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.
Email: abas.sabouni@wilkes.edu
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.
Blaise Delfino is the CEO and founder of Fader Plugs, LLC. Blaise is a graduate of East Stroudsburg University where he earned his Master’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Blaise is the 2016 PASSHE Business Plan Competition winner and the 2017 tecBRIDGE Business Plan Competition Collegiate Division winner. In 2015, he came up with the patent pending idea to create an adjustable mechanical earplug that allows users to control how much sound enters the ear to create the right hearing experience at a concert, sporting event, or while working on a job site.
Email: blaise@faderplugs.com
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.
Gregory S. Harms is an Associate Professor of Biology, Engineering & Physics at Wilkes University. He is the Co-Director of Bioengineering and Department Chair of Electrical Engineering and Physics
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.
Lesley Chow joined Lehigh University as an Assistant Professor in Materials Science and Engineering and Bioengineering in 2015 following her postdoctoral training at Imperial College London (London, UK). She received her B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL) and her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). Her research interests center around creating biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Her lab currently focuses on the design and synthesis of novel functional materials that act as building blocks to construct scaffolds with dynamic and/or spatially organized physical and biochemical cues to mimic native biological tissues. These scaffolds provide templates to guide functional tissue regeneration and serve as platforms to deepen understanding about how the hierarchical organization and dynamic nature of native tissues is linked to their biological function.
Email: lesley.chow@lehigh.edu
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.
Dr. Harry Schmaltz is a partner in Scranton Orthopaedic Specialists P.C. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Orthopedic Society Board of Directors and the former 2011 Board Chair. Dr. Schmaltz is also a faculty member of Zimmer – Biomet where he is a domestic and international surgeon host.
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.
Dr. Chao Zhou obtained his B.S. degree in 2001 from Peking University and his Ph.D. degree in 2007 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he worked with Professor Arjun G. Yodh on the development of diffuse optical spectroscopy and imaging techniques. In August 2007, Dr. Zhou joined Professor James G. Fujimoto’s Laser Medicine and Medical Imaging Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a postdoctoral associate. Since then, he has been working on the development of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) technologies and their biomedical applications. In 2012, Dr. Zhou joined the faculty at Lehigh University as an assistant professor in electrical engineering and bioengineering. In 2015, he was named P. C. Rossin Assistant Professor. Dr. Zhou has extensive experience in the field of biomedical optical imaging and has contributed to the development and validation of novel modalities for imaging of humans and animals with various applications ranging from measuring the brain function to monitoring cancer treatments. Dr. Zhou has published 54 peer-reviewed journal articles, with a total citation of over 3700 times. Dr. Zhou is a recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the National Institute of Health (NIH) Pathway to Independence Award (2011), the Libsch Early Career Research Award (2016) from Lehigh University and the National Innovation Award (2017) from TechConnect World Innovation Conference and National Innovation Summit.