Research

AWARDED GRANTS

Current Projects

Project Title: EAGER: Events-of-interest Capture Using Novel Body-worn Fully-passive Wireless sensors for S&CC
Funding Agency: NSF CISE
Role PI (with collaboration with Dr. Harmon and Dr. Rahman)
Duration: 2016-2018
Summary: Patients with chronic illness require frequent and avoidable hospital visits. This project aims to develop a new class of battery-less, low-cost, disposable, wireless electronic patch sensors to monitor a variety of physiological signals and a custom smartphone app to monitor their health status and to elect to share their anonymized events-of-interest with their community towards a smart and connected community (S&CC). This will empower users, permit the community stakeholders to assess population health status, reduce the need for frequent hospital visits, and help identify potential individual and community actions to achieve improvement in health status. The project also involves the training of undergraduate and graduate students in interdisciplinary research activities on emerging technologies, and is expected to impact public and private sector efforts to improve healthcare.

Project Title: Direct Inkjet Printable Low-voltage Active Flexible Electronic Component Fabrication
PI: Bashir Morshed, Electrical and Computer Engineering Tomoko Fujiwara, Chemistry Robert Hewitt, Engineering Technology Frank Andrasik, Psychology
Duration: 2016-2018
Summary: The goal of this research project is to fabricate functional, low-voltage operable active electronic components, such as diodes and transistors, with direct inkjet printing technique for body-worn electronic sensors. With this overarching goal, we propose applying this promising IJP technology to develop active electronic components (e.g., diodes, transistors) on flexible, low-cost substrates such as paper and polyimide films. In order to develop a lost-cost direct IJP active flexible electronic components, we will explore (a) how to formulate the required semiconducting inks with various doping for fine tuning hole/electron injection level, (b) how to fabricate functional active electronic components that will operate at low voltages, and (c) how to assess the consumer trust, usability and acceptability of body-worn sensors based on these IJP electronic components to monitor physiological signals.

Project Title: Hybrid nanoparticles for capture and detection of circulating tumor cells
Funding Agency: NIH R15
Role: Collaborator (with collaboration with PI Dr. Huang, Dept of Chemistry, et al.)
Duration: 2015-2018
Summary: The goal of this application is to develop a versatile system for capture, detection, enumeration and molecular profiling of circulating tumor cells (CTSs) in whole blood based on the unique capabilities of dually functional iron oxide-gold (IO-Au) core-shell nanoparticles (NPs), surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy and microfluidics. Using breast cancer as a model, the project will be accomplished through the following specific aims: 1. Develop multicolor IO-Au SERS nanoprobes targeting different CTC surface markers, 2. Develop a microchip-based system for on-line magnetic enrichment, SERS detection and molecular profiling of CTCs with multiplexed multicolor IO-Au SERS nanoprobes, 3. Assess the ability of our system to detect CTCs in blood samples from metastatic breast cancer patients via comparison with conventional flow cytometry.

Project Title: Smart Multiple Stimuli-Responsive Biomaterials For Local Drug Delivery
Funding Agency: FedEx Institute of Technology (FIT) – Innovation Grant
Role: CoPI (with collaboration with Dept of Nursing, PI: Dr. Tak / Dr. Lin)
Duration: 2012-2016
Summary: The need for the point of care local delivery system to be smart multiple stimuli-responsive is the next enhancement required to achieve both infection prevention and bone restoration in the complex musculoskeletal injuries and surgical sites. Specific aims of this project are to: 1. Design, formulate, develop and select a modified degradable "smart" chitosan delivery system for the point of care loading and delivery of antibiotics and growth factor 2. Evaluate the elution kinetics, bioactivity of eluates, and biocompatibility 3. Investigate the "smart" chitosan delivery system in a relevant in vivo model.

Past Projects (Since joining the University of Memphis)

Project Title: Feasibility of integrating a flexible wearable neuro-sensing micro device for continuous cognitive neurological tracking in dementia
Funding Agency: FedEx Institute of Technology (FIT) – Innovation Grant
Role: CoPI (with collaboration with PI Dr. Tak / Dr. Lin, Dept of Nursing, et al.)
Duration: 2013-2016
Summary: The Center for Technologies and Research in Alzheimer's Care (CTRAC) is a new multidisciplinary research center committed to research and development for innovative technologies to improve the health and quality of life of persons with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) or cognitive impairment. The CTRAC researchers will be involved in three focused research activities: 1. development of the prototype of Solution for Activity & Game Engagement (SAGE), an automated and adaptive software system that assists persons with AD or cognitive impairment in performing computer activities and games, 2. demonstration of the feasibility of integrating an innovative new flexible neuro-sensing micro device for continuous tracking of cognitive neurological changes, and 3. examining effects of a therapeutic computer-assisted stimulating activity program on neurocognitive improvement in persons with AD.

Project Title: Dry Electrodes on Flexible Electronics
Funding Agency: FedEx Institute of Technology (FIT) – Innovation Grant
Role: PI
Duration: 2013-2016
Summary: Body worn sensors are considered the next generation medical devices for patient monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis and assessment of treatment efficacy. One aspect of this project is to develop multiple wireless analog fully-passive sensors (rWAPS) that will be simultaneously interrogated to collect various physiological parameters. The other aspect of this proposal is to develop a sparsely distributed V-CNT based dry EEG electrode that will maintain improved signal quality (high surface contact area, low interfacial potential, active electrodes), ability for long duration of operation (dry, stable electrode), conformable (flexible), and breathable (sparse array).

Project Title: Capture and Detection of CTC in Whole Blood Using Hybrid Nanoparticles and Microfluidic Devices
Funding Agency: FedEx Institute of Technology (FIT) – Innovation Grant
Role: CoPI (with collaboration with PI Dr. Huang, Dept of Chemistry, et al.)
Duration: 2014
Summary: Our goal is to develop a versatile system for capture and detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in whole blood based on the unique capabilities of nanotechnology, microchip technology and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. We will accomplish these aims through a two-phase set of studies: (I) Development of multiplexed multicolor IO-Au SERS Nanoparticles (NPs) and a microscopic system for fluorescent imaging and SERS detection and (II) Development and evaluation of a microfluidic device for on-line capture and detection of CTCs.

Project Title: To Improve Teaching Strategies for Children w/ Developmental Delays Utilizing Wireless EEG
Funding Agency: Strengthening Communities Initiative (SCI) – Capacity Building Grant
Role: PI (with collaboration with Special Kids and Families (SKF), Memphis TN)
Duration: 2012-2014
Summary: Children with developmental delays are full of potential and have very diverse needs and learning differences. The project aims: 1. to create a wireless electroencephalogram (EEG) for easy and immediate feedback of children in classroom, 2. to improve teaching strategies for children with developmental delays utilizing this technology, and 3. to impact the community be strengthening it's children who have developmental delays.