Volume 6, Issue 2 | Spring 2021

Science Feature

Kathleen M. Schmainda, PhD, professor of biophysics, discusses her recently awarded NIH grant.

This inability has profound implications for radiation treatment and surgical planning as well as for the evaluation of treatment response.  As a solution, we recently validated with tissue-localized biopsy samples the ability of perfusion MRI methods to distinguish tumor from non-tumor within the regions of contrast-agent enhancement, a methodology that will be further developed with this grant funding.  To identify tumor within peritumoral edema, we have developed a machine learning method that uses multiparametric MRI, which includes both standard and advanced perfusion and diffusion MRI methods as inputs to a convolutional neural network (Fig. 1c), and is able to distinguish, on a per-voxel basis, tumor from non-tumor tissue. Two unique resources used in this study include our perfusion imaging bank with over 6,000 patient studies, and a brain tumor tissue bank where both tissue and intraoperative screen captures are maintained. The screen captures record the locations from which biopsy samples are obtained and are used to validate the spatially localized imaging predictions.  A preliminary result showing the delineation of tumor within these regions is shown in Figure 1d. Once validated, the approach will be evaluated in the context of predicting treatment response in patients with high-grade brain tumor in comparison with standard criteria. 

Alumni Q&A

Learn about the diverse career paths our alumni have pursued after graduating from the Biophysics Graduate Program.

Marija Raguž, PhD, University of Split, Croatia

Q: Since obtaining your PhD here in Biophysics in 2010, share with us your career progression to your current role as head of the Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics.

A: After graduation, I was hired as a teaching assistant at the University of Split School of Medicine and was promoted to assistant professor in 2012. In 2017, I became head of the Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics. I fulfilled  the requirements and was promoted to associate professor in 2018.

Q: What inspired you to pursue this career?

A: After finishing high school, I had the dilemma of deciding which undergraduate program to enroll in. The choices were the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or Science. At that moment, it was very hard decision. Even during my undergraduate program, I had some doubts. From the beginning of my master's degree in biophysics, I had no more doubts. Every day, I became more and more interested in science. I knew I had made the best choice. My later work only confirmed the correctness of my decision. I am satisfied with the nature of the work, including all the pros and cons.  

Q: Tell us about your major responsibilities, and what projects, committee service, or other activities you might work on in a typical week.

A: My major responsibilities are very diverse and include teaching, research, and different evaluation committee services. I teach undergraduate, dental, medical, and PhD students. I also run the project “Unravelling cholesterol-domain organization and function in the plasma membrane of the eye lens fiber cells using fluorescent methods.” In addition, I am a Faculty Council member.

Q: What aspect of your current job do you find most rewarding, and why?

A: Teaching medical physics and biophysics classes for medical and dental students at the School of Medicine and the course Biophysics of Biological Membranes at the Faculty of Science is a very interesting part of my work, but the most rewarding part is research. I am trying to make progress in science with colleagues from my university, University Hospital of Split, and through collaborations with Dr. Subczynski from the Department of Biophysics at MCW and Dr. Akihiro Kusumi from Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University in Japan. I consider experimental work to be the most intriguing part of my work.

Q: What advice do you wish you had been given as a graduate student?

A: As a graduate student, I was given much useful advice. Everyone employed at the Department of Biophysics at MCW took very good care of the graduate students. I just regret that I was not a little bit more confident and ambitious regarding applications and chances to get projects after I received my PhD.

Q: What would you look for if you were in the position to hire a recent graduate from MCW?

A: I would be interested in hiring somebody who already has experience in membrane research and the application of different biophysical methods, particularly microscopic and spectroscopic methods.

Department News

Welcome

• Nicholas Cina (graduate student, Klug lab)
• Bonnie Jin (SPUR student, Li lab)
• James Woodcock (research technologist, Vasquez Vivar lab)

Farewell

• Samantha Gies (graduate student, Feix lab)
• Ethan Duwell (graduate student, DeYoe lab)

Congratulations

• Bill Antholine published a paper in Dalton Transactions.
• Ethan Duwell received his PhD.
• Samantha Gies received her PhD.
• Neil Hogg published a paper in International Journal of Molecular Sciences and a paper in Free Radical Biology and Medicine.
• Kathleen Schmainda was awarded a $1.78M new R01 from NIH/NCI & published a paper in Scientific Reports.
• Natalia Stein and Karol Subczynski published a paper in Experimental Eye Research.
• Monika Zielonka and Jacek Zielonka published a paper in Free Radical Biology and Medicine.
• Jacek Zielonka published a paper in Free Radical Biology and Medicine.

Recap: Third MCW Redox Biology Symposium / Fifth Annual SfRBM Regional Symposium

Featured invited external speakers included Ines Batinic-Haberle, PhD, Duke University; Eduardo Chini, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic; Cristina Furdui, PhD, Wake Forest University; and Ming Xian, PhD, Washington State University, and the keynote presentation was given by David Harrison, MD, Vanderbilt University.

Thank you to all MCW personnel who presented and attended!

Recipe

Teriyaki Tofu Spring Rolls with Strawberries

(Yield: 15 spring rolls)

2 carrots, peeled and sliced into matchsticks
2 persian cucumbers, julienned
5 to 6 medium strawberries, hulled and sliced
1/4 cup mint leaves
1/4 cup cilantro

Directions

1. Wrap the block of tofu around a layer of paper towels and let it sit for 15 minutes.
2. Add all the teriyaki sauce ingredients into a small saucepan and stir until the cornstarch dissolves. Heat saucepan over medium heat until the sauce starts to boil. Reduce the heat a little and let everything simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the sauce from heat.
3. Slice the block of tofu into five planks.
4. Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the tofu and pan fry for 5 to 6 minutes, until the tofu is golden brown. Resist the urge to flip the tofu before it’s golden brown because the tofu will stick. Flip the tofu and pan fry the other side for another 5 minutes. Remove the pan from heat and pour 3 to 4 tablespoons of the teriyaki sauce over the tofu. Be careful as the teriyaki sauce will splatter in the hot pan. Spread the teriyaki sauce over the tofu planks and flip them over to distribute the teriyaki sauce. Let the tofu cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Slice each plank of tofu into three strips. Transfer the tofu to a plate.
6. Get your workspace organized. Fill a shallow, wide bowl with lukewarm water. Lightly wet the surface of the cutting board. Place the vegetables and tofu on plates or bowls and get them close to your workspace. Have a large plate ready so that you can place your finished spring rolls on top.
7. Dip a rice paper wrapper into the bowl of water and circle the paper around so that the entire surface is moistened. Transfer the rice paper onto the wet board. Place a strip of tofu and a few strips of the carrots, pepper, and cucumber about 1/2 to 1 inch away from the bottom of the wrapper. Top with a few mint and cilantro leaves. Arrange 3 slices of strawberries about 1 1/2 inches away from the tofu and vegetables.
8. Starting from the bottom of the wrapper, start rolling everything up until you reach the strawberries. Fold the left and right sides of the wrapper towards the center, and finish rolling up the spring roll. Place the spring roll onto your spare plate and repeat for the remaining spring rolls. (NOTE: If you find that the wrapper are quite stiff, let everything sit on your cutting board for an extra 10 to 15 seconds so it softens. Then, roll the spring rolls.)
9. The spring rolls are best served within the next hour. If you planning to serve these a few hours later, transfer the spring rolls to a plate or platter that is lined with parchment or wax paper. Cover the plate or platter with plastic wrap until you’re ready to serve. You can serve the spring rolls with the remaining teriyaki sauce or a sweet chili sauce.

Recipe obtained from Healthy Nibbles.

Biophysics News is a quarterly MCW departmental newsletter aimed at enhancing departmental engagement through information and good news sharing. Do you have information you’d like to share–news, a photo, a recipe? Send it to Lydia.

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