Undergraduate Summer Research Opportunities

Primary Investigators:
Jonathan Brunger

Brief Description of Project:
Our lab takes a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates tissue engineering, synthetic biology, pluripotent stem cell technology, and genome engineering to understand diseases and design cell-based therapeutics. We have recently developed new methods to enable cells to sense features of a niche that are consistent with musculoskeletal pathology and neurodegeneration. We have shown we can then program these cells to execute defined scripts to locally activate cell differentiation, production of therapeutic compounds, or expression of genes that may help us dissect molecular bases for disease.

This project will involve contributions in the following areas of these investigations:

• Design and assembly of new gene circuits to control cell behaviors relevant to musculoskeletal regenerative medicine and studies of neurodegeneration
• Production of gene delivery vehicles for implementation of cell engineering strategies
• Cell-based and molecular assays (e.g., flow cytometry, luminescence assays, immunocytochemistry, ELISAs, gene expression profiling) to determine specificity of circuit responses and impact on cell and tissue function

Desired Qualifications:
Highly motivated students interested in research who have taken general chemistry and biology.

Nature of Supervision:
Hands-on training and support will be provided by a graduate student, who will serve as the researcher's primary mentor and interact directly on a daily basis. The student will participate in weekly lab group meetings. The undergraduate researcher will meet with the PI at least bi-weekly to discuss research progress.

A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
After completing safety training and acclimating to the lab during week 1, the student will be involved in cloning, sequencing, and purifying new gene expression vectors (wks 2-3). Lentivirus will be produced and used to engineer target cells (e.g. pluripotent stem cells, immortalized cell lines) with gene circuit platform components (wks 4-5). Students will then assess the influence of the artificial signaling circuit by a variety of outputs that may include measurement of reporter transgene expression (e.g., fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, luminescence assays), immunolabeling, qRT-PCR, and RNAseq (wks 6-9). The student will then prepare a final report and poster presentation during week 10.

Number of Open Slots: 2

Contact Information:
Name: Jonathan Brunger
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: jonathan.m.brunger@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigators:
Brett Byram

Brief Description of Project:
Cardiac ultrasound is one of the most common medical imaging exams, but the images are inadequate in most patients. We are working on developing new methods to overcome these shortcomings. There are lots of related projects including opportunities to work on the methods and opportunities to build PDMS phantoms to help evaluate the methods.

Desired Qualifications:
If you want to work on method development portions of the project then an interest in Matlab or similar is important. We will teach you what you need to know.

Nature of Supervision:
Daily contact with graduate student supervisor.  Weekly meetings with larger team, and regular contact with PI throughout the week.

A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
An example plan will look like the following:

Weeks 1-2 orientation and work the grad student to understand the project. Also begin experiments.
Weeks 3-4 continue experiments and begin to learn the existing Matlab processing pipeline. Identify summer specific task/targets for improvements.
Weeks 5-6 continue experiments and begin algorithm (or hardware) developments.
Weeks 7-9 continue with project and iterate as needed.
Weeks 9.5-10 wrap up and pass project knowledge back to supervising graduate student and PI.

Number of Open Slots: 2

Contact Information:
Name: Brett Byram
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: brett.c.byram@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigators:
Christos Constantinidis

Brief Description of Project:
The research project seeks to understand the neurophysiology of the prefrontal cortex as it underlies working memory. The project obtaining behavioral data in working memory tasks and recording neural activity from the cerebral cortex using multi-contact probes in a non-human primate model. Use of optogenetic techniques to activate specifically targeted neuron types and computational methods to analyze neural activity will be developed in the course of the project.

Desired Qualifications:
Computer programming experience in the MATLAB (or Python) environment is desired.

Nature of Supervision:
The lab holds two events every week: a lab group meeting, and a research presentation by lab members. This project involves an international collaboration with colleagues in Spain, and the two teams meet over Zoom biweekly. Additional supervision of the student will be accomplished through biweekly individual meetings with PI. Day-to-day supervision and mentoring will also be provided by a senior graduate student in the lab.

A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Students will be involved in collecting behavioral data daily from non-human primates performing working memory tasks. Pharmacological administration of NMDA antagonists will be performed on some sessions, to study the effects of NMDA receptor blockers. The students will also participated in the data acquisition of neurophysiological data, with 128-contact microelectrodes that can sample neural activity directly from the cerebral cortex. Finally, students will be involved in analysis of a completed dataset of neurophysiological recordings. Prior students participating in summer programs in the lab have developed research abstracts presented in national conferences and have co-authored publications.

Number of Open Slots: 1

Contact Information:
Name: Christos Constantinidis
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: christos.constantinidis.1@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigator/s:
Mark Does

Brief Description of Project:
The overall objectives are to develop and use MRI to report specific characteristics of tissue, such as axon diameter or myelin thickness in white matter, myofiber size and density in skeletal muscle, or pore and bound water concentrations in bone. To this end, we develop and use a variety of experimental NMR/MRI protocols, signal analysis methods, and computational modeling.

Desired Qualifications:
knowledge of MRI physics (desired, but not required), computer programming skills (MATLAB, C, CUDA, Python, any of the above)

Nature of Supervision:
The student will work under the supervision of Mark Does, and with the assistance of other staff and trainees in the lab.

A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
TBD

Number of Slots: 1

Contact Information
Mark D. Does, Ph.D.
Professor of Biomedical Engineering,  Radiology & Radiological Sciences
Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science
R-1302E MCN
1161 21 Ave South
Nashville, TN 37232-2675
615-322-8352
mark.does@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigator:
Craig Duvall

Brief Description of Project:
Our lab recently developed a new polymer-based nano-formulation for delivery of therapeutic peptides to vascular grafts during transplant procedures (for patients undergoing bypass surgery due to blocked coronary arteries in the heart). We have shown therapeutic benefit of this drug delivery approach in preclinical models of vascular bypass and ex vivo in human tissue.

This project will involve work on two aspects of this project:

-Developing new, more reliable methods for fabrication of these nanoparticles to optimize their size and to make them more uniform.

-Expand the use of this nano-formulation approach to new therapeutic peptides.

Desired Qualification:
Highly motivated students interested in research who have taken general chemistry and preferably BME 103 (biomaterials). Completion of organic chemistry class and lab are also desired but not required.

Nature of Supervision:
The undergraduate researcher will have the opportunity to meet at least weekly to discuss research progress with the PI. Hands-on training and support will be provided by a graduate student who will serve as a mentor.

A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Students will be involved in development and optimization of a new nanoparticle fabrication approach with the goal of producing monodispersed particles of different sizes. The student will also complete basic nanoparticle characterization by dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy. The functional effect of various nanoparticle fabrication parameters will be assessed based on peptide delivery to cells and tissues.

Number of Open Slots: 1

Contact information:
Craig L. Duvall, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering
PMB 351631
2301 Vanderbilt Place
Nashville, TN 37235-1631
email: craig.duvall@vanderbilt.edu
office phone: (615)322-3598
fax: (615)343-7919
web: https://www.duvall-lab.com

Primary Investigator:
Craig Duvall

Brief Description of Project:
Our lab has recently synthesized and screened a new library of synthetic polymers designed to form nanoparticles for delivery of short interfering RNA (siRNA) for gene therapy (targeted gene silencing) applications. We have optimized the pH-responsiveness of these polymeric carriers to enable endosomal escape and intracellular delivery / gene silencing bioactivity of siRNA. We are now seeking to further improve upon this promising nanocarrier for biomedical applications.

We are seeking researchers to contribute to two aspects of this project:

1. Incorporation of targeting ligands to improve cell- and tissue-specific action in order to improve drug potency and reduce off-target effects following intravenous siRNA nanocarrier delivery.
2. Build upon technologies invented in our laboratory for temporally-controlled, local delivery of siRNA nanocarriers in order to achieve sustained, potent bioactivity without the requirement for multiple applications / doses.

Candidate Qualification:
Highly motivated students interested in research who have taken general chemistry and preferably BME 103 (biomaterials). Completion of organic chemistry class and lab are also desired but not required.

Nature of Supervision:
The undergraduate researcher will have the opportunity to meet at least weekly to discuss research progress with the PI. Hands-on training and support will be provided by a graduate student who will serve as a mentor.

A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Students will be involved in synthesis and in vitro testing of new forms of this nanocarrier amenable to functionalization with targeting ligands and / or fabrication of biodegradable polymer-based depots for sustained, local nanocarrier delivery. This will require polymer synthesis, basic nanoparticle characterization by GPC, DLS, TEM, and 1H-NMR, measurement of intracellular delivery in vitro, and measurement of gene expression. The student will be encouraged to interface and collaborate with other members of the Duvall lab and to utilize VINSE facilities.

Number of Open Slots: 2

Contact information:
Craig L. Duvall, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Vanderbilt University
Department of Biomedical Engineering
PMB 351631
2301 Vanderbilt Place
Nashville, TN 37235-1631
email: craig.duvall@vanderbilt.edu
office phone: (615)322-3598
fax: (615)343-7919
web:  http://research.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/biomaterials/Duvall/index.html

Primary Investigators:
Charleson Bell, PhD
Todd D. Giorgio, PhD 

Brief Description of Project:
Our lab is currently developing a smartphone-compatible, paper-based device which can be used to detect the presence of antigen on facility surfaces.  The paper-based device uses specialized-nanolabeled antibodies, called nanozymes, to specifically bind targeted antigen and facilitate a color change upon binding.  Through bio-ink jet printing the nanozymes into a specific pattern, the color change can be reported to remote stakeholders via smartphone.  To further this research, we are seeking undergraduate researchers to contribute by co-developing protocols to test nanozyme bio-inkjet printing capability and smartphone readability.  Furthermore, scholars will have the opportunity to work with bacteria of high interest to medical and military agencies.

Desired Qualifications:
Highly motivated scholars with a willingness to learn and innovate who are interested in bioengineering research that involves aspects of chemistry, biology, nanotechnology and smartphone technology. A background in chemistry and bioengineering is highly recommended. Previous knowledge/experience with cell/microbe culture is also desired, but not required.

Nature of Supervision:
The undergraduate researcher will have the opportunity to meet at least once per week with the PI to discuss progress and next steps. Hands-on lab training and support will be provided by a research assistant who will serve as the mentor and primary point of contact.
 
A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Scholars will be involved in the development (prototyping) and characterization of a nanozyme-immobilized nitrocellulose sheet.  SEM, TEM and florescent microscopy will be utilized to characterize the developed materials.  In fabrica testing will be performed by dropcasting antigen-containing aqueous solutions on the sheets.  Color intensities will be enumerated from smartphone-collected images via image analysis software.  Smartphone-readability will be validated using proprietary software and industry benchmarks.  There is a high chance that by the end of the 10 weeks, the project will progress towards the use of microbe-excreted antigen.

Number of Open Slots: 2

Contact Information:
Name: Charleson Bell
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: c.s.bell@vanderbilt.edu

Name: Todd D. Giorgio
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: todd.d.giorgio@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigators:
Todd Giorgio, PhD
Richard Mu, PhD (Tennessee State University)
Anil Shanker, PhD (Meharry Medical College)

Brief Description of Project:
The overarching objective of this project is to develop biomaterials capable of sustained release of protein-based cancer immunotherapies.  Co-axial electrospray will be used to form microparticles with a protein core and a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) shell.  We aim to prepare materials that release their protein cargo over the period of 2-3 weeks.  The application for these materials is ovarian cancer treatment with immunotherapies that can be administered as a single intraperitoneal injection.

Desired Qualifications:
Highly motivated students interested in research that involves aspects of nanoscale biomaterial design/ fabrication/ characterization, including sustained drug release.  A background in chemistry and or biomaterials would be valuable.  Previous knowledge/experience with particle characterization methods is also desired, but not required.
 
Nature of Supervision:
The undergraduate researcher will have the opportunity to meet at least once per week with the PI to discuss progress and next steps.  Full participation in weekly research group meetings is expected.  Hands-on lab training and support will be provided by a collaborating professor (Dr. Richard Mu, Tennessee State University) with expertise in particle fabrication by electrospray.  Other methods will be carried out in ESB under the supervision of senior predoctoral candidates with appropriate experience.  The overall design will be informed by Dr. Anil Shanker (Meharry Medical College); his laboratory will (eventually) test these materials in mouse models of ovarian cancer.
 
A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Phase 1 involves the fundamental laboratory and practical skills associated with the preparation of core/shell microparticles by electrospray.  These activities include particle characterization by dynamic light scatter, microscopy and protein release kinetics.  Phase 2 is focused on optimization of the particle design and fabrication conditions based on target design characteristics and sustained release performance.  This part will ‘look like’ a screening approach in which we will iterate parameters such as solvent composition, potential difference and emitter-to-collector distance to produce particles with the desired properties.  Phase 3 involves the preparation and characterization of materials suitable for administration to mouse models of ovarian cancer.
 
Number of Open Slots: 1
 
Contact Information:
Name: Todd Giorgio
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: todd.d.giorgio@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigators:
Kevin Harkins
 
Brief Description of Project:
This overall objective of this project is to improve our understanding of how tissue microstructure influences MRI, especially diffusion weighted MRI. The student will apply existing (or new?) machine learning frameworks to quantitatively compare histological images with MRI measurements.

Desired Qualifications:
Programming with Python/Matlab/C/etc; experience or interest deep learning frameworks like PyTorch or TensorFlow; experience with medical imaging preferred, especially MRI and (electron or light) microscopy.
 
Nature of Supervision:
Summer student will meet at least weekly with the advisor's research group, and as needed with the advisor to discuss the project.
 
A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
In the first couple weeks, the student will learn an existing machine learning framework and apply it with provided example histological samples. Over the rest of the project, the student will adapt machine learning frameworks to new histology image sets and/or MRI acquisitions.
 
Number of Open Slots: 1
 
Contact Information:
Name: Kevin Harkins
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: kevin.harkins@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigators:
Rick Haselton
Megan Pask
Graduate Students

Brief Description of Project:
A major stumbling block to low resource and/or home diagnostics is simplicity of design.  Complex designs drive up the cost of manufacturing and fail to perform properly in the hands of those unskilled in the principals of operation of the device.  The goal of this project is to further develop and test a simple diagnostic design which is inexpensive to manufacture, is simple to operate and can be readily interpreted by the unskilled end-user in a low resource environment.

A major focus of recent efforts is the detection of drug-resistant pathogens. In these projects, we seek to develop methods for detecting nucleic acid sequences in a sample that indicate drug susceptibility or drug resistance.

We are particularly interested in developing designs which do not require instrumentation to interpret the test results.  Some sort of visible outcome would appear to be ideal.  One promising design is based on the unique radial flow present in an evaporating water drop.  As noted by Deegan (Nature 97) the radial flow produces a characteristic “coffee ring” stain of small particles (coffee bean particulates!) readily visible by eye.  We are developing and testing a detector based on modulation of this simple phenomenon.  In our design, the presence of a pathogen in a small drop of fluid triggers a visible change in the ring structure at the edge of a drop dried on a glass surface.

Desired Qualifications:
Interest in global health and some background in experimental molecular biology..

Nature of Supervision:
Work with a research group consisting of Rick Haselton, Megan Pask and graduate students. Training in basic molecular biology techniques and their application to test specific benchtop procedures. Applicants are expected to participate in weekly lab discussions of project results.

A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Our preliminary results suggest that several designs works well. In the summer, we plan to focus on some of the following questions: What is the limit of detection of a particular design? Is the design sensitive enough to detect the expected number of targets?  Are the built-in controls adequate to assure correct assay interpretation? Will the design also work for other applications?

Number of Open Slots: 1

Contact Information:
Name: Rick Haselton
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: rick.haselton@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigators:
Michael R. King
 
Brief Description of Project:
Mechanotransduction of cancer cells in the solid tumor environment is an active area of research, yet far less work has been done to examine the biological behavior of cancer and stromal cells in the blood flow environment. Recently, mechanical stimuli such as shear stress have received attention for their effects on cancer progression. For instance, studies have shown that shear stress has been associated with enhanced metastasis and cancer cell death. In the King Lab, the effect of shear stress on cancer cell survival and signaling is being investigated. These mechanical cues can be translated into biochemical responses in cells through the process of mechanotransduction. It is proposed to subject cell suspensions to repeated shear stress pulses in a multiwell plate format to study shear stress response and to develop “mechanoresistant” cell lines that will be phenotypically and genotypically characterized with the goal of identifying the drivers that enable cancer cells to survive in circulation. Moreover, given that the presence of CTC aggregates in the blood signal more aggressive and metastatic disease, multicellular aggregates modeled after aggregates isolated and characterized from prostate cancer patient blood samples will be tested in vitro for their mechanical responses, and also used to guide the development of model cells and spheroids to be injected into experimental mouse models of bloodborne metastasis.

Desired Qualifications:
Experience with mammalian cell culture is preferred, but not essential. Familiarity with basic chemistry and biology laboratory procedures. Ability to collect, organize, and present data.
 
Nature of Supervision:
The PI will meet weekly with the researcher in a lab meeting, and additionally as necessary. The researcher will receive training and daily supervision from a senior PhD student in the lab.
 
A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Weeks 1-2: training and observation
Weeks 3-8: experimentation and data collection, testing of different cell culture conditions on cellular shear stress responses.
Week 9: analysis of data and preparation of final report
Week 10: presentation of results.
 
Number of Open Slots: 1
 
Contact Information:
Name: Michael King
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: mike.king@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigators:
Victoria Morgan
 
Brief Description of Project:
In this project we will investigate brain networks in patients with focal epilepsy at different disease stages (early after diagnosis and chronic). We will use MRI based measures of functional and structural connectivity and compare to healthy controls, clinical assessments of disease severity.

Desired Qualifications:
Matlab processing
signal processing
curiosity and creative thinking
 
Nature of Supervision:
The students will be supervised directly by a 4th year graduate student and the PI.
 
A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Week 1 - introduction to human subjects research and MRI connectivity
Week 2 - 3 - develop specific hypothesis and testing method
Weeks 4-8 - data analysis
Week 9 -10  finalize results
 
Number of Open Slots: 1
 
Contact Information:
Name: Victoria Morgan
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: victoria.morgan@vumc.org

Primary Investigators:
Jeff Nyman
 
Brief Description of Project:
The goal of this project is to identify non-enzymatic post-translational modifications in collagen type I that are related to the mechanical properties of human bone and that differ between subjects without osteoporosis and those with the disease. The project involves specimen preparation, mass spectrometry techniques, mechanical testing, and data analysis.

Desired Qualifications:
Experience with MATLAB
Knowledgeable in mechanics of materials
 
Nature of Supervision:
Student will be trained by lab personnel in the various techniques
Student wiill then be independently responsible for achieving the goal of the project
Student will meet with lab and PI weekly
 
A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Prepare bone specimens for mechanical testing. Incubate bones in different media to drive the formation of different post-translational modifications. After mechanical testing, extracts proteins for high performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry. Submit samples to the mass spectrometry core. Prepare specimens for differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis. Process data.
 
Number of Open Slots: 1
 
Contact Information:
Name: Jeff Nyman
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: jeffry.s.nyman@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigators:
Kristin O'Grady
 
Brief Description of Project:
Bladder dysfunction and impaired gait are highly prevalent symptoms affecting quality of life in multiple sclerosis, a neurological disease that results in demyelination and neurodegeneration in the brain and spinal cord. Unfortunately, there is a lack of quantitative, advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods targeting the thoracolumbar spinal cord segments which are relevant to bladder and lower limb function. The overall goals of our research are to 1) develop and validate quantitative MRI methods for characterizing macrostructure, microstructure, and functional connectivity in the thoracolumbar spinal cord and 2) evaluate these methods as potential biomarkers for neurological deficits in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Desired Qualifications:
Proficiency in MATLAB or other programming experience such as Python will be helpful, although not required. Interest in MRI and neuroscience.
 
Nature of Supervision:
The student will be directly supervised by Dr. O’Grady and will have additional support from other lab members. Individual research meetings to discuss progress and results will take place at least once per week depending on project needs, and the student will participate in biweekly lab meetings.
 
A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Week 1: Introduction to the lab, the project, and background reading
Week 2: Introduction to MRI data acquisition and image processing methods
Week 3: Image processing tutorials and training in lab-specific code
Weeks 4-7: Processing spinal cord MRI data using Spinal Cord Toolbox and MATLAB
Week 8: Compiling MS symptom data from sensorimotor testing
Week 9: Correlating MRI-derived metrics and measures of MS symptoms
Week 10: Summarizing results, preparing an abstract and research poster
 
Number of Open Slots: 1
 
Contact Information:
Name: Kristin O'Grady
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: kristin.p.ogrady@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigators:
Cynthia Reinhart-King
 
Brief Description of Project:
The extracellular matrix is a complex three-dimensional network or interconnected cell-scale fibers and pores that serve to direct tissue morphogenesis. Moreover, the extracellular matrix provides a dynamic and bioactive structure that directs cell behavior through chemical and mechanical signals. The Reinhart-King lab investigates how cells integrate extracellular signals and translate them into normal or diseased behaviors. We utilize a multidisciplinary approach, integrating principles from engineering, cell and molecular biology, biophysics, and biomaterial science to understand and control cell function, tissue formation, and disease progression. Specifically, we apply these approaches to better understand the influence of mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix on cancer progression.

Desired Qualifications:
Highly motivated students interested in research with some background in general biology. Wet laboratory skills and some experience with cell culture techniques is beneficial but not required.
 
Nature of Supervision:
Biweekly individual meetings with PI and biweekly lab group meetings. Day-to-day supervision and mentoring will be provided by a graduate student working in the lab.
 
A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Students will be involved in the development of three-dimensional models and applying these models to study cell function. Students will learn cell culture techniques as well as to perform cytochemical assays and microscopy. These techniques will be applied to investigate biological questions of interest.
 
Number of Open Slots: 1
 
Contact Information:
Name: Cynthia Reinhart-King
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: cynthia.reinhart-king@Vanderbilt.Edu

Primary Investigators:
Yuankai Tao
 
Brief Description of Project:
Rodents are ideal models for studying disease pathogenesis and response to genetic and pharmacological perturbation in the eye. Optical imaging methods enable noninvasive cellular-resolution visualization of tissue structure and function. We will develop a multimodality optical imaging system that provides simultaneous fluorescence and reflectance contrast of retina microstructure and function. Complementary contrast from these modalities will enable real-time image-guided delivery of gene and stem-cell therapies in mouse models of retinal disease and longitudinal tracking of physiological response.

Desired Qualifications:
Required: 1+ semester of circuits and proficiency with Matlab or LabView. Preferred: 2+ semesters of circuits, 1+ semester of signals and systems, and proficiency with C/C++ and SolidWorks.

Nature of Supervision:
Student(s) will be directly supervised by Primary Investigator and his graduate students.
 
A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Week 0-2: Hands-on training in SolidWorks, ZEMAX (optical simulation), and fluorescence/reflectance imaging systems.
Week 2-5: Optical and mechanical design and simulation.
Week 5-7: Prototyping and system characterization.
Week 8-9: Animal imaging experiments.
Week 9-10: Compile data, summarize results, submit abstract for relevant conference.

Number of Open Slots: 1

Contact Information:
Name: Yuankai Tao
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: yuankai.tao@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigators:
Yuankai Kenny Tao
 
Brief Description of Project:
The incidence of diabetic retinopathy (retinal damage due to diabetes) has increased significant in recent years. Early diagnostics and therapeutic guidance is currently limited by the ability to visualize changes in retinal vascular perfusion at the retinal periphery. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) enables noninvasive volumetric imaging of surface and subsurface tissue structures with micron-resolution and has become the “gold standard” for ophthalmic imaging and diagnostics. However, the field-of-view of conventional OCT is limited, and multi-volumetric mosaicking of OCT data is required to access the retinal periphery. Novel image-processing algorithms will be developed to identify corresponding fiducials and perform nonlinear registration on overlapping OCT volumes.

Desired Qualifications:
Required: Proficiency with Matlab and/or ImageJ. Preferred: 1+ semester of signals and systems, and image-processing experience.
 
Nature of Supervision:
Student(s) will be directly supervised by Primary Investigator and his graduate students.
 
A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Week 0-2: Introduction to existing algorithms and data.
Week 2-5: Development of novel registration methods.
Week 5-7: Preliminary testing on existing dataset.
Week 8-9: Validate and quantify algorithm performance on new data.
Week 9-10: Compile data, summarize results, submit abstract for relevant conference.
 
Number of Open Slots: 1
 
Contact Information:
Name: Yuankai Tao
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: yuankai.tao@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigators:
Yuankai Kenny Tao
 
Brief Description of Project:
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive imaging technology that is analogous to ultrasound with light. Applications of OCT imaging have predominately focused on structural imaging of surface and subsurface features with micron resolution. However, OCT can also be applied to quantitatively image perfusion, and we will leverage functional OCT imaging to assess lymphatic function in animal models.

Desired Qualifications:
Required: 1+ semester of circuits and proficiency with Matlab or LabView. Preferred: 2+ semesters of circuits, 1+ semester of signals and systems, and proficiency with C/C++ and SolidWorks.
 
Nature of Supervision:
Student(s) will be directly supervised by Primary Investigator and his graduate students.
 
A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Week 0-2: Hands-on training in OCT imaging systems.
Week 2-5: Development of flow phantoms and validation experiments.
Week 5-7: Animal imaging experiments.
Week 8-9: Quantitative data analysis.
Week 9-10: Compile data, summarize results, submit abstract for relevant conference.
 
Number of Open Slots: 1
 
Contact Information:
Name: Yuankai Tao
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: yuankai.tao@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigators:
MD Imam Uddin, Ph.D.
 
Brief Description of Project:
We have developed mRNA targeted optical imaging probes to detect disease in the retina and the brain. These imaging methods will be useful in visualizing disease onset, progression and response to therapy.  In future studies, potential student(s) will design and synthesize novel optical imaging probes and test their sensitivity, specificity and toxicity in vitro and in vivo.

Desired Qualifications:
Concepts in basic molecular biology and chemical synthesis is required.
 
Nature of Supervision:
Students will be under direct supervision by senior research staff in the laboratory.
 
A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Synthesis of RNA and DNA molecules using our automated oligo synthesizer and characterize the compounds. Students will perform experiments related to nanoparticles synthesis and characterization using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
 
Number of Open Slots: 2
 
Contact Information:
Name: MD Imam Uddin, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: md.i.uddin@vanderbilt.edu

Primary Investigators:
Lauren Woodard
 
Brief Description of Project:
Approximately 20-40% of adults with diabetes develop a progressive kidney disease called diabetic nephropathy. One of the important events in early diabetic nephropathy is loss of podocytes, the epithelial cells of the glomerulus responsible for filtering the blood and react to a high glucose environment. Different chemically defined methods have been developed for directing the differentiation of hiPSC into podocytes. Our lab has successfully derived podocytes from hiPSCs using our own accelerated method.  Podocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells provide a model of diabetic kidney disease in vitro. Exosomes derived from renal cells reduced kidney complications from type I diabetes in rats. As stem cell exosomes promote cell survival in other organs, we hypothesize that nephron progenitor exosomes will have therapeutic benefits for podocyte survival. We will evaluate the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles from induced nephron progenitors in tissue culture models of diabetic nephropathy. We will differentiate podocytes from hiPSCs using our lab derived protocol. High glucose treatment in podocyte cell culture media has been widely used for modeling diabetic nephropathy. Podocytes will be treated with high glucose to model diabetic nephropathy. We will then evaluate the effect of exosomes isolated from induced nephron progenitor cells on podocyte apoptosis and morphology in vitro.

Desired Qualifications:
Undergraduate with desire to gain wet lab experience in biology
 
Nature of Supervision:
Student will be supervised directly by Dr. Julie Bejoy (PhD in BME, 2019) and meet regularly with Dr. Lauren Woodard. Student will present to lab meeting at the end of the summer and prepare a poster to present at an undergraduate research day.
 
A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):
Treatment of hiPSC-derived high glucose treated podocytes with exosomes. 100 mM D-glucose treated podocytes will be treated with different doses of exosomes for 24 hours after glucose treatment. The impact of exosomes on podocyte apoptosis will be evaluated using LDH and MTT assays as well as flow cytometry analysis for Annexin V and cell permeability. RNAseq analysis will be performed on three groups (control, glucose-treated podocytes, glucose-treated podocytes+exosomes).
 
Number of Open Slots: 1
 
Contact Information:
Name: Lauren Woodard
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Email: lauren.woodard@vumc.org