Biomedical Engineering Department

Biofluids  Laboratory

Welcome to the Biofluids Laboratory

The focus of the Biofluids Laboratory, located at the Health Sciences Center in close proximity to Stony Brook University Medical Center, is on studying the dynamics of blood flow and cellular transport in the cardiovascular system, with an emphasis on flow induced mechanism underlying cardiovascular disease processes and their progression. Pathological flow fields that arise as a result of cardiovascular diseases or prosthetic devices have a complex interaction with the blood vessels and the blood itself. Over the last decade, evidence has accumulated indicating that local flow induced stresses alter the molecular mechanism of the formed elements of blood, and have a major effect on blood clotting. The end result can be thrombus formation that can occlude arteries, or handicap the functionality of implanted devices such as ventricular assist devices (VAD) and prosthetic heart valves.

This website provides an overview of our research projects, information about the principal investigator and the research scientists, and some of the presentations and publications that stem from our research. We employ a plethora of techniques/modalities, truly interdisciplinary in nature, that encompass concepts and theories from engineering, hematology, biology, chemistry, physiology and anatomy. The following represent some of the methods and modalities utilized in our research: digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), in vitro simulation and measurements of physiological flows, platelet assays for studying platelet activity and thromboembolism, flow cytometry, and animal models (sheep) to study free emboli formation in heart valves using transesophageal echocardiography (TE) and transcranial doppler. Our researchers work in close collaboration with faculty from Hematology, Vascular and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mechanical Engineering,  and Applied Math, as well as other faculty from our Biomedical Engineering department.

The Biofluids Laboratory routinely selects students (from high school, undergraduate programs, and graduate programs) with matching skill-sets and/or with sound background in the fundamental concepts of biomedical engineering, and lends an opportunity by means of a rotation system in which short-term projects are addressed, as well as possibilities of longer term appointments such as research assistantships and post-doctoral training.  Interested applicants are welcome to contact the Principal Investigator – Danny Bluestein to explore the many research possibilities in our Biofluids Laboratory.

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last updated: March 10, 2008.

Biofluids Laboratory

Health Sciences Center

Biomedical Engineering, T-18, Rm. 030

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, NY 11794-8181

ph: (631) 444 2799