UMBC researchers advance accessible COVID-19 testing Collaboration with labs led by Drs. Pan, Rao and Frey
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | JUNE 24, 2021 | MEGAN HANKS

excerpt from UMBC researchers advance accessible COVID-19 testing technologies

Two research teams led by UMBC engineering faculty are transforming COVID-19 testing technologies. Rather than making users choose either the fastest or most affordable COVID-19 test, or the most accurate test, they seek to offer tests that are rapid, accessible, and highly accurate, all in one. 

One of these new innovations focuses on testing individuals for the virus causing COVID-19. The other focuses on collecting air samples in large spaces at risk for enabling COVID-19 transmission. Both teams behind this public impact research hope their innovations will help limit the spread of the disease as many U.S. and international jurisdictions rescind COVID-19 restrictions.

Bringing tech innovation to the public
A group of researchers led by Dipanjan Pan, professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering, developed two diagnostic tests that can rapidly, accurately, and affordably detect SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) in individual patients. 

The nano-amplified colorimetric test does not require RNA extraction, which many other tests rely on, making it much more accessible. Pan’s other testing technology works on the principle of electrochemical detection that can be used even at home by applying a simple hand-held device for the read-out. Both of these technologies were recently licensed by RNA Disease Diagnostics, Inc.

“I’m delighted to know that my lab has received FDA registration and certification as a development site for the electrochemical AntiSENSE COVID-19 Test. A leading global molecular diagnostic company, RNA Disease Diagnostics, Inc. has received a worldwide exclusive license from UMBC and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) to commercialize the test,” explains Pan. He notes that the results of this work have been published in several high-impact journals, including May 2020 and October 2020 articles in ACS Nano and an April 2021 article in Nature Protocol. 

Pan’s multidisciplinary team includes Maha Alafeef, a graduate research assistant at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM); Parikshit Moitra, a UMSOM faculty member; and Ketan Dighe, a faculty research assistant at UMBC. 

“This commercialization is a significant achievement and testament to my team’s hard work and dedication,” Pan adds. “While the high impact publications confirm the quality of our science, the licensing agreement and FDA certification attests the translational value of this technology.” 

Rapid diagnosis with gold nanoparticles
In fall 2020, Pan and his collaborators received two grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to improve testing to detect SARS-CoV-2, supporting the development of this technology. From there, the research progressed rapidly.

A chief benefit of Pan’s plasmonic technology is that the test results can be detected qualitatively by the naked eye at the point of care, without special technologies. This is made possible due to highly specific antisense oligonucleotides, which are synthetic DNA fragments that bind to RNA molecules from the virus, and aggregate gold nanoparticles. 

“For our electrochemical test the ultimate goal is to develop a tiny handheld device for determining the presence of the viral RNA in the nasal swab or saliva samples. Our early prototype involves a disposable test strip that the meter uses to calculate the viral load and then displays the level,” Pan explains.

Pan has a dual appointment at UMBC and UMB, where he serves as professor of diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine and pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. At UMBC, Pan is also affiliated with the department of computer science and electrical engineering (CSEE). 

Detecting COVID-19 using readily available tools
A second group of interdisciplinary researchers created a simple way to determine whether SARS-CoV-2 is present in the air. This group is led by Govind Rao, professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering (CBEE) and director of the Center for Advanced Sensor Technology (CAST). The journal Biotechnology and Bioengineering published their findings last month. 

The researchers found that they could collect samples of SARS-CoV-2 by using a simple portable dehumidifier. They successfully tested their collection process in several locations within a hospital, where people reported experiencing flu-like symptoms.

This unique way of identifying SARS-CoV-2 allows hospitals to use readily-available dehumidifiers to detect the virus, rather than buy new scientific equipment to capture air samples for analysis. 

“This technology could find widespread use, as it is analogous to a smoke detector,” says Rao. “Once fully developed, it could potentially be deployed everywhere and empower people by giving them a direct readout of viruses and other biological threats in the air around them.” 

Rao worked alongside Pan, Douglas Frey, Xudong Ge, and Dighe, all CBEE and CAST faculty. Also working on the research are Michael Tolosa, staff member in CAST; Aaron Thole, a graduate student in CBEE; Priyanka Ray, a postdoctoral researcher in CBEE; and Benjamin Punshon Smith, a graduate student in computer science and electrical engineering. Moitra is also contributing to this work. The UMBC team collaborated with Jim Chang, director of the University of Maryland Medical Center’s department of safety and environmental health, who arranged for deployment of the dehumidifiers at various locations in the hospital.

The research team also is developing a rapid and sensitive test for detecting pathogen signatures in minutes, to pair with the dehumidifier.


]]> SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | JUNE 24, 2021 | MEGAN HANKS excerpt from UMBC researchers advance accessible COVID-19 testing technologies Two research teams led by UMBC engineering faculty... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/102306/guest@my.umbc.edu/ca7a26e9804fd153151631bcfc90979c/api/pixel covid covid-19 faculty frey grad pan rao research spring-2021 Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/cbee https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/original.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/large.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/medium.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/small.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxsmall.png?1746794587 Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering 1 0 true Fri, 25 Jun 2021 09:28:29 -0400 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:47:59 -0400 Collaborative work with CAST & Prof. Pan's published Innovations for detection of airborne SARS‐CoV‐2
Title: 
Rapid and low-cost sampling for detection of airborne SARS-CoV-2 in dehumidifier condensate

First published: 08 May 2021 
https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.27812

Abstract: Airborne spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by infectious aerosol is all but certain. However, easily implemented approaches to assess the actual environmental threat are currently unavailable. We present a simple approach with the potential to rapidly provide information about the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the atmosphere at any location. We used a portable dehumidifier as a readily available and affordable tool to collect airborne virus in the condensate. The dehumidifiers were deployed in selected locations of a hospital ward with patients reporting flu-like symptoms which could possibly be due to COVID-19 over three separate periods of one week. Samples were analyzed frequently for both virus envelope protein and SARS-CoV-2 RNA. In several samples across separate deployments, condensate from dehumidifiers tested positive for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antigens as confirmed using two independent assays. RNA was detected, but not attributable to SARS-CoV-2. We verified the ability of the dehumidifier to rapidly collect aerosolized sodium chloride. Our results point to a facile pool testing method to sample air in any location in the world and assess the presence and concentration of an infectious agent to obtain quantitative risk assessment of exposure, designate zones as “hot spots” and minimize the need for individual testing which may often be time consuming, expensive, and laborious.

]]> Title:  Rapid and low-cost sampling for detection of airborne SARS-CoV-2 in dehumidifier condensate First published: 08 May 2021  https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.27812 Abstract: Airborne... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/101942/guest@my.umbc.edu/cfa32939b4ebe6dacb954f5fda27a744/api/pixel frey grad pan rao research spring-2021 Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/cbee https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/original.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/large.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/medium.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/small.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxsmall.png?1746794587 Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering 0 0 true Tue, 25 May 2021 19:45:00 -0400 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:48:18 -0400 Dr. Upal Ghosh interviewed about low cost PCB remediation Dr. Upal Ghosh was interviewed with collaborator Dr. Hal May by Fox24 News in Charleston. 

Link to interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbdZsLaquL0

Dr. Ghosh recently received his fourth R01 NIH grant. The most recent project is titled " Leveraging the Chemo-Physical Interaction of Halorespiring Bacteria with Solid Surfaces to Enhance Halogenated Organic Compounds Bioremediation." 

NIH highlighted Dr. Ghosh's research translation work which has a strong synergy between engineering science and the technology transition and commercialization.  https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/centers/srp/phi/archives/remediation/sedimite/index.cfm
]]> Dr. Upal Ghosh was interviewed with collaborator Dr. Hal May by Fox24 News in Charleston.  Link to interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbdZsLaquL0 Dr. Ghosh recently received his... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/101257/guest@my.umbc.edu/d8b848e6d44a21f30f2a54f2dcb72fc7/api/pixel collaboration faculty ghosh pcbs research Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/cbee https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/original.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/large.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/medium.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/small.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxsmall.png?1746794587 Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/101/257/e7f3cdf35a158388e5c0f96420e0216c/xxlarge.jpg?1619465806 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/101/257/e7f3cdf35a158388e5c0f96420e0216c/xlarge.jpg?1619465806 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/101/257/e7f3cdf35a158388e5c0f96420e0216c/large.jpg?1619465806 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/101/257/e7f3cdf35a158388e5c0f96420e0216c/medium.jpg?1619465806 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/101/257/e7f3cdf35a158388e5c0f96420e0216c/small.jpg?1619465806 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/101/257/e7f3cdf35a158388e5c0f96420e0216c/xsmall.jpg?1619465806 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/101/257/e7f3cdf35a158388e5c0f96420e0216c/xxsmall.jpg?1619465806 0 0 true Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:50:16 -0400 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:48:27 -0400 CBEE students & faculty highlighted: USM LSAMP annual report

UMBC LSAMP 2019-2020 Annual Report

3rd Annual USM LSAMP Undergraduate Research Symposium - Poster Presentation Award Recipients

Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) (Page 21)

Fall 2019 Research Fellowship Program (page 29)

Summer 2020 Research Fellowship Program (pg 31)

Summer 2020 Research Fellowship Program (pg 32)

Students reflect on their LSAMP experiences and its influence on the development of their its influence on the development of their personal, academic, and professional goals. (pg 33)

Joana Hernandez '22 - Chemical Engineering LSAMP has opened the door to so many LSAMP has opened the door to so many opportunities that I didn't think were possible. opportunities that I didn't think were possible. When I was a senior in high school, I had no When I was a senior in high school, I had no idea that college students could be part of a lab idea that college students could be part of a lab and do undergraduate research. Through and do undergraduate research. Through LSAMP, I was able to join the Vonhoff lab my LSAMP, I was able to join the Vonhoff lab my freshman year, and ever since, I have seen how freshman year, and ever since, I have seen how much progress I have made. The program even much progress I have made. The program even helped me go to California last fall for the helped me go to California last fall for the ABRCMS conference, which was really fun! I'm ABRCMS conference, which was really fun! I'm glad that I was able to be a part of the LSAMP glad that I was able to be a part of the LSAMP community and find a great support system. community and find a great support system.

Ndeh Tadzong '23 - Chemical Engineering I first learned about LSAMP at the USM I first learned about LSAMP at the USM LSAMP Summer Bridging Conference and I am LSAMP Summer Bridging Conference and I am grateful that I did because it set me on a grateful that I did because it set me on a great path. It has helped me stay motivated great path. It has helped me stay motivated with my school work and understand what I with my school work and understand what I want to do with my future. I have learned so want to do with my future. I have learned so much about what continued engagement in much about what continued engagement in Chemical Engineering could look like following Chemical Engineering could look like following graduation. With all this in mind, I can graduation. With all this in mind, I can confidently say I am in a better position to confidently say I am in a better position to succeed with a purpose and passion because of succeed with a purpose and passion because of my engagement with LSAMP. my engagement with LSAMP.

LSAMP Faculty Research Mentors (pg 36)

Name | Title | Department | Research Focus | University

"All in all, my time in the Leach lab has allowed me to further develop and grow my skills as a researcher and engineer. Additionally, I have been able to apply chemical engineering principles that I learned in the classroom into a lab environment which gives me a deeper understanding of the material. I will be able to use these skills in any lab that I join in the future and this opportunity has also allowed me to establish strong connections with a faculty member in the department of my major." - Howard Nicholson '21 -

]]> UMBC LSAMP 2019-2020 Annual Report 3rd Annual USM LSAMP Undergraduate Research Symposium - Poster Presentation Award Recipients Kendal McWilliams, CENG MS '21 (pg 16)  Joana Hernandex, CENG... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/100577/guest@my.umbc.edu/6652f254f492bbbe98b820cb37e32ac0/api/pixel award blaney faculty lavik leach lsamp pan research ug ug-award ug-research undergrad xu Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/cbee https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/original.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/large.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/medium.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/small.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxsmall.png?1746794587 Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/100/577/c8fefa47b7771224fc7b48fed55b7dc0/xxlarge.jpg?1617635220 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/100/577/c8fefa47b7771224fc7b48fed55b7dc0/xlarge.jpg?1617635220 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/100/577/c8fefa47b7771224fc7b48fed55b7dc0/large.jpg?1617635220 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/100/577/c8fefa47b7771224fc7b48fed55b7dc0/medium.jpg?1617635220 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/100/577/c8fefa47b7771224fc7b48fed55b7dc0/small.jpg?1617635220 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/100/577/c8fefa47b7771224fc7b48fed55b7dc0/xsmall.jpg?1617635220 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/100/577/c8fefa47b7771224fc7b48fed55b7dc0/xxsmall.jpg?1617635220 1 0 true Mon, 05 Apr 2021 10:56:08 -0400 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:49:25 -0400 Innovative infant incubator successful in clinical trials Developed by Dr. Govind Rao & UMBC Students
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | FEBRUARY 22, 2021 1:16 PM | UMBC NEWS STAFF (excerpt)

Innovative technologies don’t have to be expensive or complicated. 

UMBC’s Govind Rao, professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering and director of the Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, has been developing a low-cost solution to improve the care of babies born prematurely. 

A standard incubator found in a newborn intensive care unit costs between $1,500 and $35,000—beyond the means of many hospitals in low- and middle-income countries. Research initiated by Rao and UMBC students has culminated in the successful clinical trial of an incubator that costs only $200.

“This will be a game-changer,” says Rajeev Seth, managing trustee of BUDS, a nonprofit that advocates for the health and welfare of children in India. 

Student project beginnings
The low-cost incubator traces its roots to a UMBC course on sensors in 2011. There, Rao asked students to come up with solutions for real-world problems. Kevin Tran ’12, chemical engineering, was part of a team that designed a low-cost infant incubator. He continued on the project that summer. 

“As an engineer, [when] you start something, you can’t leave it half-finished,” Tran says. He and his teammates tested out prototypes built with different materials, like wood and PVC. The team ultimately took a trip to India to visit various healthcare settings and receive feedback on their design.

The students encountered facilities that faced frequent power outages and lacked resources they’d taken for granted in the U.S. One healthcare center had broken incubators that sat unused, Tran says, because they couldn’t be maintained, even if it was a simple fix.

The team was accompanied by Geetha Mohanram, a retired elementary school teacher who acted as a translator. Mohanram now lives in the U.S. but is from Karnataka, one of the areas the team visited. She bridged the gap between the engineers and the nurses and doctors, not only through fluency with the local dialect, but also because of familiarity with the local culture. This helped the UMBC team access the medical staff’s observations and insights.

Feedback gathered during the trip guided updates to the design, such as smaller dimensions and cardboard construction for single use. The design work culminated in a paper published in the Journal of Laboratory Automation in 2014. It provided recommendations for a prototype suited to a clinical trial.

[read entire article]

Banner image: “Happy Foot” by Natesh Ramasamy, Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0.

Article written by Jack J. Lee for UMBC News

]]> SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | FEBRUARY 22, 2021 1:16 PM | UMBC NEWS STAFF (excerpt) Innovative technologies don’t have to be expensive or complicated.  UMBC’s Govind Rao, professor of... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/99515/guest@my.umbc.edu/d8d6516c8c7eddca06b1fd27ee55c31a/api/pixel alumni faculty rao research ug undergrad Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/cbee https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/original.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/large.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/medium.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/small.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxsmall.png?1746794587 Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/099/515/0a3348c6acf0927c8ba1d820a7b033d5/xxlarge.jpg?1614038653 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/099/515/0a3348c6acf0927c8ba1d820a7b033d5/xlarge.jpg?1614038653 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/099/515/0a3348c6acf0927c8ba1d820a7b033d5/large.jpg?1614038653 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/099/515/0a3348c6acf0927c8ba1d820a7b033d5/medium.jpg?1614038653 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/099/515/0a3348c6acf0927c8ba1d820a7b033d5/small.jpg?1614038653 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/099/515/0a3348c6acf0927c8ba1d820a7b033d5/xsmall.jpg?1614038653 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/099/515/0a3348c6acf0927c8ba1d820a7b033d5/xxsmall.jpg?1614038653 1 0 true Mon, 22 Feb 2021 19:11:26 -0500 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:49:36 -0400 ESTEEMED Scholars brings engineering into biomedicine

UMBC receives $870K NIH grant to launch ESTEEMED Scholars program that brings engineering into biomedicine


SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | FEBRUARY 12, 2021 | SARAH HANSEN

(excerpt) 

This spring, the first cohort of ESTEEMED Scholars arrives at UMBC on their path to revolutionizing biomedicine. The new program stands for Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Educational Diversity. Funded with a $870,000 grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), ESTEEMED will serve students pursuing a wide range of STEM majors who have an interest in bringing engineering solutions to biomedicine challenges. 

The ESTEEMED program will support first- and second-year students, with the goal of preparing them to apply for advanced honors programs (such as the U-RISE Scholars) in their third and fourth years. Scholars will participate in many of the same activities as UMBC’s Meyerhoff Scholars, such as summer bridge experiences that build community, structure and support to apply for research opportunities, funding for academic conference travel, peer and faculty mentoring, and intensive academic advising. They will also have their own unique experiences.

Building resilience
Among elements that make the ESTEEMED program distinctive are monthly casual gatherings for the scholars and UMBC faculty. These opportunities are “designed to promote the community and STEM identity of the students,” shares Patrice Darby, general associate of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program. “They can mingle with the faculty to see themselves as a ‘we,’ as in, ‘I belong here, I am part of this community.’”

Seminar courses also create opportunities for students to learn about faculty members’ career journeys. “I am particularly excited to lead our seminar series for first-year students,” shares Jennie Leach, associate professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering, and the lead on the grant. “In these seminars,” Leach says, “UMBC faculty and alumni are invited to talk about their research, share their personal story, and provide wisdom that they developed during their path from training to their current career.”

A Second Year Experience course will give the ESTEEMED Scholars the skills and confidence to continue progressing in their degrees. Topics may include science communication skills, leadership training, and habits and practices that can help them thrive through common challenges STEM majors face in their sophomore year.

[ read full article ]
]]> UMBC receives $870K NIH grant to launch ESTEEMED Scholars program that brings engineering into biomedicine SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | FEBRUARY 12, 2021 | SARAH HANSEN (excerpt)  This... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/99348/guest@my.umbc.edu/3b5708dcc486bf4cabaf28bf2a2d924f/api/pixel faculty leach research scholar spring-2021 ug Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/cbee https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/original.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/large.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/medium.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/small.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxsmall.png?1746794587 Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/099/348/f4ac71795f13804fe2b309f3084dc532/xxlarge.jpg?1613490118 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/099/348/f4ac71795f13804fe2b309f3084dc532/xlarge.jpg?1613490118 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/099/348/f4ac71795f13804fe2b309f3084dc532/large.jpg?1613490118 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/099/348/f4ac71795f13804fe2b309f3084dc532/medium.jpg?1613490118 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/099/348/f4ac71795f13804fe2b309f3084dc532/small.jpg?1613490118 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/099/348/f4ac71795f13804fe2b309f3084dc532/xsmall.jpg?1613490118 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/099/348/f4ac71795f13804fe2b309f3084dc532/xxsmall.jpg?1613490118 0 0 true Tue, 16 Feb 2021 10:47:33 -0500 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:49:51 -0400 Ghosh laboratory has public health impact for over a decade
In a recently published story, the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences highlighted the public health impact of more than a decade of NIH funded research in the Ghosh laboratory.  The technology development is a result of multiple research projects over the years that explored fundamental processes involved in controlling exposure of toxic pollutants to aquatic organisms and humans. An innovative technology, developed with funding from the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP), successfully delivers amendments that immobilize and degrade polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in aquatic environments. The technology has proven effective in the field and resulted in millions of dollars in estimated cost savings at cleanup sites.


Read the whole story: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/centers/srp/phi/archives/remediation/sedimite/index.cfm
]]> In a recently published story, the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences highlighted the public health impact of more than a decade of NIH funded research in the Ghosh laboratory. ... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/96216/guest@my.umbc.edu/8bd0163d8abcc0771fff40e062e4500f/api/pixel faculty fall-2020 ghosh research Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/cbee https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/original.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/large.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/medium.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/small.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxsmall.png?1746794587 Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/096/216/386acf0ec55406d979f9b7517c81d7e8/xxlarge.jpg?1601495443 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/096/216/386acf0ec55406d979f9b7517c81d7e8/xlarge.jpg?1601495443 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/096/216/386acf0ec55406d979f9b7517c81d7e8/large.jpg?1601495443 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/096/216/386acf0ec55406d979f9b7517c81d7e8/medium.jpg?1601495443 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/096/216/386acf0ec55406d979f9b7517c81d7e8/small.jpg?1601495443 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/096/216/386acf0ec55406d979f9b7517c81d7e8/xsmall.jpg?1601495443 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/096/216/386acf0ec55406d979f9b7517c81d7e8/xxsmall.jpg?1601495443 0 0 true Wed, 30 Sep 2020 15:54:04 -0400 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:50:01 -0400 Research by Martenlab studies stress response in fungi
~excerpt~

Research team led by UMBC’s Mark Marten studies how fungal cells respond to stress, repair broken cell walls

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 8:44 AM | MEGAN HANKS 

Mark Marten, professor and chair of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering, is collaborating with researchers at the University of Connecticut and the University of Manitoba to study how fungal cells respond to stress and repair their cell walls. Marten and his collaborators identified three coordinated pathways involved in the response to cell wall stress in filamentous fungi. 

Numerous species of filamentous fungi are pathogens that can make people sick, especially people who are immunocompromised. Different species of fungi play an important role in the development of pharmaceuticals and enzymes, and agriculture, where fungi can help improve the quality of soil and make nutrients more readily available for crops, explains Marten. By understanding how cells work and respond to stress, researchers can reverse-engineer processes that could have a broad range of applications.

Understanding how cells respond to stress

Marten and his collaborators Ranjan Srivastava, University of Connecticut, and Steven Harris, University of Manitoba, recently received over $1.2 million in grant funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to further explore how filamentous fungi repair their cell walls when exposed to stressors. This work will build upon previous NSF-supported research completed by the team. Molecular and Cellular Proteomics has just published their findings on critical cellular processes triggered when cells respond to environmental stress. Cynthia Chelius, Ph.D. ‘19, chemical engineering, is the first author on the paper.

continue reading..
]]> ~excerpt~ Research team led by UMBC’s Mark Marten studies how fungal cells respond to stress, repair broken cell walls SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 8:44 AM | MEGAN HANKS ... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/96207/guest@my.umbc.edu/37df8ad427bce5707215ffc822a344b7/api/pixel alumni faculty fall-2020 grad-research marten publication research Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/cbee https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/original.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/large.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/medium.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/small.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxsmall.png?1746794587 Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/096/207/71d3cfe84fc8b019f8e1f1d681bfef24/xxlarge.jpg?1601484211 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/096/207/71d3cfe84fc8b019f8e1f1d681bfef24/xlarge.jpg?1601484211 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/096/207/71d3cfe84fc8b019f8e1f1d681bfef24/large.jpg?1601484211 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/096/207/71d3cfe84fc8b019f8e1f1d681bfef24/medium.jpg?1601484211 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/096/207/71d3cfe84fc8b019f8e1f1d681bfef24/small.jpg?1601484211 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/096/207/71d3cfe84fc8b019f8e1f1d681bfef24/xsmall.jpg?1601484211 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/096/207/71d3cfe84fc8b019f8e1f1d681bfef24/xxsmall.jpg?1601484211 0 0 true Wed, 30 Sep 2020 12:41:47 -0400 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:50:12 -0400 UMBC’s Dipanjan Pan receives two NIH grants continuing rapid COVID-19 testing research
SOURCE: UMBC NEWS  | JULY 23, 2020 | MEGAN HANKS

Dipanjan Pan, professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering, has received two new grants from the National Institutes of Health to support research poised to improve COVID-19 testing. 

Pan and his team recently developed an experimental diagnostic test to rapidly detect the novel coronavirus causing COVID-19, potentially as early as the first day of infection. The test shows results visually, through a color change visible with the naked eye when the virus is present. Their preliminary results were published in the journal ACS Nano, and the biosensors behind this work have generated substantial academic and commercial interest.

Pan received funding from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) to support the development of a mediated colorimetric biosensor. This technology greatly reduces the possibility of misinterpreting the results of COVID-19 sensing tests. 

“These awards are very timely. Two back-to-back grants from NIBIB will help me to further develop and optimize the technology and help cover the cost for conducting a clinical study for validation purposes,” says Pan. “The key here is the fine balance between the accuracy of the results and the ability of the testing platform to provide a rapid response.” 

The second grant will support Pan’s work to develop a COVID-19 diagnostic platform that will work like a home-based glucometer. Currently, with limitations in sample collection and transportation, it often takes several days for patients to receive their COVID-19 test results. The delay between when the test is taken and when the results are available can lead to the continued spread of the virus. 

To reduce the time between when a person takes a COVID-19 test and receives their results, Pan will develop a test that includes an electrochemical biosensor that can detect the virus in about 3 minutes. If patients can receive their results within minutes of taking the test, Pan notes, they can quickly self-isolate and avoid exposing others to the virus.

Pan explains that the test will limit the possibility for inaccurate results. “We adopted a molecularly targeted approach to detect RNA from the virus. Since every living organism has unique RNA, targeting a distinctive genetic material of COVID-19 causative virus SARS-CoV-2 ensures remarkable accuracy and specificity,” he says.

In addition to his appointment at UMBC, Pan is a professor of diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine and pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine as part of his dual appointment with the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
]]> SOURCE: UMBC NEWS  | JULY 23, 2020 | MEGAN HANKS Dipanjan Pan, professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering, has received two new grants from the National Institutes of... https://news.umbc.edu/umbcs-dipanjan-pan-receives-two-nih-grants-to-continue-rapid-covid-19-testing-research/ https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94534/guest@my.umbc.edu/23b2b1b00255af66c852c5c3142c03d3/api/pixel covid-19 faculty funding pan research summer-2020 Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/cbee https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/original.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/large.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/medium.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/small.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxsmall.png?1746794587 Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering 1 0 true Wed, 29 Jul 2020 20:00:22 -0400 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:50:20 -0400 Ouriel Ndalamba, Undergraduate Researcher of the Week Turning waste pollutants into high-quality fertilizer
Ouriel Ndalamba is a Sophomore Chemical Engineering major. She is a CWIT Scholar, member of the Honors College, a summer LSAMP participant, and a URA Scholar.

Title of your research project: 
Dissolved carbon dioxide flotation for nutrient extraction and recovery from poultry litter.

Describe your project: 
Land application of poultry litter and other agricultural wastes by farmers causes nutrient runoff into water bodies and creates dead zones, which negatively impact water quality and aquatic life. My research aims to develop a new technology to effectively remove and recover the nutrients in poultry litter and agricultural waste to not only protect the environment, but also generate valuable fertilizers and soil amendments that can be sold to offset operating costs.

Who is your mentor(s) for your project? 
My mentors are Dr. Lee Blaney and Michael Fleming in the Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering (CBEE). I was introduced to Dr. Blaney by Dr. Miller and Dr. Wagner as I expressed an interest in engineering after I graduated high school. In the lab, I work alongside Michael Fleming, a graduate student. I asked Dr. Blaney to mentor me for this project, because I am interested in solving water pollution problems. 

[Read More..]
]]> Ouriel Ndalamba is a Sophomore Chemical Engineering major. She is a CWIT Scholar, member of the Honors College, a summer LSAMP participant, and a URA Scholar. Title of your research project: ... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/94482/guest@my.umbc.edu/5f307a26a7b864620145b2c4ad253dd6/api/pixel blaney research ug ug-research ugrad Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/cbee https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/original.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xlarge.png?1746794587 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/large.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/medium.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/small.png?1746794587 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xsmall.png?1746794587 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/771/b5e579e81b2e3624611890fa3ca2716a/xxsmall.png?1746794587 Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/482/189e60cd90c91182c2c3d47323f7b39b/xxlarge.jpg?1595871619 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/482/189e60cd90c91182c2c3d47323f7b39b/xlarge.jpg?1595871619 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/482/189e60cd90c91182c2c3d47323f7b39b/large.jpg?1595871619 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/482/189e60cd90c91182c2c3d47323f7b39b/medium.jpg?1595871619 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/482/189e60cd90c91182c2c3d47323f7b39b/small.jpg?1595871619 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/482/189e60cd90c91182c2c3d47323f7b39b/xsmall.jpg?1595871619 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/094/482/189e60cd90c91182c2c3d47323f7b39b/xxsmall.jpg?1595871619 2 0 true Mon, 27 Jul 2020 13:40:43 -0400 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:50:56 -0400