The Center for Biomedical

Engineering and Science

OPEN HOUSE

November 21, 2014

CBES Administrative Office

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

224 Duke Centennial Hall

9201 University City Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28223

Phone: 704-687-8608

Fax: 704-687-8607

E-mail: CBES@uncc.edu

CBES OPEN HOUSE Friday, November 21, 2014

2:00pm—5:00pm Woodward Hall, Room 130

CBES Leadership Team Dr. Charles Y. Lee, CBES Director

Michele Wallace, CBES Business Manager

Focus Area Leaders

Dr. Mark Clemens, Medical Therapies and Technologies

Dr. Don Jacobs, Molecular Engineering and Design

Dr. Nigel Zheng, Biomechanics and Mobility Research

AGENDA I. Open Network & Refreshments

II. Welcome………………………………..Dr. Charles Lee

CBES Director

III. Oral Presentations………..Dr. Chandra Williams

IV. Tour of Vivarium and IVIS Imaging System

V. Tour of Investigators’ Labs and Woodward

Equipment

VI. Networking

CBES Mission

To foster advancements in biomedicine through

interdisciplinary and translational research at the

interface of biomedical science and engineering

Featured Labs of CBES Associated Researchers

Hansang Cho, Ph.D. H.Cho@uncc.edu 704-687-8496

Dr. Cho's expertise is the development of bioengineered microenvironments and nanobiosensors. He worked as a research fellow at Harvard Medical School/Mass General Hospital to implement his expertise on brain-on chips for the study of Alzheimer's disease and neurovas-cular diseases. His current research focuses on cells chips to enable new discoveries in the areas of neurosci-ences and cancer biology, innovative mechanical com-

ponents involving multiple physics, and portable platforms for healthcare diagnostics and environmental sustainability. For more information regarding Dr. Cho's research please visit his webpage https://coefs.uncc.edu/hcho17/

Mark Clemens, Ph.D. mgclemen@uncc.edu 704-687-8682

Dr. Clemen’s lab specializes in the regulation of liver microcirculation: Role of stress-inducible vasoactive mediators (endothelin, nitric oxide synthase, hydrogen sulfide, sonic hedgehog, heme oxygenase) in altering vascular responsiveness in the liver following oxidative or inflammatory stress. Mechanisms of control of sinusoid perfusion by hepatic stellate cells, especially related to components of phenotypic transformation in response to

injury. His research is also centered around the hepatic metabolic re-sponse to infection. Mechanisms of altered carbohydrate metabolism during sepsis, especially related to differentiation between inflammation-induced changes in gene expression and perfusion supply/demand ratio as mediators of decreased gluconeogenesis. The application of imaging techniques to biological research is another important part of Dr. Clemen’s research. It uses the In vivo video microscopy for study of liver microcir-culation and an application of quantitative fluorescence techniques in the monitoring of cellular processes in intact organs or in vivo. Engineered liver support systems: Bioengineering Research Partnership.

Didier Dréau, Ph.D. ddreau@uncc.edu 704-687-8314

Dr. Dre au’s lab interests are centered on the biology of tumor metastasis. Specifically, we study tumor cell migra-tion, the influences of the tumor microenvironment and the rate of metastasis. We seek to better understand the key steps associated in the cancer progression and devel-op diagnostic and prognostic tools to improve patient care. To successfully achieve the long-term objectives, my research team is involved in ongoing collaborative and

multidisciplinary efforts involving clinicians, biologists and engineers.

Ahmed El-Ghannam, Ph.D. arelgha@uncc.edu 704-687-7730

Dr. El-Ghannam specializes in synthesis and characteri-zation of biomaterials for drug delivery and tissue reconstruction. His lab creates resorbable scaffolds for tissue reconstruction and to enable in vivo drug delivery to signal cells. The research activities of El-Ghannam’s lab addresses problems related to treatment of breast and liver cancer and bone infection. He routinely per-forms biocompatibility tests, drug release kinetics,

assessment of therapeutic effects and cell function and engineering surfaces of biomaterials to stimulate cell function and tissue formation.

Gloria Elliott, Ph.D. gdelliot@uncc.edu 704-687-8365

Dr. Elliott's research specialty is experimental thermody-

namics with emphasis on the analysis of living sys-

tems. Biopreservation is the major focus of her work, an

area that is becoming increasingly important as changes

in the environment continue to affect biodiversity. Dr.

Elliott's research group has been investigating the under-

lying science of non-refrigerated preservation and devel-

oping new technology to support this preservation approach. Applica-

tions under investigation include gamete preservation for in vitro

fertilization, development of vaccines that can be transported without

refrigeration, and the stabilization of biomolecules, cells, and tissues for

clinical diagnostic and therapeutic use.

Valery Grdzelishvili, Ph.D. vzgrdzel@uncc.edu 704-687-7778

Dr. Grdzelishvili’s research is centered around the exploi-

tation of viruses [vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in

particular] as anticancer (“oncolytic”) agents. VSV can

preferentially replicate in malignant cells and less so in

normal cells, since transformed cells exhibit the hall-

marks of a flawed host defense. Dr. Grdzelishvili is

particularly interested in the identification and charac-

terization of cellular and viral determinants of susceptibility or re-

sistance of pancreatic cancers to VSV and other oncolytic viruses. Dr.

Grdzelishvili also collaborates with Dr. Gloria Elliott on the preservation

of vaccines. This research is focused on the development of a unique

drying process that will enable vaccines to be stored at room tempera-

ture.

Pinku Mukherjee, Ph.D. pmukherji@uncc.edu 704-687-5459

Dr. Mukherjee’s translational research focuses on the understanding the basic oncogenic pathways of tumor progression and metastasis associated MUC1 as well as they development of novel cancer vaccines that activate the existing immune response against the “foreign” tumor-specific proteins. The goal is to develop immune memory against the cancer, so that if the cancer recurs, it will be recognized immediately as foreign and be reject-

ed. In particular, her lab focuses on pancreatic cancer and metastatic breast cancer, both of which are fatal. Since preclinical studies must precede clinical trials, we have developed oncogenic transgenic mouse models that appropriately mimic the human disease and expresses human proteins. Tumors develop spontaneously within the pancreas or the breast, thus receiving appropriate hormonal and molecular signals. Similar to human disease, the tumors arise in an immune-competent and immune-tolerant host. Tumor-Site Directed Therapy: Another grave challenge for cancer therapeutics has been the systemic toxicity, and the failure of the therapeutics to reach the tumor site. Therefore, my labora-tory is designing tumor-targeting antibody that is fused to some of the promising therapeutic agents. The antibody only recognizes tumor cells in the primary site and in the metastatic lesions without targeting normal cells. This technology has huge clinical relevance. It may have the potential of aiding early detection and diagnosis. Ultimately, this antibody has the potential as a site-directed therapeutic delivery system (with either drugs or radio-conjugates) in patients with metastatic cancers.

Christine Richardson, Ph.D. Caricha2@uncc.edu 704-687-8683

Dr. Richardson’s research specializes in the identifica-

tion of environmental agents and metabolities that

may promote DNA damage and chromosomal instabil-

ity leading to leukemias as well as biomarker discov-

ery for leukemias and ovarian cancers potentially

leading to diagnostic screening tools. She also re-

searches the development of targeted drug delivery

via aptamers-nanoparticle vehicles for the use in both leukemias

and ovarian cancers.

Stuart Smith, Ph.D. stusmith@uncc.edu 704-687-8351

Dr. Smith ‘s research comprises a cadre of instrumen-

tation, machinery and process developers interested

in taking ideas for novel engineering processes to fully

realized working systems. Typically, this involves

merging the latest mechanical, electrical, optical and

materials technologies into an autonomous computer-

controlled process. Systems currently in the process of development include a scanning phase contrast x-ray interfero-

metric microscope, a vortex machining process, self-sensing metro-

logical micrometer and nanometer assembly robots and amplified-

reality haptic systems for exploring the micro and nano worlds

Susan Trammell, Ph.D. stramme@uncc.edu 704-687-8164

Dr. Trammell’s research focus is biomedical optics,

specifically the development of new diagnostic tools for

cancer detection and vascular imaging. Her lab has

developed an enhanced thermal imaging technique for

tumor margin detection and is developing a spectral

imaging system for the detection of pancreatic cancer.

Vivarium at UNC Charlotte 704-687-8318

UNC Charlotte’s Laboratory Animal Resources group is responsible

for the care of all vertebrate animals at UNC Charlotte. We are

committed to the provision of excellent veterinary care and labora-

tory animal management for all research animal subjects. Our

program has been fully accredited by the Association for Assessment

and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International

(AAALACi) since 2007, is reviewed semi-annually by UNC Char-

lotte’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and is subject

to audit by the University’s Post-Approval Monitoring function. As a

Research Facility, registered with the US Department of Agriculture,

UNC Charlotte complies with all aspects of USC Title 7, Chapter 54,

the Animal Welfare Act. Compliance is confirmed by unannounced

inspections by USDA veterinary medical officers. A Letter of Assur-

ance (reflecting the University’s commitment to adherence to the

Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of

Laboratory Animals) is on file with the PHS’s Office of Laboratory

Animal Welfare. Our veterinary and technical staff provide primary

and veterinary care to all animals housed, as well as investigator

training, technical assistance and guidance, and access to health

status, laboratory, and imaging services. Our goal is the maintenance

of an enriched, variable-free, secure, and humane environment for

our animal subjects, as well as superb customer service for our

research clients.