Amy Rosen, student in the Stony Brook University School of Medicine's Biomedical Engineering and Physiology and Biophysics program, with mentor, Ira S. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., and a complete three dimensional reconstruction of the distribution of quantum dot -labeled stem cells.
Amy Rosen, a 25-year-old M.D., Ph.D. student in the Stony Brook University School of Medicine's Biomedical Engineering and Physiology and Biophysics program, was selected as one of only 11 finalists nationwide in the 2006 Collegiate Inventors Competition. Her entry, entitled "Tracking the 3-D Distribution of Delivered Stem Cells In Vivo with Quantum Dot (QD) Nanoparticles," or "Tracking Stem Cells," earned her a graduate finalist designation in the prestigious competition which is operated by the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation. Winners will be announced on October 19 at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Va.
Using nanotechnology -- specifically fluorescent quantum dot nanoparticles -- Rosen developed a rapid and reliable method for uniformly labeling stem cells and tracking the tagged cells for up to eight weeks in vivo. She generated for the first time, a complete three dimensional reconstruction of the distribution of QD-labeled stem cells in the heart. Such data provides valuable information about the potential safety and efficacy of therapeutic stem cells.
In 2004, a collaborative effort between researchers at Stony Brook University and Columbia University received industry support from Guidant (now Boston Scientific) to further their research for replacing electronic pacemaker devices with a biological solution. Amy joined the laboratory shortly after the five year contract began. According to Rosen's mentor, Ira S. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., Leading Professor of Physiology & Biophysics and Director, Institute of Molecular Cardiology at Stony Brook University, her approach solves a universal problem for researchers working to develop effective biological pacemakers.
"When Amy joined the laboratory, we had a functional biological pacemaker 'device,' and solid funding for further research, but the challenge remained: we could not reliably find, enumerate and reconstruct the positions of the stem cells that we delivered in vivo," said Dr. Cohen. "Amy, entirely by herself, developed a passive loading technique that uniformly labeled large populations of stem cells without reducing cell viability. This has never been accomplished before by anyone."
Piero Anversa, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at New York Medical College in Valhalla, was impressed by Rosen's invention when he reviewed it at the American Heart Association's 3rd Annual Basic and Translational Science symposium held in Colorado this summer.
"Tracking stem cells in cardiac tissue is one of the most complex problems in cardiovascular research today," said Dr. Anversa. "This is the best method I have seen for identifying and tracking stem cells in cardiac tissue."
Richard N. Fine, M.D., Dean, Stony Brook University School of Medicine said Rosen's nomination validates Stony Brook?s position as a leader in basic science and translational research. "Amy is truly a star among stars," said Dr. Fine. 'She took a problem that researchers at top institutions have been investigating for years and found the solution."
"Having the opportunity to work with Ira Cohen at Stony Brook and his colleagues at Columbia has been an amazing experience," said Rosen. "What could be more exciting than being at the forefront of cutting-edge research that marries nanotechnology, regenerative medicine and stem cell biology?"
Approximately 100 contestants from 70 institutions nationwide were considered for the competition. Institutions represented by additional nominees include Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Entries are judged on the originality of the new idea, process or technology, as well as its potential value and usefulness to society. Awards will be issued to one Undergraduate winner ($10,000), one Graduate winner ($15,000) and one Grand Prize winner ($25,000). Rosen is one of seven graduate finalists.
Rosen lives in Coram, N.Y., and is a native of North Woodmere, N.Y. She received a B.S.E. in Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 2002. She expects to complete her doctoral studies in Biomedical Engineering in 2007 and receive her M.D. in 2010. She is a recipient of the National Institute of Health's Medical Scientist Training Program fellowship.
