Action Research for Engineering: Murine Experiments for Hypertension Research and STEM Education

Abstract

Action research is a form of research with the goal of improving standards of practice. In this thesis, action research was used to address practical issues within experimental methods for hypertension research and interventions for STEM education, including through defining the problem to be addressed, implementing a solution, assessing impacts, and providing recommendations for future improvements. Hypertension is highly prevalent and leading contributor to death worldwide. A positive feedback loop that relates structural stiffness and hypertension, whereby stiffness increases in response to hypertension and causes further increases in blood pressure, is hypothesized to promote end-organ-damage, which contributes to the development of cardiovascular, renovascular, and neurovascular disorders. The relationship between hypertension, vascular stiffness, and organ damage is an important research focus for the potential development of therapies and diagnostic tools. This is difficult to investigate in humans due to limitations in non-invasive measurements, so murine experiments are commonly used. Action research can help maximize the clinical relevance of murine studies through optimization of experimental design. Specifically, our work investigated the impact of experimental conditions on metrics of hemodynamics and vascular structure using fluid-structure-interaction modeling of the central vasculature. In the first aim, we investigated the similarities and differences in hemodynamics and vascular structure between young and old humans and mice. This led to insights into the appropriate use of the naturally aged mouse to study cardiovascular aging and potential targets for development of novel mouse models. In the second aim, a computational workflow was developed to estimate awake hemodynamics and investigate the effects of anesthesia on control and hypertensive mice. We found that isoflurane anesthesia has a more profound effect on angiotensin-II infused mice than controls, which may skew the results of research studies that characterize hemodynamics with this model. Future studies should consider using alternative anesthetics or computationally adjusting results of studies with angiotensin-II infused mice under isoflurane sedation. Computer programming is a highly sought after skill for BME graduates, but undergraduate students often struggle with knowledge of and attitudes towards the field. Action research can aid in the incorporation of research-based instructional strategies into practice, which can improve student outcomes. In the third aim, a short module was developed to improve BME undergraduate student’s conceptual knowledge of and attitudes towards computer programming. Project-based learning (PBL) and scaffolding were implemented through lectures with active learning activities, labs with open-ended extra credit, and a final project. Students exhibited gains in conceptual knowledge and confidence with the material from pre- to post-course. Future improvements include expanding to a semester course, increasing the difficulty of extra credit and project, and incorporating additional connections to practice. The climate in STEM towards members of the queer community has been previously described as chilly, which leads to lower retention and higher rates of mental health issues and closeting. In the fourth aim, action research and queer theory were applied to develop a visibility campaign, STEM Pride, to highlight the interests, achievements, and connections to the queer community of queer individuals in STEM. The impacts of the initiative were assessed, the climate was characterized, and additional needs of the community were identified through surveys and focus groups. Future improvements include moving to more than one platform, increasing advertising efforts, hosting additional education events, highlighting the fluidity of identity, and advocating for additional safety signals in academic spaces.