2008 Faculty Researchers

Mark Milanick, PhD

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Summary

Two projects are available in the lab.

1. Development of home testing systems for cortisol, sex steroids, and related hormones and drugs for use by collaborators on campus studying stress responses and methods to modify stress levels. We are modifying existing laboratory techniques to make them convenient and affordable for home use. We would like to determine under what social and pathological conditions cortisol levels change and whether patient monitoring of their levels can empower the patient to change their behavior. Similar tests can be developed for sex steroids and also for drugs that have a small therapeutic ratio and home monitoring may decrease health care costs and improve compliance and outcome.
2. In collaboration with others on campus, we are developing techniques to non-invasively detect key blood compounds for monitoring of ICU patients using novel infrared dyes.

Students can work on any of several aspects of these projects depending upon their experience and interest. The opportunities include determining what steroids, drugs, or blood compounds would be of most clinical utility (and for which easy, convenient tests are now lacking), developing biochemical assays, developing new human blood cell encapsulation techniques, chemical syntheses, and development of novel optical sensors.