Jennifer Kang Derwent, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Office: Engineering 1, Room 116
10 West 32nd Street
Chicago, IL 60616-3793
Phone: 312.567.3860
Fax: 312.567.5707
Email: derwent@iit.edu
Web: Retinal Vascular Research Center

Expertise

Education

B.A. in Mathematics, Northwestern University
M.S. in Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University
Post-doctoral research in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago

Current Projects

1. In vivo Retinal Hemodynamics: Development and application of scanning laser ophthalmoscope vascular imaging technique to assess retinal blood flow non-invasively. This technique is used to examine the involvement of nitric oxide (NO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and anti-VEGF in retinal blood flow in vascular retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein/arterial occlusions.
2. Retinal Cellular Function: Development of algorithms to quantify electroretinogram (ERG) components obtained in vivo and application of the technique to evaluate the effects of NO on retinal cellular function. Measurement of intraretinal NO level distribution coupled with ERG signals to examine the role of NO in diabetic retinopathy animal model.
3. Ocular Drug Delivery: Development of an optimal drug delivery platform to release anti-VEGF agents in a controlled manner to replace the conventional intravitreal injection method. Encapsulation of anti-VEGF agents using thermo-responsive hydrogels will be implanted in the juxascleral space (outside of the eye wall) and the efficacy will be determined in an in vivo animal model. A computational model of anti-VEGF agent transport properties across the sclera will be utilized to optimize the material development.
4. Biomaterial Surface for Retinal Cells: Development of methodology for modifying patterned biomaterial surfaces to allow isolated photoreceptor cells to attach and grow in vitro. The goal is to be able to promote cells growth on patterned biomaterial surfaces and to be able to implant back into animal models that mimic retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.

Awards/Honors

Inverness Women’s Club Scholarship, Undergraduate Scholarship
Walter P. Murphy Fellowship, Graduate Fellowship, Northwestern University
Teaching Assistant Fellow Program, Searle Center for Teaching Excellence, Northwestern University
General Electric Faculty of the Future Intern Fellowship, General Electric and McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University
National Eye Institute Travel Fellowship Grant, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and National Eye Institute
Committee on Institutional Cooperation Women in Science and Engineering
Initiative Travel Grant
Nelson Fellowship Award, Nelson Foundation and the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago
Whitaker Foundation Fellow

Patents

Books

Selected Publications

Kang Derwent, J. and Linsenmeier, R.A. (2000). Effects of hypoxemia on the a- and b-waves of the electroretinogram in the cat retina. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 41(10): 3634-3642.

Kang Derwent, J.J. and Linsenmeier, R.A. (2001a). Intraretinal analysis of the a-wave of the electroretinogram (ERG) in dark-adapted intact cat retina. Visual Neuroscience 18(3): 353-363.

Kang Derwent, J.J. and Linsenmeier, R.A. (2001b). Hypoglycemia increases the sensitivity of the cat electroretinogram to hypoxemia. Visual Neuroscience 18(6): 983-993.

Kang Derwent, J.J., Qtaishat, N.M.and Pepperberg, D.R. (2002). Excitation and desensitization of mouse rod photoreceptors in vivo following bright adapting light. Journal of Physiology 541.1: 201-218.

Kang Derwent, J.J., Derlacki, D.J., Hetling, J.R., Fishman, G.A., Birch, D.G., Grover, S., Stone, E.M. and Pepperberg, D.R. (2004). Dark adaptation of rod photoreceptors in normal subjects, and in patients with Stargardt disease and an ABCA4 mutation. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 45(7): 2447-2456.

Kang Derwent, J.J. (2005). Re-structuring Instrumentation Laboratory Class for Biomedical Engineers. Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition 2209.

Kang Derwent, J.J., Padnick-Silver, L., McRipley, M., Giuliano, E., Linsenmeier, R.A. and Narfstr?m, K. (2006). The Electroretinogrm (ERG) Components in Abyssinian Cats with Hereditary Retinal Degeneration. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 47: 3673-3682.

Padnick-Silver, L., Kang Derwent, J.J., Narfstrom, K.N. and Linsenmeier, R.A. (2006). Retinal Oxygenation and Oxygen Metabolism in Abyssinian Cats with a Hereditary Retinal Degeneration. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 47: 3683-3689.

Kang Derwent, J.J. (2006) Incorporating Peer Assisted Learning into a Biomedical Engineering Instrumentation and Measurement Laboratory. Proceedings of the 2006 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition 2006-1240.

Lorentz, K., Zayas-Santiago, A., Tummala, S. and Kang Derwent, J.J. (2007). Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope-particle tracking method to assess blood velocity during hypoxia and hyperoxia. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology In Press

Kang Derwent, J., Saszik, S.M., Maeda, H., Little, D., Pardue, M.T., Frishman, L.J. and Pepperberg, D.R. (2007). Test of the paired-flash electroretinographic method in b-wave deficient mice. Visual Neuroscience 24: 141-149.

Kang Derwent, J.J. (2007). Demonstrating neural function through both hands-on and computer stimulated laboratory modules. Proceedings of the 2007 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition.

Wu, C., Kang Derwent, J.J. and Stanchev, P. (2008). Retinal vessel radius estimation and a vessel center line segmentation method based on ridge descriptors. Journal of Signal Processing Systems (In Press).

Liu, X., Mameza, M., Lee, Y., Eseonu, C.I., Yu, C-R., Kang Derwent, J.J. and Egwuagu, C.E. (2008). Suppressors of Cytokin Signaling (SOCS) protein induce insulin-resistance in the retina and promote survival of retinal cells. Diabetes (In Press).