STEMinar: Biomedical Engineering Research

10/13/22

The goal of this STEMinar is to introduce you to some of the current research being conducted in the field of Biomedical
Engineering. Please listen and interact with our guest speaker as they tell us about their background, their research, and
life in a research lab at Ga Tech.

1. Listen to our speaker. Think of 2 questions you might have for this individual and write them below.
a. What types of information have you learned about the human brain that few people know about?
b. What does cellular engineering look like? Do you make microscopic devices to aid cells or do you create
medicines to aid cells?

2. Had you thought of a career in academia prior to today? What might that career look like for you and your
interests?
I have not thought of a career in academia prior today, but if I did have a job in academia, such as a
researcher, I would like to observe and experiment with viruses in order to understand how they
progress throughout an organism and how the human body uses its immune system to suppress viruses.
3. Summarize Gbemi’s research. What is one application of this research for the future?
Children and young adults from 0-4 and 15-19 years old are most likely to suffer from pediatric TBI’s
(Traumatic Brain Injuries). All pediatric TBI severity can cause slower velocity and dual gait-impairments,
and these affects can last for 3.5+ years after the injury. However, Gbemi gave piglets a TBI to help
develop therapeutics for humans with TBI’s because pigs have a similar brain structure to humans.
Gbemi found that through the research of how piglets’ motor function is affected, she and other
researchers may be able to one day find a way to treat pediatric TBI’s, so children in the future will not
have to suffer from damaged motor function. Neuroinflammation biomarkers are 30 percent of mild
TBI’s long-term symptoms, and it affects emotion and cognition. Neuroinflammation can last for 25
years after a TBI. There is a lack of biomarkers such as diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment for
neuroinflammation. However, Gbemi is researching the RNAs involved in chronic neuroinflammation,
and she is testing the effect of cyclosporine in attenuating neuroinflammation. She also found
22microRNAs involved in chronic neuroinflammation. In the future, her research will help identify mRNA
involved in neuroinflammation microRNA-mRNA connection and cyclosporine effect on connections
4. Thoughtfully reflect on your experience today. What did you learn? How will you use this knowledge going
forward? Do you feel that this field is a good choice for you, why or why not?
I learned that biomedical engineering is the application of engineering principles and biology in order to
improve human health. Based on this, I am considering going to college to become a biomedical
engineering because I have always been interested in creating my own solutions to problems in life and I
find biology very beautiful and captivating, so biomedical engineering might be the perfect mix of two
subjects I enjoy, which means biomedical engineering could be my dream job.
Turn in before you leave today, this form will serve as your attendance verification as well. Be sure to take a picture
of the form and of yourself for your e-Portfolio.