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November
3 , 2003, Vol. 74, No. 11F
BioE alum named by Popular Science Magazine as one of its annual “Brilliant 10” At age 31 Tejal
Desai (BioE ’98)is not only a celebrated professor in Boston University’s
BioE department, but has been recognized by Popular Science magazine
for her work in diabetes, medicine delivery, and artificial blood vessel
research. The magazine named her one of this year’s “Brilliant
Ten.” Desai’s Ph.D.
project at Cal was to build an implantable device to eliminate the daily
insulin injections diabetics give themselves to control blood sugar
levels. Her colleagues warned her the task was too hard and that she
would never graduate, but she proved them wrong. “Six or seven
years ago, when I started the project, it was unknown to merge micro-
and nanotechnologies with human cells or biological entities. No one
knew if it was functional. Now it’s a hot topic,” she says.
After spending
four years coaxing cells to grow on chemically modified silicon surfaces,
Desai could implant a microscopic device in rats that delivered ongoing,
regular doses of insulin. The product is currently being developed by
a private company for human use. Desai also developed
a speck-sized layered plastic device that attaches to the intestinal
lining and releases medicine. Next, she plans to tackle artificial blood
vessels. Her goal is to make artificial vessels that help the body generate
replacements, then biodegrade, leaving the new natural vessels behind.
Desai knew she
wanted to be an engineer since high school, when she heard a biomedical
engineer speak about building artificial organs and artificial limbs
for people with spinal cord injuries. “I went into
academia to combine my interest in research, teaching, and policy. I
can work with companies, government and patients. It encompasses everything,”
she adds. For more on Desai’s research go to bme.bu.edu/faculty/desai.html |
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