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Robert van Lith, M.S.
Ph.D. Candidate, Biomedical Engineering (Expected graduation: June 2013)
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The
Netherlands (2002)
M.S. Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The
Netherlands (2005)
Contact: r-lith at northwestern.edu
Research Interests: Nitric oxide delivery, antioxidants,
biomaterials, vascular tissue engineering
Synthetic vascular grafts such as ePTFE and Dacron are
used commonly for replacing dysfunctional blood vessels, e.g. due to
diseases such as atherosclerosis. However, in vessels
with diameters smaller than 6 mm, synthetic bypass grafts suffer from
low
patency rates due to the high inherent thrombogenicity of the materials
and neo-intimal hyperplasia, leading to occlusion.
Nitric oxide is secreted at
fairly steady levels by endothelial cells, the natural lining of blood
vessels. Among others, it prevent adhesion and activation of
platelets (involved in thrombosis), and inhibit
overproliferation of smooth muscle cells (two
major causes of neo-intimal hyperplasia and subsequent occlusion).
Therefore we are developing strategies for local delivery of
nitric oxide to ultimately improve the survival rates of synthetic
grafts in small-diameter blood vessels.
Ultimately, we hope to achieve significant in vivo
levels of
NO
for at least several weeks, enough to overcome the initial inflammatory
response that is the main cause of neo-intimal hyperplasia and
thrombosis
problems.
Selected Awards / Honors:
Thomas K. Goldstick award for BME teaching (2012)
INVO Innovation to Commercialization (I2C) Fellowship
(2012)
Kellogg Management for Scientists and Engineers Program
Certificate (2012)
American Heart Association Midwest Affiliate
Predoctoral Fellowship (2009)
Selected for Fulbright Fellowship (2007)
Selection for Japan Prizewinners Program: Dutch
governmental program for 15-20 top-level graduates in the Netherlands
each year (2005)
Skills:
Experimental - Cell & tissue culture,
electrospinning, SEM, FCS,
biomaterials, FTIR, fluorescence microscopy, AFM
Languages - Dutch (native), English (fluent), German
(proficient), Japanese (conversational), French (good understanding)
Interests:
Entrepreneurship, Asian movies, running, innovation,
squash, baking, hiking, strategy boardgames,
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