Tech Briefs Magazine - July 2021 - 51

FACILITY FOCUS
Duke University Pratt School of Engineering
uke University was created in 1924 by James Buchanan
Duke as a memorial to his father, Washington Duke. The
School of Engineering was founded in 1939 and renamed the
Pratt School of Engineering in 1999 in honor of 1947 graduate
Edmund T. Pratt Jr., a former chief executive of Pfizer.
Duke engineering faculty and alumni have contributed to a
number of important high-impact technologies including clinical
ultrasound imaging, restoration of hearing by cochlear
implant, megapixel photography, and metamaterials.
The Pratt School of Engineering maintains these academic
departments:
D
* Biomedical Engineering
* Civil & Environmental Engineering
* Electrical & Computer Engineering
* Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering &
Materials Science
Biomedical Engineering
The Biomedical Engineering (BME) division was founded in
1967. The department's close proximity to Duke University
Medical Center has fostered an interdisciplinary approach to
research, with engineers working closely with both biological
scientists and physicians.
Biomaterials: Focus areas include the molecular design of
soft materials, nanomaterials, immune-active materials,
scaffolds for tissue engineering, and complex
mechanisms by which materials engage
biology. Research in biomaterials has
led to the development of implantable
biomedical devices and continues
to be central to the introduction
of new medical therapies
ranging from engineered tissues
to delivery vehicles for
genes and drugs, to im -
mune therapies.
Biomechanics and
Mechanobiology: Research
efforts range from applications
in orthopedics, injury
mechanics, biomaterial, and tissue
engineering design to those
aimed at affecting disease states.
Biomedical and Health Data Sciences: The
increasing availability of electronic health
records data has enabled data-driven inquiry
into contemporary healthcare issues. Researchers
are developing data science, machine learning, and
digital health modeling approaches to transform multiscale
biomedical data (e.g. imaging and wearable sensors)
into actionable health insights.
Tech Briefs, July 2021
Cov
Biomedical Imaging and Biophotonics: Duke researchers have
pushed the boundaries of innovation in optics and photonics,
ultrasound, MRI, X-ray, and nuclear medicine-based imaging
technologies, developing new diagnostic and treatment tools
for ailments ranging from cancer to cardiovascular, neurological,
and ophthalmic diseases.
Biosensors and Bioinstrumentation: Recent advances in biochemistry,
electronics, omics, and physiology are used to
develop novel diagnostic, therapeutic, and prosthetic devices.
Biosensor researchers engineer macro- and nano-scale
devices that utilize biological components, such as antibodies
or enzymes, to detect and quantify minute amounts of chemicals
or investigate biological processes in diverse systems and
environments.
A 3D rendering of the
first fully recyclable
printed transistor.
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ToC
Computational Modeling of Biological Systems: Researchers
focus on the study and advancement of computational methods
and data analysis techniques to understand biological
phenomena. This quantitative research uses modeling and
simulation, high-performance computing, and large-scale
data analysis to create testable hypotheses about mechanisms
driving complex biological function.
Neural Engineering: Researchers develop novel neural
technologies such as brain machine interfaces,
neural prostheses, and implantable
devices for the treatment
of neurological disorders.
Current activity includes
deep brain stimulation
for the treatment of
motor disorders,
electrical stimulation
for the restoration
of bladder function,
and electrical stimulation
for restoration of multijoint
motor function.
Bioelectric Engineering: This area
spans a range of length scales from
the ion-channel to the organ level. One
of the main areas of focus is the development
of realistic mathematical and computer
models of cardiac muscle.
Technologies - Originally launched on April 2,
2020, CovIdentify was designed to explore how data
collected by smartphones and smartwatches could
help determine whether or not device users have
COVID-19. The project explored how biometric information
like sleep schedules, oxygen levels, activity levels, and
heart rate can help indicate early symptoms
of COVID-19. Recently, the team launched
an iOS application and sent devices to tar51
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Tech Briefs Magazine - July 2021

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