Our Winners!!

Abstract Competition

1st Place - Akshaj Dewan - GrowCast: Revolutionizing Orthopedic Care with Mycelium-Based Casts

Recent work on 3D printing and mycelium-based materials offers exciting alternatives to traditional plaster casts. Research shows that 3D-printed scaffolds can support mycelium growth, creating eco-friendly and customizable designs with better sustainability (Koetsier, 2021). 3D-printed casts are lighter, breathable, and more comfortable than traditional ones, offering personalized fit and improved air circulation (Fitzpatrick et al., 2017). Innovations using waste materials like cardboard or coffee grounds to 3D print mycelium-based structures show potential for self-healing properties and reduced environmental impact (Mohseni et al., 2023; Soh et al., 2023).

Despite these advancements, significant gaps remain. One major challenge is the durability of mycelium-based materials, particularly their ability to withstand the physical stress of daily use in medical settings. Their susceptibility to moisture is another concern that could affect long-term reliability (Soh et al., 2023). Additionally, while 3D-printed casts offer fast, customized solutions, further research is needed to enhance their strength and affordability for widespread use (Xiao et al., 2024). 

Our project aims to address these gaps by developing a 3D-printed cast that uses mycelium as an infill material. We will focus on improving the durability of mycelium-based composites while ensuring they remain affordable and eco-friendly. We will design the cast usingComputer-Aided Design (CAD) and utilize polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) combined with mycelium brick as the infill material. We hypothesize that this combination will enhance the cast's durability while reducing production costs and environmental impact. 

This research is significant because it has the potential to revolutionize the field of orthopedic casting by providing a more efficient and eco-friendly alternative. If successful, we could bridge these research gaps and develop a solution that meets both the practical needs of patients and the environmental demands of today.

2nd Place - Maanas Kudrimoti and Diya Vacha - Effects of Dog-Assisted Therapy During Treatments

Dogs, often considered man’s best friend, have been shown to have diverse impacts on people. Several studies analyzed the major effects dogs have on people, observing how they affect human functions, behaviors, and emotions. 

All three studies used dog-assisted therapy (DAT) as treatment, but the patients being treated varied: dementia patients, adults with autism, and institutionalized elderly patients struggling with stress and anxiety. In the study involving dementia patients, participants were split into three groups: the control (regular dementia therapy), intervention (therapy and DAT), and healthy (DAT only). Researchers studied the functional, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral effects. The second study looked into DAT in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects one’s interactions with others. This study split the 53 participants into treatment and waitlist control groups. It then analyzed the effects and responsiveness of its participants. The last study, which looked at elderly institutionalized patients, split a random sample into 14 control subjects and 17 treatment subjects. Several tests, including the 15-Item Geriatric Scale, were performed on these participants before and after the DAT treatment was executed. 

Across all 3 studies, dogs generally had a positive effect on the participant’s behavior and mood. The results of the DAT in the dementia experiment showed that the healthy and intervention groups performed better than the control. Similarly, DAT reflected positive effects on adults with ASD, evident from the increased social responsiveness up to 10 weeks later. This trend continued across the 3rd experiment, shown by the decreases in the patients’ 15-Item Geriatric Depression Scale scores and overall more positive responses. 

It can be concluded that dogs change a patient’s perception of their treatment for the better, correlating with positivity. DAT should be utilized more frequently in healthcare settings with patients struggling with mental setbacks.

3rd Place - Lily Deng -  Parasites targeting Cerebral Tissue

Neurotropic parasites are known to invade cerebral tissue, often leading to life-threatening meningoencephalitis, even when the primary infection site is distant from the brain. This study addresses the question of whether parasites target the brain out of an evolutionary preference to enhance fitness or due to a chemical attraction. Some evidence supports the idea that parasites may have evolved to manipulate the nervous system for their benefit, without needing to directly reside in the brain. However, a competing hypothesis by Baig (2017) suggests that neurotropic parasites are guided by chemotactic chemicals, such as acetylcholine, produced by the nervous system. 

We will test the chemotactic hypothesis by tracking parasite motility, parasitaemia, and blood-brain barrier penetration in C57BL6 mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA, a rodent malaria model. By comparing the effects of anticholinergic pre-treatment in infected mice with untreated controls, we aim to assess the role of cholinergic signals in guiding parasites to the brain. Additionally, the effectiveness of antagonistic drugs in inhibiting chemotaxis will be evaluated through clinical trials. 

Finally, we will investigate the role of circumventricular organs and the choroid plexus, which are vulnerable to infection due to their direct connection to the bloodstream, as critical entry points for parasites. Through bioimaging and gene expression studies, we will explore how these structures facilitate parasitical neurotropism. 

This research aims to enhance our understanding of parasite-host interactions in the brain, potentially leading to novel neuropharmacological strategies to combat cerebral parasitic infections like cerebral malaria.