Short Programs

New Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment of Disease [P20.75]

Date: July 7-8, 2009 | Tuition: $950 USD* | Location: Singapore, NUS Campus

Overview  |  Learning Objectives  |  Who Should Attend  |  Program Outline  | 
About the Lecturers  |  Updates

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Overview

Numerous new assays and bioanalytical methods are being developed that permit the study of biological behavior at the molecular, cellular or multi-cellular scales in miniaturized, high-throughput systems. These methods have applications either in the pharmaceutical industry or as potential clinical assays for disease and personalized treatment. In particular, new methods are being developed that probe both the biophysical and biochemical characteristics of cells. This course introduces basic mechanobiological concepts about how biophysical, as well as biochemical, factors regulate function and also how the mechanical microenvironment of the cell can influence cell behavior. New technologies will be discussed, both in vivo (humanized mouse model) and in vitro (microfluidic platforms for mimicking organ function). Methods will also be presented for isolating rare cells or single molecules, measuring their properties, and using this information for biological studies. Laboratory demonstrations will provide direct exposure to cutting edge technologies.

New technologies are becoming available that will have significant impact on how we screen new drugs, test for toxicity, diagnose disease, and optimize patient-specific therapies. In this course, we examine three related areas of current R&D.

• The role of mechanobiology in cell behavior and disease. Mechanics can be used both to regulate cell function and also to identify the biological state (phenotype) of a cell.
• Microfluidic technologies for cell culture, cell separation, protein separation and single molecule manipulation. These technologies offer new avenues for research, drug screening and clinical assays.
• New models for drug development and studies of disease. Two methods will be discussed, the humanized mouse model, and new methods for mimicking organ function in microfluidic systems. Both methods could help streamline the process of drug development.

MIT Certificate

Participants who attend the full 2-day course will earn an MIT Certificate of Completion

Learning Objectives

The primary objective of this course is to convey a molecular-level appreciation of disease and the central role played by physical as well as chemical stimuli for the purpose of developing a new generation of biological assays. To accomplish this goal, the attendee will be exposed to the latest concepts in modeling, experimentation and assay development.

• To understand the important biological elements that transmit and sense mechanical force
• To learn about current theories regarding the mechanisms of force sensation and response
• To explore new diagnostic and therapeutic methods emerging from this new field of research
• To explore the potential of microfluidic systems and the humanized mouse model in drug development and more general studies of disease

Who Should Attend

This course is recommended for individuals with a Bachelor’s degree or higher in either the biological or physical sciences or engineering. It would be useful for those engaged in basic research who wish to investigate the effects of physical stimuli on biological function, and for project managers or group leaders from biotech, pharmaceutical, or medical products companies who seek to develop methods of diagnosis or treatment of disease.

Outline of the Program

The course will organize around the topics listed below:

July 7

Morning Session

The Role of Mechanobiology in Disease
Basics of molecular and cell mechanics (Kamm, Van Vliet)

• Membrane mechanics
• Cytoskeletal mechanics
• Adhesive interface mechanics
• Models and experiments

Break 11:00 am

The importance of cell mechanics in disease (Suresh)

• Cancer
• Malaria
• Sickle cell

12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch

Afternoon Session

In vitro and in vivo technologies (I)
In vivo models of disease (Chen)

• Humanized mouse model

Break 3:00 pm

In vitro models of organ function (Kamm)

• Traditional cell culture models and their limitations
• Microfluidic cell culture methods

July 8

Morning Session

In vitro and in vivo technologies (II)
In vitro assays for cell and molecular mechanics Part I (Han)

• Cell sorting
• Molecular concentrating methods or manipulations

Break at 11:00 am

In vitro assays for cell and molecular mechanics Part II (Han)

12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch

Afternoon Session

Laboratory demonstrations of models and tools (Lim, Van Vliet, Han)

• Microfluidics for cell or molecule separation
• Microfluidics for cell culture
• Atomic force microscopy
• Micropipette assays for cell-cell adhesion

Teaching Faculty

The instructors for this course offer a wide range of expertise, and come from a number of different departments in the Schools of Engineering and Science at MIT.

Subra Suresh is the Dean of Engineering and Ford Professor of Engineering. Suresh's current research focuses on the mechanical responses of single biological cells and molecules, and the implications of these responses for human health and diseases. His prior and ongoing work has also led to seminal contributions in the area of nano- and micro-scale mechanical properties of engineered materials. He is the author of over 210 research articles in international journals, co-editor of five books, and co-inventor on fourteen U.S. and international patents.

Roger Kamm, director of this course, is the Germeshausen Professor of Mechanical and Biological Engineering. His current work includes the development of microfluidic systems for studies of cell population behavior, especially in the context of cancer and angiogenesis. He also has contributed extensively to the field of mechanobiology and the mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to mechanical stimuli. He has over 170 publications over a wide range of topics in bioengineering and biophysics. He is the lead investigator of the Biosystems and Micromechanics program of the Singaore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology.

Jongyoon Han is the Karl Van Tassel Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and has a dual appointment in the Departments of EECS and Biological Engineering. His current research interests revolve around the application of micro and nanofabrication technology to various fundamental biology problems, including the separation and analysis of biomolecules.

Krystyn Van Vliet is the Thomas Lord Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering. She studies material chemomechanics: material behavior at the interface of mechanics, chemistry, physics, and biology. A long-term goal of her research is to predict and modulate key functions of biological cells by drawing analogies to the coupled chemical/mechanical behavior of structurally simpler, nonbiological material interfaces and nanocomposites.

Jianzhu Chen is the Cottrell Professor of Immunology in the Biology Department. His research interests include: cellular and molecular basis of Immunological memory, CD8 T cell responses to prostate cancer, and development of a robust humanized mouse model. He is the lead investigator of the Infectious Disease program of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology.

Payment Policy

Please note that there are special payment policies for this course. Payment is due within 48 business hours of receipt of the email invoice and should be submitted by credit card. Failure to submit payment within 48 hours will result in cancellation. Please contact the Short Programs office with any questions.

Updates

*Tuition includes lunch and refreshments

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