News

Congratulations to the RCBU and BME students whose work was recognized at the prestigious annual University of Rochester Undergraduate Research Exposition 2011. Undergraduate students from RCBU and BME research laboratories participated in the symposium. BME undergrads Benjamin Freedman '11 and Kelli Summers '11 were both invited to speak at the Engineering and Applied Sciences Symposium Talks.

Freedman discussed his work, What is Q-Angle really measuring? A novel alternative to predict patellar maltracking, which received the Dean's Award. Summers spoke about her research with Dr. James McGrath, Mechanisms Underlying Collective Cell Migration in Vitro, which was recognized by President Seligman with the President's Award. Aaron Zakrzewski (ME '11), mentored by Mechanical Engineering Professor Sheryl Gracewski, gave an oral presentation of his research titled Natural frequency of bubbles within rigid and compliant tubes. Aaron also received a Deans' Award for Undergraduate Research in Engineering and Applied Sciences for his presentation. In addition, five of the seven poster exhibitions from the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences were by BME students:

Molly Boutin (Benoit Lab) BME '11

A Polymeric Delivery System to Induce Differentiation in hMSCs

Jasmine Carvalho (Dalecki Lab) BME '11

Investigations of Ultrasound Parameters to Promote Spatial Organization of Cells in Three-Dimensional Engineered Tissues

Vlabhav Kakkad (McAleavey Lab) BME '12

Experimental Implementation of Shear Wave Induced Phase Encoding Imaging

Angela Ketterer (Carney Lab) BME '12

Design and Implementation of a Behavioral Apparatus for Auditory Research in Birds

Hannah Watkins (Benoit Lab) BME '11

Novel Parthenolide Delivery System for Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment

(Received the Professor's Choice Award)

Congratulations to Dr. Stephen McAleavey (BME), who was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor with tenure. Professor McAleavey has been with the University of Rochester since 1996, when he worked as a graduate research associate with Professor Kevin Parker in Electrical Engineering. He became assistant professor with the Department of Biomedical Engineering in 2004.

Dr. McAleavey's area of research expertise centers on developing novel ultrasound imaging techniques based on shear waves. His research has led to the development of three patents: Method for Image Reconstruction from Shear Wave Modulated Ultrasound Echo Data; Shear Modulus Estimation by Application of Spatially Modulated Impulsive Acoustic Radiation Force; and Methods, Systems, and Computer Program Products for Imaging using Virtual Extended Shear Wave Sources (in conjunction with GE Trahey, KR Nightingale, and RW Nightingale).

Congratulations to Dr. Stephen McAleavey on the birth of his first child. Stephen and his wife welcomed a daughter, Laura Katherine McAleavey, on December 15. She weighed in at 7 pounds 3 ounces, was 20.7 inches long, arrived at 9:29 AM. Mom and baby are both doing well.

The RCBU was well represented at the Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America held in Portland, Oregon on May 18-22, 2009, with the following presentations: Ultrasound Standing Wave Fields Control the Spatial Distribution of Cells and Protein in Three-Dimensional Engineered Tissue by Kelley A. Garvin, Denise Hocking, and Diane Dalecki. Kelley Garvin won the Best Student Paper Competition in the Biomedical Ultrasound/Bioresponse to Vibration Technical Section with this paper. Lung Hemorrhage Produced by Exposure to Underwater Acoustic Impulses by Diane Dalecki, Sally Z. Child, and Carol H. Raeman. Comparison of Unconfined Compression and Spatially Modulated Ultrasound Radiation Force Estimates of Shear Modulus by Stephen McAleavey, Erin Collins, Johanna Kelly, Etana Elegbe, and Manoj Menon.

RCBU members Kevin Parker (PI), Robert Lerner, Stephen McAleavey, and Diane Dalecki received funding from the Stanford University Center on Longevity for the project titled, “Elastography in the Early Detection and Management of Liver Disease”. The goal of this project is to develop a safe, non-invasive, inexpensive tool for the early detection and monitoring of liver disease.

Stephen McAleavey (PI) was awarded a grant from the Stanford Center on Longevity for research on a “Wireless Urine Monitor and Aids for Bladder Training and Incontinence Management.” The goal of this project is to develop an assistive device for bladder training. The device, which incorporates a disposable sensor and wireless monitor, records the time of incontinence episodes. Urinary incontinence affects at least 10% of the age 65 or older population, and as many as 60% of those living in nursing homes.

Diane Dalecki, Ph.D. and Denise Hocking, Ph.D., serve as multi-PIs on a grant from the NIH NIBIB titled Ultrasound Technologies for Tissue Engineering. The overall goal is to develop ultrasound-based enabling technologies for the fabrication and monitoring of functional, 3D artificial tissues. Through the project, they will develop the use of ultrasound to regulate the structure and organization of the extracellular matrix in order to stimulate cell processes that are critical for engineering functional tissue constructs. Current studies are testing the ability of ultrasound to produce conformational changes in fibronectin, an extracellular matrix protein that plays key roles in regulating cell growth and migration. Working with co-investigators Stephen McAleavey, Ph.D. and Sheryl Gracewski, Ph.D., the team is also developing and applying new ultrasound imaging and tissue characterization techniques to noninvasively monitor the material and biological properties of engineered tissues, and to validate the measurements through mechanical testing and finite element modeling.