundation. Building Together:An Investment for Maryland will Clark’s greatest legacy.”
increase college access and affordability, inspire the next generation
of engineering leaders and spark innovations that tackle today’s most The gift was announced at an event with Loh, Pastrick, Maryland
daunting problems. Governor Larry Hogan, Mrs.Alice B. Clark, Clark Foundation
President Joe Del Guercio, Maryland Speaker of the House Michael
This investment, the largest in UMD history and among the largest to Busch, and Chancellor of the University System of Maryland Robert
a public research institution in the 21st century, will propel UMD and Caret. More than 150 students who have received previous scholarships
the A. James Clark School of Engineering to the forefront of education from the Clark Foundation were also in attendance.
and research by establishing and funding an array of need-based
scholarships, graduate fellowships, distinguished faculty chairs and Access to an affordable college education to promising students has
operational and capital projects. guided the Clark family’s longstanding investments. New scholarships
and fellowships made possible by this donation build on the Founda-
“This investment is historic in scope and transformational in impact, tion’s—and Mr. Clark’s—fundamental belief in connecting effort with
and I do not say this lightly,” University of Maryland President Wallace opportunity, by helping those who demonstrate determination and
D. Loh said.“Access to higher education is essential, if we are to solve perseverance.

»LEARN MORE BY VISITING WWW.BUILDINGTOGETHER.UMD.EDU

A. JAMES CLARK HALL
OPENS NOVEMBER 10TH

The ceremonial opening of A. James Clark Hall, the new six-story
home of the Fischell Department of Bioengineering and the
Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, will take
place on Friday, November 10, 2017. The 184,000-square-foot
facility will spur the development of transformative engineering
and biomedical technologies to advance human health, and will
serve as the flagship of University of Maryland bioengineering
and a hub for new partnerships and collaborations throughout
the capital region. Clark Hall will add 38,000 square feet of new
department space for bioengineering, and feature 39,666 square
feet of lab space, including three bioimaging labs, a state-of-the-
art computational lab and the 240-seat Leidos Innovation Lab.

»LEARN MORE BY VISITING GO.UMD.EDU/CLARKHALL

2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building
8228 Paint Branch Dr.
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-2835

The Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland
is the home of an emerging academic discipline, exciting interdisciplinary
degree programs, and faculty and students who want to make a
difference in human healthcare through education, research and
invention.

For more information about the department, please visit:
www.bioe.umd.edu

Follow us on Twitter: @UMDBIOE

FISCHELL DEPARTMENT OF BIOENGINEERING BY THE NUMBERS:

$12.5M in Research Expenditures in 2016-17 21 State-of-the-art Laboratories
184,000 Square-Foot Building Opening in 2017
38,000 Square Feet of New Department 21 Senior Capstone Projects in Spring 2017

Space with Opening of A. James Clark Hall 3 NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Awards

27 Invention Disclosures Filed in 2016-17 (Dr. Steven Jay, Dr. Giuliano Scarcelli,
22 Tenure/Tenure-Track Faculty Dr. Huang-Chiao Huang)

2 Burroughs Wellcome Career Award recipients

(Dr. Kimberly Stroka, Dr. Gregg Duncan)