The 21st-Century Doctor Bag USC biomedical engineers and physicians are working on extraordinary new devices to diagnose and treat illnesses. Some examples: Radiating Skin Cancer
A system of “pulsed power” technology utilizing intense electric fields is being investigated for the treatment of certain skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, by Martin Gundersen, professor of electrical engineering at USC Viterbi, and David Sawcer, assistant professor of clinical dermatology at the Keck School. Aiding Vision
George Tolomiczenko & Terry Sanger David Z. D’Argenio put forward the idea of using advanced systems modeling – a basic tool of engineering – in biomedical research. All 15 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies now use BMSR-developed methods and software as part of their process for testing new drugs. Thousands of scientists have attended training sessions held by BMSR to learn how to use BMSR software and other techniques to guide research. Finally, BMSR would not exist here in the absence of the USC Viterbi School Department of Biomedical Engineering, founded in 1968 by then-dean Zohrab Kaprielian and Fred Grodins (the namesake of the department’s annual lecture). “We are continuing to reap the benefits from the leadership of these two USC visionaries, who understood the promise of uniting medicine and engineering for improving human health,” says D’Argenio. – Eric Mankin
The Health, Technology, and Engineering program grows directly out of Terry Sanger’s unique career and vision. He is a physician (a pediatric neurologist treating children with cerebral palsy) and an inventor of medical devices. George Tolomiczenko, who is assembling the nuts and bolts of the program, combines a Ph.D. in clinicial psychology with master’s degrees in public health and business administration.
Norberto Grzywacz, chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and director of the Center for Vision Science and Technology at USC Viterbi, is working on two devices to help those with visual disabilities – optical and molecular imaging methods for very early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy, and new visual displays to improve the quality of life for people with age-related macular degeneration.
Eyesight to the Blind
Mark Humayun, of the Keck School and USC Viterbi, and his colleagues have developed award-winning prosthetic retinas (above) that are restoring partial sight to some blind persons. Anti-Cancer Gold
Embedding energy-exposing microscopic gold particles in tissues can kill adjacent cancer cells – and also help image areas where cancer may exist. This work is being done in the lab of Michelle Povinelli, assistant professor of electrical engineering/electrophysics. Continued on page 25 U S C T R O J A N F A M I L Y M A G A Z I N E spring 2011
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