OVERVIEW

The T32 Postdoctoral Biodesign Training Program is a collaborative effort of the Johns Hopkins Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Engineering, and Nursing funded by the Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research through a National Institutes of Health Clinical and Translational Science Award.

We are seeking applicants interested in one of the following two tracks:

1: CBID Engineering Masters Degree – Earning a Master’s Degree in Biodesign and Innovation in the Whiting School of Engineering (CBID). The successful candidate will have to be part of a team-based CBID program with real-world medical innovation experience in the USA and abroad and will be primarily mentored by Dr. Youseph Yazdi and his colleagues. This can be accommodated into a residency/fellowship program as long as the candidate satisfies the minimum time commitment for the CBID MS track. Examples of previous projects in this track: Sonavex: A plastic surgery resident completed the CBID MSE, during which they designed and developed a novel method of monitoring blood flow post-operatively.  The team founded a company, Sonavex, which has succeeded in raising venture capital and commercializing their concept.  Lyphosense: This project designed a solution to assessment of Lymphatic Leak after Pediatric Cardiac Surgery. SomnAir: A Head and Neck surgeon and his team at CBID developed a non-invasive method to provide neuromodulation to present airway collapse, providing a cure for obstructive sleep apnea. Team has formed a company and raised venture funds to develop the concept. Please visit: https://cbid.bme.jhu.edu/ for more information. 

2: Mentor-Led project – This is more of a traditional post-doc/fellowship program. Trainees are mentored by JHU faculty to provide guidance in a project that has the potential for becoming a product (diagnostic or therapeutic) that can be brought to market. Trainees evaluate their proposed research need from a biodesign and business perspective. Examples of previous projects in this track: StomachSim: A novel in-silico simulator of gastric biomechanics and biochemistry for application to digestive processes in health and disease.

In particular this cycle there are 4 funded projects in IR/Radiology with Dr. Clifford Weiss and Dr. Dara Kraitchman that would fit well into this second category/pathway.

Project 1: Translation animal model of minimally invasive methods to treat obesity:

• Develop novel embolic to be combined with magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) for bariatric embolization includes:
• Benchtop experimentation with embolic creation
• Magnetic particle imaging, MHT imaging and/or spectral CT for embolic detection in addition to interventional radiology skills for embolic delivery
• Evaluation of outcome parameters such as:
• Hormonal changes
• Fat distribution from MRI
• Weight loss

Project 2: Development of an alpha radiotherapy to treat metastatic osteosarcoma

• Determination of personalized dosing without toxicity due to red marrow absorbed dose.
• Specialized reconstructions and analysis of SPECT/CT or radiotherapy biodistribution
• Determination of outcomes, e.g., median survival time; time to recurrence; major adverse events

Project 3: Development of an MRI-guided cardiac biopsy and injection device for the treatment of non-ischemic cardiomyopathies including simulation of transmission line technology with validation through phantoms and in vivo studies. 

Project 4: Evaluation of an MRI arterial spin labeling technique (ASL) for the differentiation of post-radiation therapy changes versus progression of disease in glioblastoma.

• MD, Nursing, or PhD in a health-related profession
• Commitment to a 2-year full-time program
• US citizenship, permanent residency, or non-citizen national status 
•  Interest in biodesign, innovation, and healthcare translation
• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment