Mechanical and Civil Engineering Seminar

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Seminar Series

Title: A data-driven approach to modeling and control of wound state progression and healing outcomes

Abstract: The advancement of technology in bioelectronic sensors and actuators provides a platform for automating custom treatment strategies through feedback control. If we consider the response of an individual to a prescribed treatment regimen as a dynamical system, we can deploy adaptive strategies with real-time learning to advance methods in precision medicine and prediction of clinical outcomes. Here, we discuss work in wound healing. We argue that timing of treatments is as critical to consider as the choice of drug or therapy. Due to system size and complexity, data-driven methods need to be explored to develop multi-dimensional quantifiable indicators tracking systemic changes. In this work I discuss how bioelectronic devices enhanced with deep learning can help facilitate real-time sensing and actuation for automated decisions in treatment for wound healing for both quantifying and tracking state progression and accelerating wound closure.

Bio: Marcella M. Gomez is an associate professor at UC Santa Cruz in the department of Applied Mathematics and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Baskin Engineering. She received her PhD from Caltech in 2015 and a B.S. from UC Berkeley in 2009; both degrees in Mechanical Engineering. Her research interests are in the broad field of bio-control leveraging methods in machine learning and control theory. Applications range from controlling single-cell response to driving complex systems such as wound healing.

NOTE: At this time, in-person Mechanical and Civil Engineering Lectures are open to all Caltech students/staff/faculty/visitors.