NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: A photo of Hassan Khalil is available on the
Web at http://www.uh.edu/admin/media/nr/
2005/07july/072605hassanph.html.
IMPROVING ARTIFICIAL HEART
TOP GOAL OF AWARD-WINNING RESEARCH AT UH
Biomedical Engineering Student Receives Fellowship for Work on Human
Vascular System
HOUSTON, July 26, 2005 – A University of Houston biomedical
engineering student’s award-winning research pumps new life
into artificial organs and fosters collaborations between UH and
the Texas Medical Center.
Hassan Khalil, a junior in biomedical engineering at UH, recently
was awarded a fellowship by the American Society of Artificial Internal
Organs (ASAIO) for an abstract that details the research he has
done with a model of the human vascular system. Though artificial
organs have been in use for some time, his model will allow for
new experimentation in artificial organ control.
Khalil’s model can achieve more in-depth research and flexibility
than animal test subjects would provide. With the ability to do
different types of experiments on the same model by manipulating
very simple things, it not only makes experiments much more flexible,
but also easier, more predictable and less expensive.
“One of the main goals is to try to control the artificial
heart,” Khalil said. “We’re still in the research
stage and having a model like this is very helpful in studying feedback
control of an artificial heart.”
Khalil’s abstract, titled “Simulation of Total Artificial
Heart Circuit with Tandem Continuous-Flow Ventricular Assist Devices,”
began with a summer internship at the Texas Heart Institute (THI)
in the Texas Medical Center. His collaborators on the project include
Kamuran Kadipasaoglu, an adjunct professor of biomedical engineering
at UH and assistant director of the Cardiovascular Surgery Research
Laboratories at THI, Matt Franchek, a professor of mechanical engineering
and director of UH’s biomedical engineering program, and Ralph
Metcalfe, a professor of mechanical engineering and deputy director
of the UH biomedical engineering program.
“For students like me, this collaboration between the University
of Houston and the Texas Medical Center is a very good opportunity
to gain experience and to work with doctors and other professionals,”
Khalil said. “I think it’s also important because at
some point engineers and engineering students have to become involved
since there is an engineering aspect to every project.”
With only 10 awards offered by ASAIO, Khalil was given his $500
fellowship from the graduate students and professional engineers
category at the organization’s 51st annual conference titled
“Enabling the Future through Discovery and Innovation,”
which echoes its mission to advance the research, development and
medical application of bionic technologies. Consisting of more than
1,000 Members, the ASAIO’s membership includes specialists
from 40 different countries with more than 30 different professional
degrees, representing government, universities, industry, private
hospitals and independent research groups.
“This is an international competition and a very prestigious
award,” said Metcalfe. “It’s a special honor to
be considered and to get the award when the other candidates are
graduate students, research engineers, assistant professors and
instructors of biomedical engineering.”
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research
and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers
and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate,
civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university
in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and
service with more than 35,000 students.
About the Cullen College of Engineering
UH Cullen College of Engineering has produced five U.S. astronauts,
ten members of the National Academy of Engineering, and degree programs
that have ranked in the top ten nationally. With more than 2,600
students, the college offers accredited undergraduate and graduate
degrees in biomedical, chemical, civil and environmental, electrical
and computer, industrial, and mechanical engineering. It also offers
specialized programs in aerospace, materials, petroleum engineering
and telecommunications.
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For more information about UH visit the universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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