Dr. Abas Sabouni

Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA

Future Technology for Breast Cancer Imaging, Detection, and Monitoring Treatment

Microwave imaging technology has recently been suggested as a new imaging modality for the characterization, monitoring, and treatment of breast cancer. Dr. Sabouni’s talk will focus on the experimental efforts of his research group in the area of low-power microwave tissue monitoring. He will provide a general overview of microwave medical imaging techniques and will highlight recent progress in microwave imaging technology. He will share his experience in the challenges of the image construction algorithms and hardware set up as well as wireless sensor development to monitor the re-grow of the cancer in order to increase the quality of the life for breast cancer survivors.

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Blaise Delfino

Fader Plugs, LLC, East Stroudsburg, PA

The Evolution of Hearing Protection and In-Ear Computational Devices

Many individuals are unaware of the effects of exposure to loud noise or music, often referred to as noise-induced hearing loss. While fear and stigma continue to exist with the use of hearing protective devices, it is essential to emphasize the benefits of wearing hearing protection. This talk will explore the patented Fader technology designed provide controlled decibel reduction in a highly functional and fashionable design. The speaker will also touch on their early work to create a personal in-ear computational device translating foreign language to the user’s native language in real time.

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Dr. Gregory S. Harms

Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA

Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease in Model Mice: Imaging, Behavior, and Blood Biomarker Analysis

Currently at Wilkes University, our research on Alzheimer’s Disease is employing a myriad of techniques to identify murine early onset by whole-brain imaging with retrograde labeling, behavioral and clinical analysis and by screening of  blood-born biomarkers of RNA, lipids and metabolites to link neural dysfunction to new biomarkers of  Alzheimer’s Disease. This imaging, behavioral, genetic, lipidomic & metabolomic approach allows us to perform studies to allow us to relatively quickly retrieve information to detect the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

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Dr. Lesley Chow
Lehigh University, Bethlehem PA

Designing Spatially Organized Biomaterials to Guide Tissue Regeneration

Biomaterials designed for tissue engineering have made a significant impact as scaffolds to support cells and guide tissue regeneration. However, one of the key challenges limiting their clinical success is designing a scaffold that promotes the regeneration of functional tissue replacements with properties that match those of their biological counterparts. This challenge persists largely due to the inability to recreate the dynamic and complex hierarchical organization found in native tissues that is intimately linked to tissue function. Scaffolds must therefore be designed to recreate the spatial organization of biological cues to reestablish the functional properties of native tissues. Advances in materials design and fabrication techniques introduce new strategies to combine multiple materials and control their spatial organization within a single construct. My research lab synthesizes peptide-functionalized polymers that can be spatially arranged using additive manufacturing. This generates scaffolds with biomimetic peptide gradients that influence local cell behavior and spatial tissue formation. This talk will illustrate how our modular strategy can be tailored for a wide range of biomedical applications.

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Dr. Harry Schmaltz
Orthopedic Surgeon
Scranton Orthopedic Specialists, Dickson City PA
Save the ACL! It’s Not Just For Athletes Anymore
A look at the role of the anterior cruciate ligament in modern knee replacement surgery.

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Dr. Chao Zhou
P. C. Rossin Assistant Professor
Lehigh University, Bethlehem PA

Ultrahigh-Speed Optical Coherence Tomography and its Applications

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a powerful tool for assessing tissue architectural morphology. It enables three-dimensional (3D) imaging with micron-scale resolutions, and can be performed in vivo and in real-time without the need to remove and process specimens. OCT has gradually become the standard-of-care to non-invasively evaluate retinal pathology in ophthalmology clinics.  Improving imaging speed has been a major driving force for OCT development. In this talk, recent technical advances to achieve ultrahigh imaging speed for OCT (e.g. space-division multiplexing OCT) will be presented. Furthermore, applications of OCT have started to grow in other clinical and scientific areas.  Novel applications using OCT for cancer diagnosis in pathology laboratory, evaluation of 3D morphology of tumor spheroids, and investigation of heart development in Drosophila will also be discussed.

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