Graduate Research Assistant, Stony Brook University, Department of Biomedical Engineering 

PI: Danny Bluestein, Ph.D.
Period: May 2020 – Present

Total Arterial Valve Replacement (TAVR) is a minimally-invasive procedure to replace damaged aortic valves in patients that are high-risk for surgery. Post-implantation, these valves sometimes face complications that can lead to further damage.  The project is to design a system for in vitro testing of prosthetic valves used in TAVR. The designed system aims to track leaflet motion and output parameters about the valve to help better understand how these complications arise. My work is centered in MATLAB and utilizes image processing, machine learning, and image analysis.

 

Senior Design Project

PI: Danny Bluestein, Ph.D.
Period: August 2019 – May 2020

The project was to create an in vitro small-volume left ventricle flow loop used to gain thrombogenicity measurements for prosthetic aortic valves. The device was designed to mimic conditions of the left ventricle to test patient-specific prosthetic aortic valves in near-physiological conditions. By designing low-cost patient-specific ventricle models, we could optimize heart valve designs for each patient. My focus was to generate a MATLAB script to analyze left ventricular strain using patient CT scans. This allowed us to make the device patient-specific. Additionally, I aided in the 3D printing of the device and oversaw the design of the device’s housing unit.

Undergraduate Research Assistant, Stony Brook University, Department of Biomedical Engineering 

PI: Mei Lin Chan, Ph.D.
Period: Jan 2019 – May 2020

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T cell) therapy is a modern immunotherapy in which a patient’s T cells are genetically modified to have an artificial receptor that can better recognize cancer. The process of harvesting patient T cells, modifying the cells, and then expanding the cells to the quantity necessary for treatment can take weeks, in which time the cost is very high and the patient’s condition may worsen. Thus, the project was to develop a novel incubator-safe device that can speed up the expansion rate of T cells. This device was designed based on previous research showing increased cell proliferation based on specific mechanotransudction.

Tasks:

  • Daily culturing of CD3+ Pan T cells
  • Studying how application of mechanotransudction affects proliferation rates of T cells.
  • Assisting in the design of the mechanotransduction device using CAD, machining, and LabVIEW.
  • Performing laboratory techniques such as cell counting, media preparation, flow cytometry, fluorescent confocal microscopy, centrifuging, data collection, and statistical analysis
  • Management of lab supplies and organizing receipts of purchase

Members of Dr. Chan’s lab from our 2018 annual lab barbeque.

 

Arduino Device Development, Stony Brook University, Department of Biomedical Engineering 

PI: Mei Lin Chan, Ph.D.
Period: Jan 2017 – May 2020

Arduino is an electronic hardware and software platform used to create cheap and fast prototypes for electronic projects. In Dr. Chan’s lab, we utilized Arduino to create low-cost designs for biomedical applications. Each project required a team of members with varying backgrounds that were led by me.

Projects:

  • Wearable device that uses biosensors to record data that is fed to a phone app and game to monitor and motivate patients with child obesity.
  • 3D printed mock pipette with Arduino electronics used as a controller for a video game that teachs college students how to use micropipettes.
  • Wearable device that gives audio and tactile feedback to visually-impaired users to promote their engagement in sports.
  • Taught new lab members and honor society members how to build and program basic Arduino circuits in a biannual workshop

Presented research at the Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Conference and the CEWIT Conference in 2017.