Siyu Chen, PhD
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, OHSU
Biography:
Dr. Siyu Chen is Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Biomedical Engineering at Oregon Healthy & Science University. He earned his Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 2017 and completed postdoctoral training at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2022. His research focuses on novel optical coherence tomography (OCT) technologies and imaging-based biomarkers for eye diseases. OCT has become a pivotal tool in ophthalmology, either supplementing or replacing current diagnostic and monitoring standards. However, challenges still remain on the pursuit of higher resolution, faster scanning speed, wider coverage, as well as quantifiable, objective markers of visual function. The presentation will discuss the development of ultrahigh-resolution spectral-domain (SD) OCT to visualize and quantify micrometer-scale structure changes in the human retina. Ultrahigh-resolution SD-OCT can reveal subtle but consistent alterations in the photoreceptor outer segments – retinal pigment epithelium – Bruch’s membrane complex in aging and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), detecting deposits that marks the disease onset. The observation is consistent with pathogenesis studies using high resolution histology and electron microscopy. Differentiating AMD pathology from normal aging is essential for early disease diagnosis and progression monitoring, and may provide a therapeutic target for future drug development.
Dr. Siyu Chen is Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Biomedical Engineering at Oregon Healthy & Science University. He earned his Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 2017 and completed postdoctoral training at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2022. His research focuses on novel optical coherence tomography (OCT) technologies and imaging-based biomarkers for eye diseases. OCT has become a pivotal tool in ophthalmology, either supplementing or replacing current diagnostic and monitoring standards. However, challenges still remain on the pursuit of higher resolution, faster scanning speed, wider coverage, as well as quantifiable, objective markers of visual function. The presentation will discuss the development of ultrahigh-resolution spectral-domain (SD) OCT to visualize and quantify micrometer-scale structure changes in the human retina. Ultrahigh-resolution SD-OCT can reveal subtle but consistent alterations in the photoreceptor outer segments – retinal pigment epithelium – Bruch’s membrane complex in aging and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), detecting deposits that marks the disease onset. The observation is consistent with pathogenesis studies using high resolution histology and electron microscopy. Differentiating AMD pathology from normal aging is essential for early disease diagnosis and progression monitoring, and may provide a therapeutic target for future drug development.
Paul Dalton, PhD
Associate Professor, Knight Campus, UO
Biography:
Associate Professor Paul Dalton leads a research group at the Knight Campus at the University of Oregon. He has spent his academic career specializing in developing new manufacturing technologies for biomedical applications. An early adopter of melt electrospinning and pioneer of melt electrowriting, his research targets advanced biomaterials that can perform new functions. The team at the Knight Campus transforms known biomedical polymers into microscale designs that allows new functionality and properties. Originally from Perth, Australia, he was part of a bioengineering team in the 1990s that successfully took an artificial cornea from concept to the clinic. His academic career has an international perspective, having lived/worked in Canada, United Kingdom, China, Germany and now the US. He has over 25 years’ experience across several disciplines including biomaterials, nanotechnology tissue engineering, neuroimmunology biofabrication, and additive manufacturing.
Associate Professor Paul Dalton leads a research group at the Knight Campus at the University of Oregon. He has spent his academic career specializing in developing new manufacturing technologies for biomedical applications. An early adopter of melt electrospinning and pioneer of melt electrowriting, his research targets advanced biomaterials that can perform new functions. The team at the Knight Campus transforms known biomedical polymers into microscale designs that allows new functionality and properties. Originally from Perth, Australia, he was part of a bioengineering team in the 1990s that successfully took an artificial cornea from concept to the clinic. His academic career has an international perspective, having lived/worked in Canada, United Kingdom, China, Germany and now the US. He has over 25 years’ experience across several disciplines including biomaterials, nanotechnology tissue engineering, neuroimmunology biofabrication, and additive manufacturing.
Felix Deku, PhD
Assistant Professor, Knight Campus, UO
Biography:
Dr. Felix Deku is an Assistant Professor of Neuroengineering at the Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact. Dr. Deku graduated first-class honors from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana with a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and biotechnology. He earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in biomedical engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas. He was the Head of Electrode Engineering at a neurotechnology startup Braingrade, and was formerly the Director of Microfabrication at Neuralink Corp, an Elon Musk company building fully implantable high-density neural interfaces for paralyzed patients. Dr. Deku is also involved in several Neurotechnology startups or companies either as a technical advisor or as a consultant. Dr. Deku’s research interests are in development of materials, devices, and therapeutic approaches for neural interfacing, but with a focus that is grounded in science and driven by the vision of developing treatments for specific unmet clinical needs. His team engineers thin-film materials and develops novel microfabrication methods for creating chronically reliable neural interfaces, and study their integration into the nervous system, including the brain and peripheral nerves. He is also interested in understanding the physiological effects of microstimulation and their correlations to functional benefit.
Dr. Felix Deku is an Assistant Professor of Neuroengineering at the Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact. Dr. Deku graduated first-class honors from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana with a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and biotechnology. He earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in biomedical engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas. He was the Head of Electrode Engineering at a neurotechnology startup Braingrade, and was formerly the Director of Microfabrication at Neuralink Corp, an Elon Musk company building fully implantable high-density neural interfaces for paralyzed patients. Dr. Deku is also involved in several Neurotechnology startups or companies either as a technical advisor or as a consultant. Dr. Deku’s research interests are in development of materials, devices, and therapeutic approaches for neural interfacing, but with a focus that is grounded in science and driven by the vision of developing treatments for specific unmet clinical needs. His team engineers thin-film materials and develops novel microfabrication methods for creating chronically reliable neural interfaces, and study their integration into the nervous system, including the brain and peripheral nerves. He is also interested in understanding the physiological effects of microstimulation and their correlations to functional benefit.
Kaitlin Fogg, PhD
Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, OSU
Biography:
The Fogg Lab aims to develop and exploit high throughput in vitro 3D models of cancer in order to identify novel druggable targets, improve treatment selection of current therapeutics, and reprogram the immune system in the metastatic niche. The insights gained from these studies will have broad relevance to the fields of drug discovery, immunotherapy, and precision medicine.
The Fogg Lab aims to develop and exploit high throughput in vitro 3D models of cancer in order to identify novel druggable targets, improve treatment selection of current therapeutics, and reprogram the immune system in the metastatic niche. The insights gained from these studies will have broad relevance to the fields of drug discovery, immunotherapy, and precision medicine.
Adam Higgins, PhD
Associate Professor, Bioengineering, OSU
Biography:
Adam Higgins is an Associate Professor in the School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering at Oregon State University. His research focuses on long-term stabilization of living cells, and microfluidic processing of cells and biological fluids. Recent research efforts have focused on mathematical optimization and high throughput methods for design of cryopreservation procedures for cells, tissues and organs. Other projects include development of a microfluidic devices for extracorporeal treatment of hyperbilirubinemia and for inactivation of pathogens in breast milk. Adam served as president of the Society for Cryobiology from 2020-2021. He received a PhD in Bioengineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2008.
Adam Higgins is an Associate Professor in the School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering at Oregon State University. His research focuses on long-term stabilization of living cells, and microfluidic processing of cells and biological fluids. Recent research efforts have focused on mathematical optimization and high throughput methods for design of cryopreservation procedures for cells, tissues and organs. Other projects include development of a microfluidic devices for extracorporeal treatment of hyperbilirubinemia and for inactivation of pathogens in breast milk. Adam served as president of the Society for Cryobiology from 2020-2021. He received a PhD in Bioengineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2008.
Yali Jia, PhD
Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, OHSU
Biography:
Yali Jia, PhD, is the Jennie P. Weeks Professor of Ophthalmology and Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Associate Director of Center for Ophthalmic Optics and Lasers (www.COOLLab.net) at the Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Jia is a co-inventor of the SSADA algorithm and her work has led to major breakthroughs that transitioned OCT angiography from a purely research technology to the clinic. She leads an active NIH-supported research program on the applications of OCT angiography in retinal diseases and holds patents in OCT angiography algorithms. Her other contributions to eye research are the innovations in visible-light OCT oximetry, high-performance OCT prototypes, and artificial intelligence.
Yali Jia, PhD, is the Jennie P. Weeks Professor of Ophthalmology and Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Associate Director of Center for Ophthalmic Optics and Lasers (www.COOLLab.net) at the Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Jia is a co-inventor of the SSADA algorithm and her work has led to major breakthroughs that transitioned OCT angiography from a purely research technology to the clinic. She leads an active NIH-supported research program on the applications of OCT angiography in retinal diseases and holds patents in OCT angiography algorithms. Her other contributions to eye research are the innovations in visible-light OCT oximetry, high-performance OCT prototypes, and artificial intelligence.
Marilyn Mackiewicz, PhD
Assistant Professor, Chemistry, OSU
Biography:
Marilyn Mackiewicz graduated from Hunter College with a BA in Psychology and Chemistry, and from Texas A&M University with a PhD in Chemistry. After a brief career as a process engineer at Intel, she returned to academia to do post-doctoral studies at Portland State University. In 2020 she moved to Oregon State University where her research is focused on the development of nanostructured materials for applications that relate to human health, the environment, and energy. Our major projects revolve around 1) the design of nanoscale materials for biomedical applications, 2) studying nanoparticle-biological interactions and nanotoxicology, 3) the development of diagnostic assays and imaging agents to monitor disease states and therapeutic response, and 4) systems for targeted drug delivery. Our long-term goal is to advance our bench side chemistry into translational applications in cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and macular degeneration. At the same time, it is important to study the nanotoxicological effects of the new materials developed and their nanoparticle-biological interactions that will advance their designs.
Marilyn Mackiewicz graduated from Hunter College with a BA in Psychology and Chemistry, and from Texas A&M University with a PhD in Chemistry. After a brief career as a process engineer at Intel, she returned to academia to do post-doctoral studies at Portland State University. In 2020 she moved to Oregon State University where her research is focused on the development of nanostructured materials for applications that relate to human health, the environment, and energy. Our major projects revolve around 1) the design of nanoscale materials for biomedical applications, 2) studying nanoparticle-biological interactions and nanotoxicology, 3) the development of diagnostic assays and imaging agents to monitor disease states and therapeutic response, and 4) systems for targeted drug delivery. Our long-term goal is to advance our bench side chemistry into translational applications in cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and macular degeneration. At the same time, it is important to study the nanotoxicological effects of the new materials developed and their nanoparticle-biological interactions that will advance their designs.
Courosh Mehanian
Research Associate Professor, Knight Campus, UO
Biography:
Courosh Mehanian received a physics PhD from Cornell University and has worked for three decades in artificial intelligence, having held positions at Boston University, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Global Health Labs, and now is Research Associate Professor at the Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact at the University of Oregon. His research applies machine learning to extract actionable information from medical images, one of the richest sources for medical decision support. He and his team at Global Health Labs developed an AI algorithm to interpret standard malaria blood smear slides, providing diagnosis, quantitation, and species identification, which has been integrated into a commercial microscope and is currently deployed for drug susceptibility surveillance by the Worldwide Antimalarial Research Network. They also developed a prototype deep learning algorithm to detect childhood pneumonia in lung ultrasound video, which is now being productized by a leading ultrasound company and will be validated in a clinical trial in preparation for FDA submission. His lab at UO will continue to apply machine learning to problems in the biomedical space such as predicting the success of epiretinal membrane surgery from retinal OCT scans, and machine learning closed loop feedback control of a hybrid 3D printer for biomedical constructs.
Courosh Mehanian received a physics PhD from Cornell University and has worked for three decades in artificial intelligence, having held positions at Boston University, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Global Health Labs, and now is Research Associate Professor at the Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact at the University of Oregon. His research applies machine learning to extract actionable information from medical images, one of the richest sources for medical decision support. He and his team at Global Health Labs developed an AI algorithm to interpret standard malaria blood smear slides, providing diagnosis, quantitation, and species identification, which has been integrated into a commercial microscope and is currently deployed for drug susceptibility surveillance by the Worldwide Antimalarial Research Network. They also developed a prototype deep learning algorithm to detect childhood pneumonia in lung ultrasound video, which is now being productized by a leading ultrasound company and will be validated in a clinical trial in preparation for FDA submission. His lab at UO will continue to apply machine learning to problems in the biomedical space such as predicting the success of epiretinal membrane surgery from retinal OCT scans, and machine learning closed loop feedback control of a hybrid 3D printer for biomedical constructs.
Tania Vu, PhD
Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, OHSU
Biography:
Dr. Vu is an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and a faculty member of the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. She develops enabling cytometry imaging technologies that advance understanding of cellular signaling, cellular heterogeneity, and combination drug testing. A current major focus of translational work is the application of miniaturized imaging platforms to assess drug response in small samples of primary patients in cancer, infectious disease, and the nervous system. Dr. Vu has a demonstrated history of high-impact journal publications and invited conference presentations.
Dr. Vu is an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and a faculty member of the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. She develops enabling cytometry imaging technologies that advance understanding of cellular signaling, cellular heterogeneity, and combination drug testing. A current major focus of translational work is the application of miniaturized imaging platforms to assess drug response in small samples of primary patients in cancer, infectious disease, and the nervous system. Dr. Vu has a demonstrated history of high-impact journal publications and invited conference presentations.