Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Lung disease treatment changing with AI inhaler Desa James OSU News
Dr. Yu Feng of the Oklahoma State University School of Chemical Engineering has received funding from the University of Oklahoma Foundation for his project titled “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Empowered User-Centered Smart Inhaler for Targeted Drug Delivery to Small Airways for Effective Lung Disease Treatment.” The project aims to develop a groundbreaking smart inhaler that uses artificial intelligence. This technology has the ability to change the way lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, will be treated. By using computational fluid-particle dynamics and machine learning/deep learning (ML/DL), the inhaler calculates the exact amount of medication needed and can deliver it to the small airways that it is needed most. “The ML algorithm processes inputs like breathing profiles, disease status and drug particle sizes to determine the optimal nozzle settings for drug release. These settings are then used by the inhaler’s hardware system
Courtesy of OSU News
Overall workflow of developing and deploying the prototype of AI-empowered user-centered smart inhaler for targeted drug delivery. to adjust the nozzle, ensuring targeted art technology to everyday health care, lung diseases beyond COPD only.” drug delivery to specific lung sites making a real difference in people’s Feng states that Islam’s research while minimizing deposition on healthy lives,” Feng said. is pivotal to the project. tissues,” Feng said. OSU doctoral student Moham“It establishes a targeted delivery Personalized and efficient treatmad Rashed Islam has a prominent role strategy for inhalation therapy using ment for everyone is the idea. The AIin developing the AI algorithm for the our AI-empowered smart inhaler,” Feng empowered Smart Inhaler aims to make smart inhaler. said. “The algorithm not only ensures lung disease treatment more accurate “The algorithm will use patientmore efficient delivery to the targeted and accessible. Feng notes that the im- specific data and medication-specific areas, but also minimizes potential side pact on people in rural and underserved properties, as its input,” Feng said. effects, a significant advancement over areas who don’t have regular access to “Islam’s research focuses on using AI traditional inhalation therapies.” doctors would be profound. for precise drug delivery directly to Further developments are planned “It’s about bringing state-of-theaffected areas of the lungs, for multiple for the inhaler. See Inhaler on 5
Center for Legal Studies and Business Ethics to
host former governors Terry Tush OSU News The Center for Legal Studies and Business Ethics (CLSBE) will host the third annual “Conversations on Ethical Leadership” at 3 p.m., April 23, at the Student Union Theater on Oklahoma State University’s Stillwater campus. Former Republican Gov. Frank Keating and former Democratic Gov. Brad Henry will join in a conversation with Spears School of Business Dean Jim Payne about what ethical leadership means to them. The event is free, and students and the public are invited to attend. “The CLSBE is pleased to bring these two former governors to campus this year for this annual event, especially since it is a presidential election year,” said Laurie Lucas, director of the CLSBE. “This is an exciting opportunity for our students to hear from two chief executive officers who may bring different policy perspectives but who both demonstrated the ability to reach across the political aisle and move Oklahoma forward during their time in office. I hope their conversation with Dean Payne helps our students remain optimistic about the possibili-
ties for a positive future in Oklahoma.” Keating and Henry are two of only five former governors elected to serve two consecutive terms in Oklahoma. Keating was the state’s 25th governor, serving from 1995 to 2003, and Henry was the state’s 26th, serving from 2003-11. “I am looking forward to an insightful discussion on ethical leadership from former Oklahoma governors Frank Keating and Brad Henry,” Payne said. “Such a discussion will provide a forum for our students to listen and learn, and hopefully the importance of ethical leadership in making effective decisions for the betterment of Oklahoma and its citizens.” After receiving his law degree from the University of Oklahoma, Keating worked for the FBI. He also served in the Oklahoma legislature. President Ronald Reagan appointed Keating as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma, and later as assistant secretary of the Treasury, then to associate attorney general in the Department of Justice. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush elevated Keating to general counsel and acting deputy secretary of Housing and Urban Development. See Ethics on 7
Luttler Lab
Chancellor Allison Garrett, chief executive officer for the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and Jake Paterson.
OSU students place first, third during 2024 Research Day at the Capitol Sydney Trainor OSU News
Competing among 25 students from across Oklahoma, Patterson and Fulkerson were two of four undergraduate students who represented OSU at Oklahoma State University the event. Patterson’s research fostudent Jake Patterson placed cused on identifying a bacterium first overall in the Research Day associated with chronic infecat the Capitol competition March 18-19 in Oklahoma City. Fellow tions in cystic fibrosis patient’s lungs. OSU student Olivia Fulkerson “A specific motivation that placed third in the researchmade me want to do research in intensive institution category. this area is my friend who suffers
from cystic fibrosis,” Patterson said. “This diagnosis entails a greatly reduced life expectancy and lowered quality of life, and it has been heartbreaking seeing my friend’s condition slowly wear away at them. If the project I am on reaches completion, there is a chance that their, and everyone else that has CF, lives could be improved and lengthened as a direct result of my research.” See Research on 6