TABLE OF CONTENTS Looking Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 1 INBT in Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . page 2 Research Portfolio. . . . . . . . . . page 3 Training Programs. . . . . . . . . . page 8 Partnership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 14 Outreach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 16 Accolades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 23 About Us. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 25 Giving. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 27 Contact .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 28
Cover illustration by Martin Rietveld.
Looking Back In 2006, a handful of researchers from different disciplines got together with one idea: to create a hub where people across departments and divisions could work together to solve problems that affect human health. That hub became the Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology (INBT) and continues to be one of the University’s most successfully funded and most frequently emulated research entities. As we begin to close out our first decade, we look back on some of the milestones we have achieved thus far. INBT also must look ahead to the challenges we face. Research is constantly innovating to meet the changing needs of society and industry. Training programs must evolve to educate graduates who are highly sought after by employers. As competition for federal and state research dollars increases, we rely more and more on private philanthropy to fund our goals. By diversifying our research portfolio and increasing our multidisciplinary collaborations, we are confident that INBT will attain its objectives.
Our significant milestones include: • Netting more than $60 million in research funds over eight years • Launching several research centers and initiatives under the INBT umbrella to investigate questions relating to the applications of nanotechnology to cancer and to basic biomolecular processes. • Training several dozen graduate, undergraduate and pre college students in the multidisciplinary field of nanobiotechnology • Hosting eight successful research symposia and poster sessions that have featured leading experts in medicine, engineering, science, public health and industry from both inside and outside the university Peter C. Searson Joseph R. and Lynn C. Reynolds Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Director, Institute for NanoBioTechnology Co-director, Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence
Denis Wirtz Vice Provost for Research, Johns Hopkins University Director, Physical Sciences-Oncology Center Theophilus H. Smoot Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Associate Director, Institute for NanoBioTechnology
2014–2015 Progress Report
1
INBT By the Numbers School of Medicine
112
Whiting School of Engineering
57
Krieger School of Arts and Sciences
26
Bloomberg School of Public Health
19
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab
10
School of Education
2
Total Affiliated Faculty 226
2014 Undergraduate Summer Interns (REU)
10
2015 Undergraduate Summer Interns (REU)
13
2014 International Research Students (IRES)
5
2015 International Research Students (IRES)
4
2014 Summer Academic Research Experience High School Scholars (SARE)
5
2015 Summer Academic Research Experience High School Scholars (SARE)
9
Postdoctoral fellows
33
Pre-doctoral (PhD) training grant students
93
Master’s students
9
Undergraduate researchers
67
Total Trainees 253
2
Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology
Research Portfolio INBT’s research collaborations across disciplines and divisions continue to push boundaries, resulting in research innovations that address fundamental questions in basic science, engineering and medicine. INBT has been focused on cultivating existing research initiatives, including those focused on developing engineered components to simulate the blood-brain barrier, initiatives exploring the mechanisms of cancer metastasis, the devotion of more time and effort to cloud-based pathology, and to the study of basic cellular processes through the lens of nanotechnology.
2014–2015 Progress Report
3
RESEARCH PORTFOLIO
Delivery of Neurotoxicant Antidotes Across the
of the Brain Science Institute at the Johns Hopkins
Blood-Brain Barrier
School of Medicine. The Working Group meets several
Building on some of the innovations that evolved from
times a year to hear presentations from Hopkins and
INBT’s Blood-Brain Working Group, the Institute landed
invited faculty, industry leaders and, in some cases, Hop-
a grant from the Defense Threat Destruction Agency to
kins postdocs and graduate students doing compelling
provide new insight into the transport of neurotoxicant
work. Speakers over the last 18 months included Harold
antidotes (known as oximes) across the blood-brain barrier.
Selnick of Merck; Eric Shusta, professor of chemical and
The grant, initially for $1.3 million for two years with the
biological engineering at the University of Wisconsin,
opportunity to extend it three more years, involves profes-
Madison; Dennis Grab, associate professor of pathology
sor and INBT director Peter Searson and assistant profes-
and Il Minn, instructor of Radiology, both from the Johns
sor Martin Ulmschneider, both from the Department of
Hopkins School of Medicine; and Greg Wiedman and
Materials Science and Engineering at the Whiting School
Andrew Wong, both recent PhD recipients from the JHU
of Engineering in collaboration with professor Dwight
Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
Bergles from the Department of Neuroscience of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. The project has three
Center for Digital Pathology
components: one will use a previously developed artificial
Denis Wirtz, Vice Provost for Research, the Smoot Professor
blood vessel to measure how oximes perfuse through a
of Engineering and Associate Director of INBT, was the
manufactured system; one will conduct imaging studies
keynote speaker at The Celebration of Data Symposium
using transgenic mouse models whose blood-brain barrier
on June 20, 2014 on the Homewood campus. Speakers
epithelium expresses fluorescent proteins; and a third that
discussed how they are leveraging data in a variety of
will use computational models to predict outcomes.
research arenas, including academic science, the biotech industry and the private and government sectors. Other
Blood-Brain Barrier Working Group
INBT affiliated speakers included Konstantinos Konstan-
Formed in 2012, the Johns Hopkins Blood-Brain Barrier
topoulos, PhD Professor and Chair, Chemical & Biomo-
Working Group brings together researchers with diverse
lecular Engineering and several alumni of the Wirtz lab
interests and expertise to address key problems associated
including Soichiro Yamada, PhD Associate Professor, UC
with drug delivery, the role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB)
Davis; Daniele Gilkes, PhD, Assistant Research Professor
in disease, and the structure and function of the BBB.
at JHU; and Shyam Khatau, PhD, Senior Consultant,
Chairs of the working group include INBT Director Peter
Navigant and others.
C. Searson and Jeffrey D. Rothstein, MD, PhD, director
4
Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology
Physical Sciences-Oncology Center
exploring current use of hydrogels and their design
May 31, 2015 marked the end of the fifth and final year of
parameters to engineer vasculogenesis and angiogenesis
NIH funding for the Physical Sciences-Oncology Center (PS-OC),
and to evaluate the angiogenic capability of cancerous
which was established in 2009 with a $14.8 million grant
cells and tissues. Researchers from the Gregg Semenza and
from the National Cancer Institute. The Center studied
Denis Wirtz lab published the review, “Hypoxia and the
metastasis through the lens of the physical scientist and
extracellular matrix: drivers of tumor metastasis,” in which
examined biophysical markers for the spread of cancer.
they discuss how emerging data indicate that hypoxia and
Dozens of significant papers were published under the
the extracellular matrix (ECM) might have crucial roles in
auspices of the PS-OC over the last year and a half. Some
metastasis. Originally thought of as independent contrib-
publications included, but were not limited to: From the
utors to metastatic spread, recent studies have established
Sharon Gerecht lab came a report on “Hypoxia-inducible
a direct link between hypoxia and the composition and
hydrogels,” where she discusses how hypoxia plays a pivotal
the organization of the ECM, suggesting a new model in
role during development, regeneration and cancer. The
which multiple microenvironmental signals might con-
Gerecht lab also published the review “Hydrogels to model
verge to synergistically influence metastatic outcomes.
3D in vitro microenvironment of tumor vascularization,”
2014–2015 Progress Report
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RESEARCH PORTFOLIO
Osmotic Engine Model
High-throughput Screening Technologies
Researchers affiliated with the laboratories of Konstantinos
for Breast Cancer
Konstantopoulos, Denis Wirtz and Sean Sun published
The National Cancer Institute awarded a $3.3 million bio-
“Water permeation drives tumor cell migration in confined
engineering partnership grant to the Konstantinos Kon-
microenvironments,” in which they presented an integrated
stantopoulos laboratory to collaborate with the Aikaterini
experimental and theoretical approach (“Osmotic Engine
Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos laboratory at the University
Model”) and demonstrated that directed water permeation
of Maryland School of Medicine to validate a microfluidic
is a major mechanism of cell migration in confined micro-
assay designed to quickly predict the metastatic propensity of
environments. Sun and Konstantopoulos received $1.6 million
patient-derived biopsy cells. The tool will help optimize and
over five years in additional funding from the National In-
personalize cancer therapies. The team also will evaluate the
stitutes of Health to pursue further study in the Osmotic
giant protein obscurin as a novel, early-stage metastatic biomarker.
Engine Model.
Hopkins faculty members Denis Wirtz and David Huso (Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology/SoM) will also participate.
6
Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology
• 3D Dynamic Organization of Eukaryotic Genome— Sean Sun (WSE) & Karen Reddy (SOM) • Engineering Artificial Lymph Nodes for Cancer Immunotherapy—Hai-Quan Mao (WSE) & Jonathan Schneck (SOM) • Lung Cancer Early Diagnosis Using Biomarkers from Multiple Platforms—Peng Huang (SOM), Malcolm Brock (SOM), Zaver Bhujwalla (SOM), Linda Chu (SOM), Elliot Fishman (SOM), Junghoon Lee (SOM), Jeff Wang (WSE) • Molecular Imaging of Mechano-Transduction in Breast Cancer Metastasis—Zaver Bhujwalla (SOM), Steven An (BSPH), Saraswati Sukumar (SOM) • Nanoparticle-based Therapeutic Strategy to Target an RNA-binding Protein Termed TDP-43 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis—Philip Wong (SOM) & Hai-Quan Mao (WSE) Discovery Awards
• An Interdisciplinary Investigation of the Mechanism
Several affiliated faculty members were among the
of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease—
23 university wide who received an inaugural Discovery
Rong Li (SOM), Takanari Inoue (SOM), Rebecca Shul-
Award ranging from $100,000 to $150, 000. These grants
man (WSE), Sean Sun (WSE), Sharon Gerecht (WSE)
are designed to provide seed funding for cross-divisional
• Human Performance: Role of Acute Exercise in En-
research teams to create new knowledge and solve global
hancing Cognitive Function—Peter Searson (WSE),
challenges. The Discovery Awards program is part of a
Kerry Stewart (SOM), Howard Egeth (KSAS)
$15 million commitment to cross-university, faculty-led
• Animals, Public Health, and Ethics—Jeffrey Kahn
research over three years. Winners and projects include
(BSPH/BIB), Joanne Zurlo (BSPH), Dara Kraitchman
those listed below, with INBT affiliate names in italic:
(SOM)
2014–2015 Progress Report
7
Training OutreachPrograms From INBT thefaculty pre-college members, yearsstudents through and postdoctoral staff looktraining, for opportunities INBT’s education to shareprograms their research, are expertise producingand theknow-how next generation with colleagues of scientists and and theengineers general public. with skills In addition ready to to take our on new annual challenges symposium, in healthcare, INBT affiliates medicine haveand participated basic science. in many Our programs individualcontinue ways to raise to focus awareness on theabout interface nanotechnology of the physical and sciences/engineering its relation to healthand andbiology/medicine, medicine. Now more while than remaining ever, INBT flexible is becoming to meetinvolved the employment with its constituent demands ofcommunities. industry, government, academia and entrepreneurship.
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Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology
Nanotechnology for Cancer Research (NTCR)
an important emerging area and an important component
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recently awarded INBT
of the life sciences initiative. INBT is proud to continue
a T32 grant supporting the training of predoctoral
to confer this important distinction to students who have
students and postdoctoral fellows in nanotechnology for
met the program’s requirements. Doctoral students ac-
cancer research. The proposal will support two postdocs
cepted into many of the engineering, science or medical
and six PhD students. Recruitment began in the Fall
disciplines at Johns Hopkins University are eligible to
2015 and will continue in the third and fifth year of this
apply for admission into the certificate program. They are
5-year grant, as each student and postdoc will be funded
required to complete extra courses, attend professional
for two years. This T32 represents another great partner-
development seminars, present work at INBT’s annual
ship between a total of 22 faculty members at the Johns
symposium, participate in a weekly journal club and tuto-
Hopkins School of Medicine and the Whiting School
rial clubs with doctoral fellows from other disciplines, and
of Engineering. Departments from the medical school
work on a video news release about their research. One of
include oncology, pathology, ophthalmology, radiology,
the most unique features of this training program is the
neuroscience, urology, molecular biology and genetics.
Nano-Bio Laboratory course, where students learn a vari-
Departments from the engineering school include faculty
ety of nanotechnology relevant skills by rotating through
members from biomedical engineering, materials science
different affiliated laboratories. Graduates of the training
and engineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering,
program not only present potential employers with a
and mechanical engineering.
prestigious Johns Hopkins degree, but also an additional credential that represents a more sophisticated level of
Certificate of Advanced Study in Nanobiotechnology
expertise in the field of nanobiotechnology.
INBT enhances the doctoral education experience for Johns Hopkins students through its Certificate of Advanced
NanoBio Research Experience for Undergraduates
Study in Nanobiotechnology program. The certificate, ap-
(Nanobio-REU)
proved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission,
INBT’s Nanobio Research Experience for Undergraduates
offers PhD students an additional credential proving their
(Nanobio-REU) program was again funded by the National
mastery of skills and knowledge relevant to nanobiotech-
Science Foundation. In the summer of 2014, 10 students
nology. The certificate fulfills both the educational and
were hosted in affiliated laboratories across the university
economic goals for postsecondary education in the state of
including our first student in the Johns Hopkins Bloom-
Maryland, which recognizes nanobiotechnology as both
berg School of Public Health. In summer 2015, a supplementary grant allowed INBT to add three high
2014–2015 Progress Report
9
TRAINING PROGRAMS
school students to the 13 undergraduate student cohort.
Rosetta Research Experience for Undergraduates
The goal of the program for all students who are chosen is
(Rosetta-REU)
to allow them to experience what it takes to be a full-time
With the help of a $200,000, two-year grant to INBT from
academic researcher. Competition for positions in INBT
the National Science Foundation, Jeffrey Gray, professor
labs is fierce and underrepresented groups are encouraged
of chemical and biomolecular engineering, spearheaded a
to apply. More than 700 applicants vie for the internships.
first-of-its-kind training program, where students collabo-
Undergraduate research interns are matched with faculty,
rate with others from distant host university labs and use
graduate students and postdoctoral mentors in laboratories
computer software to build vaccines, biofuels, and protein
across the Hopkins campuses. At the end of their research
circuits in living cells. Typical summer internships bring
experience, students present their findings at a university-
students together to one host university, but students in
wide Career Academic and Research Experience for Students
the Computational Biomolecular Training Program use
poster session and symposium, held at the School of Medicine
an open-source software called Rosetta to work together
in conjunction with interns from other Hopkins programs.
on problems, regardless of physical location. Participants
10 Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology
“My interdisciplinary education has certainly been an asset moving beyond graduate school. I was quite comfortable looking for positions that required experience from either my physics training, my biology/bio-engineering training, or both. In particular, when interviewing for my current position, I spent the day meeting with various members of the (National Institutes of Standards and Technology) Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and found it surprisingly easy to talk science with folks working in a broad range of research areas.” —Craig Copeland, Physics ’13 are mentored by members of a global collaborative team
International Research Experience for Students (IRES)
known as the Rosetta Commons, and users analyze
INBT, in collaboration with The Inter-University Micro-
massive amounts of data to predict the structure of real
Electronics Centre (IMEC) in Leuven, Belgium and the
and imagined proteins, enzymes, and other molecules.
National Science Foundation supports undergraduate
In 2015, the students in the pilot program began with a
research internships abroad. The International Research
weeklong boot camp at the University of North Carolina
Experience for Students (IRES) program, funded by the
at the end of May. They, then traveled to host universities,
National Science Foundation, provides support for students
which included Johns Hopkins; University of California,
to work at IMEC’s world-class microfabrication facility
Davis; Scripps Research Institute; Stanford University;
and to learn to design, fabricate and test a wide range of
New York University; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute;
biomedical devices. During the summer of 2014, four
and Vanderbilt University. Morgan Nance, a biochemistry
undergraduate students from Johns Hopkins conducted
and molecular biology major from the University of Cali-
research at IMEC. They included Polly Ma from the De-
fornia, Davis, worked in the Gray Lab at Johns Hopkins
partment of Biomedical Engineering, Matthew Gonzalez
Homewood campus.
and Rustin Golnabi from the Department of Materials
2014–2015 Progress Report
11
TRAINING PROGRAMS
INBT Courses 670.609 Communication for Scientists and Engineers: Video News Releases (Summer) INBT’s science writer Mary Spiro trains students to present complex research ideas to nontechnical audiences, such as the mass media or policy makers. Skills learned in this course include script writing, storyboarding and editing and learning to become more effective communicators to their colleagues, to the general public and to those who may influence funding decisions. 670.615 (Fall), 670.616 (Spring) Introduction to NanoBio Tutorials 670.617 Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center Tutorials 670.618 (Fall), 670.628 (Spring) NanoBio Tutorials 670.619 Fundamental Physics & Chemistry of Nanomaterials (Fall) 670.620 Fundamental Laboratory Principles of Nanobiotechnology (Spring) 670.621 NanoBio Laboratory (Spring) 670.622 (Fall), 670.623 (Spring) Advanced NanoBio Tutorials 670.624 (Fall), 670.625 (Spring) NanoBio Tutorials: Special Topics 670.495/695 (Fall), 670.497/697 (Spring) Animation in Nanotechnology and Medicine is INBT’s animation course, taught by the Institute’s web/animation director, Martin Rietveld. The course continues to attract students from many university disciplines, such as Film and Media Studies, as well as from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Students directly involved with research will also work on projects to illustrate their laboratory work. 670.800 Independent Study Global Engineering Innovation
“Every lab is run in different ways and has a very different atmosphere. This experience has shown me how research in conducted in different labs.” —Alexa Wnorowski, Biological Engineering, Cornell University who worked in the materials science and engineering laboratory of INBT Director Peter Searson/ 2014. Science and Engineering, and Eugene Yoon from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. During the summer of 2015, another cohort traveled overseas including Rachel Bang, Sophomore in Mechanical Engineering; Rebecca Black, Junior in Molecular and Cell Biology; Gwendolyn Hoffmann, Senior in Materials Science and Engineering; and Victoria Laney, Senior in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. The students conduct research projects designed in collaboration with their home laboratories and with project leaders at IMEC. This unique academic/industrial partnership is funded through INBT and IMEC and managed by the Institute’s Director for Corporate Partnerships, Tom Fekete. In 2015, the NSF further funded this program for $76,000.The students write about their experiences both scientifically and culturally on a blog (http://inbtsummer-at-imec.blogspot.com/).
12 Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology
“It has already been a great experience working in the IMEC labs, as well as enduring a very steep learning curve. Outside of the lab, I still get the opportunity to interact with my coworkers. Last Sunday, two of my colleagues at IMEC hosted a musical concert, complete with a 5-piece brass ensemble, drums, and a singer. I really enjoyed seeing my coworkers out of the IMEC environment and the concert was extremely fun!” —Polly Ma/Summer 2014
Educational Recruitment
of students who attend STEM conferences for under-
INBT is devoted to finding the best and the brightest
represented groups, has helped drive a more diverse
candidates for all of its programs. INBT representatives
population of applicants to the Johns Hopkins Office of
have attend the Society for Advancement of Hispanics/
Admissions. In addition, INBT’s then Academic Program
Chicanos and Native Americans in Science and the Annual
Administrator, Ashanti Edwards, spoke at Howard Com-
Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students.
munity College in a panel discussion in 2014 about the
INBT does not directly admit students and is therefore
graduate school application process and helped dispel some
limited to graduate students to its training programs
of the myths students had about Johns Hopkins not
that have already been admitted to the University overall.
accepting students from community colleges. Currently,
However, the Institute’s presence at these meetings,
INBT’s Academic Program Administrator Camille Bryant
and by the capturing of names and contact information
facilitates all the Institute’s educational programs.
2014–2015 Progress Report
13
Partnership Since its inception, INBT has cultivated a diverse portfolio of corporate partnerships. Our mission is to explore many avenues to seek the most mutually beneficial and scientifically productive outcomes for both the Institute and for the partners engaged, whether it involves the goals of a small biotech startup or a large government agency, and whether the corporation is domestic or international in origin.
14 Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology
Corporate Partnership Program
Below are some of INBT’s current corporate relationships:
INBT established the Corporate Partnership Program to create strong bonds between industry and INBT. Our Di-
Secant Medical Technologies
rector of Corporate Partnerships, Tom Fekete establishes
Long-time INBT affiliate with projects relating to poly-
liaisons with corporations in market sectors such as phar-
meric scaffolds for nerve guides and cardiac vasculature
maceuticals, medical devices, medical instrumentation,
with Hai Quan Mao (Materials Science) and Narutoshi
sensors, microelectronics, advanced materials, and chemical
Hibino (Cardiac Surgery).
products, all of who have significant interests in nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine. Likewise INBT seeks to
Becton Dickinson
liaise with industry to transfer Hopkins-created technologies
Long-time INBT affiliate with projects relating to high
to market for the benefit of humanity. Corporate partici-
throughput phenotyping to cervical cytology with Denis
pation in INBT is vital to ensure that emerging technology
Wirtz (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering); Micro-
moves from the laboratory to the marketplace. Our
fluidic technology to be used in hand-held diagnostic with
Corporate Partners play a crucial role in helping INBT
Jeff Wang (Mechanical Engineering) and Zachary Gagnon
research teams define objectives and identify barriers to
(Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering); tuberculosis di-
commercialization, as well as in creating products for end-
agnostic technology with Hai Quan Mao (Materials Science).
users and in the development of techniques for large-scale manufacturing processes. The Corporate Partnership
MedImmune
Program establishes a framework to facilitate interactions
Long-time INBT affiliate with discussions on projects
with companies interested in a mutually beneficial rela-
regarding nanoparticulate imaging with Martin Pomper
tionship with INBT.
(Radiology) and the quantification of the enhanced permeability and retention effect with Peter Searson (Materials Science). Other groups with whom we are exploring research collaborations include Life Technology-Thermo Fisher; GE-Cell Technology; Lockheed Martin; Novara; Biogen; Wuhan Kuangchao; The BowTie Foundation; and Advanced Materials.
2014–2015 Progress Report
15
Outreach Outreach can take many forms, and INBT strives to find innovative ways to communicate with its constituents. From large events to training programs to media relations and coffee breaks, INBT researchers and staff are devoted to sharing our discoveries.
16 Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology
Annual Symposium INBT’s annual symposium draws upwards of 300 people each year and nearly 100 poster presentations from across the University’s various divisions. The symposium provides a platform where faculty and students can discuss their ongoing research, get feedback from their peers and also engage with members of the public, industry or press who attend. In 2014 the theme for our symposium was stem cell science and featured speakers that included faculty experts Linzhao Cheng, founder of Hopkins Stem Cell Program; Warren Grayson, expert in tissue engineering; Linda Resar, who discussed using stem cells in cancer therapy; Hai-Quan Mao, who specializes in using engineered biomaterials to enhance stem cell potential, and Guo-li Ming, who talked about the role of stem cells in mental illness. Industry expert Mark Powers from Thermo Fischer Scientific presented a talk on commercially available products for stem cell engineering. In 2015, the topic of the symposium was Neuro X, where “x” stood
Research; and Martin G. Pomper, the William R. Brody
for engineering, medicine, biology, etc. Expert faculty
Professor of Radiology; Professor of Radiology and Radio-
presenters included Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, Professor
logical Science.
of Neurological Surgery and Oncology Neuroscience and Cellular and Molecular Medicine; Jordan J. Green, Associ-
Global Engineering Innovation
ate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Ophthalmology,
International outreach through our Global Engineering
Neurosurgery; Ahmet Hoke, Professor, Neurology and
Innovation (GEI) program has taken students to Tanza-
Neuroscience; Patricia H. Janak, Professor, Department of
nia, Brazil, India, Bali and Laos. This hybrid outreach and
Psychological and Brain Sciences/Department of Neuro-
training program was started with a grant to INBT to af-
science; Piotr Walczak, Associate Professor, Department
filiated faculty member Jennifer Elisseeff, professor in Bio-
of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR
medical Engineering, with the goal of bringing engineered solutions to everyday problems in developing nations.
2014–2015 Progress Report
17
OUTREACH
• In 2014, the Brazil GEI Team of Nathan Nicholes
of small entrepreneurs, they set out to engineer the
(PhD, ChemBE), Tânia Perestrelo (PhD candidate,
prototype for a low-cost, detachable cargo and people
ChemBE), Zinnia Xu (PhD candidate, BME), Saman-
carrier that was modular, durable and easy to install.
tha Brandon(senior, ChemBE), and Hanh Le (PhD
Future work will involve conducting a cost benefit
candidate, EE), team traveled to Amazonas, Brazil to
analysis to determine if such a cart would improve
continue work with hosts from the Federal University
earning potential and to prioritize the features of the
of the State of São Paulo and the Federal University
carrier.
of Amazonas (UFAM) and to seek out new projects
• Three members of our Indonesia GEI Team had the
and collaborations. The primary objectives for this trip
opportunity to attend the conference, Poverty Al-
included: sharing the cassava mill plans at the Feira
leviation: A Role for Technology and Infrastructure,
de Produção Familiar (Family Agriculture Fair, similar
which took place in Rome, Italy on May 11-12, 2015.
to a farmer’s market), with the professors from the
The purpose of the conference was to evaluate current
Socioeconomics Center at the UFAM, with an NGO
technology-based solutions tackling poverty alleviation
called the Fundação Vitória Amazônica and other
and the socio-economic and political barriers and
potential end users, such as cassava flour producers
implications associated with it. Having completed a
in Nazaré and Bom Socorro. The team also tested a
second trip to the rural city of Tuban, Indonesia,
retinal imager on patients participating in the Projeto
Ronann Carrero (junior, ME); Sakina Girnary
BARES with our ophthalmology hosts, and evaluated
(MS candidate, BME), and Yunuscan Sevimli (MS
new project opportunities and collaborations for the
candidate, ME) were able to describe to conference
team to work on during the upcoming year.
attendees their experience using engineering and tech-
• The Laos GEI Team traveled to the capital city of
nologies to affect change on poverty in rural areas. The
Vientiane to conduct preliminary research on a project
students explained that how, aided by a partnership
to design a cargo and people carrier for motorbikes.
with local NGO Kopernik, they were able to delve
Participants included Lingga Adidharma (Junior, Epi-
into the practices employed by locals who partake
demiology), Kaitlyn Sadtler (PhD candidate, BME),
in the smoked- and dried-fish markets. Then, using
and Alex Komin (PhD candidate, Materials Science).
this knowledge they designed, built, and tested a fish
Their goal was to help small entrepreneurs improve
smoker that will serve as a superior alternative to those
their earning potential by enhancing their ability to
currently employed without interfering with either the
transport goods and people to more locations safely and
culture or traditions of the area.
cost-effectively. Following their survey of various types
18 Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology
Summer Academic Research Experience (SARE)
their research at a university wide symposium for summer
Since 2008, INBT’s SARE program has provided
interns. At the end of the summer, the students present an
economically disadvantaged students with a summer
additional one-hour scientific poster presentation detail-
experience that was enriching, challenging and personally
ing their summer research. Students are recruited from
rewarding. This hybrid outreach and training program has
public and private high schools in Baltimore city as well
become one of INBT’s most successful outreach programs.
as from the Maryland SEED School, which is the state’s
Spearheaded by professor Douglass Robinson from the
public boarding school. The impact of SARE is long
Department of Cell Biology, students work in research labs
lasting. Over its history, SARE has supported a total of
at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where they are
23 students, all of who have gone on to enroll in college
mentored by faculty and graduate students and participate
with half of that number choosing STEM majors. In the
actively in a research project. Each weekday, they receive
summer of 2014, SARE hosted a cohort of five students.
academic enrichment in math, reading, writing and even
Just prior to the summer of 2015, they received additional
bioethics through classes taught by staff and graduate
funding from the Family League for $20,000, which
student tutors. Six weeks into SARE, students presented
allowed the program to host four additional students,
2014–2015 Progress Report
19
OUTREACH
raising the cohort total to nine. At the conclusion of the
Career Coaching
2015 summer program, SARE was awarded $2 million
In addition to his work as INBT’s Director of Corporate
over three years through a Health Careers Opportunity
Partnerships, Tom Fekete maintains an open-door policy
Program proposal sponsored by Health Resources and
to advise and assist both undergraduates and graduate
Services. This government funding allows SARE to double
students on their career paths. Drawing upon decades
the number of high school students to more than 25 stu-
of experience in industry as well as his current corporate
dents per year. Together with SARE’s partnering program,
connections, Fekete is able to help students to learn to
Johns Hopkins Biophysics Research for Baltimore Teens,
network and to launch their professional careers. He has
post baccalaureate students will now be included. This
also presented workshops during the semester and over
expansion allows SARE to develop a full pipeline program
the summer on career networking for job hunting. He is a
that accepts students from disadvantaged backgrounds
valuable resource to our affiliated students.
from high school through post-baccalaureate levels and prepares them to pursue advanced degrees in medical and STEM fields. This comprehensive effort will impact 48, 52, and 56 students in 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively
20 Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology
INBTea
Professional Development Seminars
Each Wednesday, INBT hosts a 30-minute coffee, tea and
Our visiting research interns join with our full-time stu-
treat break for students and faculty. The mid-afternoon break
dent cohorts at four summer professional development
is designed to draw people from different INBT affiliated
seminars that are aimed at engaging our scholars in im-
labs operating on the Homewood campus and to offer an
portant conversations about topics relevant to their lives
informal platform to make connections, get to know one
outside of the laboratory. The topics change, but have
another and ultimately break down research silos and en-
included networking and career development, trends in
courage collaboration. It’s a simple thing, but this regular
research, the graduate school application process, financial
event has strengthened student bonds with the Institute
literacy and panel discussions with alumni. We have also fea-
and is certainly something INBT affiliates look forward to
tured the INBT student film fest, which allows students
on a weekly basis.
from the course Communication for Scientists and Engineers to show off their final video projects.
2014–2015 Progress Report
21
OUTREACH
and in departmental newsletters. Our research publication, Nano-Bio Magazine, is distributed to audiences both internal and external to the University. Monthly e-newsletters keep our constituents informed of more recent events. The Nano-Bio blog on our website provides a platform for current news and for students to share insights into their experience at Johns Hopkins and with INBT. The recently launched Nano-Bio podcast, produced periodically and in conjunction with press releases or other publications, is our newest communication channel. Externally, INBT affiliates and programs were featured in media outlets such as the The Baltimore Sun; the website of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers; Bioscience Technology; the website of the National Science Foundation; Computer World; Oncology Nurse Advisor; Futurity.org; Photonics.com; and Physorg.com. INBT engages the public on social media via a Facebook page and a Twitter account with 1,667 likes and 914 followers, respectively. Media Relations Media Relations Director Mary Spiro exploits a number
INBT Animation Studio
of channels to promote the discoveries and programs of the
The Animation Studio provides INBT scientists a chance
Institute. INBT collaborates with the Johns Hopkins News
to promote research through art and design. Martin Rietveld,
and Information team and other internal communication
INBT’s Web and Animation Director, teaches the course
personnel to explain and promote the activities of the
Animation for Nanotechnology and Medicine available to
Institute. Internally, stories about INBT research and
both graduate and undergraduate students.
researchers have been featured on the University’s primary
Projects completed during the reporting period in-
online news outlet, The HUB; the Whiting School of
clude illustrations for the Mao, Wirtz, Gracias, and Wang
Engineering Magazine; Johns Hopkins Magazine; pub-
labs as well as an animation for the DrinkSync senior
lications at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and
design project, many of which can be seen throughout
Bloomberg School of Public Health, the JHU Gazette,
this publication.
22 Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology
Accolades INBT faculty and students were recognized for their contributions to academia, public policy and the University.
Green Among Popular Science’s Brilliant Ten
Gerecht nets AHA and Frontier Awards
Jordan Green, associate professor of biomedical engineer-
Sharon Gerecht, associate professor of chemical and
ing, was named one of Popular Science magazine’s Brilliant
biomolecular engineering, received one of four prestigious
Ten for 2014. Green was recognized for his innovative
American Heart Association Established Investigator Award
work that focuses on using nanoscale particles made in the
worth $400,000 in fall 2014. The funding is designed to
shape of footballs, that can train the body’s own immune
support mid-career investigators who show unusual prom-
system to tackle cancer cells. Particles with the elongated
ise and accomplishments in the study of “cardiovascular
ovoid shape have a slightly larger surface area, which gives
or cerebrovascular science.” Gerecht’s research focuses
them an edge over spherical particles. The football-shaped
on engineering platforms, specifically hydrogels that are
particles did a better job of triggering the immune system
designed to coax stem cells to develop into the building
to attack the cancer cells.
blocks of blood vessels. In 2015, Gerecht also received the inaugural Johns Hopkins President’s Frontier Awards worth $250,000. The President’s Frontier Award launches a series of efforts by university leadership to support faculty as they pursue innovative and important research.
2014–2015 Progress Report
23
ACCOLADES
Cells Performing “Secret Handshake” Wins Grand Prize Sebastian F. Barreto, a doctoral student of chemical and biomolecular engineering in the laboratory of Sharon Gerecht, won the inaugural grand prize for his image “Cells Performing Secret Handshake” from the Regenerative Medicine Foundation. Another image that Barreto submitted received 3rd place and a third image received honorable mention. The winning images were displayed in a special Giddens Lectures Features all INBT Affiliates
public patron gallery exhibition component during the
In 1993, the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns
Regenerative Medicine Foundation annual meeting held
Hopkins University started a tradition to honor faculty
in San Francisco, May 5-7, 2014
members who had been newly promoted to full professors through a special lecture series named for the school’s fifth
REU Intern Takes Stage with Nobel Prize Winner
dean. All three of the 2014 Don P. Giddens Inaugural
During their final poster session and symposium, INBT’s
Professorial Lecture Series were INBT affiliated faculty.
Nanobio REU summer intern Kelcee Everette of Har-
They included David Gracias, Russell Croft Faculty
vard University, was selected to speak about her personal
Scholar, professor of chemical and biomolecular engi-
inspirations and challenges to study science, medicine
neering; Hai-Quan Mao, professor of materials science
and engineering. She shared the platform with keynote
and engineering; and Tza-Huei “Jeff” Wang, professor of
speaker, Peter Agre, the Hopkins professor who won the
mechanical engineering.
2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
24 Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology
About Us Launched on May 15, 2006, Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology was created as an interdivisional entity to exploit Johns Hopkins University’s strengths in nanotechnology and medicine. We define nanobiotechnology as nanotechnology applied to biology and medicine. INBT’s goals include: • creating programs that integrate research, education, corporate relations and technology transfer; and • providing an infrastructure that fosters faculty collaboration and improves opportunities for research funding Organization INBT was created to promote interdivisional collaborations
nancial Analyst); Ellie Boettinger Heasley (Senior Admin-
among the University schools of medicine, engineering,
istrative Coordinator); Gregg Nass (Senior Administrative
public health, arts and sciences, and the Applied Physics
Manager); Martin Rietveld (Web Director); Mary Spiro
Laboratory (APL). The Institute is led by Director Peter C.
(Science Writer/Media Relations Director); and Kierra
Searson, the Joseph R. and Lynn C. Reynolds Professor of
Suggs (Senior Research Service Analyst).
Materials Science and Engineering at the Whiting School of Engineering, and Associate Director Denis Wirtz, Vice
Facilities
Provost for Research at the University and the Theophilus
Croft Hall on the Homewood campus has been INBT’s
H. Smoot Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engi-
headquarters since 2011. Croft Hall is adjacent to and
neering at the Whiting School of Engineering. Administra-
connected with Shaffer Hall on the Wyman Quadrangle
tive support staff at INBT includes Camille Bryant (Aca-
and was named for L. Gordon Croft, a 1956 Johns Hopkins
demic Program Administrator); Thomas Fekete (Director
graduate, who made a $5.4 million commitment to the
of Corporate Partnerships); Warren Fewster (Senior Fi-
university’s Whiting School of Engineering.
2014–2015 Progress Report
25
ABOUT US
Expansion
to ongoing INBT programs. INBT will provide laboratory
INBT already occupies the 3rd, 1st, ground and base-
space for five engineering faculty including Sean Sun and
ment levels of Croft. In 2014, the Institute began a 12,000
Jeff Wang from Mechanical Engineering; Kalina Hristova
square-foot expansion to the 2nd floor of Croft Hall that
and Martin Ulmschneider from Materials Science and
has created a highly interdisciplinary and flexible environ-
Engineering; and Feilim Mac Gabhann and Jordan Green
ment for nano-bio research that includes both laboratory
from Biomedical Engineering. Lastly, Hai-Quan Mao in
and faculty and student office space for INBT affiliated
Materials Science and Engineering and Sharon Gerecht
personnel from other departments and divisions. The ex-
in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering will have
pansion also encompasses part of Shaffer Hall and will be
student office space in Shaffer Hall. Along with lab and
completed in the fall of 2015. Housed in this new space
office space, there will be an imaging core composed of a
will be two faculty members from the Johns Hopkins
suite of specialty microscopes managed by the Integrated
School of Medicine, Martin Pomper, MD, PhD from Ra-
Imaging Center (IIC), which is led by Michael McCaffery,
diology and Oncology and Laura Wood, MD, PhD from
whose main facilities are located in Dunning Hall on the
Pathology and Oncology, both of whom are contributing
Homewood campus.
26 Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology
Giving Anyone can support the ongoing research efforts of INBT faculty and students. With state and federal funding more challenging to come by, we count on a variety of funding sources to maintain our momentum toward solving some of the major health challenges facing humanity. Any size donation is welcome, and without the support of individuals like you, we could not carry out our mission and goals. What you give can help us: • purchase new equipment or supplies for our laboratories. • provide a stipend for one or more graduate student researchers. • promote established research on a specific disease, such as cancer. • help launch a pilot project so that it produces results that aid in winning larger state or federal monies. • help bring a new technology to clinical trials or the marketplace Can we count on you? Giving to INBT is easy. Please make your check out to JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY and mail to: Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology 100 Croft Hall 3400 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21218 Attention: Warren Fewster You also may donate online at http://inbt.jhu.edu/giving.
2014–2015 Progress Report
27
GIVING
Contact Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology 100 Croft Hall 3400 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218 Email: inbt@jhu.edu Phone: (410) 516-5634 Fax: (410) 516-2355
Staff Camille Bryant Academic Program Administrator cbryant@jhu.edu (410) 516-6572
Ellie Boettinger-Heasley Senior Administrative Coordinator eheasle1@jhu.edu (410) 516-5634
Mary Spiro Science Writer/Media Relations mspiro@jhu.edu (410) 516-4802
Tom Fekete Director of Corporate Partnerships tmfeke@jhu.edu (410) 516-8891
Gregg Nass Senior Administrative Manager gnass@jhu.edu (410) 516-3423
Kierra Suggs Sr. Research Service Analyst ksuggs1@jhu.edu (410) 516-3853
Warren Fewster Senior Financial Analyst wfewster@jhu.edu (410) 516-5636
Martin Rietveld Web / Animation Director rietveld@jhu.edu (410) 516-4127
Denis Wirtz Vice Provost for Research Associate Director, Professor wirtz@jhu.edu (410) 516-8094 (Admin: Tracy Smith)
Peter Searson Director, Professor searson@jhu.edu (410) 516-8774
Executive Committee Dwight Bergles, PhD Neuroscience
Kalina Hristova, PhD Materials Science and Engineering
Dan Reich, PhD Physics and Astronomy
Jennifer Elisseeff, PhD Biomedical Engineering
Konstantinos Konstantopoulos, PhD Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Sean Sun, PhD Mechanical Engineering
Sharon Gerecht, PhD Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Jordan Green, PhD Biomedical Engineering
28 Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology
Hai-Quan Mao, PhD Materials Science and Engineering Martin Pomper, MD, PhD Radiology
Jeff Wang, PhD Mechanical Engineering
Credits Artwork Cover Page 3 Page 5 Page 6 Page 8 Page 10
Martin Rietveld Mary Spiro Mary Spiro Martin Rietveld Will Kirk Mary Spiro
Page 13 Page 14 Page 16 Page 17 Page 19
Mary Spiro; Courtesy of Gwen Hoffmann Martin Rietveld Mary Spiro Mary Spiro Courtesy of Nathan Nicholes
Page 20 Mary Spiro Illustrations by Martin Rietveld Page 22 Illustration by Martin Rietveld Page 23 Will Kirk; Mary Spiro Page 24 Mary Spiro Page 27 Mary Spiro
Design Brio Design Printing Schmitz Press Š 2015 Johns Hopkins University Institute for NanoBioTechnology.