UH Professor Developing New Technology to Detect Lens Elasticity

A biomedical researcher at the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering is developing new technology that will measure the stiffness of the lens in the eye, which is likely associated with presbyopia, or farsightedness, the inevitable and age-related loss of the ability to focus on nearby objects.  

An unforeseen consequence of normalization of marijuana use is that adolescents and adults of childbearing age are increasingly engaged in a practice of Simultaneous Alcohol and Cannabinoid (SAC) use, or co-ingestion. A recent U.S. hospital-based assessment revealed that at the time of birth, about 22 percent of assessed umbilical cords were positive for marijuana. 

Better Understanding Could Lead to New Prevention and Treatment for Birth Defects

Soon after conception, an embryo’s circulatory system connects to that of its mother. Complications that occur at this critical time can result in miscarriage or birth defects with long-term chronic conditions. Unfortunately, limitations in imaging technologies prevent researchers from fully understanding the cellular-level events leading up to this crucial point.

UH Engineer Using Optical Equipment to Watch Heart Develop

To understand cardiovascular failures, the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths in infants, UH professor of biomedical engineering Kirill Larin is teaming up with Baylor College of Medicine professor of cellular and molecular physiology Irina Larina on a chicken and egg hunt.

Every academic year, the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering celebrates student academic achievement by choosing an Outstanding Senior and an Outstanding Junior. Not only do the chosen represent hard work and dedication, but also passion and intellectual curiosity. They serve to inspire.

For 2017-2018, the two students are: Biomedical engineering senior Megan Goh and chemical engineering junior Christine Stroh.

These are their stories.

Joseph W. Tedesco, Elizabeth D. Rockwell dean of the Cullen College, recognized faculty, staff and students for their outstanding performance in teaching, research and service at the spring faculty and staff meeting held on May 3.

Two professors at the UH Cullen College of Engineering earned a $200,000 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) Discovery Award from the U.S. Department of Defense to further explore a quantitative assessment technique for systemic sclerosis (SSc). The autoimmune disorder is characterized by thickening of soft tissues in the body caused by accumulations of collagen. 

As a Tier One research university, the University of Houston places a strong emphasis on research in and out of the classroom. But for undergraduate students, hands-on laboratory opportunities can be scarce, as researcher spots are usually filled with graduate students and post-doctoral associates.

Nanotechnology researchers at the University of Houston will soon be able to work faster than ever thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).