ATL Standard

In 2023, the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering introduced a program to develop future leaders in cardiovascular research. The Cardiovascular Biomechanics Graduate Training Program at Emory and Georgia Tech (CBT@EmTech) currently includes nine students receiving two years of training across various disciplines such as cardiovascular biomechanics, mechanobiology, medical imaging, computational modeling, medical devices, therapeutics discovery and delivery, and data science.

"The goal of the program is to stimulate interdisciplinary training," said Hanjoong Jo, CBT@EmTech director and Wallace H. Coulter Distinguished Professor. "And we have a very diverse group of trainees interested in various aspects of cardiovascular research and medicine."

The initial cohort consisted of five first-year graduate students who brought different experiences and ambitions to the program. Now concluding their time as CBT@EmTech trainees, they shared insights into their work.

One student highlighted his focus on aortic valve tissue engineering for pediatric patients with congenital heart defects or infections. "I've always had a passion for helping people," he stated about his research on creating better long-term solutions through tissue-engineered heart valves.

Another student discussed her study on how disturbed flow affects transcriptional regulation in endothelial cell reprogramming related to atherosclerosis under Principal Investigator Hanjoong Jo at Emory University. Her interest stems from family history with cardiovascular disease.

A third trainee expressed urgency due to personal loss when researching post-procedural heart valve outcomes using computational modeling at Georgia Tech under Principal Investigator Lakshmi Prasad Dasi. This research aims to predict complications following cardiovascular treatments.

Researcher Simone Douglas-Green focuses on peripheral artery disease (PAD), studying satellite cells' potential therapeutic role in strengthening collateral vessels through fibrin scaffolds at Georgia Tech's Hansen Lab.

The program offers networking opportunities among peers while enhancing growth as researchers through curriculum customization based on participant needs; for instance co-planning biannual retreats showcasing storytelling workshops aimed at improving scientific communication skills beyond academia settings.