REU Site: Summer Engineering Research Experiences in Diabetes for Undergraduates

EEC-0552896大学：伊利诺伊理工学院(ITT)P.I.：Vincent T.Turitto这个REU奖项将在伊利诺伊理工学院(ITT)为期10周的暑期研究体验中为8-10名本科生提供为期三年的支持。该计划的目标是：(1)通过与ITT研究导师一起执行具有挑战性的糖尿病相关工程项目，培训本科生基础研究；(2)通过临床专家的讲座和临床设施参观，让他们接触到更广泛的研究对健康的影响；以及(3)将伦理讨论和培训整合到学生体验的各个方面。这些经历总体上将激发本科生对工程研究的兴趣，并特别强调对糖尿病领域顶尖研究人员的需求。美国有1800多万人患有糖尿病。虽然目前还没有治愈的方法，但生物医学工程正在为理解和治疗这种疾病及其许多并发症提供重要的途径。ITT最近成立了一个独特的多学科中心-糖尿病研究和教育工程中心(ECDRE)，隶属于普利兹克生物医学科学和工程研究所。ECDRE的目标是使用工程技术来增加对糖尿病及其并发症的了解和治疗。此外，ECDRE是美国第一个专注于糖尿病的工程中心。ITT的生物医学工程部将与ECDRE合作，为今年夏季的REU项目提供基础。由于首席调查员既是生物医学工程系主任，又是普利兹克研究所所长，这两个机构将确保密切合作。PIS将以生物医学工程研究机会有限的机构的本科生为目标，重点关注参加REU暑期项目的女性和代表性不足的少数族裔。通过开展与一种影响美国1800多万人的疾病相关的研究项目，PI有可能增进人们的理解，同时影响工程师的职业生涯。

Abstract for EEC-0552896University: Illinois Institute of Technology (ITT)P.I.: Vincent T. TurittoThis REU award for a Site focused on diabetes will support 8-10 undergraduates for three years in a 10- week summer research experience at the Illinois Institute of Technology (ITT).The objectives of the program are to: (1) train undergraduates in basic research through challenging diabetes-related engineering projects performed with research mentors from ITT, (2) expose them to the broader health implications of their research with lectures from clinical experts and tours of clinical facilities, and (3) integrate ethics discussion and training into all aspects of the student experience. These experiences will stimulate the interests of undergraduates in engineering research, in general, and specifically emphasize the needs for top-notch researchers in the field of diabetes.More than 18 million people in the United States have diabetes. While a cure does not currently exist, biomedical engineering is providing important inroads to understanding and treating the disease and its many complications.ITT has recently established a unique multi-disciplinary center, the Engineering Center for Diabetes Research and Educations (ECDRE) under the umbrella of the Pritzker Institute for Biomedical Science and Engineering. The objective of the ECDRE is to use engineering techniques to increase understanding and treatment of diabetes and its complications. Also, the ECDRE is the first engineering center in the U.S. to focus on diabetes. The Biomedical Engineering Department at ITT in collaboration with the ECDRE will provide the foundation for this summer REU program. Close cooperation of these two entities will be ensured since the Principal Investigator is both Chair of Biomedical Engineering and the Director of the Pritzker Institute.The PIs will target undergraduates from institutions were Biomedical Engineering research opportunities are limited, with a focus on women and underrepresented minorities for participation in this REU summer program. By conducting research projects related to a disease that affects more than 18 million people in the U.S., the PIs have the potential to advance understanding while influencing engineers in their career.