Responsive. Relevant. Real.
PROJECTS
These are the project teams and on going projects from my lab.
Tissue Engineering Project
In the past my group have focused on testing the biocompatibility and biodegradability of the inorganic scaffold silica nanofiber for the growth of neuronal cells. We have also worked on testing various organic polymer for tissue engineering (like amino alcohol-based poly (ester amide) elastomer and poly(glycerol sebacate)) that had led us to learn about plasma surface modification of PDMS for promoting better cell adhesion. Currently, we have turned our attention to develop a model that can assist in testing the biosustainability of a tissue engineering scaffold through the chorioallantoic membrane layer of shell-less chick embryo.
Colton Baumler, Laurel Carlson and Brianna Holtmeier are the fearless team that found ways when there seemed to be no way forward. They are instrumental in jump starting this project.
Liver Cancer Project
In collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, students are looking at the molecular cause of the adolescent liver cancer Fibrolamellar Hepatocellcular Carcinoma (FLHCC). We are exploring the dysregulation of metabolic pathway utilizing proteomic screening data by confirming its result through western blotting analysis and further verification through an enzymatic analysis as well as building of a cell model systems.
Sara Kivisto, Desiree Reding, Steve Yang and Joey Murdock together made a great cohesive team. By working together supporting each other, they had great success in verifying the protemoics data using western blotting analysis and look forward to present the latest data at the Winchell Research Symposium this spring.
Patient Advocacy Project
Originally sponsored by the Saint Mary's Hospital Sponsorship Board Award, this particular project focuses on creating an interactive consent form to help better serve the sensory disabled patients of the Mayo Clinic's Mitochondrial Biobank. Specifically we are making a video to introduce the content from the consent form that was originally laid out in a ten page written form. Then we made a website to display the videos in a sequential format with checking in questions for better comprehension. Last, the interactive consent form is loaded onto an ipad which is linked to a Braille keyboard so visually impaired subjects can independently work through the content. We have just recently finished creating the interactive consent form and will be testing it out on subjects to collect the effectiveness of this platform.
Savannah Lo, seen here holding the iPad and the Braille keyboard is the lead on this project.
Extending beyond her comfort zone, she made the final website for interactive consent form on her own!
TEAM MEMBERS
Students that are currently in the research group
Colton is the reason this project exists. Double majoring in both math and biology, he is one of the most resourceful student I had.
Laurel is the one we go to for her "dexterity". Smart, witted and funny, its a lot of fun having her on this team.
Brianna is the planner, the organizer and the motivator. She always will have things setup and going right after the meeting. She will be attending pharmacy school at the UMN after graduating.
Joey is a quiet leader that initiated this project. This is a cohesive supporting team mainly due to his selflessness.
Steve really found his passion after joining research this summer. He was put on the cell model project and fearlessly got us started on that track!
Sarah joined at the very last minute but was such a quick learner that complemented the team so well. After graduating she will be applying for PA school.
Desiree is the one that connects everyone. Always in lab or on Slack. She will be the leader this coming spring!
Savannah is a senior majoring in biology. She has strong passion for working with and assisting people with their needs. She hopes to apply for genetic counseling program after she graduates.
NEWS
Updates from our lab
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April 2023
* Congrats to Sofia Dodge, Allysa Steinhause on winning the Judges Choice Award for their poster
presentation at the Regional Winchell Symposium
* Congrats to James Dinger, Riki Mae Dueve on winning the Judges Choice Award for their poster
presentation at the Regional Winchell Symposium
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March 2023
* Congrats to Dr. Yang on receiving the Quasi Endowment Research Grant
* Congrats to Dr. Yang for being invited as the honored speaker of the Poehler Lecture Series
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Feb 2023
* Congrats to Jarrid Pizel on being selected for the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program
at the Hormel Institute
* Congrats to Abigail Lewerenz on being accepted into for the NSF sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) summer program at Colorado State University
* Congrats to Julian Yang on being admitted to the Kansas University Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program
(PREP)
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Dec 2022
* Congrats to Sofia Dodge on being accepted into the Pharmacy program at the University of Minnesota
* Congrats to Gabe Nkumu on being accepted into the Physician Assistant program at the Greighton University-Phoenix
School of Medicine
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April 2022
* Congrats to Gabe Nkumu, Richard Wauer, Heenu Kamboj on winning the Judges Choice Award for their poster
presentation at the Regional Winchell Symposium
* Congrats to Young Vue on winning the Judges Choice Award for his poster presentation at the Regional Winchell
Symposium
* Congrats to Abigail Lewerenz and Kora Kritzberger on winning the Judges Choice Award for their poster presentation at
the Regional Winchell
Symposium
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Feb 2022
* Congrats to Abigail Lewerenz on being selected for the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program
at the Hormel Institute
May 2022
* Successful renewal of the research grant from the Branfman Family Foundation. Grateful for their continual support of our undergraduate research program.
* Congrats to Cayla Renwick on her acceptance into the Physical Therapy program at the University of Minnesota
* Congrats to Laurel Carlson on her acceptance into the Physician Assistant program at Stain Catherine University
* Congrats to Desiree Reding on receiving the APHL-CDC infectious disease fellowship
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Jan 2022
* Congrats to both Nicholas Ziebell and Brooke Salo for their acceptance into the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
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Dec 2021
* Congrats to Tyson Kauffman on his acceptance into the medical program at the Medical College of Wisconsin
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May 2021
* Successful renewal of the research grant from the Branfman Family Foundation. Grateful for their continual support of our undergraduate research program.
* Congrats to Eric Heimendinger on his acceptance into the Doctor of OSteopathy program at DesMoines University
* Congrats to Arkan Katabay on his acceptance into the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
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Dec 2020
* Congrats to Hannah Pavek on her acceptance into the Physician Assistant program at Creighton University
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May 2020
* Successful renewal of the research grant from the Branfman Family Foundation. Grateful for their continual support of our undergraduate research program.
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Feb 2019
* Congrats to Margot Coomes on being awarded the 2020 American Heart Association Summer Research Scholar at the
Lillehei Heart Institute
* Congrats to Colton Baumler on being accepted to the The Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
PhD program at UC Davis
May 2019
* Successful renewal of the research grant from the Branfman Family Foundation. Grateful for their continual support of our undergraduate research program.
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April 2019
* Published " Effect of Chemical and Physical Modifications on the Wettability of Polydimethylsiloxane Surfaces" on
* Congrats to Nicholas Ziebell on winning the Judges Choice Award for his oral presentation at the Regional Winchell
Symposium
* Congrats to Katrina Vang on winning the Judges Award at the CSP Research Symposium.
* Congrats to Savannah Lo on being accepted to the Genetic Counseling Program at Augustana University in Sioux Falls
* Dr. Yang received Outstanding Faculty Mentorship Award
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February 2018
* Congrats to Erin Spatenka on being accepted to the Physician Assistant program at Bethel University
* Congrats to Samuel Johnson on being accepted to the Vanderbilt University medical program!
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May 2018
* Published " A Single-Step Surface Modification of Electrospun Silica Nanofibers Using a Silica Binding Protein Fused
with an RGD Motif for Enhanced PC12 Cell Growth and Differentiation" on Materials with former students Amien
Masroujeh and Anna Augustine as co-authors.
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April 2018
* Congrats to Sarah Kivisto on being accepted to the Physician Assistant program at Bethel University
* Congrats to Desiree Reding and Tierra Bender on receiving the Judges Award at the Winchell Symposium 2018
* Congrats to Savannah Lo on winning the Judges Award at CSP Research Symposium.
* Dr. Yang received Outstanding Faculty Mentorship Award
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March 2018
* Published "The Effect of Laminin Surface Modification of Electrospun Silica Nanofiber Substrate on Neuronal Tissue Engineering" on Nanomaterials .
February 2018
* Congrats to Samantha Brennan on being accepted to the medical school at Western University in Oregon!
* Congrats to Desiree Reding on being accepted to the Medical Laboratory Science master program at the UMN!
* Congrats to Azieta Najeti-Namin on being accepted to the UMN nursing master program!
* Congrats to Daanish Kahn on being accepted to the St. George University medical program.
December 2017
* Dr. Yang received the ROA NSF grant with Dr. Michael Sailor and will be working at UCSD the summer of 2018 and serve as mentor for the 2018 Summer School for Silicon Nanotechnology (SSSiN).
* Dr. Yang received sabbatical support from the Branfman Family Foundation
* Congrats to Adam Hildebrandt on being accepted to the UMN dental program!
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November 2017
* Congrats to Brianna Holtmeier on being accepted to the UMN pharmacy school!
* Dr. Yang received the Quasi Endowment Award for the patient advocacy project.
October 2017
* Congrats to Brittany Neff on her new job as a research scientist at PPD!
September 2017
* Congrats to Christina Miller on starting as genetic counselor with the Health Partner
* Congrats to Zachary Rengel & Asma Adam on starting at the UMN Medical school
June 2017
* Successful renewal of the research grant from the Branfman Family Foundation. Grateful for their continual support of our undergraduate research program.
April 2017
* Congrats to Joey Murdock and Hannah Hartog on presenting at the Winchell Symposium (and being featured on their website)!
* Congrats to Adam Hildebrandt on being honorable mentioned by the Goldwater Scholarship!
* Congrats to Hannah Hartog on being accepted to the UMN Master of Food Science program
* Congrats to Briannah Holtmeier, Brittany Neff, Azieta Najati-Namin on winning the Judges Award at CSP Research Symposium for their team research project.
* Congrats to Hanna Hartog, Joey Murdock on winning the Judges Award at CSP Research Symposium for their team research project.
* Dr. Yang received Outstanding Faculty Mentorship Award
November 2016
* Dr. Yang received the Quasi Endowment Award for the tissue engineering project.
September 2016
* Congrats to Michael Yahnke, Frankie Munkwitz & Kyle Lohman on starting at the UMN Dental school
* Congrats to Anna Augustine on starting at the Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health
August 2016
* Dr. Yang received the "The National INSIGHT Into Diversity 100 Inspiring Women in STEM Award "
June 2016
* Successful renewal of the research grant from the Branfman Family Foundation. Grateful for their continual support of our undergraduate research program.
April 2016
* Congrats to Michael Yahnke, Amayna Lo, Frankie Munkwitz, Erin Spatenka on winning the Judges Award at CSP Research Symposium for their team research project.
* Dr. Yang received Outstanding Faculty Mentorship Award
February 2016
* Published "Degradation of the electrospun silica nanofiber in a biological medium for primary hippocampal neuron – effect of surface modification" on International Journal of Nanomedicine.
June 2015
* Successful renewal of the research grant from the Branfman Family Foundation. Grateful for their continual support of our undergraduate research program.
April 2015
* Congrats to Amien Masroujeh, Anna Augustine, Asma Adam and Jordan Bruss on receiving the Edward J. Baldes Award for Excellence in Neuroscience at the Winchell Research Symposium.
* Congrats Zachary Rengel, Astri Duncan and Samuel Johnson on winning the Judges Award at CSP Research Symposium for their team research project.
* Dr. Yang received Outstanding Faculty Mentorship Award
June 2014
* Successful renewal of the research grant from the Branfman Family Foundation. Grateful for their continual support of our undergraduate research program.
February 2014
* Published "Chemically modified electrospun silica nanofibers for promoting growth and differentiation of neural stem cells" on Journal of Materials Chemistry B.
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