Hunter Lauten, a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering and an NSF/IGERT Fellow recently presented the latest results of her research at the 68th IUPAC Meeting on Macromolecules in Prague, the Czech Republic.
Hunter Lauten, a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering and an NSF/IGERT Fellow recently presented the latest results of her research at the 68th IUPAC Meeting on Macromolecules in Prague, the Czech Republic. Hunter described new methods of preparation of intelligent biomaterials that have the ability to recognize certain undesirable proteins usually found in minute quantities in the blood and are indicators of heart diseases. As indicated by Hunter, the ability to detect such proteins will lead to the development of novel intelligent nanoparticles that will be able to release drugs to treat such diseases without external input. Her research work is sponsored by the National Science Foundation both through a regular research grant and through the IGERT program.
Hunter Lauten is one of 15 distinguished NSF Fellows supported by the National Science Foundation Program on Cellular and Molecular Imaging for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, under the direction of Professor Nicholas A Peppas. This is a Program on Integrated Graduate Education Research and Training (IGERT) that was established at UT in 1998 and is presently in its eighth year of operation. IGERT Fellows have the option to obtain a "portfolio" diploma in this field after taking six required courses and completing a medical internship.
A graduate of the BME program at Vanderbilt University, Hunter Lauten joined the BME Department of UT in August 2002 and started working with Professor Peppas in June 2003. Hunter will conduct her medical internship in August and September 2005 at the Universities of Parma and Naples, Italy.
