BME’s Roger Narayan co-Authors Structural Materials Division JOM Best Paper for 2009

BME core faculty member Dr. Roger Narayan, along with his graduate students Junping Zhang and Shaun D. Gittard, co-authored the winner of Structural Materials Division JOM Best Paper Award for 2009.  Published monthly by The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS), JOM is a technical journal devoted to exploring the many aspects of materials science and engineering and reports scholarly work that explores the state-of-the-art processing, fabrication, design, and application of metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, and other materials.  The winning paper’s title is "Nanoporous Materials for Biomedical Devices."  The paper explores this group’s work in incorporating the capabilities of biological membranes in nanoscale medical devices.  The BME team’s collaborating co-authors come from two different research groups.  One group is based at Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois:  Shashishekar P. Adiga, Larry A. Curtiss, Jeffrey W. Elam, Michael J. Pellin.  The other group is based in National Yang-Ming University in Taipei, Taiwan:  Chun-Che Shih, Chun-Ming Shih, Shing-Jong Lin, Yea-Yang Su.  Congratulations to Roger, his students, and all his co-authors for receiving this prestigious award!

BME Core Faculty Member, Dr. Shawn Gomez, awarded Multi-PI NIH R01 Grant

BME core faculty member, Dr. Shawn Gomez, has been awarded a Multi-PI NIH R01 grant with UNC-Chapel Hill collaborators:  Beverly Errede, Meng Jin, and Timothy Elston.  This brand new NIH award mechanism is to encourage equal collaborations between scientists for advancement of public health research.  This support is for a project titled “MAP kinase regulation of cell-fate transitions in yeast.”  Dr. Gomez will collaborate with the submitting Principal Investigator Dr. Errede of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Biochemistry and Biophysics department.  This project is expected to run for four years and be funded up to a total amount of $1.2 million over the entire project period.  Congratulations to Shawn and his UNC collaborators for receiving such a substantial amount of this exciting new form of support from NIH’s National Institute of General Medicine Science!

BME’s Paul Dayton Issued a US Patent titled "Ultrasonic Concentration of Drug Delivery Capsules"

BME core faculty member, Dr. Paul Dayton, has been issued US Patent number 7,358,226 titled "Ultrasonic Concentration of Drug Delivery Capsules."  The novel technological method protected by this patent emerged from Dr. Dayton’s collaborative work done at his former research home, the University of California at Davis.  The co-inventors are Katherine Ferrara, Michaelann Tartis, and Susannah Bloch.  The invention describes technology for application of ultrasound to localize drug delivery capsules and then locally release the contents.  Congratulations to Dr. Dayton for this achievement.

BME’s UNC-CH Administrative Officer Iris Holt Receives the UNC-Chapel Hill "Star Heel" Award

BME’s UNC-CH Administrative Officer Iris Holt received the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "Star Heel" award for her outstanding efforts on behalf of the University and the State of North Carolina.  She received a certificate and a gift.  Star Heel awards are given to permanent staff who demonstrate excellence and exemplary effort in their job performance.  Nominations for these awards come from anyone the staff member assists (faculty, students, staff, vendors, etc.) who believe the candidate went above and beyond the call of duty.  Please join me in congratulating Iris for her excellent service to the University, Department, faculty, staff, and students.

Dr. Paul Dayton Receives a Junior Faculty Development Award from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Committee on Faculty Research and Study Leaves

BME core faculty member, Dr. Paul Dayton, has been awarded a Junior Faculty Development Award from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Committee on Faculty Research and Study Leaves.  This support is for a project titled “Obtaining preliminary data for ultrasonically-mediated gene delivery.”  Dr. Dayton was recruited last year as an Associate Professor to the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering; and he is a leader in our department's burgeoning strengths in Imaging Contrast Agents, Biomedical Imaging, Medical Imaging, and Medical Instrumentation.  His strong background in these exciting areas of biomedical engineering makes Dr. Dayton a great addition to the Joint Department.  His project will start January 1^st; run for one year; and be funded at $7,500.

BME's Student Services Expert Lesley Hubbard Receives 15-year Service Award

BME’s Lesley Hubbard reached her 15^th year of service to North Carolina State University on December 1, 2008.  Achieving this milestone made Lesley eligible to receive her 15-year service award from NC State.  Lesley is BME’s Student Services expert and has been ably assisting BME undergraduates since before the Joint Department was launched.  Please join me in thanking Lesley for her long, faithful, and excellent service to the University, Department, faculty, staff, and especially students.

A team of researchers led by North Carolina State University has made a breakthrough that could lead to new dialysis devices and a host of other revolutionary medical implants. The researchers have found that the unique properties of a new material can be used to create new devices that can be implanted into the human body - including blood glucose sensors for diabetics and artificial hemo-dialysis membranes that can scrub impurities from the blood.

Researchers have long sought to develop medical devices that could be implanted into patients for a variety of purposes, such as monitoring glucose levels in diabetic patients. However, existing materials present significant problems. For example, devices need to be made of a material that prevents the body's proteins from building up on sensors and preventing them from working properly. And any implanted device also needs to avoid provoking an inflammatory response from the body that would result in the body's walling off the device or rejecting it completely.

Now a new study finds that nanoporous ceramic membranes may be used to resolve these issues. Dr. Roger Narayan - an associate professor in the joint biomedical engineering department of NC State and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - led the research and says the nanoporous membranes could be used to "create an interface between human tissues and medical devices that is free of protein buildup."

The new research, published in a special issue of Biomedical Materials, is the first in-depth study of the biological and physical properties of the membranes. The study suggests that the human body will not reject the nanoporous ceramic membrane. Narayan adds that this could be a major advance for the development of kidney dialysis membranes and other medical devices whose development has been stalled by poor compatibility with human tissues. Narayan was also the lead researcher on the team that first developed these new materials.

Narayan's co-authors on the paper include NC State materials science engineering doctoral students Ravi Aggarwal and Wei Wei; NC State postdoctoral research associate Dr. Chunming Jin; Dr. Nancy Monteiro-Riviere, professor of investigative dermatology and toxicology at NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine and the Center for Chemical Toxicology Research and Pharmacokinetics; and Rene Crombez and Dr. Weidian Shen of Eastern Michigan University.

The study abstract follows.

"Mechanical and biological properties of nanoporous carbon membranes"

Author: Dr. Roger J. Narayan, Ravi Aggarwal, Wei Wei, Dr. Chunming Jin, Dr. Nancy A. Monteiro-Riviere, North Carolina State University; Rene Crombez, Dr. Weidian Shen, Eastern Michigan University

Published: Aug. 8, 2008, in Biomedical Materials

Abstract: Implantable blood glucose sensors have inadequate membrane-tissue interfaces for long term use. Biofouling and inflammation processes restrict biosensor membrane stability. An ideal biosensor membrane material must prevent protein adsorption and exhibit cell compatibility. In addition, a membrane must exhibit high porosity and low thickness in order to allow the biosensor to respond to analyte fluctuations. In this study, the structural, mechanical and biological properties of nanoporous alumina membranes coated with diamond-like carbon thin films were examined using scanning probe microscopy, nanoindentation and MTT viability assay. We anticipate that this novel membrane material could find use in immunoisolation devices, kidney dialysis membranes and other medical devices encountering biocompatibility issues that limit in vivo function.

BME Affiliate, Bruce J. Oberhardt, elected Fellow of American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)

The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) announced the election of new members of the College of Fellows.  Among these new members was BME Affiliate Faculty member, Dr. Bruce J. Oberhardt.  .Dr. Oberhardt’s primary research areas are:  Intelligent Systems and Bioengineering including Medical Devices; and his research interests:  Biosensors, biofluids, biomaterials, blood analysis, instrumentation, medical devices, medical diagnostics.  The newly elected Fellows were nominated and approved by current members of the College, consisting of over 900 scientists and engineers.  Recipients of this honor are recognized for their outstanding achievements in medical and biological engineering.  A formal induction ceremony will be held during the Institute’s Annual Event in Washington, D.C. on February 11-13, 2009.  For more information about the AIMBE Annual Event, please visit www.aimbe.org/annualevent.  Congratulations to Bruce Oberhardt for being elected to this prestigious College of Fellows!

BME Industrial Advisory Board Chair, Don Wilson, Closure Medical, elected Fellow of American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)

The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) announced the election of new members of the College of Fellows.  Among these new members was BME Industrial Advisory Board Chair, Don Wilson.  Don is the Associate Director of Device Design at Closure Medical Corporation  The newly elected Fellows were nominated and approved by current members of the College, consisting of over 900 scientists and engineers.  Recipients of this honor are recognized for their outstanding achievements in medical and biological engineering.  A formal induction ceremony will be held during the Institute’s Annual Event in Washington, D.C. on February 11-13, 2009.  For more information about the AIMBE Annual Event, please visit www.aimbe.org/annualevent.  Congratulations to Don Wilson for being elected to this prestigious College of Fellows!

BME core faculty member, Dr. Shawn Gomez, Reappointed for a Three-Year Tenure-Track Term

BME is very pleased to announce that Dr. Shawn Gomez’s reappointment at the rank of Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was approved by the Board of Trustees, effective October 1, 2009, for a three-year tenure-track term.  BME congratulates Dr. Gomez on the confidence expressed by his colleagues and UNC-Chapel Hill in this action.  In his letter, Chancellor Holden Thorp congratulated Shawn and extended his warmest best wishes for his continued success and fulfillment as a member of the BME faculty.  BME joins the Chancellor and congratulates Dr. Gomez for achieving this positive milestone in his early career.

BME Core Faculty Member, Dr. Paul Dayton, awarded Multi-PI NIH R01 Grant

BME core faculty member, Dr. Paul Dayton, has been awarded a Multi-PI NIH R01 grant with Columbia University PI collaborator Dr. Mark Borden.  This brand new NIH award mechanism is to encourage equal collaborations between scientists for advancement of public health research.  This support is for a project titled “Immune-Shielded, Ultrasound-Stimulated Contrast Agents for Molecular Imaging.”  Dr. Dayton will collaborate with the other Principal Investigator Dr. Mark Borden of Columbia’s Department of Chemical Engineering and the Sunnybrook Health Science Centre in Ontario, Canada.  This project is expected to run for four years and be funded up to a total amount of $1,244,396 over the entire project period.  Congratulations Paul for receiving such a substantial amount of this exciting new form of support from NIH’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging And Bioengineering!

BME Core Faculty Member, Dr. Caterina Gallippi, co-awarded with collaborators Tim Nichols and David Clemmons a NCBC MRG Grant

BME core faculty member, Dr. Caterina Gallippi, has been co-awarded with collaborators Tim Nichols and David Clemmons a North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBC) Multidisciplinary Research Grant (MRG).  This award mechanism is to encourage collaboration between scientists within North Carolina from at least three distinct fields of study working together for advancement of the state of the art in biotechnology.  This support is for a project titled “Atherosclerosis and Renal Complications in Insulin Resistant, Hyperlipidemic Pigs.”  Dr. Gallippi will collaborate with the lead Principal Investigator Dr. Tim Nichols of UNC’s School of Medicine Department of Pathology & Lab Medicine; and co-PI Dr. David Clemmons of UNC’s School of Medicine Department of Medicine.  This grant is intended to support development of preliminary data for federal grant applications.  This project will run for two years; and be funded at $250,000.  Congratulations Caterina, Tim, and David for receiving this strong support from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center!

BME Core Faculty Member, Dr. Glenn Walker, Awarded Joint Department’s First Wallace H. Coulter Foundation Award

BME core faculty member, Dr. Glenn Walker, has been awarded a Wallace H. Coulter Foundation 2008 Early Career Award.  The Coulter Foundation began in 2004 and has been funding BME investigators and departments for the last three years.  Dr. Walker is the Joint Department’s first Coulter Foundation awardee.  The funded research project is titled “A MEMS-Based Adjustable Stiffness Catheter.”  Dr. Walker will serve as the Principal Investigator for this project.  The aim of the project is to develop a “smart catheter” which uses micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology and magnetorheological (MR) fluids to electronically modulate catheter stiffness. The smart catheter will be flexible enough to be maneuvered through winding blood vessels and positioned near the stenosis. Once actuated, the smart catheter will be stiff enough to allow the delivery of a stent to the lesion site.  This project will start on August 1, 2008; continue two years; and be funded at $240,000.  Congratulations Glenn for receiving this strong support from the Coulter Foundation!

Dr. Elizabeth Loboa awarded CCMTR Pilot Grant

BME core faculty member, Dr. Elizabeth Loboa, has been awarded a North Carolina State University-College of Veterinary Medicine-Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research (CCMTR) grant.  The mission of the CCMTR is to enhance collaborative, translational, interdisciplinary approaches for the comparative study of animal/human diseases . The members of the center recognize that complex issues affecting human and animal health are better addressed by interdisciplinary "one medicine" approaches that combine both clinical and non-clinical expertise.  This project is titled “Effects of electrical stimulation on neuronal and glial differentiation of fetal porcine neural stem cells seeded in three-dimensional poly-L-lactic acid scaffolds.”  Dr. Loboa will collaborate with the Dr. Natasha Olby, VetMB, PhD, DACVIM who is an Associate Professor of Neurology/Neurosurgery in the Department of Clinical Sciences at NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine.  This grant is intended to support development of preliminary data for federal grant applications.  Congratulations to Drs. Loboa and Olby for winning support from this exciting NC State translational research center.

BME Student, Rex Jeffries, awarded an NIH F31 Fellowship by NIDDK

BME Ph.D. student, Rex Jeffries, has been awarded an NIH F31 Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA) fellowship from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).  Rex is sponsored by BME core faculty member Dr. Jeff Macdondald and co-sponsored by Paul B. Watkins, MD (Distinguished Professor of Medicine; Director of the General Clinical Research Center and the Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute).  The funded research project is titled “Preclinical Fluxomic Model of Drug-Induced Liver Injury.”  Rex’s support will entail reimbursement for all stipend, tuition, and fees for a period of two years.  His project will start August 1^st; and he expects to complete this project and his degree in mid-2010.  Congratulations to Rex for this achievement and the wonderful endorsement from NIH and NIDDK!

Dr. Shawn Gomez, key investigator in a Major U.S. EPA Award to Strengthen Computational Toxicology and Bioinformatics Expertise

BME core faculty member, Dr. Shawn Gomez, is a key investigator in a major U.S. EPA grant award.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the University of North Carolina’s School of Public Health a $3.4 million grant to help the School strengthen its research portfolio in computational toxicology and bioinformatics.  Computational toxicology is a branch of environmental health sciences that applies mathematical and computer models to predict adverse effects of drugs and environmental chemicals and to better understand the ways they may cause harm to human health and the environment. This relatively young discipline offers the possibility that scientists might be able to develop a much better understanding of risks posed by chemicals released into the environment.  Ivan Rusyn, MD, PhD, UNC School of Public Health associate professor of environmental sciences and engineering, associate director of the Curriculum in Toxicology, will be the principal investigator for the project.  The grant, which will be awarded over four years, aids the establishment of The Carolina Center for Computational Toxicology (http://comptox.unc.edu). The Center will advance the field of computational toxicology through development of new methods and computational tools, as well as through interdisciplinary collaborative efforts within UNC and with other environmental health science researchers.  Congratulations to Drs. Rusyn and Gomez, their collaborators, and the School of Public Health for receiving this strong support from the EPA! 

http://www.sph.unc.edu/school_of_public_health_news/school_to_strengthen_computational_toxicology_and_bioinformatics_expertise_with_major_u.s._epa_award_7598_1957.html

BME Undergraduates selected as finalists for the national Student Design Competition sponsored by RESNA

Two APPL/BME student groups have been selected as finalists for the national Student Design Competition sponsored by RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America) for their senior design projects.  Elliot Greenwald and David Zilber were selected for their project titled “Trace-Aid;” A device to improve fine motor control among Autistic Children.  Omar Awan and Swarna Solanki were selected for their project titled “Karaoke Trainer.”  The students will receive a trip to the RESNA conference later this month in Crystal City VA, where they will give both oral and poster presentations.  Final judging will take place during the conference, and 5 winning groups will be selected.  Since starting participation in 2002, APPL/BME undergraduate students have been very successful in this national competition.  These students have been selected as finalists for 6 out of the 7 years, and winners for 5 of those years.  Congratulations and good luck to Elliot, David, Omar, and Swarna!

BME Post-Doctoral Fellow, Brian Dewar, Receives Fellowship Support from the Curriculum in Toxicology’s NIEHS - Institutional NRSA Training Grant

BME Post-Doctoral Fellow, Brian Dewar, just received Fellowship Support from the Curriculum in Toxicology’s NIEHS T32 Training Grant.  The NIEHS - Institutional NRSA Training Grant’s Title is “Pre- and Postdoctoral Training in Toxicology” and it provides broadly based predoctoral and postdoctoral training in toxicology and specific research experience in the area of the experimental expertise of the research mentor.  Dr. Dewar’s mentor is BME core faculty member Jeff Macdonald.  Congratulations Brian!

BME Graduate Students Kayvan Rahimi-keshari and Rex Jeffries Receive Student Stipend Awards at the 16th annual International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Conference

The 16th annual International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine just held in Toronto held a competition for graduate students’ accepted abstracts.  Kayvan Rahimi-keshari’s abstract was accepted as a talk, which is very high honor of a graduate student as these positions are usually taken by faculty and post-docs. Rex Jeffries’ work was accepted as an electronic poster. Based on the quality of their presentations, and competing against over 4,000 attendees, these BME graduate students were awarded student stipend awards of $500 each.  Let’s all congratulate Kayvan and Rex for a great job!

BME Founding Chair, Dr. Troy Nagle, Receives NC State’s Highest Honor, the Holladay Medal

The North Carolina State University Board of Trustees will award the Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal for Excellence to three faculty members in recognition of their outstanding careers at NC State.  Dr. Troy Nagle, Founding Chair of the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, will be one of the recipients.  The Holladay Medal is the highest honor bestowed on a faculty member by North Carolina State University and its trustees and it recognizes the contributions of faculty members in teaching, research and service.  Winners receive a medal and a framed certificate, and their names are inscribed on a plaque in the NC State Faculty Senate chambers.  This year's other honorees also have connections to BME; Drs. Raymond E. Fornes, professor of physics and associate dean for research in the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences; and Nino A. Masnari, Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Dean of Engineering during the forming of the Joint Department.  Dr. Nagle was especially cited for his 23 years of teaching, research and dedicated service to NC State; and his role as founding chair of the joint NC State-UNC Chapel Hill Department of Biomedical Engineering, leading the development of the first joint department in the UNC system.  The medals will be presented during the university's Honors Baccalaureate and Celebration of Academic Excellence, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, in the McKimmon Center.  BME’s faculty, students, staff, and affiliates of all types congratulate Dr. Nagle for receiving NC State’s most prestigious award!

BME core faculty member, Dr. Caterina Gallippi, Reappointed for a Three-Year Tenure-Track Term

BME is very pleased to announce that Dr. Caterina Gallippi’s reappointment at the rank of Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was approved by the Board of Trustees, effective February 1, 2009, for a three-year tenure-track term.  BME congratulates Dr. Gallippi on the confidence expressed by her colleagues and UNC-Chapel Hill in this action.  In his letter, Chancellor James Moeser congratulated Caterina and extended his warmest best wishes for her continued success and fulfillment as a member of the BME faculty.  BME joins the Chancellor and congratulates Dr. Gallippi for achieving this positive milestone in her early career.

BME core faculty member, Dr. Peter Mente, Promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure

In recognition of his accomplishments in teaching and research, I am happy to announce that, effective August 16, 2008, BME core faculty member, Dr. Peter Mente, is being promoted to Associate Professor with tenure!  Please join me in congratulating Peter on achieving these important milestones and wish him success as he continues his progress towards promotion to the rank of Professor.  BME congratulates Dr. Mente on this notable achievement.

BME core faculty member, Dr. Roger Narayan, Receives the NCSU Sigma Xi Chapter Faculty Research Award for 2008

BME core faculty member, Dr. Roger Narayan, has received the North Carolina State University Sigma Xi Chapter Faculty Research Award for 2008.  Dr. Narayan was nominated by Dr. Hans Stadelmaier (Professor Emeritus Material Science Engineering).  The Faculty Research Awards Committee of the chapter, chaired by Dr. Charlie Smith (Associate Professor Statistics; Former Director of Biomathematics Graduate Program), reviewed nominations and selected Roger to be the single recipient of the award this year.  Dr. Narayan and his nominator, Dr. Stadelmaier, have also been invited to attend the chapter's Annual Awards Banquet and Initiation Ceremony on Tuesday April 22 at the McKimmon Center.  Congratulations Roger for receiving this prestigious award!

NC State BME Undergraduate Senior Jennifer Boyd Wins a Fellowship From the Whitaker Foundation

BME is pleased to report that NC State undergraduate Jennifer Boyd '08, a Biomedical Engineering and German Studies major, a Caldwell Fellow, University Scholar, and a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship, has won the Whitaker International Fellowship in Biomedical Engineering.  A relatively new award, the Whitaker seeks to promote internationalization in the field of biomedical engineering by offering full-support packages to those seeking education abroad.  Jennifer benefited from endorsement by the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering and the College of Engineering in her application for the Whitaker.  She will use her award at the University of Oxford, pursuing a D.Phil in Orthopaedic Engineering.  Please join me in congratulating this outstanding young biomedical engineer!

Dr. Hatice Ozturk Selected to Receive NC State’s George H. Blessis Undergraduate Advising Award

BME core faculty member, Dr. Hatice Ozturk, has been selected to receive North Carolina State University’s George H. Blessis Undergraduate Advising Award.  Dr. Ozturk’s nomination for the Blessis award was submitted by the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering through the principal efforts of Dr. Roger Narayan and Dr. Lianne Cartee.  News of this award was conveyed to Dr. Ozturk by Dr. Richard F. Keltie, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.  Dean Keltie reported that the selection committee consisted of faculty colleagues as well as students and all were impressed with Hatice’s dedication to student success as demonstrated through her advising activities. He continued that “This is a very nice, and very well-deserved, recognition and I thank you for all that you do to benefit our students.”  This award will be presented at the Spring Faculty Meeting on May 7.  Congratulations to Dr. Ozturk for receiving this prestigious award!

BME core faculty member, Dr. Roger Narayan, Named Editor-in-Chief of Materials Science and Engineering C

BME core faculty member, Dr. Roger Narayan, has been named Editor-in-Chief of Materials Science and Engineering C.  Starting with Volume 28, Elsevier is relaunching Materials Science and Engineering C: with a new subtitle: Materials for Biological Applications.  The relaunched journal will now include experimental and theoretical topics at the interface of the biological sciences and materials engineering, including:  biomimetic materials; biological materials; nanobiomaterials; bio-based materials; biopolymers; materials for biotechnology applications; materials for bioenergy applications; biocompatible materials; and bioceramics.  Congratulations Roger for this prestigious posting!

BME core faculty member, Dr. Roger Narayan, Awarded National Science Foundation Grant

BME core faculty member, Dr. Roger Narayan, has been awarded a National Science Foundation - Manufacturing Machines and Equipment (MME) grant.  The funded research project is titled “Laser Rapid Prototyping of Patient-Specific Ossicular Replacement Prostheses.”  Dr. Narayan will serve as the Principal Investigator for this project and his primary collaborator will be Dr. Yuan-Shin Lee, Professor in NC State’s Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.  This project will start on July 1, 2008; continue to at least June 30, 2011; and be funded at $350,000.  Congratulations Roger for receiving this strong support from NSF!

BME Graduate Students Russ Behler and Matt Berginski Receive 2nd Place and 3rd Place Awards Respectively in the Student Poster Competition at the Institute for Biological Engineering Conference

Competing in the Student Poster Competition during the 13th annual Institute of Biological Engineering (IBE) conference, A Platform for Partnerships and Progress, which was held on March 6-9, 2008 at the Sheraton Chapel Hill; Dr. Caterina Gallippi’s student Russ Behler Received the 2nd Place Award and Dr. Shawn Gomez’s student Matt Berginski Received the 3rd Place Award.  The IBE Annual Conference attracts 250 attendees including engineers, scientists and students interested in creating new knowledge that provides greater understanding of engineering principles founded from a 21st century understanding of biology.  IBE meetings have strong student participation, with about half the attendees graduate and undergraduate students.  Let’s all congratulate Russ and Matt for a great job!

Brooke Steele and Greg McCarty appointed for second terms as Assistant Professors

We are happy to announce that Brooke Steele and Greg McCarty are being reappointed as Assistant Professors in Biomedical Engineering with terms extending to May 2012.  They have both made key contributions in teaching and research, and are on-track for promotion in a few more years.  Let's all continue to give them our support as they expand and improve their research and other service records.

Roger Narayan and Jeff Macdonald are being elevated to Associate Professor with tenure

In recognition of their accomplishments in teaching and research, I am happy to announce that, effective February 1, Associate Professor Roger Narayan is being granted tenure and Jeff Macdonald is being promoted to Associate Professor with tenure!  We congratulate them on achieving these important milestones and wish them success as they continue their progress towards promotion to the rank of Professor.

Dr. Lianne Cartee Selected by College Teaching and Advising Awards Committee to Receive an Outstanding Teacher Award

BME core faculty member, Dr. Lianne Cartee, has been selected by North Carolina State University’s College Teaching and Advising Awards Committee to Receive an Outstanding Teacher Award.  Dr. Cartee was chosen to be one of the three awardees whose names will be forwarded to the Provost's office.  Dr. Richard F. Keltie, NC State’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, wrote to Lianne to express that “This is a fine recognition of your teaching accomplishments made by your peers and our students - congratulations!”  By the college selection Dr. Cartee is now a member of the Academy of Outstanding Teachers and will be recognized at the College of Engineering Spring Faculty Meeting and by NC State at commencement, the Honors Baccalaureate and Celebration of Academic Excellence, and the Celebration of Teaching and Learning.  Congratulations to Dr. Cartee for receiving this prestigious award in recognition of her dedication to the teaching mission of the College!

BME faculty members Brian Button (affiliate) and David Lalush (core) receive Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Award

Collaborating BME faculty members, Dr. Brian Button (new affiliate) and Dr. David Lalush (core), receive Cystic Fibrosis Foundation grant award.  Their project is titled “Mouse Mucociliary Clearance Imaging Project.”  This project started January 1^st 2008; will run for two years; and be funded at $70,000 direct costs per year.  Congratulations to this interdisciplinary BME research team for receiving this exciting award!