Arthritis and Bacterial Infection Research Nabs Win for Stevens Student
Stevens undergrad demonstrates how bacteria infection plays a role in arthritis.
Hoboken, NJ, January 19, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Nearly one-quarter of all adults experience some form of arthritis, leading to over $100 billion annually in medical costs and earnings losses. A Chemical Engineering student from Stevens Institute of Technology, David Monteiro, has conducted fundamental research that deepens our understanding of certain types of arthritis and brings medical science closer to effective treatments. David's research presentation recently took second place in an American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) conference.
Some crippling forms of arthritis are caused by bacterial infection in the joints, triggering inflammation, swelling, and pain. David's study used synovial fluid, a viscous liquid found within joints that provides for lubrication and circulates oxygen and nutrients, to grow bacteria biofilms, incredibly resilient communities of bacteria that can produce powerful infections.
His research is providing new insight about the organisms that form biofilms and the mechanisms by which they are produced. "It was previously thought that synovial fluid was a sterile environment," David reports, "but this study proved that it is not true. Bacteria actually can survive in the fluid and membranes around your joints."
But research on internal bacterial infections goes far beyond arthritis. Better understanding of bacteria biofilms is a necessity as scientists look to improve performance in the orthopedics industry, a nearly $20 billion market that grows as America's population ages.
David gained his first exposure to research working on this subject as a freshman in the lab of Dr. Woo Lee, George Meade Bond Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, who is inventing new ways to prevent infection in orthopedic implants. Since bacterial infections are difficult to cure and can result in implant failure, Dr. Lee and other researchers are developing unique implant materials and surfaces coated in antibiotic pharmaceuticals. David has helped create the microfluidic devices that grow three-dimensional tissue cultures for studying the effects of experimental pharmaceuticals on biofilms.
As a Cooperative Education student, David also gained professional experience in the biomedical field through a semester of employment at Stryker Orthopedics, where he worked on a project to enhance bone bonding on knee implants.
David believes that these diverse research and work experiences available through Stevens have given him the upper hand on future success in a scientific career.
"Research opportunities at Stevens and abroad have exposed me to different ways of thinking, different approaches to research, and different tools," David says. "Through co-op, I learned how being creative is critical to solving big problems, but that you also have to analyze the data seriously and not draw quick conclusions about how your research problem will resolve."
He feels these experiences have helped him become more mature as a scientist and as a person. "You learn about the field and also about yourself," David says of challenging research assignments. "Dr. Lee provides a positive environment where you are challenged to learn but also trusted to make important achievements."
The award for David's research presentation came at the AIChE National Student Conference, an event that brings together student engineers from more than 100 schools to compete, network, and learn about careers in chemical engineering. The 2011 National Student Conference was held last October in Minneapolis.
About the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
The mission of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science is to provide high-quality education and cutting-edge research training to students with strong disciplinary fundamentals and broad interdisciplinary and societal perspectives as adaptive experts and future leaders and innovators in their chosen profession. The programs offered by the Department produce broad-based graduates who are prepared for careers not only in traditional petrochemical, environmental, and specialty chemical industries, but also in such high technology areas as biochemical and biomedical engineering, electronic and semi-conductor processing, ceramics, plastics and high-performance materials, and electrochemical processing. Qualified undergraduates work with faculty on research projects, and many graduates pursue advanced study in chemical engineering, bioengineering or biomedical engineering, medicine, law, and many other fields.
Learn more: www.stevens.edu/ses/cems/
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Some crippling forms of arthritis are caused by bacterial infection in the joints, triggering inflammation, swelling, and pain. David's study used synovial fluid, a viscous liquid found within joints that provides for lubrication and circulates oxygen and nutrients, to grow bacteria biofilms, incredibly resilient communities of bacteria that can produce powerful infections.
His research is providing new insight about the organisms that form biofilms and the mechanisms by which they are produced. "It was previously thought that synovial fluid was a sterile environment," David reports, "but this study proved that it is not true. Bacteria actually can survive in the fluid and membranes around your joints."
But research on internal bacterial infections goes far beyond arthritis. Better understanding of bacteria biofilms is a necessity as scientists look to improve performance in the orthopedics industry, a nearly $20 billion market that grows as America's population ages.
David gained his first exposure to research working on this subject as a freshman in the lab of Dr. Woo Lee, George Meade Bond Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, who is inventing new ways to prevent infection in orthopedic implants. Since bacterial infections are difficult to cure and can result in implant failure, Dr. Lee and other researchers are developing unique implant materials and surfaces coated in antibiotic pharmaceuticals. David has helped create the microfluidic devices that grow three-dimensional tissue cultures for studying the effects of experimental pharmaceuticals on biofilms.
As a Cooperative Education student, David also gained professional experience in the biomedical field through a semester of employment at Stryker Orthopedics, where he worked on a project to enhance bone bonding on knee implants.
David believes that these diverse research and work experiences available through Stevens have given him the upper hand on future success in a scientific career.
"Research opportunities at Stevens and abroad have exposed me to different ways of thinking, different approaches to research, and different tools," David says. "Through co-op, I learned how being creative is critical to solving big problems, but that you also have to analyze the data seriously and not draw quick conclusions about how your research problem will resolve."
He feels these experiences have helped him become more mature as a scientist and as a person. "You learn about the field and also about yourself," David says of challenging research assignments. "Dr. Lee provides a positive environment where you are challenged to learn but also trusted to make important achievements."
The award for David's research presentation came at the AIChE National Student Conference, an event that brings together student engineers from more than 100 schools to compete, network, and learn about careers in chemical engineering. The 2011 National Student Conference was held last October in Minneapolis.
About the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
The mission of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science is to provide high-quality education and cutting-edge research training to students with strong disciplinary fundamentals and broad interdisciplinary and societal perspectives as adaptive experts and future leaders and innovators in their chosen profession. The programs offered by the Department produce broad-based graduates who are prepared for careers not only in traditional petrochemical, environmental, and specialty chemical industries, but also in such high technology areas as biochemical and biomedical engineering, electronic and semi-conductor processing, ceramics, plastics and high-performance materials, and electrochemical processing. Qualified undergraduates work with faculty on research projects, and many graduates pursue advanced study in chemical engineering, bioengineering or biomedical engineering, medicine, law, and many other fields.
Learn more: www.stevens.edu/ses/cems/
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Contact
Stevens Institute of Technology
Christine del Rosario
201-216-5561
http://buzz.stevens.edu/index.php/arthritis-research-bacteria-infection
Christine del Rosario
201-216-5561
http://buzz.stevens.edu/index.php/arthritis-research-bacteria-infection
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