News & Events

Department Events

Events

• Feb

  11

  BME Seminar Series: Kam Leong, PhD

  McCormick - Biomedical Engineering Department

  4:00 PM L361 Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  Kam W Leong, PhD
  Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
  Bioengineering of Direct Cellular Reprogramming
  Columbia University New York, NY

  Thursday, February 11th
  4:00-5:00PM, Tech L361
  Reception to follow, Willens Wing Atrium
  Sponsored by BME, SQI, MSE, ChBE and BTP
  
  Title:
  "Eugene W. Skinner and Eugene P. Lautenschlager Memorial Lecture"
  
  Abstract:
  Direct cell reprogramming, where differentiated cells are reprogrammed into another lineage without going through an intermediate stem cell-like stage, produces cells promising for regenerative medicine. It obviates the use of embryos and minimizes the risk of teratoma formation associated with the use of induced pluripotent stem cells. To facilitate eventual translation of transdifferentiation technologies we have demonstrated the feasibility of converting fibroblasts into neurons by nonviral overexpression of transcription factors. The poor conversion efficiency of nonviral direct cell reprogramming requires improvement. I will discuss our effort on using engineering strategies to optimize the biochemical and physical cues to enhance neuronal transdifferentiation. In particular, I will discuss the application of DNA nanoparticles to achieve direct conversion of fibroblasts into neuronal cells. I will also highlight the role of nanotopographical substrates in modulating the purity, conversion kinetics, and subtypes of the induced neurons generated by direct reprogramming. I will also discuss our recent effort on using CRISPR/dCas9 gene activation approach to achieve direct cellular reprogramming.
  Kam W. Leong is the Samuel Y. Sheng Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University. He received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. After serving as a faculty in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine for almost 20 years, he moved to Duke University in 2006 to focus on understanding and exploiting the interactions of cells with nanostructures for therapeutic applications. After moving to Columbia University in September 2014, he continues to work on nanoparticle-mediated nonviral gene delivery and immunotherapy, from design and synthesis of new carriers to applications for hemophilia and infectious diseases. The lab also works on the application of nanostructured biomaterials for regenerative medicine, particularly on understanding cell-topography interactions and on the application of nonviral vectors for direct cellular reprogramming. He has published ~300 peer-reviewed research manuscripts with citations exceeding 28,000, and holds more than 50 issued patents. His work has been recognized by a Young Investigator Research Achievement Award of the Controlled Release Society, Distinguished Scientist Award of the International Journal of Nanomedicine, and Clemson Award for Applied Research of the Society for Biomaterials. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Biomaterials, a member of the National Academy of Inventors, and a member of the USA National Academy of Engineering.
  

  more less

  TIME Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

  LOCATION L361 Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Stephanie Hellenga Waninger    stephaniewaninger@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Biomedical Engineering Department

• May

  8

  Extending Care: A Conversation about Conservation and Futurity

  Block Museum of Art

  6:00 PM Block Museum of Art, Mary and Leigh

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  The Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts is a collaboration between the Art Institute of Chicago and materials science-related departments at Northwestern University to pursue objects-based and objects-inspired scientific research. Materials research benefits ongoing work in conservation, archaeology, art history, and curatorial scholarship.

  Learn how the Center uses materials research to care for art objects in sustainable, innovative ways with Maria Kokkori, Northwestern Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Senior Scientist in the Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts. She will be in conversation with Corey Byrnes, Northwestern Associate Professor of Chinese Culture and co-founder/co-director of the Environmental Humanities Workshop in Kaplan Humanities Center.

  This event is presented by the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science in conjunction with exhibition Actions for the Earth: Art, Care & Ecology.

  Register Now

  more less

  TIME Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

  LOCATION Block Museum of Art, Mary and Leigh    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Block Museum of Art    block-museum@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR Block Museum of Art

• Jun

  10

  Northwestern Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  9:00 AM Welsh-Ryan Arena

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  McCormick School of Engineering PhD Hooding and Master’s Degree Recognition Ceremony

  more less

  TIME Monday, June 10, 2024 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION Welsh-Ryan Arena   

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Amy Pokrass    amy.pokrass@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Jun

  10

  Northwestern Engineering Undergraduate Convocation

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  2:00 PM Welsh-Ryan Arena

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  McCormick School of Engineering Undergraduate Convocation

  more less

  TIME Monday, June 10, 2024 at 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

  LOCATION Welsh-Ryan Arena   

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Amy Pokrass    amy.pokrass@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science