Congratulations to Ms. Azadeh Poursaid, MD/PhD Biomedical Engineering student, recipient of the

National Research Service Award (F30)

. These F30 awards are competitively awarded to the top MD/PhD or other dual degree graduate students. Ms. Poursaid proposed to develop silk-elastinlike polymers (SELP) for transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). When injected as a liquid SELP would penetrate tumors down to capillary levels and provide a broader range for drug delivery after gelling. The goal of this study was to determine an optimal SELP formulation such that the polymer is manually injectable through a microcatheter, gels within a predetermined time frame, and assembles into a robust gel within hepatic vessels to block blood flow. Azadeh’s F30 award will support her research during the next three years. Ms. Poursaid is advised by professor

Hamid Ghandehari

.