Jeff LaMack, Ph.D.
Professor, Program Director | Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI, UNITED STATES
Dr. Jeff LaMack is a biomedical engineer with expertise on effects of cardiovascular fluid mechanics on devices and pathologies.
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Education, Licensure and Certification (3)
Ph.D.: Biomedical Engineering, Duke University 2006
M.S.: Biomedical Engineering, Ohio State University: Columbus Campus 2001
B.S.: Biomedical Engineering, Milwaukee School of Engineering 1997
Biography
Dr. Jeff LaMack is an associate professor and the biomedical engineering program director in MSOE's Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department. He joined the faculty in 2006. He teaches on topics such as biological transport phenomena, biomaterials, computer programming, biostatistics,
and biomedical engineering design.
Dr. LaMack's research interests lie in teaching methodologies in undergraduate biomedical engineering courses, fluid mechanics of blood flow in arteries, endothelial cell biology, pathology of atherosclerosis, and use of 3D modeling and imaging of blood flow patterns to inform clinical interventions. Most recently, Dr. LaMack has engaged in consulting projects involving artificial intelligence applications in medical devices and diagnostic systems.
Areas of Expertise (5)
Undergraduate Engineering Curriculum Design and Assessment
Engineering Education
Biomaterials
Biomedical Engineering
Effects of Cardiovascular Fluid Mechanics on Devices and Pathologies
Accomplishments (5)
Selected as IEEE Senior Member
2019
Biomedical Engineering Division Best Poster Award (co-winner), ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition
2013
Falk Engineering Educator Award, MSOE
2010
MSOE Protracted Leave Award
2009 - 2010
Top 10 Reviewers of 2009, Annals of Biomedical Engineering
2009
Affiliations (6)
- IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (IEEE-EMBS) : Member
- IEEE-Milwaukee Section EMB Chapter : Chair
- American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) : Member
- Alpha Eta Mu Beta : National Executive Council Member
- Alpha Eta Mu Beta : Board of Directors
- Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) : Member
Media Appearances (4)
MSOE offers new study abroad program for biomedical engineering in Lübeck, Germany
MSOE online
2023-10-26
This article describes the launching of a new student exchange program between MSOE and THL in Lübeck, Germany.
Biomedical engineering juniors present projects to industry
MSOE
2017-01-10
Biomedical engineering students had an opportunity to network with industry professionals when MSOE hosted the annual December seminar of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Milwaukee Section.
Students participate in training program
MSOE online
Four MSOE biomedical engineering seniors and a faculty member participated in the Biomedical Engineering Society Coulter College training program. The MSOE team was one of 12 selected for the exclusive program.
Biomedical engineering students visit "Medical Alley"
MSOE online
2022-08-11
This article describes a three-day trip to the Twin Cities by Biomedical Engineering faculty and students in the spring of 2022. The group participated in a medical device conference and visited medical device companies with the support of program alumni working at those companies.
Event and Speaking Appearances (7)
Spicing up instruction of professional topics in biomedical engineering
Proceedings of the 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference June, 2020
Redesigning a biomedical engineering capstone design sequence to enhance student engagement
Proceedings of the 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference June 2020
Work in Progress: Improving student views of medical device standards through implementation in a first-term biomedical engineering course. Poster Presented
Proceedings of the 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Tampa, FL, June, 2019
Work in Progress: Spicing up instruction of professional topics in biomedical engineering
Proceedings of the 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Salt Lake City, UT, June 2018
Assessment of systems engineering-related concepts in a biomedical engineering program
28th Annual INCOSE International Symposium Washington, D.C., July 2018
Work in Progress: A multi-faceted laboratory module in cardiovascular fluid mechanics to develop analysis and evaluation skills in biomedical engineering undergraduates
Proceedings of the 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Atlanta, GA, June, 2013
Distinct gene expression profiles in endothelial cells with different levels of hyperpermeability
Biomedical Engineering Society 2006 Annual Fall Meeting Chicago, IL, October, 2006
Selected Publications (7)
Maintaining a rewarding biomedical engineering capstone design experience for students in remote learning situations
Biomedical Engineering Education (Special Issue: Teaching and Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic)J. LaMack, I. dos Santos, O. Imas
2020
Discussion: Comparison of Statistical Methods for Assessing Spatial Correlations Between Maps of Different Arterial Properties
Journal of Biomechanical EngineeringHimburg, H.A., Grzybowski, D.M., Hazel, A.L., LaMack, J.A., Friedman, M.H.
2016 The biological response of living arteries to mechanical forces is an important component of the atherosclerotic process and is responsible, at least in part, for the well-recognized spatial variation in atherosusceptibility in man. Experiments to elucidate this response often generate maps of force and response variables over the arterial surface, from which the force–response relationship is sought. Rowland et al. discussed several statistical approaches to the spatial autocorrelation that confounds the analysis of such maps and applied them to maps of hemodynamic stress and vascular response obtained by averaging these variables in multiple animals. Here, we point out an alternative approach, in which discrete surface regions are defined by the hemodynamic stress levels they experience, and the stress and response in each animal are treated separately. This approach, applied properly, is insensitive to autocorrelation and less sensitive to the effect of confounding hemodynamic variables. The analysis suggests an inverse relation between permeability and shear that differs from that in Rowland et al. Possible sources of this difference are suggested.
Characterizing Student Use and Perceptions of Instructional Objectives in Freshman Life Science Courses
Journal of Microbiology & Biology EducationLaMack, J.A.
2011
Endothelial Gene Expression in Regions of Defined Shear Exposure in the Porcine Iliac Arteries
Annals of Biomedical EngineeringLaMack, J.A., Himburg, H.A., Zhang, J., Friedman, M.H.
2010 The effect of hemodynamic shear stress on endothelial gene expression was investigated in the porcine iliac arteries. A novel statistical approach was applied to computational fluid dynamics simulations of the iliac artery flow field to identify three anatomical regions likely to experience high, medium, and low levels of time average shear stress magnitude. Subsequently, endothelial cell mRNA was collected from these regions in the iliac arteries of six swine and analyzed by DNA microarray. Gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated a strong tendency for genes upregulated or downregulated in one of the extreme shear environments (low or high, relative to medium) to be regulated in the same direction in the other extreme shear environment. This tendency was confirmed for specific genes by real-time quantitative PCR. Specifically, β-catenin, c-jun, VCAM-1, and MCP-1 were all upregulated in low and high shear stress regions relative to the medium shear stress region. eNOS expression was not significantly different in any of the regions. These results are consistent with the notion that endothelial cells chronically exposed to abnormally low or high shear levels in vivo exhibit similar genetic responses. Alternative explanations of this outcome are proposed, and its implications for the role of shear stress in atherogenesis are examined.
Individual and Combined Effects of Shear Stress Magnitude and Spatial Gradient on Endothelial Cell Gene Expression
American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory PhysiologyLaMack, J.A. and Friedman, M.H.
2007 The apparent tendency of atherosclerotic lesions to form in complex blood flow environments has led to many theories regarding the importance of hemodynamic forces in endothelium-mediated atherosusceptibility. The effects of shear stress magnitude and spatial shear stress gradient on endothelial cell gene expression in vitro were examined in this study. Converging-width flow channels were designed to impose physiological ranges of shear stress gradient and magnitude on porcine aortic endothelial cells, and real-time quantitative PCR was performed to evaluate their expression of five genes of interest. Although vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression was insensitive to either variable, each of the remaining genes exhibited a unique dependence on shear stress magnitude and gradient. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase showed a strong positive dependence on magnitude but was insensitive to gradient. The expression of c-jun was weakly correlated with magnitude and gradient, without an interaction effect. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression varied inversely with gradient and also depended on the interaction of gradient with magnitude. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression also exhibited an interaction effect, and increased with shear magnitude. These results support the notion that vascular endothelial cells are able to sense shear gradient and magnitude independently.
Distinct Profiles of Endothelial Gene Expression in Hyperpermeable Regions of the Porcine Aortic Arch and Thoracic Aorta
AtherosclerosisLaMack, J.A., Himburg, H.A., Friedman, M.H.
2007 Among the early events associated with atherosclerotic lesion development are increased macromolecular permeability of the endothelium and expression of genes that affect inflammation and oxidative state. The purpose of this study was to measure the expression of several atherosclerosis-related genes in endothelial cells scraped from arch and thoracic regions of the porcine aorta exhibiting elevated permeability. Aortae were collected from six swine that were exposed to circulating Evans blue dye (EBD), a marker of transendothelial albumin permeability. Endothelial cells were scraped from (1) white regions in the thoracic aorta, (2) light blue streaks and blue regions near ostia in the thoracic aorta, and (3) dark blue regions in the aortic arch. Expression levels of several genes were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR. There were modest differences between the expression levels of several genes in cells from the light blue regions relative to those from white regions. In the dark blue regions, eNOS was drastically downregulated and MCP-1 was upregulated relative to their expression in both the white and light blue regions. The distinct levels of permeability and differences in gene expression profiles exhibited by cells from these different regions of the aorta may reflect corresponding differences in their hemodynamic environments.
Mentoring for INnovative Design Solutions (MINDS): Key Design Considerations and Collaborative Teamwork across Universities for Clinical Translation
Biomedical Engineering EducationFernandez-Fernandez, A., Murfee, W.L., LaMack, J.A., Murray, T.A.
2022-11-08
The main purpose of this paper is to share the Mentoring for INnovative Design Solutions (MINDS) Scholars Program developed by Alpha Eta Mu Beta, the International Biomedical Engineering Honor Society. The program’s goals are to (1) introduce biomedical engineering students to an open-ended design experience as part of interuniversity teams with industry and faculty mentors, and (2) develop the ability to create designs considering clinical translatability on teams with different backgrounds and areas of expertise. MINDS uses an experiential learning approach to (1) enrich student curricular experiences through inter-institutional collaboration, (2) build engineering design skills, including three key design considerations for clinical/commercial success: intellectual property protection, regulatory strategy, and market identification; and (3) emphasize the importance of end-user considerations. From 2015 to 2022, MINDS has involved 131 students from 50 universities and 22 faculty and industry mentors.
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