April 7, 2005|
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April 7, 2005 |
Grand Blanc grad playing key role in medical research A Grand Blanc High School graduate is performing crucial experiments at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore to determine whether a promising technique to repair injured knees, noses and other body parts might damage cells. Athar Malik, a senior biomedical engineering major, is conducting a study to determine if DNA in cells can be harmed by a chemical reaction that occurs during the tissue-engineering process. He's experimenting in the laboratory of Jennifer Elisseeff, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering Elisseeff has been guiding efforts to repair injured cartilage and bone without major surgery by injecting a liquid filled with cells that should promote the growth of healthy new tissue. When a special light is shone on it, the liquid hardens into a gel that holds the therapeutic cells in place. But before the liquid, called a photopolymerizable hydrogel, is used in humans, Elisseeff wants to be sure the chemical reaction used to harden does not damage the helpful cells being injected into the body. "Our studies so far lead us to believe that the process is safe," she said, "but we want to be as certain as possible. If we do find cell damage and can figure out how it occurs, we can try to correct the problems before moving forward." To look for signs of DNA damage to the treatment cells, Elisseeff turned to Malik, who has worked in her lab since his freshman year. He has contributed to the ongoing hydrogel research, receiving credit on three peer-reviewed journal papers, including one in which he was listed as a lead author. In a letter of support for Malik's undergraduate research grant, Elisseeff cited his rapid progress in learning laboratory techniques and his "outstanding work ethic, dedication and intelligence." Malik, whose parents now live in Novi, said he had never taken part in formal lab research before arriving at Johns Hopkins. "One of the main reasons I joined this lab was to begin applying some of the things I'd learned in high school and in my classes here," he said. For the project, Malik fills the chambers of a multi-well plate with a nutrient solution, then adds some of the adult goat stem cells that are being used in Elisseeff's injury repair experiments. After the cells have had time to thrive, Malik adds a photoinitiator, the chemical used to trigger the chemical reaction that hardens a hydrogel. He next exposes the wells to ultraviolet light for varying periods, setting off the chemical reaction. "Our goal is to see if this reaction has damaged the cells," Malik said. To find out, he extracts DNA strands from the cells and uses a lab test to determine their length. Shorter strands indicate they have been cut, a sign of damage. "If we see that the DNA has been damaged, we try to look at it in further detail to find out specifically what has caused the damage and what can be done to prevent it," Malik said. After finishing his analysis of the data, he hopes to publish his findings in another peer-reviewed article. "I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work and have an active role in Professor Elisseeff's lab," Malik said. "When I first joined, she paired me with older members of the lab, so that I could learn from their experience. Now, I'm helping some of the younger students." Outside the lab, Malik leads a busy life on campus. He serves as president of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, and works as a residence hall adviser. Last year, he received an honorable mention in USA Today's All-USA Academic Team program. After graduation in May, he hopes to enter a rigorous medical graduate program. "I would like to both practice medicine and conduct biomedical research," he said. *** © 2005 Flint Journal Copyright 2005 Michigan Live
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