IBI 2021 Annual Report

Message fr omt he Execut ive Dir ect or

"Mason's researchers, in collaboration with partners around the globe, tackle today's most pressing health issues with an innovative, solution-driven spirit."

The global biohealth research community has been called to address significant scientific and public health needs in a more rapid manner than ever before. Simultaneously, we have faced very trying times, both on personal and professional levels It is not surprising to me that Mason?s biohealth research community tackled these immediate public health challenges with an innovative, collaborative spirit. Our faculty, staff, and students worked tirelessly to conduct ground breaking research with partners in academia, healthcare, and industry to make a difference in people?s lives worldwide.

We saw record numbers, including our largest research expenditures to date We not only experienced growth in our infectious disease research portfolio, but also saw increases in research related to brain and behavior and reproductive and environmental health We are seeing aggressive hiring of new faculty across the university and look forward to welcoming all who will join us in this inclusive, diverse research community.

Our undergraduate and graduate students are committed to making a difference. They continue to play an integral role in all of our institute?s research and service With the help of our faculty, who are dedicated to training and preparing the future workforce, our students are equipped with critical skills and a cutting edge, collaborative approach to combat the complex health challenges we will encounter

After reflecting on this year, one question remains on my mind: how can the Institute for Biohealth Innovation assist you in achieving your research, service, and entrepreneurship goals? In 2022, not only do I aspire for the institute to be recognized as a preeminent leader in the scientific community, but I want it to be known as a source of steady support When we work together, whether it?s across disciplines, or with partners around the globe, we can make a significant impact. Science does not happen in a vacuum, and the institute strives to embody a synergetic spirit

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to our biohealth researchers, practitioners, entrepreneurs, and all of the individuals who support our vibrant biohealth community I ask you to imagine the possibilities and look forward to the next big leaps we take in the new year

Am y Adam s Execut ive Direct or

PURPOSEANDPRIORITIES

Vision

For George Mason Universit y

t o be a preem inent leader in biohealt h t ranslat ional research

"Mason's researchers are conducting innovative work that supports Virginia's growth in this important sector. We value our partnerships with the IBI and appreciate their collaborative spirit. "

-John Newby, CEO, Virginia Bio

Mission

"The IBI cuts across disciplines, creating unique opportunities for internal and external collaborations to drive new advancements in biohealth research that will make a difference in people's lives around the world."

-Andre Marshall, Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact, George Mason University

Deliver grow t h in innovat ive biohealt h research and t he regional bioeconom y by driving collaborat ion, (bot h int ernal and ext ernal), st rengt hening research infrast ruct ure, and increasing int eract ion w it h st udent s and funders, t o enable t he developm ent of new t echnologies, approaches, and int ervent ions t o: predict , prevent , t reat , and eradicat e disease, im prove care, and enhance w ell-being

New LifeSciences

Hubwil l connect st udent s wit h opport unit ies andsupport ear ly stage companies

Northern Virginia will become a regional hub for Virginia Bio-Connect, a statewide initiative for life sciences and biotechnology work.

George Mason University and the Prince William County Department of Economic Development will lead the Northern Virginia BioHub, one of five clusters that will exist throughout the commonwealth by Virginia Bio Connect The project, which is directed by the Virginia Biotechnology Association and supported by a two-year, $3.2 million initiative funded by a GO Virginia statewide competitive matching grant, is a collaboration designed to increase connectivity and awareness of the existing programs, resources and communities in the commonwealth that support the life sciences industry.

During the two-year grant period, Virginia Bio-Connect will create a workforce development program to connect Virginia undergraduate and graduate students with Virginia based life science and biotechnology companies, including an industry specific internship program that will enroll 100 students from across the state.

?Students in Northern Virginia will have the opportunity to be part of a statewide cohort and develop meaningful connections with Virginia?s life science industry professionals,?said Amy Adams, executive director of Mason?s Institute for Biohealth Innovation, who will co direct the Northern Virginia BioHub. ?It?s a win-win for both our students who will gain practical skills, making them more competitive in the job market, and for companies seeking a diverse talented workforce pipeline ?

John Newby, Virginia Bio?s chief executive officer and the designated lead of the new consortium, explained that the biotechnology industry? beyond its work to stimulate innovation and improve health? has an $8 billion economic impact in Virginia. Virginia Bio-Connect is projected to foster the creation of 15 new life science companies and 254 new jobs, and to provide a more than $25 million boost to the state economy. The program will also launch a Virtual Entrepreneur in Residence Network (VERN), featuring four entrepreneurs who will support the companies.

Deborah Roder, business development manager, science, for Prince William County and co director of the Northern Virginia BioHub added, ?Virginia Bio Connect provides the resources life science startups need to navigate the industry-specific complex regulatory systems, find their highly skilled workforce, and locate the existing entrepreneur support systems already in place throughout the commonwealth ?

The five regional BioHubs and co leading entities are:

Charlottesville/Albemarle: CvilleBioHub and University of Virginia Licensing and Ventures Group

- Coastal Virginia: City of Virginia Beach Economic Development and Eastern Virginia Medical School

- Northern Virginia: Prince William County Department of Economic Development and George Mason University

Richmond: Activation Capital and VCU Innovation Gateway

- Roanoke/Blacksburg/Lynchburg: Virginia Tech Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and Carilion Clinic

-Colleen Rich

Resear ch Highl ight s

2021Highl ight s

Innovation Pharmaceuticals, of Wakefield, MA, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, the National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases (NCBID), and Aarthi Narayanan announced completion of extensive laboratory testing supporting anti SARS CoV 2 activity of Brilacidin, a defensin mimetic drug candidate, which is being developed as a potential COVID 19 treatment.

?We thank the scientists who have conducted an impressive amount of antiviral research on Brilacidin, which strongly supports its treatment potential in the fight against COVID 19,? commented Leo Ehrlich, Chief Executive Officer at Innovation Pharmaceuticals ?It is timely to have Brilacidin anchored in such sound science, as we anticipate commencing soon a clinical trial of Brilacidin for treatment of COVID 19. We look forward to continuing our antiviral research collaborations, while Brilacidin advances into clinical testing against COVID 19, where we believe Brilacidin can have a beneficial patient impact.?

-KyleWeston and TracyMason

ShaneCaswell and Emanuel Petricoin, in collaboration with global partners, have discovered the same protein biomarkers in the saliva of youth and collegiate athletes who have experienced concussive and sub concussive impacts

The findings, if validated in larger, independent studies, could be used to develop a new, rapid, noninvasive, saliva based test for concussion diagnosis and management, as well as a way to monitor changes to the brain following exposure to repetitive sub concussive impacts.

?Salivary biomarker research can, hopefully, enhance already existing tools that diagnose concussions, as well as track brain health over time,?said Caswell, one of the study?s lead researchers and executive director of Mason?s Sports Medicine Assessment, Research, and Testing (SMART) Laboratory. ?This is valuable, not only in all levels of sports, but also in military settings ?

-Hannah Kanfer

2021Highl ight s

Supersized alcopopsare ready-to-drinkflavored alcoholic beverages with high alcohol content that are disproportionately consumed by underage drinkers There can be up to 5 5 standard alcoholic drinks in a single 24 ounce can, so consuming only one can of supersized alcopop is considered binge drinking, and consuming two cans can cause alcohol poisoning. Still, these products remain under regulated and are available inexpensively at gas stations and convenience stores, where they are more readily accessible by underage youth. New research led by Matthew Rossheim found that nearly one half (46.3 %) of all calls to U.S. poison control centers involving supersized alcopop consumption were made for consumers below the legal drinking age Additionally, in every year studied, the proportion of calls for supersized alcopops among underage drinkers greatly exceeded the proportion of calls that were for underage drinkers for other types of alcohol.

Howdo environmental factorssuch as air pollution, chemical exposures, social, genetic, and neighborhood exposures influence obesity and asthma rates?We are also all aware that a new environmental exposure, the COVID 19 pandemic, has influenced our children?s access to social and educational resources How might this influence the health and developmental outcomes of our children?

Kathi Huddleston and her team are exploring these questions as it collaborates in the ECHO program, a seven year initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health. In addition to the large number of children included in the longitudinal study and the collaboration of the research teams to maximize the study effectiveness, ECHO is the first national longitudinal childhood study being conducted during a pandemic.

DanielleHawkins

DanielleHawkins

ParagChitnis, AssociateProfessor, Bioengineering, Pilgyu Kang, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Siddhartha Sikdar, Professor, Bioengineering, and Qi Wei, Associate Professor, Bioengineering, received $499,977 from the U.S. Department of Defense for the project: "Training and Recovery Augmented with Ultrasound Myography and Assessment (TRAUMA) Using a Flexible Ultrasound-Imaging Patch."

This funding began in March 2021 and will end in March 2024 EliseMiller-Hooksand her team have been studying and modeling the flow of patients through American hospitals in times of crisis since 2014.

Now, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are collaborating with Mersedeh Tariverdi who is a Senior Data Scientist in the Health, Nutrition, and Population Group at the World Bank to launch a web portal that will support models that aid hospital responses to the pandemic.

The team?s work supports evidence based decision making, informed by the models, to rethink and facilitate hospital operations when utilizing limited critical resources as demand surges

The models provide general recommendations that are made based on findings that assume a generic urban hospital design and crisis standards of care approaches to treating patients in this pandemic. Hospital administrators and others working in an official capacity can request runs of the MASH-Pandemics models through the portal to help them with decision making tailored for their hospitals or group of hospitals working in collaboration.

-Martha Bushong

2021Highl ight s

Giorgio Ascoli, a professor of bioengineering in the Volgenau School of Engineering, and his team created NeuroMorpho Org in 2006 to store the large amounts of data they needed to make computational models of neurons.

The open-access repository for neural reconstructions allows researchers to exchange data freely. The project makes neuroanatomy research faster and more efficient, says Ascoli, whose work is part of Mason's Institute of Biohealth Innovation

The reconstructions have been used to investigate the pathways of Alzheimer?s disease, epilepsy, and memory capacity They have also been used to investigate the effects of cosmic radiation on astronauts?central nervous systems.

?Real-world applications may include solving neurological and psychiatric problems and designing next generation computers capable of human like cognition,?Ascoli says.

Lauren Huey

Can virtual realityhelp peoplewith substance abuse issues avoid a relapse?A team of George Mason University researchers thinks it just might

The multidisciplinary team, which includes faculty members Holly Matto, Padmanabhan Seshaiyer, Stephanie Carmack, and Nathalia Peixoto, and graduate student Matthew Scherbel, is working with Brightline Interactive to examine the effects of recovery cues, using virtual reality simulations, on neurophysiological regulation to prevent drug relapse.

The work is supported by a Small Business Technology Transfer grant from the National Institutes of Health. Brightline Interactive is a team of creative technologists that designs and builds virtual reality experiences, specializing in rapid development of custom end-to-end hardware/software solutions. These solutions use immersive virtual reality/augmented reality/extended reality technologies and techniques to allow for simulated utilization of physical objects in virtual reality environments for simulation and training purposes.

?I am really excited about this project, not only because it addresses such a critical issue, as we have seen increases in substance use during pandemic, but also because it represents an extraordinary collaboration among technology industry professionals, university faculty, community clinical care, and individuals in recovery,?said Rebekah Hersch, interim associate vice president for research and innovation at Mason. ?As with nearly all complex problems, it takes a multidisciplinary team to tackle the problem and make a real difference in the lives of so many people.?

-Colleen Rich

Resear ch

The Inst it ut e for Biohealt h Innovat ion has a st rong t radit ion of conduct ing research of consequence and is w here t oday's ideas quickly becom e t om orrow 's realit y

MASONCOVIDANTIBODYTESTINGSHOWSALOTOF PROMISEINTHEBODY'SABILITYTOFIGHTTHE

VIRUS

George Mason University researchers say their study of COVID 19 antibodies in people previously been infected with the virus reveals the human immune system?s strong ability to fight the virus, even if they showed minimal or no symptoms Additional early results are showing that the vaccines being rolled out to combat the global pandemic generate a strong immune response.

Lance Liotta, the co-director, co-founder and medical director of the Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM) within Mason?s College of Science, and his colleagues are using an improved COVID 19 antibody test developed as part of a Mason clinical study to measure the body?s response to the vaccine.

?This research offers truth and hope,?Liotta said ?The public is anxious and very worried about the virus. They want to know if the vaccines work. They want to know if the antibodies made by the body after a natural infection or after a vaccine will actively work to fight the virus.

That welcome revelation could be key in lessening the chance for severe sickness and limiting the spread of the virus.

Additionally, the expanded antibody research is providing scientists new clues about devising treatments for COVID 19, Liotta said, because of the many ways each of the different antibodies combat the virus

?We are humbled at how good the immune system is at fighting this,?Liotta said Liotta and his team began their initial COVID 19 antibody study at the start of the global pandemic last spring The testing allows scientists see how the body recognizes and reacts to the virus, particularly important when it comes to asymptomatic cases.

The aim of COVID-19 vaccinations is to stimulate a similar antibody response that would provide that protection from the virus. Liotta?s team of internationally recognized experts in diagnostic testing includes colleagues Virginia Espina, the research professor who oversees the Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine?s CAP/CLIA certified laboratories, and Alessandra Luchini, the associate professor overseeing the development of the laboratory antibody assay in the nanotechnology lab They will collectively use their expertise in clinical laboratory medicine, biochemistry, bioinformatics, molecular biology and infectious diseases to confirm those antibody responses.

?Mason has been on the forefront of COVID research,?Espina said ?Since March, we have been working on different aspects of COVID research, and [Mason has been] very responsive to testing and keeping the campus community safe We have done a wonderful job as a university in being able to keep the university open, prevent layoffs and allow students to come back onto campus.?

John Hollis

Mason r esear cher s st udy r isk fact or s of br ain aneurysms andef f ect ivet r eat ment s f or high-r isk pat ient s

The localized enlargement of arteries in the brain, known as cerebral aneurysms, can have devastating consequences

George Mason University researcher Juan Cebral and his team are studying major risk factors for aneurysms and how to identify high risk patients who need prompt and aggressive treatments

This study, funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, includes clinical and research investigators from the University of Pittsburgh, Northwell Hospital in New York, Allegheny General Hospital, the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Tampere University Hospital in Finland, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Jikei University, and Geneva University Hospital These collaborators have assembled a database of approximately 3,000 aneurysms and have recently published three articles that have led to continued support from the National Institutes of Health.

Mason faculty are also working with Cebral, including Martin Slawaski from the College of Engineering and Computing, Rainald Lohner from the College of Science, and Fernado Mut from the Computational Hemodynamics Lab, which Cebral leads

"Our goal is t ohel p ident if y pat ient swho needr apidt r eat ment

The research team found two notable clinical characteristics among patients diagnosed with brain aneurysms: patients with blebs are more likely to have dental problems, such as periodontitis and other dental infections, and women who are undergoing hormone replacement therapy tend to have fewer blebs. They also discovered that the way the blood flows inside an aneurysm, and whether a bleb has a thick or thin wall, can help determine the condition?s severity.

?Blebs that had a strong blood flow generally had thinner walls compared to those with weak blood flows, which had thicker walls,?said Cebral, who is in the Department of Bioengineering ?The conclusion here is that not all blebs are the same: Some are more dangerous than others, and flow conditions may help us recognize which aneurysms need immediate treatment.?

Cebral is hopeful that the research findings contribute to progression in how aneurysms and blebs are currently evaluated and treated For instance, if the association between dental problems and bleb formation continues to be proven on a larger scale, Cebral suggests that an emphasis on intense dental hygiene may be an effective way to stabilize the aneurysm and avoid invasive treatment

?Our goal is to help identify patients who need rapid treatment and those whose diagnosis may not be as threatening,?said Cebral.

?Understanding that not all aneurysms and blebs are the same is important because we should not assign the same risk level or care plans to all patients ?

Hannah Kanfer and Katie Maney

Bl ack babies int heu.s.dieat t hr eet imes t he r at eof whit ebabies,masonpr ofessor 's r esear chshows

In the United States, Black newborn babies are three times more likely to die than white newborn babies during their initial hospital stays, according to a peer reviewed study co-written by Brad Greenwood, an associate professor of information systems and operations management sciences in George Mason University?s School of Business.

The study, published earlier this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that when Black doctors cared for Black babies, their mortality rate was cut in half

?The disparity is quite striking,?Greenwood said ?So the next question is why There?s a milieu of possible explanations, so the next step is to, through observations, find out the reasons for such a difference.?

Greenwood said that he hopes to see more studies closely examining different medical facilities to learn how to close the gap in care Greenwood said it would be important to look at the role that structural racism may play in the different outcomes in newborns. Although infant mortality rates have been declining for decades in the United States, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health finds that Black infants have 2.3 times the infant mortality rate as white infants.

?Strikingly, these effects appear to manifest more strongly in more complicated cases, and when hospitals deliver more Black newborns,?Greenwood and his co authors wrote ?The findings suggest that Black physicians outperform their white colleagues when caring for Black newborns.

In addition, the study found that there was no statistically significant improvement in maternal mortality for Black women being cared for by a Black doctor

Greenwood has previously co authored studies on medical disparities based on race and gender In a study published last fall, Greenwood and his co authors found that physicians should use digitized protocol when making decisions on patient care as a way of overcoming potential racial bias.

?It?s important to focus on the issues of disparities in health care to understand what?s going on and try to figure out how to change things for the better,?Greenwood said

StolleyPersky

's important t ofocus ont heissues of dispar it ies inhealt hcar et ounderstand what 's goingonandt ry t ofigur eout how t ochanget hings for t hebet t er . "

MasonResear chers usescent analysis for COVIDdiagnost ics

With COVID 19 continuing to spread throughout the world, there is a demand for rapid, noninvasive diagnostics. George Mason University researchers Robin Couch and Allyson Dailey, members of the College of Science and the Institute of Biohealth Innovation, are working to answer that call with their research on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for infectious disease detection.

VOCs are gases that emanate from a variety of sources, including from humans Much like a sommelier can smell wine and determine the composition of it, Couch and Dailey have been looking at the scent prints of bacteria They have been able to successfully diagnose mice infected with biothreat agents using this method, and were able to differentiate standard bacteria strains from antibiotic resistant strains, as seen in Nature Scientific Reports. Mason holds a patent around the technology on the extraction and analysis of gases through the VOCextraction chamber.

When the news of COVID struck the world in March 2020, the researchers embraced it as an opportunity to further test their approach on viruses. Through a partnership with Sentara Healthcare, trained nurses collected breath samples to support Couch and Dailey?s study, as well as performed the test for standard patient care. The research team analyzed the breath samples, compared results from the traditional diagnostic test, and trained their instrument on the difference in VOCs between positive and negative COVID results From there, they were able to take the breath samples and quickly discern whether or not a patient had COVID 19.

?Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center is excited to collaborate with George Mason University on this cutting edge research,?said Heather Causseaux, director of patient care services. ?We hope this study not only leads to advancements in patient care, but also the health care industry.?

The idea to use VOCs for COVID-19 diagnostics originated from a study in collaboration with Mason Science Associate Dean for Research Pat Gillevet and Rush University The team looked at the scent profile of fecal samples from healthy patients and from those who were clinically diagnosed with alcoholism to assist with detecting the disease. Couch and Dailey?s goal then shifted toward using the technique for diagnostics

Not only is VOCanalysis less invasive than conventional diagnostic testing using biofluids, such as urine, but it also has broad applicability in the medical field Rather than needing a battery of tests, VOCanalysis can simultaneously look for multiple diseases using the same sample and technique In fact, the researchers are optimistic that one day, scent analysis can be used for early disease intervention during regular checkups.

?Imagine being able to receive a whole body analysis through your scent profile when you go to your general practitioner,?said Couch. ?An instrument would be able to compare your scent to a library of diseases and promptly determine whether or not you have indicators of illnesses like diabetes or Parkinson?s disease, meaning you?re able to receive treatment sooner, or prevent the illness entirely.?

Another direction where the team would like to eventually take their VOCanalysis testingcapabilities is a surveillance tool For instance, Couch and Dailey envision that as individuals walk by a testing station, it could smell their VOCs and provide rapid diagnostic information in the form of green, yellow, and red lights based on the detection of transmissible diseases This could be especially valuable in public settings like schools and airports

The researchers use the technique?s potential to help others as motivation for continuing to pursue their studies.

?What excites me most about our investigation is knowing what I?m working on right now could be used to help a lot of people,?said Dailey. ?That?s what keeps me moving forward.?

Katie Maney

Usingult r asoundt echnol ogy t oimpr ovet hel ives of

amput ees

Bioengineering professor Siddhartha Sikdar is using technology to help individuals with limb loss better control their prostheses

His team is investigating a new way to operate prostheses using ultrasound waves to sense muscle activity

?Our goal is to help amputees go about their daily lives with improved function,?says Siddhartha Sikdar, who is director of the Center for Adaptive Systems of Brain-Body Interactions (CASBBI)

Approximately 50,000 individuals are living with upper limb loss in the United States A large proportion (35 to 45 percent) of people with upper extremity amputations discontinue the use of their prosthesis, mainly due to limited functionality and usability, Sikdar said, and there is a significant unmet need to develop better technological solutions to improve function.

His research group was recently awarded a Bioengineering Research Partnership grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop this technology for commercial use and perform clinical trials.

They are collaborating with the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to test this technology in a military population using another new grant from the Department of Defense They also have a grant from the Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund to explore prosthetic training applications using a wearable ultrasound system

The team is completing additional preliminary studies in amputee subjects using a benchtop system In the meantime, they are in the process of miniaturizing the ultrasound instrumentation to incorporate it inside a prosthetic socket and developing and testing embedded algorithms for interpreting the ultrasound signals for controlling the prosthetic hands

"Our goal is to help amputees go about their daily lives with improved function."

The next steps are to perform laboratory tests of an integrated system with people with amputations and perform safety evaluations in preparation for seeking FDA approval

The successful completion of this research will lead to the first human evaluation of an integrated prototype that uses low-power portable imaging sensors and real-time image analysis to sense residual muscle activity for prosthetic control, he says

?In the long term, we anticipate that the improvements in functionality and intuitiveness of control will increase acceptance by amputees,?Sikdar says.

Nanci Hellmich

Afr icanAmer icanbr east cancer survivors' car diovascul ar diseaser isk highbut knowl edgel ow

New research led by George Mason University?s College of Health and Human Services faculty Dr. Michelle Williams found that although African American breast cancer survivors have a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors, their knowledge about CVD is low.

African American breast cancer survivors are four times more likely to die from breast cancer than women of all other races and ethnicities, and they have a disproportionately high rate of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD)

New research led by George Mason University?s College of Health and Human Services faculty Dr. Michelle Williams assessed African American breast cancer survivors?risk factors and knowledge about CVD in the Deep South, where health disparities between African American women and women of other races is even larger.

They found that although African American breast cancer survivors have a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors, their knowledge about CVD is low.

The study was published in the Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice in February

They found that although African American breast cancer survivors have a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors, their knowledge about CVD is low

The study was published in the Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice in February

Specifically, participants scored low on knowledge about heart attack symptoms and CVD related medical information Participants with healthier diets and higher levels of education had higher levels of CVD knowledge.

?We know that several CVD risk factors, such as hypertension and obesity, can be modified through lifestyle behavior changes,?adds Williams. ?This is promising, but breast cancer survivors must be better informed about CVD risk by their health care providers ?

Their study included surveys of 70 breast cancer survivors who identified as African American or Black in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Georgia

?Our findings highlight the importance of informing African American breast cancer survivors about their increased risk for co-morbidities such as CVD and providing them with access to culturally appropriate CVD risk reduction interventions aimed at a variety of education levels,?explains Williams

Williams and colleagues are currently conducting the next phase of the study, which will provide more in-depth information about CVD risk factors among African American breast cancer survivors.

This research was supported by a grant from the Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (Grant Number U54 GM115428)

DanielleHawkins

Bust ingcr imes andsavingl ives:Mason's

Mult idiscipl inary r esear chinact ion

State officials across the country have seized counterfeit N95 masks Sometimes, they were caught when entering the country, some were on the brink of being distributed to hospital workers, and others had to be recalled right out of the hands of nurses.

But it isn? t enough to simply know how to spot them once they arrive at the doorsteps of hospitals and essential workers, and a multidisciplinary team has formed at Mason to disrupt the illicit supply chain of counterfeit PPEby identifying the source of counterfeiting respirators and how they enter legitimate supply chains.

Edward Huang from the College of Engineering and Computing and Louise Shelley from the Schar School of Policy and Government received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to combine their expertise and analyze the supply chain for counterfeit goods coming into the United States.

Their project has three parts The first part is understanding how the illicit supply chains work. The research team will use data and cybersecurity measures to learn how payments are processed, how they are hosting their websites, and how they communicate ?They need to find customers, and the internet is their best way to do that. Criminals usually set up websites, and we can look at those websites to learn where and who they are,?says Huang. They will also examine the transportation of the goods. ?Eventually, they ship to the United States. We are looking at the transportation systems where counterfeiting goods enter legitimate supply chains like airports or seaports,?says Huang

Fully understanding the path illicit goods take to get into the country allows them to move onto the next step, constructing descriptions of the supply chain that can help find ways to disrupt it. ?This kind of criminal activity, if we analyze the people behind it and their overall supply chain, we can find patterns,?says Huang.

Their analysis will eventually lead to studying strategies that government and corporate stakeholders can take to disrupt the chain before it reaches our shores

Huang and Shelley?s work combines artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data mining, sociological analysis, policy, and more to find patterns that can be disrupted in the supply chain. ?As engineers, we have the ability to use these tools like data mining to do great work, but we have to know which questions to ask,?says Huang.

Their five year grant also includes funding to hire undergraduate students, one in the Schar School and one in the College of Engineering and Computing?s Department of Cyber Security Engineering Together, the multidisciplinary team?s real-world implementation strategies can help halt the illicit supply chain altogether.

Already, the team has noticed that some counterfeiters are involved in two or three types of illicit activity ?We noticed some of these criminals switched to counterfeit PPElast year because of the pandemic,?says Huang And it is knowledge like this that helps them understand illicit supply chains long-term and their convergence.

?Counterfeit masks are nearly everywhere during the pandemic 3M reported more than 38 million counterfeit respirators since March 2020,?says Huang.

Mason

The Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics, operated by the George Mason University?s College of Health and Human Services, stand at the frontlines, offering interprofessional care to underserved populations

In collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department and Prince William Health District, the MAPClinics have fulfilled multiple roles during the pandemic. They have functioned as COVID 19 testing sites, administering more than 3,200 tests, performed contact and case tracing, and distributed more than 43,000 vaccinations

?I?m very proud of the MAPClinics?ability to identify and navigate barriers for the at risk communities we serve,?said Rebecca Sutter, who co-directs the MAPClinics as an Associate professor in the School of Nursing. ?We have worked to advocate for equity and adequate resources, including improving testing options and being one of the first clinics in the area to offer walk-in appointments for vaccinations.?

The MAPClinics quickly recognized the inequities their populations faced, many of whom are uninsured or are unable to quarantine due to the threat of economic strains. A large emphasis was put on educating the community and providing reassurance about vaccine safety and efficacy

In addition, the MAPClinics rapidly launched a telehealth platform for their acute and chronic care services, which include chronic disease management and behavioral health screenings Telehealth has been instrumental in providing medication assisted treatment and therapy

Elected officials, including Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton and Delegate Danica Roem, have lauded the MAPClinics for their dedication to serving the constituents in their respective districts. Prince William health district director Alison Ansher also finds the MAP Clinics to be vital community resources

"Our collaboration with the MAPClinics has enabled the Prince William Health District to expand its vaccination and testing programs, and to reach individuals who may be hesitant to be tested for COVID or receive the vaccine,?said Ansher.

The MAPClinics have also provided opportunities to Mason students across various disciplines. Through their academic community partnership model, students receive firsthand, guided experience giving interprofessional care to patients and responding to community-based needs in effective ways.

?We bring the future workforce into the communities to learn from them so that they will be better prepared for the next issues that we will need to address in public health,?said Sutter ?There is a lot of power in partnering and being able to leverage our expertise while training the next generation of healthcare and community leaders.?

KatieManey

The COVID-19 pandemic has left many people discovering different strategies to help cope with a rapidly changing world. For Niyati Dhokai, who leads the Veterans and the Arts Initiative as a research associate professor in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and a member of the Institute for Biohealth Innovation, it has meant creating inclusive arts workshops for Veterans, active duty Servicemembers, and their families

?I think that a lot of struggles that we've seen in our Veteran and military connected community members during the pandemic have been similar to what we've seen in our civilian communities: depression, anxiety, and general stress because we're all facing something that we've never dealt with before,?said Dhokai.

In March 2020, the Veterans and the Arts Initiative was gearing up to begin work on the second part of their contract with Creative Forces ®: NEA Military Healing Arts Network, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and the state and local arts agencies. They had planned to offer their ukulele workshop series, which had been wildly successful during its first run in August 2019, as a way to understand how the workshops contributed a sense of community and social support, along with discerning the different goals and motivations for participation When COVID 19 sent the world into a lockdown, Dhokai realized they?d have to switch to an alternative solution: offering the workshop online.

The online workshops did not come without their challenges In the beginning, Internet connections often failed due to high demand, and, for some participants, navigating the technology presented obstacles However, the Veterans and the Arts Initiative worked individually with community members to make them comfortable with using the platforms.

The workshops, both online and in person, have been met with high praise, with many people signing up for multiple programs or continuing in their chosen arts practice on their own Dhokai credits the access to a wide variety of university resources, as well as the hard work of her teammates, for their accomplishments

?My colleagues have come together from across the university to provide the pedagogical tools necessary to implement successful music and visual art workshops,?said Dhokai. ?It?s really special that we?re able to combine efforts and use our assets to best serve our military community ?

Dhokai hopes to ultimately design a sustainable model so that the Veterans and the Arts Initiative can continue to extend opportunities to community members. She also wants to ensure that the model is scalable and replicable at other military connected community sites across the country

?I am so proud of our Veterans and the Arts team, and all who are supporting the work,? said Rick Davis, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts ?Not only does this project make a tangible, immediate contribution to the well being of a very important population, but the research aspect takes it to another level regionally and nationally ?

Katie Maney

The George Mason University Center for Psychological Services has long been a resource for maintaining the mental health of the community around Fairfax and all of NoVA, and last week it instituted a program that will have a great impact on one vital segment of that community The center has established a COVID 19 Essential Workers Emotional Support Line, a telephone line that offers a space where those affected most by COVID 19 can speak to a trained provider about stress, anxiety, depression, or grief ? for free.

?The phone line is anonymous and confidential,?explained Robyn Mehlenbeck, director of the center. ?People call, and they can get mental health support from a trained provider. And then if we find that somebody thinking about nurses, respiratory therapists, healthcare providers in particular but it could be other folks, too - is reporting traumatic stress due to their experiences on the front line we offer specific trauma therapy ?

Mehlenbeck stressed that the support line is available for all essential workers, beyond those in the health care field

?It is really t rying t o find a w ay t hat w e could provide som e support t hat is accessible t o all essent ial w orkers ? t eachers, rest aurant w orkers, grocery st ore w orkers Lot s and lot s of people could qualify.?

The help line is staffed largely by Mason undergraduate psychology student volunteers, which is in keeping with the center?s goals, said Mehlenbeck. ?The overall mission of our center is serving as the primary training clinic for doctoral students in clinical psychology, and students in other areas of psychology as well. In addition to training, our mission is to also provide affordable, state of the art, accessible, and equitable care to anyone in the community ?

The students providing the support line assistance do so under the supervision of a licensed provider They receive over thirty hours of training in emotional support and coping skills, in addition to learning how to spot larger concerns and assist callers in obtaining help. ?The volunteers have to know with how to help a suicidal caller, for example, or what to do if someone mentions child abuse, or discloses that they are experiencing intimate partner violence,?said Kara Hokes, a PhD student in the clinical psychology program and the graduate program coordinator of the help line ?It?s giving the students opportunities to provide clinical care, which has been a valuable experience for them because that?s pretty rare to get at the undergraduate level "

The Essential Workers Emotional Support Line is a resource to offer emotional health support, not financial support However, the GMU Center for Psychological Services is one of only a few mental health providers that offers services on a sliding scale of fees. ?Anyone in the community is eligible for reduced fee, sliding scale fee services,?said Mehlenbeck. ?With COVID, we?ve gone as low as five dollars for a therapy session It?s that commitment to the community, and really making sure that we?re reaching people who couldn? t otherwise access services ? it?s just such a strong part of our mission ?

The Military, Veterans, & Families Initiative (MVFI), launched in November 2020, meets the needs of the military and veteran community in ways that directly align with Mason?s strengths as a public research university MVFI?s efforts are divided into four ?pillars?: research, education, services, and workforce development Mason is committed to the research priorities of the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs in many projects across its colleges and schools Approximately 10% of Mason?s student body self-identifies as military-connected, and Mason?s Office of Military Services works to support those students. Mason has multiple experiential learning activities that directly serve military service members, veterans, and families, including psychological assessments and therapy at the Center for Psychological Services. MVFI is also aiming to establish new internships to help train future professionals, such as students in healthcare programs.

Enhancing health and quality of life through effective translation of research findings is one of Mason?s primary goals. Diverse teams, formed by numerous Mason faculty and students, possess the expertise necessary to address many of the complex problems facing the military, including rehabilitative medicine, combat casualty care, and medical simulation Government agencies, nonprofits, and corporations are some of the external partners that MVFI and Mason are helping to generate across campus, enhancing the work being performed.

?As we increase the visibility of our work in this area, it will help foster new collaborations and deliver innovative solutions,?said Keith Renshaw, MVFI founder and director.

Through this initiative, Mason is humbled to serve those who have served our country by supporting Servicemembers, veterans, and their families.

owingBiohealt h

biohealth IP portfolio is rapidly growing. Our faculty are

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we are eager

MasonStart -Up Cer es Nanosciences Exper iences big wins and incr eases foot pr int in Pr inceWil l iam Count y

Ceres Nanosciences, a Northern Virginia bioscience company spun out of George Mason University that specializes in diagnostic products and workflows, has opened a 12,000 square foot advanced particle manufacturing plant in Prince William County?s Innovation Park.

The new facility increases the manufacturing capacity of Ceres?Nanotrap® Magnetic Virus Particles, which improve diagnostic testing for viruses like SARS CoV 2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus.

The completion of the new facility also reflects the partnership between Mason and the Prince William County Department of Economic Development (PWCDED).

"The PWCDED has a long-standing relationship with Mason, specifically with the Science and Technology Campus that anchors our bioscience hub in Innovation Park," said Christina Winn, executive director of PWCDED "Ceres was the first company to graduate our Science Accelerator, and we are invested in their growth as a leader, collaborator and innovator in our life sciences industry cluster "

The construction of the facility, which was completed in under four months, was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative to expedite the production and commercialization of diagnostic tests for the SARS CoV 2, the virus that has become known as COVID 19. Prince William County also supported the swift development of the site

Dunlap and his team have noticed significant gaps in the diagnostics industry and infrastructure in the United States, especially in response to an outbreak. He hopes that because the Nanotrap® Magnetic Virus Particles reduce sample processing time, eliminate the need for special kits, and create cost efficiencies, the technology can be leveraged to respond faster to future pandemics.

The base technology underlying the Nanotrap® particle was created by Mason?s Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM), which is led by co directors Lance Liotta and Emanuel Petricoin The technology was funded with a series of NIH grants from the NIH lnnovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) program

It was then licensed to Ceres Nanosciences in 2008 Follow on funding to advance the technology was awarded to the Ceres and Mason team by the NIH, the Center for Innovative Technology, Virginia Catalyst, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Department of Defense

With the assistance of Mason researchers, who played a large role in efforts such as testing particles and generating data, the technology evolved into a platform that can be modified and adapted to different applications, such as infectious diseases. For example, in 2015, Mason CAPMM scientists and Ceres Nanosciences demonstrated the use of the Nanotrap® technology for the detection of Lyme disease. Today, the Lyme Borrelia Nanotrap® Antigen Test is offered by Galaxy Diagnostics, a medical laboratory that specializes in tests for flea- and tick-borne pathogens

Dunlap said he and his team, along with continued support from Mason, are eager to help people return to pre-pandemic life.

?Our team is incredibly excited and motivated to come to work every day and produce these particles so that people can go back to work and school,?said Dunlap. ?We're proving why this technology has such value and why it can do so much for public health ?

Katie Maney

Mason's michael buschmannandt eam at start -upaexer na t her apeut ics,inc.

pursuepat ent s for impr ovedcovid-19 vaccines

George Mason University bioengineering professor Michael Buschmannand a team of scientific collaborators have devised improved lipid nanoparticle technologies to deliver mRNA that could make mRNA vaccines such as the COVID-19 vaccines less costly, with fewer side-effects and more available worldwide.

Vaccines with mRNA use lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to protect the mRNA and facilitate the immune system?s response to protect people against infection by viruses This technology has flattened the COVID-19 curve in Western industrialized nations, but the vaccine will need to evolve to reduce side effects and permit worldwide vaccination to eradicate the disease

Working with George Mason University?s Office of Tech Transfer (OTT) to form the start up AexeRNA Therapeutics Inc , Buschmann and his team have licensed the commercial rights of four patent applications to the company. The patents address two major LNP technology issues related to novel lipid molecules and novel methods of LNPmanufacturing

?Our solutions seek to make the vaccine more efficient, less costly, and decrease its adverse effects,?said Buschmann, the chair of the Bioengineering Department within Mason?s College of Engineering and Computing

By modifying the structure and composition of the LNPs, the researchers were able to make the vaccine more efficient, less toxic and easier to make, handle and distribute

They look forward to now sharing their discovery and helping in the fight against a global pandemic that has killed more than four million people around the world, including more than 600,000 Americans. The current success of mRNA vaccines also paves the way for their use in many other infectious diseases

?OTT ensures the protection of the intellectual property and works with start ups like AexeRNA to bring the scientific discoveries to the marketplace,?said Hina Mehta, director of the Office of Technology Transfer.

Buschmann and his partners see tremendous potential for mRNA and vaccines as they may hold the keys to unlocking the technology to fight variants of COVID, influenza, HIVand many other viral pathogens

Buschmann, Mikell Page from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry within Mason?s College of Science and Drew Weissman, Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania are the scientific founders of the Mason/University of Pennsylvania spin off The group also includes Mason postdoctoral research associate Suman Alishetty and PhD student Manuel Carrasco, University of Pennsylvania postdoctoral research associate Mohamad Alameh and venture capitalist and intellectual property lawyer Thomas Axel Haag

?We?re excited to move this technology into further preclinical development and scale up so that mRNA vaccines can be more widely and effectively used in pandemic and non pandemic settings,?Buschmann said.

Martha Bushong

Facult y Highl ight

Amira Roess, an epidemiologist and professor of Global and Community Health, has received Mason?s Outstanding Achievement Award. Every year, George Mason University recognizes employees for significant achievement in their contributions to Mason The Outstanding Achievement Award is given to individuals whose outstanding work exemplifies Mason?s values

Roess has played a vital role in Mason?s response to COVID 19 and the safe return to campus

With expertise in infectious disease epidemiology and pandemic response, Roess has played a vital role in Mason?s response to COVID 19 and the safe return to campus When the coronavirus led to the shutdown of businesses and campuses across the country, Roess led a team to create and launch the nation?s first online COVID 19 symptom and exposure tracker This tool, the Mason COVID Health Check? , has been vital to the university?s randomized testing and surveillance protocol. Last June, Dr. Roess was requested by the Virginia Council of Presidents to share the Mason COVID Health Check? with all Virginia universities.

Roess has also served on several committees that have informed Mason?s safe return policies and protocols. These committees involved coordinating efforts on screening, contact tracing, testing, and vaccinations Her contributions have been foundational to Mason?s response to COVID-19 and these successful strategies have played a big role in Mason?s low positivity rate. Furthermore, Roess is the recipient of two extramurally funding grants on COVID 19 transmission

Additionally, Dr Roess is also directing the new PhD in Public Health degree program within the Department of Global and Community Health, teaching a course on epidemiology, and working with several students on COVID-19 related projects in the disciplines of public health and engineering

Her tireless, multifaceted work demonstrates a clear commitment to excellence in the face of adversity Congratulations to Roess on this well deserved honor

-Sarah MaeDizon

Professor of Global and Community Health Amira Roess has been recognized for her excellence in community involvement, teaching, and research during the COVID-19 pandemic and Mason?s safe return to campus.

FACULTy

For as l ongas shecanr emember ,Ginny Espina,Phd Biosciences '13,has beencapt ivat edby science,a

passionl ar gely dr ivenby her inquisit ivenat ur e.

?I?ve always asked questions,?says Espina ?Why?Is there a better way?How can I take what I already know and make a difference in the world??

That same curiosity is what drives her in her research "My laboratory philosophy toward research is 'why, what if, and just try it,'" she says.

One does not have to look very hard to spot the differences she has made? Espina?s career is packed with accomplishments A research professor at George Mason University's Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, Espina founded the CAP/CLIA accredited clinical proteomics laboratory for clinical trials, where she serves as technical director and manager Espina also holds multiple patents with several colleagues from the university Espina has been instrumental to Mason?s efforts to keep the university community safe during the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. In October 2020, Espina and her team pivoted from their current research to concentrate on COVID In less than six weeks, they were able to develop and verify a saliva based COVID diagnostic test that is currently being used at Mason. Espina also assisted in the creation of a COVID antibody test that monitors vaccine and virus responses.

?Being part of the effort to fight the pandemic was exciting, but anxiety producing,?said Espina. ?However, we can now use what we learned for future infectious disease outbreaks and for our research platform in general.?

When not in the lab, Espina enjoys getting her family actively involved in science, from asking them to provide saliva samples for quality control, to brainstorming ideas with her children for their science fair projects. Her interactions with her family have led to one of her defining moments as a scientist: the realization that she needed to be able to translate her research to make it accessible to the everyday person

?As I explained my work to [my children], it dawned on me that being able to communicate your findings is what research is all about," says Espina "Success in research is the ability to describe what you do to many people.?

While Espina aims to leave a body of work for other researchers to build upon, her other ultimate goal is to kindle a love for science in those that she mentors

?I want to instill a sense of curiosity and wonderment about the world,?says Espina ?Take that leap, be bold enough to just try something, and never be afraid to ask, ?What if???

Katie Maney

St udent Highl ight

A parent who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect the whole family

A George Mason University researcher is looking at the effects of such stressors on children ages 6-12 and their emotional functioning.

With the support of an F31 National Research Service Award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health, Mason doctoral student Sarah Giff is examining the connection between parents with PTSD and their children?s emotional functioning, looking specifically at military families.

Giff, who is working on a PhD in clinical psychology in Mason?s Department of Psychology, said that the negative impacts on emotional functioning can be ?internalizing,?such as anxiety and depression, or ?externalizing,?with the child showing anger or acting out in some way.

?This construct of emotion socialization has three components: how parents model emotions for their children, how parents respond to their children's display of emotions, and how parents talk to their children about emotions,?said Giff, who earned an MA in psychology from Mason in 2017

Her research involves watching videos of parent-child interactions that were collected by researcher Abigail Gewirtz at the University of Minnesota Giff is coding these videos for specific types of behavior seen throughout the exchanges, such as if a parent responds in a supportive manner to a child expressing emotion. The goal is to see if there is a link between military servicemembers who are struggling to regulate their emotions as a result of PTSD and potential difficulties with helping their children control their own feelings.

Giff?s inspiration behind the study was a combination of prior PTSD research for her master?s thesis, along with PTSD-related research by her dissertation director, Mason psychology professor Keith Renshaw

?Best estimates show that roughly 10% 15%of veterans currently meet criteria for PTSD, with more who show some symptoms but don? t meet full criteria for a diagnosis,?said Renshaw, who leads the Military, Veterans, & Families Initiative at Mason and is an expert on the interpersonal dynamics of servicemembers and their families ?These symptoms, such as withdrawing from others and feeling emotionally numb, can have negative effects on relationships with family and friends, particularly partners and children.?

Giff believes her research will have broader applications to the general public and has been thinking specifically about frontline workers during COVID 19.

?There are high stress situations being created for families during COVID-19, especially if there is a family member who is working at a hospital every day and experiencing severe burnout,?said Giff ?We believe this research could help better educate and equip families facing these kinds of overwhelming challenges.?

With her research, Giff aims to raise awareness about the impacts of PTSD, both at the individual and family level.

?What I want to bring to light is when one person is enduring a burdensome level of stress, their family members may experience changes in their emotions and behavior, which can influence the course of treatment,?said Giff. ?Ideally, I'd like to better implement ways to help treat mental health issues with a family context in mind.?

Giff has worked at the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) at the Washington, DC, VA Medical Center Prior to attending Mason, she gained clinical research experience at the Corporal Michael J Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia and the Center for Autism Research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Giff credits the clinical training she received at Mason?s Center for Psychological Services as the catalyst for getting her involved in military related research, particularly its collaboration with the Virginia Veteran and Family Support

?There is so much more we need to learn about how PTSD symptoms can affect children and families as a whole,?said Giff ?I enjoy contributing to knowledge about how we help veterans and servicemembers recuperate from PTSD and how to form a supportive home environment for their recovery ?

Katie Maney

Remember ingMichael Buschmann

For m any, life is charact erized by t he relat ionships t hey forge w it h ot hers. Throughout his t im e at Mason, Michael ?Mike? Buschm ann, lat e chair of t he Depart m ent of Bioengineering, im pact ed num erous lives w it h his unrivaled int elligence and a passion for not only his research, but for t hose around him A beacon of support , his colleagues recall not only his disciplined nat ure, but his w illingness t o give encouragem ent t o anyone w ho reached out t o him . Buschm ann passed aw ay in March 2022.

To Buschmann, providing students powerful experiences and expanding research of consequence were top priorities for the constantly evolving bioengineering department. During his tenure as chair, the department saw growth in student enrollment and new faculty hires, along with increased annual research output Committed to aligning curriculum and research activities with the needs in the life sciences sector, he also launched the Mason Bioengineering Alliance. The group, composed of leaders from industry, government, non profits, and healthcare, helps to identify new opportunities and make strategic connections to aid in the department?s advancement

?Mike defined the mission of the Department of Bioengineering,?said Ken Ball, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing.?He was a leader amongst his peers and added tremendous value to everything we have accomplished ?

Aiming to discover solutions to some of medicine?s most pressing problems, Buschmann, in collaboration with colleagues and collaborators, started the Mason and University of Pennsylvania spin off, AexeRNA Therapeutics Inc The company is dedicated to the development of improved mRNA therapeutics and vaccines by leveraging their cutting-edge lipid nanoparticle delivery technology. The partnership includes Drew Weissman and Mohamad Gabriel Alameh and from the University of Pennsylvania, Mikell Paige, Suman Alishetty, and Manuel Carrasco from George Mason University, and Thomas Haag from AexeRNA

?He was a person who genuinely wanted to change the world,?said Carrasco, a PhD student in the Department of Bioengineering ?His values were reflected through his work, and it was clear to everyone who interacted with him that he wanted to use his incredible mind to do good.?

Nurturing by nature, Buschmann continuously uplifted his colleagues in their growth as researchers. Through his efforts in assisting junior faculty with encountering early success, as well as advising senior investigators who were ready for the next step in their careers, Buschmann inspired his coworkers to pursue their own paths Additionally, he believed devoting time to truly understanding students and their professional aspirations was crucial in his role as a mentor.

?Mike could see your strengths and help you achieve your full potential through his thoughtful guidance,?said Remi Veneziano, an assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering.

Buschmann?s spirit lives on through his colleagues, who intend to carry on his work They cite his altruistic attitude as their motivation for performing research that makes a difference in people?s lives.

?We are determined to continue Mike?s legacy,?said Alishetty, a research assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering. ?He was driven by his desire to give back to society: now it?s our turn.?

Katie Maney

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