University of Dayton UD Home
Trend Center for Tissue Regeneartion and Engineering at Dayton

Academics

 

TREND Center Academic Activities:  The TREND Center has been quite active in its commitment to academic and research training of students at all levels.  The Center has been particularly successful in attracting and retaining top quality undergraduate students to work on faculty-mentored research projects.  For example, Drs. Carissa Krane (BIO) and Margaret Pinnell (MEE) have used an industrial contract as a springboard to establish a unique multidisciplinary undergraduate research program.  This program, which serves as an excellent model for cross-campus collaboration, involves students and faculty from multiple departments (Biology, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Mathematics). 

During the twelve months ending December 31, 2007, at least 16 UD undergraduate students (BIO, CME, MEE) and one LSAMP student from Case Western Reserve University have contributed to TREND Center projects.  At the graduate level, five students (BIO, MEE or CME) have been involved in TREND Center projects. Significantly, two UD graduate students under Dr. Lafdi’s supervision have been honored for their work on TREND Center projects by receiving Best Presentation Awards at the 3rd Annual ASME Dayton Engineering Sciences Symposium (October, 2007: C. Grabinski (CME)- Biomechanics section; J. Czarnecki (MEE)- Biomedical Engineering section).  Furthermore, Dr. Tsonis has had four postdoctoral researchers training in his laboratory over the last 12 months.  Two additional postdoctoral researchers are working with several Biology faculty researchers under the direction of Dr. John Rowe (BIO) on projects related to the biocompatibility of nanomaterials. 

Course Development: Drs. Robert Wilkens (Chemical Engineering) and Carissa Krane (Biology) were awarded a 2008 LTC Innovations Grant for the collaborative proposal entitled, “Interdisciplinary Biological Systems Engineering as a Model for Curricular Development in Bioengineering”.  The objective of this effort is to develop a Biological Systems Engineering course as a pragmatic and effective model of future interdisciplinary curricular development in bioengineering.  The upper-level undergraduate/graduate level course will be team-taught by two University of Dayton faculty whose combined expertise is in the areas of physiology, molecular genetics, chemical engineering, and fluid flow mechanics. 

Peer-Reviewed Abstract and Presentation: Pinnell, M., Krane, C., Wilkens, R., Diestelkamp, W.  “Experiential learning through industry sponsored multi-disciplinary research projects.” Abstract accepted by FIE 2008 Conference to occur in October 2008.

Undergraduate Research Posters and Presentations:  

Stander Symposium Presentations

1.  Gardner, C., Thompson, M., Krane, C.M., and Pinnell, M.F.  “The analysis of mammalian vessel structure and properties via invasive methodology.”  Presented at the 2007 Stander Symposium, UD.

2.  Klapheke, A., Gardner, C., Kitchin, E., Whitney, E., Timms, K., Pinnell, M., and Krane, C.  “Effect of infusion solution characteristics on mammalian artery hydration state.”  Presented at the 2008 Stander Symposium, UD.

3.  Timms, K., Gardner, C., Kitchin, E., Klapheke, A., Whitney, E., Krane, C., and Pinnell, M. “Viscoelastic properties of porcine blood vessels.” Presented at the 2008 Stander Symposium, UD.

4.  Whitney, E., Gardner, C., Timms, K., Kitchin, E., Klapheke, A., Krane, C., and Pinnell, M. “The burst pressure of hemostatic porcine artery seals under static pressures.“ Presented at the 2008 Stander Symposium, UD.

5.  Nienhaus, E., and Pinnell, M. “Tensile Strength of Porcine Blood Vessels.”  Presented at the 2008 Stander Symposium, UD.

LSAMP Poster Presentation: Tekeste, Z., and Krane, C.M.  “Architectural and morphological analysis of mammalian renal arteries using high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM).”  Presented at Wright State University LSAMP Symposium, August, 2007.

Honors Symposium Presentation: Amaya, P.  “Properties of arteries and blood and their potential impact on ultrasonic scalpel performance.”  Oral presentation at the 2008 Honor Symposium, UD.

Berry Scholar Thesis: Amaya, P.  “Properties of arteries and blood and their potential impact on ultrasonic scalpel performance.”  Co-advisors:  Dr. Carissa Krane, Associate Professor, Biology,  Dr. Robert Wilkens, Associate Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering.

LINKS of INTEREST:

Biology Department

Graduate School  
News & Announcments
People in the News:
Oyster Talent
It’s a gem of an idea. Based on the premise that an irritant introduced into an oyster will produce a pearl, scientists at the University of Dayton Research Institute are prompting oysters to produce pearl-like coatings on metal for applications to range from aircraft corrosion protection to biocompatible medical devices. February 1, 2008 (UDRI press release)

People in the News:
Fixing What Ails Us
UD researchers are working to make broken bones heal faster and stronger using carbon-based repair parts — bone fixation plates that disappear over time, scaffolding for new bone cells to grow on — instead of the metal now used. For patients, this could equal fewer surgeries, less pain and better healing. December 1, 2007 (UD Quarterly)