Emilia Entcheva
Research Focus
Dr. Entcheva's lab studies cardiac cell function by integrating experimental and theoretical components. We use in vitro primary cell culture system, combined with nano- and microfabricated scaffolds and state-of-the-art fast optical mapping techniques for imaging cardiac electromechanics and structure. Our lab develops and validates image-processing algorithms and biophysically realistic computational models to interpret the experimental findings and to provide insight in cardiac cell and tissue function and pathologies.
The functional characterization of the engineered tissue constructs in our lab and the direct testing and validation of computational models of cardiac cell function make this work especially valuable in outlining basic cellular responses for tissue engineering and tissue repair efforts. In addition, we aim to establish a comprehensive model for studies of electrically or mechanically-triggered arrhythmogenesis and ways to prevent, modulate or terminate the undesired electrical abnormalities in the heart.
Education
- Postdoctoral - Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 1998-2001
- Ph.D. - Biomedical Engineering, The University of Memphis, 1998
- M.Sc. - Electrical Engineering, Technical University - Sofia, Bulgaria, 1988
Research and Professional Experience
- Associate Professor (Primary Appointment), Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, SUNY at Stony Brook, 2007 -
- Associate Professor (Secondary Appointment), Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, SUNY at Stony Brook, 2007 -
- Assistnat Professor (Primary Appointment), Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, SUNY at Stony Brook, 2001 - 2007
- Assistant Professor (Secondary Appointment), Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, SUNY at Stony Brook, 2002 - 2007
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 1998-2001
- Research and Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Memphis, 1995-98
- Informatics Engineer, Institute for Informatics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, 1993-94
- Research Associate, Department of Biotechnics, Technical University - Sofia, Bulgaria, 1990-93
- Design engineer, Institute for Microprocessor Instruments and Systems, Sofia, Bulgaria, 1988-90
Awards and Honors
- 2005
Outstanding Teacher Award, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University
- 2004,2006
American Heart Association – “Bioengineering & Biotechnology” Grant Review Panel
- 2003, 2006
National Science Foundation, Grant Review Panels in Tissue Engineering, Sensors and Computational Biology
- 2003
Promising Inventor Award, The Research Foundation of SUNY
- 2001
Travel Award from the National Institutes of Health
- 1999-2001
American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship
- 1998-2000
Distinguished BME Postdoctoral Fellowship, The Johns Hopkins University
- 1997-98
Van Vleet Memorial Doctoral Fellowship, The University of Memphis
- 1995-98
Herff College Doctoral Internship, The University of Memphis
- 1987
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD, Germany) Fellowship
- 1983-88
Yearly High Academic Achievements Stipend, Technical University Sofia, Bulgaria
Professional Membership and Service
- Organizer (1 of 5) of a 4-week International Workshop “Cardiac Dynamics: From Cell to Organ” at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP), University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, (www.kitp.ucsb.edu/), 07/01-07/26/2006.
- Theme Chair (1 of 4), for “Cellular and Functional Tissue Engineering”, 28th Annual International Conference of the IEEE - Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS), New York, NY (http://embs2006.njit.edu/technical/theme6.php), September 2006.
- Program Committee Member for the First Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Symposium (BIOT-2004) in Colorado Springs, CO, 09/24/2004; (bioinfo.uccs.edu).
- Grant Review Panels:
- National Science Foundation, Section:
- Computational Biology, 2006
- Sensors and Biochips, 2006
Tissue Engineering, 2003
American Heart Association, Section:
Bioengineering & Biotechnology, 2006,2004
United States Civilian Research and Development Foundation Grants, 2001-2004
Maryland Sea Grant Foundation, 2004
Journal Reviewer for:
- Acta Biomaterialia
- American Journal of Physiology
- Annals of Biomedical Engineering
- Biomacromolecules
- Biomaterials
- Biophysical Journal
- BioTechniques
- Biotechnology & Bioengineering
- Cardiovascular Research
- Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Non-linear Science
- IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering
- Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology
- Sensors and Actuators
- Marcel-Dekker Encyclopedia for Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering
- Wiley Encyclopedia of Medical Devices & Instrumentation
Membership:
- American Heart Association - Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Council
- The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS)
- Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
- Heart Rhythm Society (HRS)
Publications
Ph.D. Dissertation: "Cardiac tissue structure - electric field interactions in producing membrane polarization in the heart: 3D computer models and applications", The University of Memphis, August 1998.
Refereed Journal Articles
- Bien H, Entcheva E, Pertsov A, Mironov S, Vetter F, Spatial frequency content in optical mapping of cardiac cell monolayers. Am J Physiol – Heart & Circ Physiol, 291(3):H484-5, 2006
- Bien H, Yin L and Entcheva E, Calcium instabilities in mammalian cardiomyocyte networks. Biophysical Journal, 90(7): 2628-40, 2006.
- Entcheva E and Bien H, Macroscopic optical mapping of excitation in cardiac cell networks with ultra-high spatiotemporal resolution. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, 92(2):232-57, 2006.
- Zong X, Bien H, Chung CY, Yin L, Fang D, Chu B, Hsiao BS, and Entcheva E, Electrospun fine-textured scaffolds for heart tissue constructs. Biomaterials 26(26):5330-5338, 2005.
- Ye P, Entcheva E, Grosu R and Smolka SA, Efficient modeling of excitable cells using hybrid automata, In Computational Methods in Systems Biology, (accepted) 2005.
- Entcheva E and Bien H. Acoustic micromachining of three-dimensional surfaces for biological applications. Lab on a Chip 5(2): 179-184, 2005 /*hot article according to the Royal Society of Chemistry.
- Yin L, Bien H and Entcheva E, Scaffold topography alters calcium handling in cultured cardiomyocyte networks. Am J Physiol – Heart & Circ Physiol 287(3): H1276-H1285, 2004.
- Entcheva E, Bien H, Yin L, Chung C-Y, Farrell M and Kostov Y. Functional cardiac cell constructs on cellulose-based scaffolding. Biomaterials 25(26): 5753-5762, 2004.
- Entcheva E, Kostov Y, Tchernev E, and Tung L. Fluorescence imaging of electrical activity in cardiac cells using an all-solid-state system. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng, 51(2), 333-342, 2004.
- Bien H, Yin L and Entcheva E. Cardiac cell networks on elastic microgrooved scaffolds. IEEE Eng Med Biol, 22(5), 108-112, 2003.
- Entcheva E and Bien H. Tension development and nuclear eccentricity in topographically controlled cardiac syncytium. J Biomedical Microdevices, 5(2): 165-170, 2003.
- Entcheva E, Lu SN, Harrison-Troppman R, Sharma V and Tung L. Contact fluorescence imaging (CFI) of reentry in monolayers of cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology 11(6): 665-676, 2000.
- Entcheva E, Influence of the electric axis of stimulation on the induced transmembrane potentials in ellipsoidal bidomain heart, Annals of Biomedical Engineering 28(3): 244-52, 2000.
- Entcheva E, Trayanova NA, Claydon FJ. Patterns of and mechanisms for shock-induced polarization in the heart: a bidomain analysis. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering 46: 260-70, 1999.
- de Jongh AL, Entcheva E, Replogle JA, Booker RS 3rd, Kenknight BH, Claydon FJ. Defibrillation efficacy of different electrode placements in a human thorax model. PACE: Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology 22: 152-7, 1999.
- Entcheva E, Eason J, Efimov IR, Cheng Y, Malkin R, Claydon F. Virtual electrode effects in transvenous defibrillation-modulation by structure and interface: evidence from bidomain simulations and optical mapping. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology 9: 949-61, 1998.
- Entcheva E, Yotova LK. Analytical application of membranes with covalently bound glucose oxidase. Analytica Chimica Acta 299: 171-177, 1994.
- Neikov A, Entcheva E, Krysteva M, Yotova LK. Amperometric biosensor with 'liquid' enzyme membrane. Biotechnology and Biotechnological Equipment. 8: 73-77, 1994.
Peer Reviewed Proceedings Articles
- Ye P, Entcheva E, Smolka SA, True M, Grosu R, Cycle-linear approach to modeling action potentials, Proceedings of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, New York City, NY, 2006.
- Ye P, Entcheva E, Smolka SA, True M, Grosu R, Hybrid automata as a unifying framework for modeling cardiac cells, Proceedings of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, New York City, NY, 2006.
- True M, Entcheva E, Smolka SA, Ye P, Grosu R, Efficient event-driven simulation of excitable hybrid automata, Proceedings of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, New York City, NY, 2006.
- Singh R, Bien H and Entcheva E, Inherent dispersion of restitution properties over space, Proceedings of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, New York City, NY, 2006.
- Shah U, Bien H and Entcheva E, Cardiac arrhythmogenesis and temperature, Proceedings of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, New York City, NY, 2006.
- Zong X, Bien H, Chung C-Y, Yin L, Kim K, Fang DF, Chu B, Hsiao BS and Entcheva E. Electrospun non-woven membranes as scaffolds for heart tissue constructs. Fall Meeting of the American Chemical Society, New York, NY, September 2003.
- Bien H, Yin L, Entcheva E. Optical mapping of complex electrical activity in engineered cardiac tissue constructs. ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Sonesta Beach FL, 2003.
- Bien H, Yin L, Entcheva E. Cardiac cell networks on elastic microgrooved scaffolds. Proceedings of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society and BMES Annual Conference, Houston TX, 2002. First place in the Student Paper Competition.
- Entcheva E., Alseikhan BA, Ianuzzi A, Yue DT, Tung L, Engineering analysis of cardiac electrical activity in response to calmodulin mutations. Proceedings of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society and BMES Annual Conference, Houston TX, 2002.
- Kong, C. R., Parker, K. K., Sathaye, A., Bursac, N., Entcheva, E., and Tung, L. 2,3-Butanedione monoxime (BDM) alters wavefront propagation and functional anisotropy in micropatterned neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Southern Biomedical Engineering Conference, Washington DC, 2002.
- Tung L, Entcheva E, Lu SN. Electrical termination of sustained reentry in cardiac cell monolayers. Proceedings of the World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Chicago, July -2000.
- Lu SN, Entcheva E, Sharma V, Tung L. Optical mapping of anatomical reentry in monolayers of cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Proceedings of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society and BMES Annual Conference, Atlanta, October-1999.
- de Jongh A, Entcheva E, Booker R, KenKnight B, Claydon F. Optimizing electrode placement in a proposed ICD system incorporating LV electrodes: Finite element analysis. Proceedings Computers in Cardiology, IEEE Computer Society Press, Los Alamitos, CA. 25: 281-284, 1998.
- Rowan C, Malkin R, Entcheva E. The effect of critical point location and membrane kinetics on VF induction by T-wave stimulation. Proceedings of Computers in Cardiology, IEEE Computer Society Press, Los Alamitos, CA. 25: 260-264, 1998.
- Entcheva E, Claydon F, Huang Q, de Jongh A, Replogle J. Simple classification technique for 3D highly heterogeneous domains and its application in defibrillation modeling.Proceedings of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Annual Conference. 399-402, 1997.
- de Jongh A, Entcheva E, Replogle J, Claydon F. Effects of cardiac anisotropy on modeling transvenous defibrillation in the human thorax. Proceedings IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Annual Conference 133-135, 1997.
- Entcheva E, Eason J, Claydon F, Malkin R. Spatial effects from bipolar current injection in 3D myocardium: Implications for conductivity measurements. Proceedings Computers in Cardiology, IEEE Computer Society Press, Los Alamitos, CA. 717-720, 1997.
- de Jongh A, Entcheva E, Replogle J, Claydon F. Determining the level of complexity required to model transvenous defibrillation fields. Proceedings Computers in Cardiology, IEEE Computer Society Press, Los Alamitos, CA. 239-242, 1997.
- Malkin R, Entcheva E. The mechanism of the ULV dose-response curve: A model study. Proceedings Computers in Cardiology, IEEE Computer Society Press, Los Alamitos, CA. 213-216, 1996.
- Entcheva E, Claydon F. A Discrete model of the dynamic behavior of the cardiac muscle. Proceedings Computers in Cardiology, IEEE Computer Society Press, Los Alamitos, CA. 609-612, 1996.
- Bachvarov S, Dinoev S, Entcheva E. Stabilization of the optimum temperature regime of industrial CO2 lasers. SPIE Proceedings 9th Meeting on Optical Engineering in Israel, Ed. I. Shladov. 2426: 517-527, 1994
- Entcheva E, Neikov A. Digital simulation of an amperometric glucose sensor behavior using orthogonal collocation technique. Proceedings 8th Symposium: Computer Simulation in Biology, Ecology and Medicine, Prague. 41-45, 1992.
Peer Reviewed Abstracts
- Bien H, Parikh P and Entcheva E, Optics’ limitations on spatial resolution in fluorescence optical mapping, Frontiers in Live Cell Imaging Meeting, Washington, DC, April 2006.
- Bien H and Entcheva E, Co-existence of reentrant waves with spatially discordant alternans, Annual Heart Rhythm Society Meeting, Boston, MA, May 2006.
- Bien H, Varghese L and Entcheva E, Optical mapping reveals direct cardiac arrhythmogenicity by inflammatory cytokines, Annual BMES Meeting, Baltimore, MD, October 2005.
- Bien H, Chung CY and Entcheva E, Uncovering temperature dependencies of excitability and connectivity in cardiomyocyte networks, Annual BMES Meeting, Baltimore, MD, October 2005.
- Chung CY, Bien H and Entcheva E, Anisotropy and propagation patterns influence voltage and calcium in assembled cardiac cell networks, Annual BMES Meeting, Baltimore, MD, October 2005.
- Varghese L, Bien H and Entcheva E, Multiparameter analysis of cardiac response to TNF-a and adrenergic stimulation, Annual BMES Meeting, Baltimore, MD, October 2005.
- Valiunas V, Parris M, Valiuniene L, Entcheva E, Cohen IS, Robinson RB, Rosen MR, Brink PR, Cell-cell coupling is critical to enable spread of pacemaker current between stem cells and cardiac myocytes, Gap Junction Symposium (submitted) 2005.
- Entcheva E and Bien H, Imaging calcium dynamics and reentrant arrhythmias in cardiac cell networks, Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Cardiac Arrhythmias, Santa Ynez Valley, CA, February, 2005.
- Wang W, Gao J, Bien H, Entcheva E, Cohen IS and Mathias RT, A contraction gradient across the ventricular wall is determined by the transmural gradient in Na/K pump current, iophysical Society Meeting, Long Beach, CA, February 2005.
- Kostov Y, Rao G, Bien H, Farrell M, Yu H-J and Entcheva E. Minituarized fluorescence lifetime system for oxygen measurements in cardiac cell constructs. Annual BMES Meeting, Philadelphia PA, October 2004.
- Chung CY, Zong X, Bien H, Yin L, Fang DF, Chu B, Hsiao BS and Entcheva E. Functional cardiac tissue grown on electrospun non-woven scaffolds. Annual BMES Meeting, Nashville TN, October 2003.
- Bien H, Farrell M, Yu H-J, Kostov Y and Entcheva E. Lifetime fluorescence measurements of oxygen uptake in cardiac cell networks using oxygen-sensitive scaffolds. Annual BMES Meeting, Nashville TN, October 2003.
- Entcheva E, Kostov Y, Bien H, Yin L, Chung CY, Dasari V and Farrell M. Versatile cellulose-based scaffolding for growing functional cardiac cell networks. Annual BMES Meeting, Nashville TN, October 2003.
- Entcheva E, Bien H and Tchernev E. Acoustic micromachining for controlled cell growth. Fourth Annual BioMEMs and Biomedical NanoTECH World 2004, Washington DC, 2003.
- Entcheva E, Bien H and Yin L. Electromechanical performance of engineered cardiac constructs. ET 2003: Engineering Tissues, 7th Hilton Head Workshop & Annual ET Conference, March 2003.
- Entcheva E, Bien H and Yin L. [Ca2+]i changes in cardiac tissue constructs on 3D elastic matrices. Annual Meeting of the North-American Society for Pacing and Electrophysiology (NASPE), May 2003.
- Levine J, Setton T, Levine J, Guan E, Collazo L, Ge S, Entcheva E, Rafailovich M, The role of substrate mechanical properties in cardiac resynchronization, Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society (APS), Austin TX, March 2003.
- Setton T, Levine J, Levine J, Guan E, Collazo L, Ge S, Entcheva E, Rafailovich M, Correlation of cell and substrate mechanical properties, Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society (APS), Austin TX, March 2003.
- Entcheva E and Bien H. Tension development and nuclear eccentricity in topographically controlled cardiac syncytium. Third Annual BioMEMs and Biomedical NanoTECH World 2002, Columbus OH, 2002.
- Entcheva E. Novel approaches to imaging electrical activity in engineered cardiac cell constructs. Annals of Biomedical Engineering. 2001 (to appear).
- Entcheva E, Colecraft HM, Yue DT, Tung L. Electrophysiological Modulation of Heart-Cell Monolayers by Genetic Augmentation of Ca2+ Channels. Circulation, Suppl. v 102, no 18, p. II-4, 2000.
- Entcheva E, Colecraft HM, Yue DT, Winslow RL, Tung L. Genetic augmentation of Ca2+ channels in cell monolayers: comparing optical recordings and computer simulations of modulated action potentials. Annals of Biomedical Engineering. 28(1): S53, 2000.
- Efimov IR, Cheng Y, Entcheva E. Experimental evidence of 3D scroll waves in the heart. Biophysical Journal. 76: A267, 1999.
- Entcheva E, Efimov IR. Mechanisms of 3D scroll generation by virtual electrode polarization. Annals of Biomedical Engineering. 26: S22, 1998.
- Entcheva E, Trayanova N, Claydon F. Uniform electric field can induce virtual electrodes through cardiac fiber curvature. Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology. 21: 961, 1998.
- de Jongh A, Claydon F, Entcheva E, Replogle J, Boocker R and KenKnight B. Locating weak potential gradient fields during transvenous defibrillation in a human thorax model. Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology. 21: 911, 1998.
- de Jongh A, Entcheva E, Replogle J, Boocker R, KenKnight B, Claydon F. Defibrillation efficacy of different electrode placements in a human thorax model. 11th International Congress Cardiostim'98, Nice, France, 1998.
- Entcheva E, de Jongh A, Claydon F. Transvenous defibrillation in a realistic human heart: Transmembrane patterns. Annals of Biomedical Engineering. 25: S63, 1997.
- Entcheva E, Eason J, Claydon F. Stimulation of cardiac tissue: Sample volume and penetration depth. Annals of Biomedical Engineering. 25: S62, 1997.
- Entcheva E, Yotova LK. Analytical application of membranes with covalently bound glucose oxidase. Biosensors & Bioelectronics. 10: iv, 1995.
- Entcheva E, Neikov A. Prediction of some biosensor characteristics under metrological limitations. Proceedings of the 3rd National Conference 'Metrology'92', Sozopol, Bulgaria. 25, 1992.
Invited Talks
- 05/09/2004 Institute for Scientific Studies in Cargese, France, International Workshop on “Oscillations and Waves in Cells and Cell Networks”, Cargese, France, “Complexity and Turbulence in Electrical Activity Imaged in Cardiomyocyte Networks”
- 10/23/03 Upstate Medical School, Department of Pharmacology and Cardiovascular Research Institute, Syracuse, NY, “Optical Mapping of Cardiac Electromechanics in Engineered Cell Constructs on 3D Surfaces”
- 11/13/02 Polytechnic University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry & Materials Science, New York, NY, “Cardiac Tissue Engineering”
- 07/11/02 SUNY at Stony Brook, Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Workshop, Stony Brook, NY, U.S.A.: “Topographic Control of Engineered Cardiac Cell Networks”
- 05/08/02 SUNY at Stony Brook, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook, NY, U.S.A.: “Engineering the Heart: The Role of the Microenvironment”
- 10/05/01 Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting - Durham'2001, Imaging of Cardiac Arrhythmogenesis track: "Novel approaches to imaging electrical activity in engineered cardiac cell constructs"
- 01/16/01 University of Columbia, Missouri, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia, MO, U.S.A.: "Cardiac arrhythmias on a plate: optical mapping and computer simulations in monolayers of cultured cells"
- 11/28/00 SUNY at Stony Brook, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook, NY, U.S.A.: "Cardiac arrhythmias on a plate: optical mapping and computer simulations in monolayers of cultured cells"
- 11/21/00 University of Minnesota, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A.: "Cardiac arrhythmias on a plate: optical mapping and computer simulations in monolayers of cultured cells"
- 10/13/00 Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting - Seattle'2000, Cardiac Electrophysiology track (co-authors: Colecraft HM, Yue DT, Winslow RL, Tung L) "Genetic augmentation of Ca2+ channels in cell monolayers: comparing optical recordings and computer simulations of modulated action potentials"
- 05/25/00 McGill University, Department of Physiology, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, "Optical mapping and computer modeling in cardiac cell monolayers"
- 05/24/00 Montreal Heart Institute, Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, "Optical mapping and computer modeling of cardiac electrophysiology in cell monolayers: 2 examples - 1) reentry and 2) genetic augmentation of Ca2+ channels"
- 05/11/00 Baltimore Chapter of IEEE-Engineering in Medicine and Biology, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.: "Computational modeling of cardiac cell electrophysiology with experimental feedback control"
- 04/14/00 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.: "Electrophysiological studies in confluent monolayers of cultured rat ventricular cells using fluorescence imaging and computer simulations"
- 03/05/98 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.: "Cardiac muscle structure and electrical stimulation of the heart"
- 12/15/97 Vanderbilt University, Department of Physics and Astronomy (Living State Physics Group), Nashville, TN, U.S.A.: "Ellipsoidal bidomain heart in uniform electric field applied under different angles: model predictions"
Courses
- BME 301 Bioelectricity (Spring 2002, 2003, 2004), Course Director
- BME 501 Engineering Principles in Cell Biology (Fall 2001), Course Co-Director
- BME 503 Cell & Molecular Imaging (Fall 2002, 2003, 2004), Course Director
- BME 525 Tissue Engineering (Spring 2004), Participating Faculty
- HBY 563 Measurement and Analysis in Physiological Research (Spring 2004), Participating Faculty