On Monday May 18^th, Dr. Laurencin virtually attended and presented at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2020. Dr. Laurencin was invited to be a part of the Excellence in Science and Technology panel. He discussed the importance of engaging both young people and non-scientists equally in the scientific enterprise, as well as shared some inspirational advice. Dr. Laurencin encouraged attendees with guidance such as “Don’t make a decision based upon money. It should be based upon doing the right thing. If you do good things, good things happen.”

The highly anticipated annual event is a broad networking and educational opportunity for folks in the STEM community. The event celebrates achievements in science and engineering and is sponsored by The Society for Science & the Public and Regeneron. The Society for Science & the Public is a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing scientific literacy, STEM education and scientific research.

 

Yesterday The Connecticut Convergence Institute hosted the first virtual Health Café! As a part of UConn Health, we value the seriousness of social distancing during this trying time, but also understand the importance of continuing public health education. Thus, we plan to continue the Health Café Series in a virtual format for the near future.

Moderated by Dr. Kevin Lo, Assistant Director of the CT Convergence Institute, the episode featured Dr. Cato Laurencin, CEO of the CT Convergence Institute joined by special guests Senator Douglas McCrory, and Dr. Kevin Dieckhaus, Chief of Infectious Diseases at UConn Health. Dr. Laurencin and Senator McCrory discussed the implications of COVID-19 on the Black community, while Dr. Dieckhaus took a deeper dive into the medical aspect of the virus. In true Health Café style, the webinar concluded with Q&A segment complete with questions submitted from local community members.

On behalf of the Institute, we thank you all for your continued support, and stay tuned for updates regarding future virtual Health Cafes.

The CT Convergence Institute signature Health Café Series is going virtual! As a part of UConn Health, we value the seriousness of social distancing during this trying time, but also understand the importance of continuing public health education. Thus, we plan to continue the Health Café Series in a virtual format for the near future.

The episode will feature Dr. Cato Laurencin, CEO of the CT Convergence Institute joined by special guests Senator Douglas McCrory, and Dr. Kevin Dieckhaus, Chief of Infectious Diseases at UConn Health.

Dr. Laurencin has recently been featured on numerous media outlets due to his groundbreaking research on COVID-19 and the Black community.

Senator McCrory is a member of the Black & Puerto Rican Caucus and is committed to strengthening neighborhoods through education, development and civic engagement.

Dr. Dieckhaus has been instrumental in developing COVID-19 surge capacity for Uconn Health and has helped build and organize numerous policies and practices for both patient care and health care worker safety.

All panelists will be available for a Q&A segment at the end of the program.

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When: May 13^th from 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Episode Title: Health Café on COVID-19 and the Black Community

Speakers: Dr. Cato T. Laurencin of UConn Health, CT Senator Douglas McCrory & Dr. Kevin Dieckhaus of UConn Health

How to join the webinar: https://uconnhealth.webex.com/uconnhealth/onstage/g.php?MTID=ea54238381c6cfc8b68f4cea5dd7b5f22

For questions: email cci@uchc.edu

This event is free and open to the public. No prior registration necessary.

We hope you are able to join us for this seminar featuring some of our community’s leading healthcare heroes.

The CT Convergence Institute is proud to announce former YIIP Scholar Aundrya Montgomery was recently selected as a finalist for the Women of Innovation Program. Women of Innovation 2020 is a collaboration between the Connecticut Technology Council and the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc. The program recognizes women innovators, role models, and leaders in science and technology, including outstanding young women at the high school and collegiate levels pursuing technology professions.

Aundrya was recognized in the Community Innovation and Leadership category and was handpicked by a panel of judges from over 150 nominations. She is currently the Director of Community Outreach of the Urban League of Greater Hartford Young Professionals where she empowers and encourages the inner city youth of Hartford to pursue S.T.E.A.M. careers. Aundrya attributes the success of her Urban League career to her participation in the YIIP Program here at The CT Convergence Institute. While in the program, her dream developed to build on her passion for motivating young men and women of color to believe that any dream is achievable with hard work and effort.

Under the direction of Dr. Laurencin, graduate students of the CT Convergence Institute, Amir Seyedsalehi and Godwin Dzidotor, are filling the COVID-19 mask void by utilizing cutting edge technology to create custom fit masks for ICU staff at UConn Health. Each student uses their own customization approach which aims to mimic the optimal protective qualities that N95 respirators provide. The prototypes are actively being used at UConn Health as of last Thursday, and final designs will be released to the ICU staff over the coming weeks.

Design #1

Amir’s custom design is a mask frame (exoskeleton) which is worn on top of the conventional surgical mask to fit the face perfectly and seal from external air with potential virus particles. The frames are custom designed to fit the contour of each individual’s face. This process is achieved beginning with a “mask fitting session” in which the employee gets photos taken of their face, one portrait and one profile. Amir then uploads the images to a facial recognition software which then generates the customized 3D printed model.

Design # 2

Godwin’s design is also a mask frame (exoskeleton) which is worn over the conventional surgical mask. This design sets itself apart in that these are semi-custom fit masks, meant for mass production.  Godwin is working on developing a variety of different sizes, such as small, medium, large etc. The idea is to eliminate the one-size-fits-all notion, and create a more customized feel. This prototype process can be compared to distributing clothing in a department store.

Both designs have patents in process and plans for mass production. The tangible 3D creations are made possible thanks to a machine shop at the UConn School of Engineering.

On behalf of the Connecticut Convergence Institute, we would like to thank all of our fellow healthcare professionals who are working around the clock to help keep our community safe.

As a display of gratitude, this afternoon, Dr. Laurencin, Mrs. Laurencin and the Hartford Golf Club purchased and delivered lunch to the UConn Health Intensive Care Unit staff. Dr. Laurencin is a longtime member of the Hartford Golf Club, and together they offered their resources and time to ensure that the ICU staff was well fed today. The entire Connecticut Convergence Institute team is deeply grateful to all of the healthcare heroes who are working around the clock to keep our communities safe. 

Stay safe everybody!

The UNESCO Director-General invited Dr. Laurencin to participate and share his thoughts during the UNESCO Virtual Online Ministerial Dialogue COVID- 19 and ‘Open Science’ – International Scientific Collaboration. The meeting is scheduled for later today and will tackle COVID-19 lessons learned from various countries throughout the world as well as interventions and next steps.

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO develops educational tools to help people live as global citizens free of hate and intolerance. UNESCO works so that each child and citizen has access to quality education. By promoting cultural heritage and the equal dignity of all cultures, UNESCO strengthens bonds among nations. UNESCO fosters scientific programmes and policies as platforms for development and cooperation. UNESCO stands up for freedom of expression, as a fundamental right and a key condition for democracy and development. Serving as a laboratory of ideas, UNESCO helps countries adopt international standards and manages programmes that foster the free flow of ideas and knowledge sharing.

The Connecticut Convergence Institute is proud to announce that the Office of the Vice President for Research recently approved Dr. Laurencin’s proposal for the Convergence Awards for Research in Interdisciplinary Centers (CARIC) entitled Convergence Center for Regenerative Engineering- A Science and Technology Center.

The new center will advance the science and engineering foundations of tissue regeneration such that the ultimate goal of whole-limb regeneration is within reach. The goal of the center is to establish an infrastructure that can forge new areas through long-term multi-institutional relationships and allows experts in various disciplines to explore innovative approaches to new challenges through considerable financial support.

The center will allow for:

1. Collective expertise from developmental biology, stem cell science, biophysics and mechanobiology, advanced biomaterials, computation, and related disciplines in a multidisciplinary research program
2. The integration of research, education, workforce development, knowledge transfer, and broad participation from groups underrepresented in STEM field

Through the preexisting infrastructure of the Connecticut Convergence Institute, the Regenerative Engineering Society and its associated journal Regenerative Engineering and Translational Medicine, the grant will help identify the gaps in knowledge in order to assemble the convergent regenerative team and also enable us to identify the most efficient strategies to increase awareness in order to build effective programs for empowering future generations in science and engineering.

On behalf of Dr. Cato Laurencin and The Connecticut Convergence Institute we would like to thank the Office of the Vice President for Research for making this possible.

 

The CT Convergence Institute is proud to announce that current YIIP Scholar, John Garcia, has been accepted to the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University! John is currently in the Biomedical Sciences Masters program in the Skeletal Biology and Regeneration area of concentration, and studying miRNA regulation of bone formation. He is also a Graduate Research Assistant for the Center for Molecular Oncology. In the future, John hopes to grow his career as an orthopedic resident.

The Young Innovative Investigator Program (YIIP) is a program of the Connecticut Convergence Institute which aims to develop the next generation of innovative scientists by providing academic training to individuals dedicated to pursuing careers as scientists and scholars in biological and biomedical science. The program is specifically focused on recruiting underrepresented students to contribute towards developing a sustainable pipeline to increase diversity among the pool of academic scientists. YIIP provides tools for scholars to conduct research, succeed in an academic environment, and become competitive candidates for medical school or graduate school.

 

Dr. James Grady, Assistant Director of the Connecticut Convergence Institute, Biostatistics Center is proud to announce that one of his Mentees, Rachel Brooks, of Christian Heritage High School took 1^st place at the Connecticut Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium! Dr. Grady and his Graduate Assistant Chaoran Hu provided guidance to Rachel in regards to the development and design of her winning product.

Ms. Brook’s research is titled “Increased Prevalence of Gastrointestinal, Cardiovascular, and Immunologic Conditions in Hospitalized Patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A Case-Control Study.” She has been awarded UConn’s Junior Science and Humanities Symposium Scholarship, which provides recipients one half of the in‐state tuition for each of four years, or a total of over $30,000.

JSHS is organized to encourage young people to pursue careers in STEM related disciplines and to provide recognition for their achievements. About 10,000 secondary students nationwide participate through 46 university‐based regional symposia.