Rebekah's laboratory conducts research in two emerging areas in biomedical engineering: nanobiotechnology and biophotonics. These projects emphasize developing new technologies to improve women's health care with a current focus on detection, diagnosis, and monitoring therapy of breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer.

In the area of nanotechnology, Drezek's team is designing, fabricating, and validating imaging agents that are part of a comprehensive nanoshell-based technology that Rice University is developing to both diagnose and treat cancer.

In biophotonics, Drezek works with clinicians at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to develop novel optical technologies that allow detection of cancer at a much earlier stage than conventional methods. Her laboratory also creates the computational tools and mathematical algorithms that doctors need in order to make a diagnosis based on optical imaging data.

In this presentation, Rebekah will describe past, present, and future research aimed at the development and clinical translation of optical imaging tools to improve women's health care. Specific applications which will be discussed include an optical approach to the early detection of cervical precancers which offers a promising alternative to the Pap smear and colposcopy and the development of a nanoparticle-based molecular-specific platform technology for integrated detection and therapy of breast cancer in collaboration with researchers at Rice University and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

About Our Speaker(s)

Rebekah Drezek, the Stanley C. Moore Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, conducts translational research at the interface of two emerging areas in biomedical engineering: nanobiotechnology and biophotonics. Her laboratory's projects emphasize developing new technologies to improve women's health care with a current focus on detection, diagnosis, and monitoring therapy of breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer.

Rebekah Drezek was named to the 2004 list of the world's 100 Top Young Innovators by Technology Review, MIT's Magazine of Innovation.

Event Date and Venue

This event will be held from 6:00-8:30 on Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at:

SYSCO FOODS
1390 Enclave Parkway
Houston, Texas 77077
Map

Conference Rooms A,B,C on the ground floor.

Schedule

5:45-6:30 - Registration, Dinner and Networking
6:30-6:45 - Sponsor, SYSCO
6:45-7:00 - WITI Business
7:00-7:45 - Guest Speaker, Rebeka Drezek
7:45-8:00 - Roundtable discussions
8:00-8:30 - Networking

Pre-registration for this event is closed and on-site registrations will not be accepted.

About Our Sponsor(s)

SYSCO operates in one of the most basic of industries - the distribution of food and related products and services to restaurants, nursing homes, hospitals, hotels, motels, schools, colleges, cruise ships, sports parks and summer camps - wherever a meal is prepared away from home. The company's success is deeply intertwined with its customers, for we are only successful if we help them be successful.

SYSCO - An acronym for Systems and Services Company
Over the years, SYSCO has embraced advances in technology to improve the systems we use to serve our customers. Not only have these technological advances made it possible for us to make our own operation more efficient, but they have also made helpful information more readily accessible to assist our customers and suppliers alike.

Foodservice Supplies and Equipment
SYSCO provides a full spectrum of foodservice supplies and equipment to complement its broad food product offerings. Customers can receive everything they need for their operations, from sparkling front-of-the-house service ware to heavy-duty, back-of-the-house janitorial supplies and everything in between.

Contact Us

For more info regarding registration or event details, please contact Cat Schwartz ([email protected]).

For more details about pre-registration, contact Tech Support.