BrainGate2 featured in article by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is one of the Institutes that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH is the Federal government's focal point for the support of biomedical research.

"BrainGate2 is the brainchild of a group of neuroscientists and neuroengineers based at Brown University in Providence, R. I. NIDCD grantee Leigh Hochberg, M.D., Ph.D., affiliated with Brown and the VA Medical Center in Providence, and Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, leads the effort to make this investigational technology a communication tool for the locked-in. Without even moving an eyelid, someone with locked-in syndrome only has to imagine moving his or her hand on a computer mouse to make the cursor move on the computer screen."

Full feature story located here:
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/inside/fall10/pg1.html

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Webster edits new book: Nanotechnology Enabled In Situ Sensors for Monitoring Health

Until recently, there has been little research into how to use nanotechnology and sensors in health monitoring. Nanotechnology Enabled In Situ Sensors for Monitoring Health is written to coalesce research efforts to design sensors based on nanotechnology that can be placed into the body to monitor health. Nanotechnology is being used at an unprecedented pace to both diagnose and treat diseases, rather than conventional approaches which diagnose and treat diseases in a different manner.

Nanotechnology Enabled In Situ Sensors for Monitoring Health is a must-have for medical researchers, biomedical engineers and surgeons seeking a comprehensive overview of this important subject and examples of how In Situ sensors are being used in the diagnosis and monitoring diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and orthopedic problems.

Drawing upon the collective knowledge of renowned experts, Thomas Webster has assembled a wide-ranging treatise that includes:

• Nanotechnology for cancer sensing and treatment
• Monitoring tissue healing through nano sensors
• Monitoring inflammation and infection via implanted nano sensors
• DNA based nanotechnology biosensors for surgical diagnosis
• Carbon nanotube based orthopedic implant sensors

Update - Another book edited by Professor Webster and former Professor Lysaght:

The worldwide demand for organ transplants far exceeds the number of available donor organs. Consequently some patients die while waiting for a transplant. Synthetic alternatives are therefore imperative to improve the quality of, and in some cases save, people’s lives. Advances in biomaterials have generated a range of materials and devices for use either outside the body or as implants to replace or assist functions that may have been lost through disease or injury. Biomaterials for artificial organs reviews the latest developments in biomaterials and investigates how they can be used to improve the quality and efficiency of artificial organs.

With its distinguished editors and international team of contributors Biomaterials for artificial organs will prove an invaluable resource to researchers, scientists and academics concerned with the advancement of artificial organs.

Dr Michael Lysaght was the Founder and Director Emeritus of the Center for Biomedical Engineering at Brown University, USA and a retired member of the Brown Faculty. He sadly passed away before he could see this finished book and remains a widely recognised and well-respected figure in the field of biomedical engineering for his contributions to organ replacement technology.

Dr Thomas Webster is an Associate Professor for the School of Engineering and Department of Orthopedics at Brown University. He directs the Nanomedicine Laboratory which designs, synthesises and evaluates nanomaterials for various implant applications and is noted for his work in this area.

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New Nanotechnology Patent Issued: Metallic Nanoparticles as Orthopaedic Biomaterials

Prof. Thomas Webster (Engineering and Orthopaedics) and post-doctoral researcher, Dr. Jeremiah Ejiofor, were just issued patent no. 7824462 "Metallic Nanoparticles As Orthopaedic Biomaterials" which claims the use of metallic nanoparticles as improved orthopedic implants due to their unique surface energy which promotes bone cells. The patent is currently liscensed to Nanovis, Inc. (http://www.nanovisinc.com/).

Below: A picture of nanoparticulate CoCrMo, a popular orthopedic implant material.

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Tsang selected for Biomedical Engineering Society Undergraduate Student Award

Biomedical Engineering (BME) Undergraduate student Melissa Tsang has been selected for the Biomedical Engineering Society Undergraduate Student Award to be presented October 6th, 2010 in Austin, TX at the Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting. Undergraduate student winners will be selected on the basis of originality, significance, thoroughness of design analysis, and performance evaluation. This award is based on research conducted in Prof. Tom Webster's lab entitled "Novel Polyurethane/Carbon Nanofiber Composites for Bladder Cancer Applications." She has developed materials that can inhibit bladder cancer cell functions by using nanomaterials alone (specifically, carbon nanofibers, no pharmaceutical drugs are used.)

When Melissa first arrived at Brown, she chose to study BME because previous volunteering experiences had exposed her to the imbalance between current biotechnology and unmet medical needs. She wanted to develop the necessary analytical skills and foundation in biology to design innovative, improved technologies to expand upon our current diagnostics and treatments. As a senior approaching the end of her studies at Brown, she now feels better equipped to tackle this endeavor. In particular, working in Dr. Webster's lab has taught her how to construct and to conduct a research project independently. The opportunity to present her research at conferences, where she can meet many other BMEs in the field, is a rewarding experience for her. She feels that Brown engineering has provided her with not only the necessary skill sets, but also the hands-on experience and exposure to the forefront of current biomedical research to advance her career and, more importantly, to create solutions to better serve our global community.

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Prof. Breuer elected a fellow of the American Physical Society

Professor Kenny Breuer was recently elected a fellow of the American Physical Society. This is important recognition, and illustrates how Brown engineers make  significant contributions to the physical sciences.

The American Physical Society highlights that fellows are elected based on their contributions "to the advancement of physics by independent, original research or who have rendered some other special service to the cause of the sciences."

Learn more about Professor Breuer's Fluid Mechanics Laboratory.

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Rainwater for Humanity establishes project in Kerala, India

Rainwater for Humanity, a student group that started out as an Engineers Without Borders project in 2009, is excited to announce a new direction in the new school year. The project's mission is to use rainwater harvesting to provide more affordable and clean water during the dry season to people living in a contaminated watershed in southwestern India. The design for a ferrocement community rainwater storage tank has been implemented in the village of Achinakom in Kerala, India. Community surveys taken over the past couple of years show that this system will most benefit users who buy water from private vendors during the dry season because it offers a water supply that will be cleaner and less expensive in the long run. The project now seeks to develop and implement a sustainable economic model in order to support the spread of these rainwater harvesting systems across the region. An especially interesting takeaway from Rainwater for Humanity's recent developments is the importance of the intersection of engineering and the community. In the coming school year, the project seeks to find a happy medium between the two using appropriate technology and a sound business plan. To learn more, check out the R4H blog at rainwaterforhumanity.org!

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Brown Engineering committed to Social Entrepreneurship

Barrett Hazeltine's recent interview with the local Providence news highlights his long standing commitment to Brown and social entrepreneurship.

Josef Mittlemann was also recently recognized for his exemplary leadership in the field of social entrepreneurship education by Ashoka University. His syllabus for "Engineers of the Future" was selected from over 50 syllabi as a "best practice" for the field. Ashoka U organized a panel of reviewers (including funders, practitioners, thought leaders, professors and students) who highlight trends in social entrepreneurship teaching.  We are proud of Josef Mittlemann's commitment to social entrepreneurship in a disciplinary context within engineering.

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