TCIC Student Researchers Present at Major National Research Conference NCUR 2011.

Between April 14-16th, TCIC student researchers presented several posters at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR 2011). This year the conference was hosted by Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY and was attended by some 3000 students and faculty from across the nation. TCIC researchers Tim Morris, Kevin Rixmann, Ashley Graef, Reid Kuen and Samantha Wagner presented work from our projects on in-vitro 3D modeling of embryonic stem cells, breast cancer cells, cervical carcinoma and glioblastoma respectively as well as one on the effects of magnetic fields on cancer cells.

In addition to the student presentations, TCIC Director, Tim Lyden also presented a talk at the “Faculty and Administrator Network” session. Dr. Lyden’s talk focused on the continuing development of the TCIC and it’s current evolution into a mixed curricular/research model based loosely on that of the CiBER Center at UC Berkley.

Once again this year the TCIC posters/presentations were very well received and generated many interesting discussions and questions form the respective audiences.

Tim Morris’s poster was entitled:

CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL-DERIVED 3D STRUCTURES PRODUCED USING NATURAL SCAFFOLDING MATERIALS.

Kevin Rixmann’s poster was entitled:

MODELING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PRIMARY AND CELL-LINE DERIVED ARTIFICIAL BREAST CANCER TISSUES PRODUCED USING 3D CULTURE METHODS.

Ashley Graef’s poster was entitled:

CHARACTERIZATION OF COMPLEX IN-VITRO 3D “ARTIFICIAL TUMOR TISSUE” MODELS USING THE CERVICAL CARCINOMA CELL LINE HELA.

Reid Kuen’s poster was entitled:

THE EFFECTS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS ON HELA CANCER CELL LINE.

Samantha Wagner’s poster was entitled:

DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF “ARTIFICIAL” BRAIN TUMOR TISSUES USING 3D TISSUE ENGINEERING APPROACHES AND BOTH PRIMARY HUMAN TUMORS AS WELL AS GLIOBLASTOMA CELL LINES.

Dr. Lyden’s talk was entitled:

THE TISSUE AND CELLULAR INNOVATION CENTER (TCIC): A UNIQUE HIGH IMPACT EDUCATIONAL EXPERIMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-RIVER FALLS INVOLVING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN CUTTING EDGE BIOTECHNOLOGY.

The TCIC Director recently presented to the River Falls Economic Development Corporation (RF-EDC) on potential future impacts of the UWRF TCIC.

On January 27th 2011, TCIC Director Tim Lyden presented an invited talk to the River Falls Economic Development Corporation focused on the current and future potential for the TCIC to impact local regional development. The talk touched on several important topics including:

- the concept and mission of the TCIC
- the research focus and direction of our program
- the teaching and training mission of the TCIC
- our collaborative relationships with clinical, academic and industrial partners
- future directions for the Center related to research/training integration and the potential for a new “spin-off” biomedical/biotechnology company in the near term future
Collectively these topics generated an interesting and spirited discussion following the talk, during which the role of the TCIC and UWRF in developing a future biomedical/biotechnology “incubator” facility in River Falls was also explored. In the end, further conversations were planned with individual members of the group and they hopefully came away with a new realization that the TCIC and it’s programs are already having an impact on the regional technical workforce and that we will continue to do so into the future.

TCIC joins “Life Sciences Alley” trade association.

The TCIC recently joined the regional trade association, Life Sciences Alley. Based in Minnesota, this group works with industrial, clinical and academic partners across the region to enhance collaborations and interactions on a number of fronts that relate to life science issues. Following the TCIC’s first contact with the group, Life Sciences Alley has already facilitated initial contacts for the TCIC with two industrial organizations in the region. TCIC Director Tim Lyden expects that this connection will help develop significant new collaborations in the Twin Cites and beyond.

From the Life Sciences Alley website: https://www.lifesciencealley.org

“About LifeScience Alley
LifeScience Alley is a 501(c)6 non-profit trade association serving the life sciences in Minnesota and the surrounding region. Our mission: Enabling business success in the life sciences. We accomplish this goal through leadership, collaboration, innovation, advocacy, and education.

From human health to animals, food to the environment, and pharmaceuticals to medical devices, our diverse membership helps to improve and sustain wellbeing, in the state of Minnesota and around the world. But ideas don't have borders. That's why LifeScience Alley is currently expanding its influence into Canada, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and the Dakotas, in an effort to strengthen cross-border collaboration in the life sciences.

Our region is rich in talent, resources, and infrastructure. LifeScience Alley works successfully to forge connections among top industry experts so that remarkable new discoveries and advances can be made.”