Project Advisor	Project Title	Project Description	Student(s)
Dr. Daniel Bogen 215- 898-1880  dan@seas.upenn.edu	PennTOYS: Diagnostic and therapeutic toys for sick and disabled children. Up to (6) Students (In teams of 2 or 3)	Possible projects for 2001-2002 include a diagnostic toy for children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, toys to measure cognitive function and toys to improve the use of medical therapies.	Poruthur Croft Kaplan Lee Shen Lipski Antalffy
Dr. Kristy Arbogast  215-590-6075  kristya@mail.med.upenn.edu AND  Dr. Flaura Winston  TraumaLink  The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)  flaura@mail.med.upenn.edu	Innovative easy-to-install, child-proof, adult-friendly cabinet & drawer latches  Up to (2) Students	The current designs of cabinet/drawer latches are difficult to install and use. Even when installed properly they are a challenge for adults with fine motor challenges to manage them. As a result, these safety devices are often removed. West Phila., as with many communities in  need, is filled with multi-generational homes. We need mechanism that will keep the children in the home safe (away from medications, knives, etc.) stored in drawers - while at the same time not restricting access to others in the home.  Furthermore, with the limitation in resources in these communities, the installation of safety devices needs to be simple (not requiring a drill or screwdriver).	Biggs Bookbinder
Dr. Gershon Buchsbaum  215-898-5767  gershon@seas	Visual system image sampling, coding and representation.  Project for Individual Student	Simulation methods based on anatomy and neurophysiology are used to quantify visual system design principles and applied to develop image processing strategy and methodologies.	Desikan
Dr. Gershon Buchsbaum 215-898-5767  gershon@seas	The structure of hyperspectral images and its relevance for the human visual system.  Project for Individual Student	Hyperspectral images, where the wavelength spectrum  of each pixel is given, are useful for research in the visual system, remote sensing and  medical imaging. This project investigates the properties of hyperspectral images.	Kim
Dr. Britton Chance  215-898-8796  chance@mail.med	Brain functional imaging with light.        Project for Individual Student or a Team of (2) Students.	Design and build a wearable "Cognometer" (a near infra-red optical imager) optimize your brain function in problem solving with your choice of intellectual stimuli. Join our minority highschool student cognitive study  (June-August).	Hong
Dr. Britton Chance 215-898-8796  chance@mail.med	Molecular imaging of cancer.  Project for Individual Student or a Team of (2) Students.	Design and construct a hand-held detector of fluorescence signals from a site-directed "molecular beacon" that fluoresce only when recognized by cancer.	Bucholz
Dr. Artur Cideciyan 215-662-9986  cideciya@mail.med	Design and validation of method to quantify visual function in patients with severely compromised vision.  Project for Individual Student	No description available.
Dr. Russell Composto  215-898-4415  composto@lrsm	Engineering Biomateriel Surfaces.  Project for Individual Student	Functionalize the surfaces of polymers using peptides to control cell adhesion and spreading.  Note: MSE/CHE 430 - "Intro to Polymers" is helpful or pre-req or co-req.
Dr. Dennis Discher	Design and development of collagen patterning techniques on polyacrilamide gel (pending Dr. Discher's approval)		Engler
Dr. Paul Ducheyne 215-898-1521 Ducheyne@seas	Modification of implant material surfaces with self assembly monolayer technology: Contact Dr. Ducheyne for number of student(s) for this project.	Herein we will mimic the structure of biological molecules. This then drives the biological response to material surfaces.	Bindu
Dr. Paul Ducheyne 215-898-1521 Ducheyne@seas	Controlled release carrier materials synthesized using the room temperature sol gel technique; Contact Dr. Ducheyne for number of student(s) for this project.	Design of materials with optimal release characteristics in view of well chosen therapies.
Dr. Dawn Elliott  215-898-8653  delliott@mail.med	1. Biaxial testing device for the tendon	The most significant tendon loading condition is stretch along the length of the tendon, and all experimental measures have been in this direction. However, there are many examples of more complex tendon loading, for example, twisting and shearing while guiding joint motion, comporessive impingement from adjacent tissues, and complex loading where tendon inserts into bone. Importantly, these complex loading sites are often the site of tendon injury. Biaxial testing of the tissue is needed to determine the complex material properties of tendon and test hypotheses for tendon structure-function relationships. In this project, the students will design and construct a biaxial testing apparatus with motor control and optical image analysis. There is also opportunity for summer 2001 work study employment and iomechanics laboratory experience with this project, please contact Dr. Elliott if interested.
Dr. Dawn Elliott  215-898-8653  delliott@mail.med	Torsion testing device for the mouse spine. Project for Individual Student	With advances in the genome and genetically modified mice, the mouse has become an important animal model for human disease. However, the small size of the mouse has limited its application in mechanical function studies. The goal of this project is to design, fabricate, and validate a torsional instrument for use in testing mouse spine tissue. The instrument  will be constructed using comercially available motors, load cells, and digital data acquisition and control. It will be validated using non-biologic systems and if time permits, tested using cadaver mouse spines.	Miller
Dr. Dawn Elliott 215-898-8653 delliott@mail.med	Pressure micro-sensor to measure mouse disc pressure. Project for Individual Student.	With advances in the genome and genetically modified mice, the mouse has become an important animal model for human disease. However, the small of the mouse has limited its application in mechanical function studies. The goal of this project is to validate a pressure micro-sensor recently developed  in our laboratory using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) for use in testing mouse spine tissue. The student will design a non-biologic mimic of the mouse disc in which the fluid pressure can be controlled and reliably altered. The sensor will be tested using this mimic. If time permits, the sensor will be tested in cadaver mouse spines.	Wu (Jeffrey)
Dr. James Gee  215-898-9247  gee@rad	Computational methods for MRI morphometry.  Project for Individual Student or Team of (2) Students	Design, Implement and evaluate algorithms for quantitative characterization of anatomy as revealed on hi-resolution MRI studies.
Dr. Joel H. Greenberg 215-662-6351  greenberg@cvrc.med.upenn.edu	Design of compression device for production of cerebral ischemia.  Project for Individual Student.	This project will involve designing a device that can be used to compress the brain of laboratory animals so that blood flow to the brain can be quantitatively reduced to desired levels.
Dr. Daniel Hammer 215-573-6761  hammer@seas	Design of an artificial leukocyte.    Project for Individual Student.	By attaching adhesion ligands to polymersomes, we can make a synthetic white cell.	Sta. Maria McLaughlin
Dr. Daniel Hammer  215-573-6761 hammer@seas	Separation device for stem cells. Project for Individual Student.	We want to develop a prototype of a device to separate biological  cells, specifically important stem cells for tissue engineering applications.
Dr. Paul Janmey janmey@mail.med.upenn.edu	to be arranged		Yeung
Dr. Robert Levy  215-590-6119  levyr@email.chop.edu	Effects of heart valve biomechanics on cellular function.  Project for (1) Student	A cell culture study, involved with designing a motor driven flexible membrane, on which cells can be grown and cyclically deformed, simulating the effects of aortic value function.	Rosen
Dr. Edward Macarak 215-898-8993 macarak@biochem.dental. upenn.edu AND Dr. Irving Shapiro ishap@biochem.dental.upenn. edu	Design and Performance testing of adhesive peptides for cells. Project for(1) or (2) students.	It is known that cells adhere to biological materials by the synthesis of attachment proteins. We are devising systems that will use the same attachment proteins to link cells to synthetic biomaterials. These materials can be used  subsequently for tissue replcaement (tissue engineering). The student will work to attach small small petides will be attached to elastomeric membranes to serve as adhesive substrates for different cells. Several different cell types will be tested for their ability to adhere to the peptides bound to the substrate. Methods must be developed to quantify the amount of peptide on the substrate as well as innovative way to measure cell adaptation to the way in which the peptide is presented to the cell.
Dr. Edward Macarak 215-898-8993 macarak@biochem.dental upenn.edu . AND Dr. Irving shapiro ishap@biochem.dental.upenn. edu	Design of an apparatus to deform cells by hydrostatic pressure. Project for (2) Students	A small chamber with a quartz window will be fabricated and provided with a pressure transducer to measure intra-chamber pressure. Cells grown on the quartz window will be pressured and imaged with a confocal microscope to evaluate the degree to which they stretch in response to the increased hydrostatic pressure. The degree to which cells respond will be measured by analysis of distance changes in fluorescent beads absorbed onto the cell surface. Additional endpoints will be developed such as intracellular free calcium quantification and changes in gene expression.
Dr. Tracy McIntosh 215-573-2871  mcintosh@seas	Analysis of functional neurological defects.  Team of (2) Students	Design and construct/modify a device to evaluate neurological motor defects in rats and mice.
Dr. Tracy McIntosh  215-573-2871  mcintosh@seas	Design of novel device to evaluate motor function in rodents.  Team of (2) students.	Students will design and test a new device to evaluate strength (gripstrength), coordinated forepaw reaching and grasping or other test of motor function in rats and/or mice.	Fink
Dr. David Meaney	to be arranged with his consent		Tannir Kohanski
Dr. David Nunamaker  610-444-5800 (2274)  dmn@vet	Fishtrap: Design, manufacture and testing.  Project for an Individual or a Team of (2) Students.  Note: It will be necessary for the student(s) to travel to NBC (New Bolton Center)	Pond aquaculture has a need for a method of harvesting fish that doesn't rely on draining ponds. The fish trap must attract and retain fish for sampling or harvest without injury and allow grading for size.
Dr. Enyi Okereke  215-227-8677  okerek@mail.med	Design of an unconstrained total ankle prosthesis  Project for an Individual or a Team of (2) Students	Not Available	Hack Duncanson
Dr. Harold Riethman  215-898-3872  riethman@wista.wistar	Development of DNA chips for microarray analysis.  Project available to an individual (provided student can commit a sufficient amount of time), or to a Team of (2) Students	Conditions for arraying DNA fragments at average spacing of 350 microns will be optimized using a robotic arraying device. RNA from tumor specimens will be analyzed to determine the quantitative levels of individual RNA's by hybridization to the 5000-element microarray grid.
Dr. Harold Riethman  215-898-3872  riethman@wista.wistar	Design and analysis of nanostructures formed by branched oligonucleotides. Project for Individual Student	Not Available
Dr. David A. Roberts, M.D., Ph.D.  215-662-4034  roberts@oasis.rad.upenn.edu	Analytic modeling of air flow in the human paranasal sinuses and correlation with laser-polarized helium-3 MRI  Project for Individual Student	We have developed methods to allow magnetic resonance imaging of laser-polarized Helium-3 gas. In efforts to apply this is to the study of human paranasal sinus disease, we seek to model gas flow in the sinuses. This project  involves analysis of gas flow (Chem E, Mech E) as well as broadband NMR, including radiofrequency coil design (EE) - the possibilities for engineering research are endless. (Note: there will likely be funds to support a student for this project over the summer).  Please call with questions.	Lee
Dr. David A. Roberts, M.D., Ph.D.  215-662-4034  roberts@oasis.rad.upenn.edu	Development of intravascular coils for use in magnetic resonance imaging angiography.  Project for Individual Student	We are seeking to develop intravascular radiofrequency tuned coils to allow imaging from within the inferior vena cava. Experiments in pigs are ongoing. Some background in EE and RF circuit design is preferred, but not necessary.  Please call with questions.
Dr. Peter Scherer 215-898-7214  scherer@seas Dr. Susan Margulies  215-898-0882  margulies@seas	Design of concentration/flux cell for testing/exposing respiratory epithelial cells to pollutant flow.  Project for an Individual or a Team of (2) Students	Design and construct plastic flat-plate cell to deliver and expose respiratory epithelial cells to pollutants.
Dr.H.Ralph Schumacher, Jr.  215-823-4244  schumacr@mail.med	Design of a gene delivery system to produce apoptosis of synovial fibriblasts.  Project for an Individual or a Team of  (2) Students	Designing and testing of adenoviral or other vectors to introduce Fas ligand in vivo to induce aopotosis and suppression of synovitis. RA tissue implanted ub SCID mice will be the initial mode.
Dr.H.Ralph Schumacher, Jr.  215-823-4244 schumacr@mail.med	Designing an improved biopsy needle and positioning techniques for synovial biopsy without need for arthroscopy  Project for an Individual or a Team of (2) Students	Reviewing current techniques then developing and  testing new devices and methods.
Dr. Chandra M. Sehgal  215-349-5461  sehgal@oasis.rad.upenn.edu	Acoustic resonance imaging of the breast micro-calcification.  Project for Individual Student	Excitation of calcium particules to resonance by external low frequency vibrations offers a possibility of detecting microcalcifications in the breast. This project offers the potential for studying the phenomenon of acoustic resonance and for designing phantoms and instruments.
Dr. Chandra M. Sehgal  215-349-5461  sehgal@oasis.rad.upenn.edu	Ultrasound contrast agent to measure blood flow.  Project for Individual Student.	Microbubbles used to enhance sonographic images are destroyed by ultrasound pulses. This project seeks to control bubble destruction by using a specialized image-gating scheme. Such control of bubble destruction enhances image enhancement and provides true flow measurements.
Dr. Louis Soslowsky  215-898-8653  soslowsk@mail.med	Orthopaedic Biomechanics Design Project.  Team of (2) Students.	Design and optimization of components for a study of soft connective tissue functionality related to injury conditions. Integration of components into a protocol for tissue preparation, testing and processing.	Wu (Mina)
Dr. J.K. Udupa  215-662-6780  jay@mipg.upenn.edu	Joint contact area assessment via 3D imaging.    Project for Team of (2) Students.	Contact areas of skeletal joints are often determined by using  pressure sensitive film in cadavers, we have developed a new method which can be used in live subjects, involving 3d imaging via MRI. The project is to develop a way of comparing the 2 methods, and determining to what extent they give comparable results.
Dr. J.K. Udupa  215-662-6780  jay@mipg.upenn.edu	Validation and clinical testing of a method of measuring brain tumor volume via MRI for assessing a therapy.   Project for Individual Student	Methods have been developed for identifying and delineating brain tumors via MRI to make these procedure methods available in a clinical gene therapy trail. They have to be carefully validated to test what precision, accuracy and efficiency can be expected for them.	Matthew
Dr. J.K. Udupa 215-662-6780  jay@mipg.upenn.edu	3D Visualization of the soft and connective tissues of the foot via MRI.  Project for (2) Student	Currently most radiological examinations involving MRI are conducted by looking at slice displays. Since the radiologist looks for two types of information - geometric and intensity patterns - some form of 3D display combined with arbitrary slice display where the slices are selected guided by the 3D display should offer more effective tools to add in the diagnosis. The aim of this project is to design, develop and test 3D rendering techniques to quickly examine the foot joint assembly, and use selected slice display only for closer scrutiny of intensities.