Prof. Walfre Franco

The goal of the project is to develop implantable optical sensors to measure oxygenation in the muscle of elephant seals. The summer intern supported the lab characterization of the light sources and optical detectors that the sensor utilizes for measuring oxygen levels.

Prof. Alan Wei

Project 1: Fetal Heart Project
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect and a significant cause of death and chronic illness in children. Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a common CHD and can cause mortality and major morbidities if not diagnosed and treated effectively. Although the prenatal diagnosis of CoA is feasible and has been shown to improve perinatal outcomes, many challenges and gaps remain, including the lack of safe and effective treatment and preventive strategies of CoA in a fetus. In this project, we will use advanced computer technology to study blood flow in the aorta of fetuses. We will use the technique to (1) draw the shape of the aorta from medical images and (2) estimate how blood flows inside the aorta by using machine learning. 
Project 2: Single Ventricle Project
Every year, many newborns die because of heart defects at birth. One of the most dangerous heart defects at birth is the single ventricle defect. It occurs when one of the two pumping chambers in the heart, called ventricles, does not develop well and work properly. These patients need emergency treatment. Doctors have not agreed on how to treat these patients well. So, we will use advanced computer technology to study blood flow conditions in patients with single ventricle defects. In this project, the student was in charge of gathering important information from medical images of patients.