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October, 2018

Prototype Designs

Oct. 29, 2018—Prototype of Final Design The final design may be similar to the following 3-D figures. These visual representations of possible prototypes were made using TinkerCad.com. The team will converge on a final solution based on validation tests and cost of production. The 3-compartment petri dish solution (Figure 1) would be similar to existing culturing dishes,...

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Emily Balskus uses chemical logic to study the microbiome | Science News

Oct. 29, 2018—Using chemistry to peer at the microbial world, Emily Balskus is revealing how microbes influence human health. Source: Emily Balskus uses chemical logic to study the microbiome | Science News

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Breast Milk, Formula Nurture Similarities, Differences in Gut Microbes

Oct. 29, 2018—Baby formula is designed to mimic human breast milk as closely as possible. A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis finds that formula and breast milk nurture the growth of intestinal bacteria capable of producing differing metabolites. The health implications of these differences are unknown. Source: Breast Milk, Formula Nurture...

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‘Largest’ microbiome study weighs in on our gut health

Oct. 29, 2018—The first results of the largest study to have ever investigated the human microbiome are in. They have important implications for our dietary practices, resistance to antibiotics, and our mental health. Source: ‘Largest’ microbiome study weighs in on our gut health

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Meet the Team

Oct. 29, 2018—Callie Weber Callie is a biomedical engineering major with a neuroscience minor from Hailey, Idaho. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she intends to go to graduate school to earn a PhD in biomedical engineering. Contact: callie.m.weber@vanderbilt.edu         Lauren Parola Lauren is a biomedical engineering major with a minor in engineering management from Arlington,...

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BME Idea Proposal

Oct. 24, 2018—Executive Summary In the current research market, there are no devices with the ability to co-culture microbes while keeping each strain distinct and allowing for chemical or nutrient interactions. There is an urgent need for this device to be able to better mimic the in vivo environment in tissues such as the stomach. This device...

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