Rensselaer Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies

JP Trasatti, co-advised by Professors Karande and Linhardt, won the prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship earlier this spring. Mr. Trasatti was awarded this three year fellowship, for his work examining the biochemical interactions that govern the blood-brain barrier. More information about Mr. Trasatti and his research can be found here: http://homepages.rpi.edu/~karanp/people_trasatti.htm

Biomedical Imaging Expert Ge Wang Joins Rensselaer as Clark and Crossan Professor

Biomedical imaging expert Ge Wang recently joined Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as the John A. Clark and Edward T. Crossan Professor of Engineering, and a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

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Lingling Zhao (PhD Student), Best poster award in the PhD category, NEBEC, Syracuse 2013

Biotechnology Public Forums

In 2011, the leadership of the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute introduced a new series open to the public, surrounding business community and Rensselaer community to the life-saving and high-tech research ongoing at CBIS. The forums are an opportunity to open the doors of this top research facility to the public.

Obese Patients Face Higher Radiation Exposure From CT Scans—But New Technology Can Help

Engineering Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Develop “Phantoms” To Make Medical Imaging Safer for Overweight Individuals

Image credit: Rensselaer/Ding

Most medical imaging equipment is not designed with overweight and obese patients in mind. As a result, these individuals can be exposed to higher levels of radiation during routine X-ray and CT scans.

A new study from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the first to calculate exactly how much additional radiation obese patients receive from a CT scan. Research results show the internal organs of obese men receive 62 percent more radiation during a CT scan than those of normal weight men. For obese women, it was an increase of 59 percent.

New technology developed at Rensselaer by nuclear engineering expert X. George Xu could help solve this problem. Xu’s research team created ultra-realistic 3-D computer models of overweight and obese men and women, and used computer simulations to determine how X-rays interact with the different body types. These models, known as “phantoms,” can help empower physicians to configure and optimize CT scanning devices in such a way that minimizes how much radiation a patient receives.

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Biomedical Imaging Expert Ge Wang Joins Rensselaer as Clark and Crossan Professor

Biotechnology Public Forums