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Biomedical Engineering Research Seminar

Bryan J. Pfister

Materials and Medicine, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Abstract

Forces and displacements play essential roles in the development and maintenance of all living organisms, but at the extremes, can induce pathological cellular responses. The biomechanics in living systems includes traction in cell motility, motor proteins driving cellular transport, tensegrity of the cytoskeleton, mechanotransduction of signal pathways as well as the initiation of secondary injury processes. Our overall research objectives encompass how mechanical forces affect the nervous system – spanning from stretch-induced growth during development to the biomechanical loading parameters in various types of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). To address specific questions, the laboratory engineers systems that recapitulate the mechanical environment surrounding neural tissues, exploring the relationship forces play in modifying neurons and their processes and to exploit these processes to enhance regeneration and repair. Using in vitro and animal models, we aim to specifically elucidate biological mechanisms, electrophysiological function, and behavior in the nervous system under normal and injurious conditions as well as conditions that induce axon growth and regeneration.  In this seminar, we will explore a mechanism termed extreme axon stretch-growth, the effects of trauma biomechanics on pathological and behavior in brain injuries and how we are investigating how the rate, magnitude, duration and impulse of the mechanical perturbation (such as a blast injury vs. a blunt trauma from a fall) leads to differing alterations in neuronal function.

Bio

Bryan Pfister received his PhD in Material Science and Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University in 2002 and did his post-doctoral study in the Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania. He joined the NJIT Biomedical Engineering Department in January 2006 where he has served as Department Chair for the past 8 years. Dr. Pfister’s research encompasses how mechanical forces affect the nervous system - developing new approaches answering long standing questions on the critical role of biomechanical loads on the growth of neurons to the pathogenesis of blast and brunt traumatic brain injuries (TBI) at molecular, cellular and systemic scales. Through novel bioreactor design and biomechanical based methods, his team demonstrated that axon stretch-growth is strain limited and regulates gene transcription distinct from known regenerative associated genes. As director, the Center for Injury Biomechanics, Materials and Medicine focuses on the biomechanics of brain injury from blunt and blast injuries using both animate models and full scale inanimate models of the human brain. He has introduced innovative TBI in vitro and animal models that can precisely control the biomechanical loading parameters. These remain unique models that can independently control the rate, magnitude and impulse of injury. His work has a great impact by linking the rate and impulse of load to the induction and progression of neuronal injury. He has been funded by the Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research. Dr. Pfister maintains a diverse research group of students at all levels training together from undergraduate to postdoctoral scientists. He focuses on the inclusion of students with disabilities and is proud of consistently providing extracurricular experiences at the undergraduate level including a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program and the McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program. Dr. Pfister has recently developed an UG training program, funded in part by an NIH T34 U-RISE program.

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