Category Archives: BioEngineering

For millions of sufferers, there is nothing more debilitating than chronic back or joint pain. It can feel like a lifetime of misery. But researchers led by University of Utah bioengineering assistant professor Robby Bowles have discovered a way to curb chronic pain by modulating genes that reduce tissue- and cell-damaging inflammation. "This has applications for many inflammatory-driven diseases," Bowles says. "It could be applied for arthritis or to therapeutic cells that are being delivered to inflammatory environments that need to be protected from inflammation." The team's discovery was published in a new paper this month, "CRISPR-Based Epigenome Editing of Cytokine Receptors for the Promotion of Cell Survival and Tissue Deposition in Inflammatory Environments," in a special issue of Tissue Engineering. University of Utah bioengineering doctoral student, Niloofar Farhang, co-authored the study, which is a collaborative project between the University of Utah, Duke University and Washington University in St. Louis. In chronic back pain, for example, slipped or herniated discs are a result of damaged tissue when inflammation causes cells to create molecules that break down tissue. Typically, inflammation is nature's way of alerting the immune system to repair tissue or tackle infection. But chronic inflammation can instead lead to … Continue reading →

SALT LAKE CITY Relief for chronic back and neck pain may be on the horizon, thanks to emerging science technology under development at the University of Utah. Bioengineering researchers have discovered a technique to control chronic pain by regulating genes that reduce tissue- and cell-damaging inflammation. This has applications for many inflammatory-driven diseases, said assistant professor Robby Bowles, who led the research. It could be applied for arthritis or to therapeutic cells that are being delivered to inflammatory environments that need to be protected from inflammation. In laymens terms, the therapy has the potential to treat chronic pain by relieving swelling in affected areas and healing the tissue, he said. For instance, chronic pain in slipped or herniated discs result from damaged tissue when swelling causes cells to create molecules that break down tissue, he explained. Inflammation is natures way of alerting the immune system to repair tissue or fight infection, but chronic inflammation can lead to tissue degeneration and pain, he said. Bowles team uses the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat system known as CRISPR a new technology that modifies human genetics to halt cell death and keep cells from producing molecules that damage tissue and result in … Continue reading →

At just 12 years old, the graduate programs at the University of California, Merced, are already among the best in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Reports 2018 Best Graduate Schoolsrankings. UC Merceds School of Engineering made its second appearance in the graduate school rankings, released today (March 14), rising to No. 127 in the nation after debuting at No. 140 in 2015. The school made an impressive debut in the environmental engineering rankings, placing No. 70 in the nation in that discipline. UC Merced also made a major jump in the psychology rankings, appearing at No. 90 in the nation after debuting at No. 158 in2015. In addition to the environmental engineering ranking, the campus was also ranked No. 135 in electrical engineering and was recognized for bioengineering and mechanical engineering. Only the top 75 in bioengineering and top 115 in mechanical engineering received numericalrankings. Dean Mark Matsumoto said the School of Engineerings ranking reflects the perception of a university that is quickly coming into itsown. This ranking is an indication of a maturing School of Engineering with an improving reputation, Matsumoto said. This milestone is due to the quality of the faculty and students we … Continue reading →

Newswise For millions of sufferers, there is nothing more debilitating than chronic back or joint pain. It can feel like a lifetime of misery. But researchers led by University of Utah bioengineering assistant professor Robby Bowles have discovered a way to curb chronic pain by modulating genes that reduce tissue- and cell-damaging inflammation. This has applications for many inflammatory-driven diseases, Bowles says. It could be applied for arthritis or to therapeutic cells that are being delivered to inflammatory environments that need to be protected from inflammation. The teams discovery was published in a new paper this month, CRISPR-Based Epigenome Editing of Cytokine Receptors for the Promotion of Cell Survival and Tissue Deposition in Inflammatory Environments, in a special issue of Tissue Engineering. University of Utah bioengineering doctoral student, Niloofar Farhang, co-authored the study, which is a collaborative project between the University of Utah, Duke University and Washington University in St. Louis. In chronic back pain, for example, slipped or herniated discs are a result of damaged tissue when inflammation causes cells to create molecules that break down tissue. Typically, inflammation is natures way of alerting the immune system to repair tissue or tackle infection. But chronic inflammation can instead lead … Continue reading →

Jonathan Himmelfarb, co-director of the UWs Center for Dialysis Innovation and also director of the UWs Kidney Research Institute. (UW Photo) Dialysis can be a life-saving treatment forthe millions of people across the globe who face kidney failure. But despite the importance of this treatment, the technology behind it is still essentially the same as when the process was pioneered at the University of Washington in Seattle in the early 60s. Now, a new UW center is hoping to revolutionize the technology again. The Center for Dialysis Innovation brings together researchers from around the university with the goal of greatly improving dialysis technology, and it just received a $15 million grant from nonprofit dialysis providerNorthwest Kidney Centers to pursue that goal. Northwest Kidney Centers says the grant will support startup projects within the Center for Dialysis Innovation, with the goal of one day developing dialysis technology that can completely restore kidney health. Dialysis is currently the only treatment for kidney failure, short of a kidney transplant. Today, over 450,000 people in the U.S. are on dialysis, and the life expectancy for those patients is only 3 to 5 years. We are excited about the Center for Dialysis Innovation because it … Continue reading →

More Than Bread and Beer Humans have found a friend in yeast. The single-celled eukaryotes are used by humans for a wide variety of applications, such as making alcoholic beverages and baking, among others. Scientists are heading toward a breakthrough in bioengineering that could create synthetic organisms that will help make new kinds of drugs and fuels. An international team of researchers has been able to devise a way to synthesize a large part of yeasts genetic code. Prior to this announcement, the team had been able to completely synthesize one of yeasts 16 chromosomes. Now, the team has published a series of papers in the journal Scienceshowing that they have been able to add another five chromosomes, thus bringing their total to six. They say theyre on track to finish the remaining ten chromosomes to form a completely synthetic genome by the end of this year. While the scientific community remains leery of synthetic genome creation, many have united in praising this projects work. In an article accompanying the research, Daniel Gibson, vice president of DNA technologies at Synthetic Genomics, stated, This is really going to allow us to understand how to design cells from the bottom up that … Continue reading →

Kevin Healy, professor of bioengineering and materials science and engineering, leads Berkeleys role in a new craniofacial research center, C-DOCTOR. UC Berkeleyis part ofa California-based, six-university consortium that has beenawarded $12 million by the National Institutes of Healthto develop strategies for treating craniofacial defects, which affect millions of Americans. The consortium, called the Center for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Tissue and Organ Regeneration (C-DOCTOR), is a part of a broader $24 million effort to develop resources and strategies for regenerating dental, oral and craniofacial tissues that have been damaged by disease or injury. Craniofacial defects have devastating effects on patients, both because vital sensory organs and brain are housed in the cranium and because the face is so important to a persons identity. Such defects also can lead to compromised general health. C-DOCTORs goal isto shepherd new therapies through preliminary studies and into human clinical trials. Funding for C-DOCTOR comes from the NIHs National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). Kevin Healy, professor in the College of Engineering, leads Berkeleys research efforts inC-DOCTOR. Other C-DOCTOR partners include UC San Francisco, University of Southern California, UC Davis, UCLA and Stanford. C-DOCTOR is seeking to establish industry partnerships, identify important clinical … Continue reading →

Anthony Alessi For The Bulletin Bioengineering is the term best used to describe the utilization of multiple disciplines to solve a health-related problem. The incorporated disciplines involved often include medicine, life sciences, mathematics and engineering. Most recently, bioengineering has emerged as a potential solution for many orthopedic injuries, including those related to sports. Some of the most promising research has been in the area of tendon and ligament regeneration. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are among the most common and disabling sports-related injuries. According to the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, there are approximately 150,000 ACL tears each year. These injuries account for approximately $500 million in health care costs annually in the United States. The knee is a hinged joint where the femur and tibia articulate. The bony surfaces are cushioned by cartilage. Four main ligaments hold the entire joint together: the ACL, posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and the lateral collateral ligament. ACL injuries are most common in high-intensity sports, including soccer, football and basketball. Damage can result from sudden changes in direction, landing awkwardly after jumping or direct impact from a collision. Bioengineering is being used to build new ligaments by applying stem cells to a … Continue reading →

This sky-diving, squash-playing, thrill-seeking student is gearing up for her next great adventurein biomedical engineering research and discovery. Why did you decide to concentrate in biomedical engineering? As a child, I always had a love of math and science, and I liked to use my hands to create thingsI shunned Barbie dolls for building blocks. I was already a math and science nerd, but what appealed to me about bioengineering specifically is the breadth and diversity of research options, from organs on a chip to medical device design, and everything in between. The research that is happening right nowlike trying to grow a human heart outside the bodyis so cutting-edge and exciting. Tell us about some of the bioengineering research youve had the opportunity to conduct at SEAS. During my sophomore year, I began working in David Mooneys lab on developing the TheraCardium, which is a cardiac device for stem cell delivery to the heart for patients who have suffered a heart attack. The device supports regrowth of the damaged tissue and helps to prevent scarring of the dead heart muscle, in an effort to help prevent future cardiac events. Mendez works on a biomedical research project in the Mooney … Continue reading →

Cal State Fullerton faculty and students are presenting research on such subjects as bioengineering, broadcast journalism, free speech and communication styles at conferences and programs across the country. Among those delivering posters, papers and talks: A research project conducted by Ashley Le-Pham while an undergraduate at Cal State Fullerton is among research projects that have been accepted for presentation at the April Posters on the Hill event in Washington, D.C. The program, established by the Council on Undergraduate Research, is an opportunity for select students from across the country to present their work before legislative leaders, federal agency program officers and the press. Le-Pham 16 (B.S. biochemistry) will deliver Starch Bioengineering An Attempt to Combat Global Food Insecurity. Her faculty mentor was Christopher Meyer, professor of chemistry and biochemistry. Brent Foster, associate professor of communications and interim director of undergraduate studies and general education, will present his paper Broadcast Armageddon: My Mom Just Posted a Youtube Video, at the annual convention of the Broadcast Education Association in April. The presentation discusses YouTube as a platform for media creators and encourages broadcast faculty members to become unconventional in their teaching, curriculum and course creation. Also presenting at the BEA convention in … Continue reading →