Cell Injury and Tissue Engineering Group
Principal Investigator
Pamela J. VandeVord, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering
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Mailing Address:
818 W. Hancock, Detroit, MI 48201
Office Location:
Room 2213, Bioengineering Center
Phone Numbers:
(313) 577-3852 office
(313) 577-1863 lab
Fax:
(313) 577-8333
E-mail:
pvord@wayne.edu
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Dr. VandeVord received her B.S. in Physiology from Michigan State University and M.S. in Basic Medical Sciences from Wayne State University. After completing her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Wayne State University, she has been working as an Assistant Professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department. She is an active member of the Society for Biomaterials, Biomedical Engineering Society, and Society of Women Engineers.
Courses Taught:
BME 5005: Introduction to Cell Biology
BME 5010: Engineering Physiology
BME 5250: Spine and Hip Fractures in Elderly
BME 5380: Biocompatibility
BME 5670: Experimental Methods in Physiology
BME 7380: Advanced Biocompatibility
BME 8070: Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Research Areas and Interests:
- Mechanism of Blast-Induced Traumatic Brain Injury
Our research interest in traumatic brain injury (TBI) focuses on the mechanism of injury due to blast overpressure at the cellular level. Blast-related TBI is quickly becoming the most frequently seen injury in today’s battlefields. Persistent symptoms such as headaches, sleep disturbance, and light and noise sensitivities were reported. Cognitive functions (attention, memory, language, and problem solving skills) also appear to be disrupted. Furthermore, behavioral symptoms such as impulsiveness, and emotional changes such as depression, anxiety, and emotional outbursts are of significant concern (Okie, 2005).
We are studying the fundamental questions concerning the mode of blast energy transfer to the brain as well as the consequent damage or disruptive mechanisms at the cellular level. Our research is innovative because it integrates the fields of biomechanics and neuroscience, which is necessary to understand the mechanism behind blast related neurotrauma. We are investigating individual cell types (neurons, microglia, and astrocytes) as well as correlating the pressure effects seen with work at the tissue level. We hope that investigating the mechanism of overpressure injury will provide the groundwork for reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with blast neurotrauma.
Reference:
Okie S. Traumatic brain injury in the war zone. N Engl J Med 2005;352(20):2043-7.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DETROIT FREE PRESS ARTICLE
Barochamber pressure readings during in vitro blast experiment follow the classical Friedlander wave formation. Transducers displayed 10-ms duration with an average peak pressure of 30 psi (207 kPa).
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A) Shock tube located at Wayne State University. B) Equipment set-up for rat study. C) Pressure reading data retrieved from one shock tube test. |
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A) Rat brain tissue exposed to blast wave demonstrates significantly higher levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression as compared to B) a non-blasted tissue. |
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Image depicting how the shock front of the blast attenuates with distance from the explosion. A blast is a chemical explosion in air in which the expanding gaseous products compress the surrounding air and generate a shock wave which propagates away from the source or epicenter. The blast creates high pressures above ambient, which is thought to be responsible for injury. Those closer to the blast source will be exposed to a higher pressure wave impact verses those further away. |
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- Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Materials and Strategies
Despite advances in nerve repair and reconstruction, full functional recovery is still uncommon. Treatment of damaged and severed peripheral nerves involves suturing of opposing nerve ends or, if there is a gap, attachment of a nerve guide for bridging the two undamaged ends together. Nerves from a different part of the patient’s body (autograft) or from a donor individual (allograft) are the clinical standard nerve guide materials. However, due to the limited availability of autografts and allografts and their risk of disease transmittance, researchers were compelled to develop engineered nerve guides based on synthetic and naturally-occurring components.
Our laboratory is currently developing implantable biomaterials and constructs that promote axonal regeneration and directional guidance in the rat sciatic nerve model. Moreover, with the incorporation of timed-release neurotrophic factors, we expect to improve the functional recovery injured experimental animals.
Stable cell line transfection
Microencapsulation of cells
Electrospinning of nanofibers
Promotion of neurite extension
VandeVord Group Members:
webpage maintained by: Roche de Guzman
last updated:
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 1:18 AM
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