January 28, 2019,

Dear Hajim School community,

What can mechanical engineers contribute to research about brain waste? A recent paper in Nature Communications demonstrates the exciting insights that can result when Hajim School and Medical Center researchers collaborate. Maiken Nedergaard, co-director of the University’s Center for Translational Neuromedicine, has gained international recognition for her groundbreaking discoveries about the brain’s glymphatic waste removal system, in which cerebrospinal fluid is pumped into brain tissue. To learn more about how this system actually functions, she has teamed up with three Department of Mechanical Engineering faculty members who are experts in fluid dynamics — Douglas Kelley, Jessica Shang, and John Thomas.

In the Nature Communications paper, Doug and Jeff Tithof, a postdoctoral researcher in his lab, used an automated particle tracking code to show that the flow of waste-carrying cerebrospinal fluid is driven primarily by pulsations of adjoining arteries. They also show that changes in the pulsations caused by high blood pressure slows the removal of waste. And that, in turn, may explain the association between high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s disease, in which abnormal clumps and tangled fibers accumulate in the brain. Read more here about this exciting research.

Congratulations to Engin Ipek, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Benjamin Feinberg, a PhD student in Engin’s lab. Their paper, “Making Memristive Neural Network Accelerators Reliable,” has been designated as an Honorable Mention by the IEEE Micro Top Picks 2019 selection committee. Each year, IEEE MICRO selects the most significant papers among articles published at the top computer architecture conferences of that year based on novelty and potential for long term impact. Of the 123 submissions this year, the committee selected 12 Top Picks and 11 Honorable Mentions. The original paper was published at HPCA 2018 — the International Symposium on High Performance Computer Architecture.

Here’s a great opportunity for biomedical engineering undergraduates who are interested in studying abroad. This Wednesday, BME will host “I Can’t Wait to Travel the World! When Can I Go?” from 5 to 6 p.m. in Goergen 109. BME students with a variety of international educational experiences will describe how they applied, what they learned, and why they found it worthwhile. Rohan Palma and Erica West from the Education Abroad Office will describe services they provide. BME faculty will discuss how to identify a program that will keep you on track, while exploring your interests and having a great experience. Pizza and soda provided.

Are you going to be in the San Francisco area on February 3? Please join fellow alumni, friends, and members of our Industrial Associates Program for a reception with Scott Carney, director of the Institute of Optics, to be held 8 to 10 p.m. at the Marriot Marquis, 780 Mission Street. The reception immediately follows the Plenary Presentation that will be given at SPIE Photonics West by Donna Strickland ’89 PhD, who shared the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics. Donna and Jim Oschmann ’82, the 2019 SPIE president, will also be at the reception. To attend the reception, please register by tomorrow at ase.events@rochester.edu or to (585) 275-6166.

Have a great week!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman