"The results of our work will not only produce new systems for culturing pluripotent stem cells but also delivery systems for controlling cell type and function with the heart of the patients," Suggs said.
Tutuc's project is to develop semiconductor nanowire heterostructures with high-electron mobility by combining state-of-the-art semiconductor growth and processing techniques. Such nanowire heterostructures can serve as high-speed, low-power electronic devices, and can potentially enable cooler, more energy-efficient, high-performance electronic circuits.
Vikalo will focus on improving the signal-processing aspects of biosensor arrays, a lab-on-chip system designed to detect the presence and count the amounts of various biomolecules such as nucleic acids, antibodies and cell receptors. Biosensor arrays are time- and cost-efficient with applications in medicine, drug discovery, defense systems and environmental monitoring.
As part of his work, Vikalo will develop coding strategies that will improve the reliability of biosensor array systems.
Zhang's award will support his research on the integration of nanophotonics with microelectromechanical systems to better understand gene expression under controlled disturbances of live cells and embryos. A unique, luminous probe-based platform will be developed -- combining sub-cellular surgery, force sensing and live microscopy -- to study a wide range of molecular dynamics in live cells.
"The work could have a profound impact in understanding how environment-induced 'errors' in gene action may lead to birth defects, neurodegenerative disease and cancer," Zhang said.
Ben-Yakar became a university faculty member in 2004. She earned her doctorate in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. Last year she received national and international press coverage for the development of a l
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| Contact: Daniel J. Vargas daniel.vargas2@engr.utexas.edu 512-471-7541 University of Texas at Austin Source:Eurekalert |