Minliang Liu, an assistant professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech University, has been awarded a grant of $231,000 to further his groundbreaking research

Minliang Liu, an assistant professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech University, has been awarded a grant of $231,000 to further his groundbreaking research on developing computational models for the treatment of Type B Aortic Dissection. The grant, part of the Career Development Award program, is designed to support researchers in their early faculty careers, aiming to enhance their research capabilities.

Supported by the American Heart Association Career Development Award, Liu's Cardiovascular Biomechanics Lab at Texas Tech University is embarking on an ambitious project focused on developing a novel computational framework. This framework aims to evaluate the periprocedural and postprocedural risks associated with Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR), a minimally invasive procedure used in the treatment of aortic dissections.

"TEVAR has revolutionized the treatment paradigm of Type B Aortic Dissection,” Liu explained. "However, its application in certain cases remains controversial due to associated risks. Our objective is to create an innovative, fully automated computational framework for patient specific TEVAR risk assessment, which could significantly aid clinicians in selecting the optimal treatment plan."

TEVAR, while showing promise in improving mid-term outcomes, carries inherent risks such as retrograde type A dissection and stroke. Liu's project aims to evaluate these risks by leveraging biomechanical and machine learning tools to develop personalized risk assessment models.

"This grant will not only support our lab in establishing computational capabilities for simulating medical device interactions but also strengthen our expertise in physics-informed machine learning," Liu said. "The tools developed through this grant could potentially offer valuable insights not only for TEVAR but also for other minimally invasive cardiovascular devices."

For Liu and his team, this grant represents a significant milestone in their research journey. "It will bolster the research portfolio of the Cardiovascular Biomechanics Lab at TTU,"  Liu said. "Our lab is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of clinical prognosis and treatment for cardiovascular diseases through an innovative, multidisciplinary approach."

Looking ahead, Liu is committed to advancing engineering tools tailored to improve the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

"This is my first year here at Texas Tech and I am deeply honored and grateful to have received this grant," he explained. "I am committed to making significant strides in this field."