Educational

• Billiar, K.L., Belisle, R., Cezar, T., Fusco, M., Gray, C., Oliva, T., Tate, V., Hubelbank, J., Camesano, T., “K12 Outreach: Using Biomechanical Engineering Design Projects To Teach Difficult STEM Concepts To Middle School Students,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference (SBC2009), Lake Tahoe, CA, June 2009.

• Billiar, K., Camesano, T., Rolle, M., “RET site: Inquiry-based bioengineering research and design experiences for middle-school teachers,” NSF EEC Awardees Conference 2009, Reston, VA, February 2009.

• Camesano, T., Billiar, K., Rolle, M., “REU site: Integrated bioengineering research, education, and outreach experiences for females and underrepresented minorities at WPI,” NSF EEC Awardees Conference 2009, Reston, VA, February 2009.

• Billiar, K.L. “Biomechanics laboratories ‘on a shoestring’” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Marco Island, FL, June 2008. (Organized educational workshop and presented)

• Billiar, K.L., “Tissue mechanics lab: pros and cons of an inquiry approach for juniors,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Keystone, CO, June 2007.

• Billiar, K.L “Video Tutorials for Complex laboratory Techniques: Lessons Learned in Sophomore and Junior Biomechanics Courses” 2006 New England American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Conference, Worcester, MA. Award for Outstanding Paper

• Billiar, K.L., “A Completely Challenge-Based Experimental Biomechanics Course,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting, Baltimore, MD, October 2005

• Billiar, K.L., Shonat, R.D., Carey, R.M., “Self-paced laboratories facilitated by web-based modules,” Second Conference of the Partnership for Educational Biomedical Engineering Laboratories (PEBEL II), Philadelphia, PA, October 2004.

• Mendelson, Y., Billiar, K.L., “ A laboratory-centered intermediate level course in biomedical engineering design,” First Conference of the Partnership for Educational Biomedical Engineering Laboratories (PEBEL), Washington DC, June 2004.

• Balestrini, J., Skorinko, J., Gaudette, G., and Billiar, K., “Applying controlled non-homogeneous deformation for in vitro mechanobiological studies,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference (SBC2009), Lake Tahoe, CA, June 2009.

• Christakis, A., Dieselman, J., Ahn, J., Sandefer, A., Psoinos, C., Ignotz, R., Lalikos, J., Dunn, R., Billiar, K., “Comparison of cortical and cancellous screws for sternal fixation,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference (SBC2009), Lake Tahoe, CA, June 2009.

• Dieselman, J., Ahn, J., Christakis, A., Sandefer, A., Psoinos, C., Ignotz, R., Lalikos, J., Dunn, R., Billiar, K., “Possible mechanisms of screw loosening of rigid sternal fixation,” Northeast Bioengineering Conference (NEBC), Boston, MA, March 2009.

• Ali, H., Breindel, J., Bullock, S., Herrera, J., Billiar, K., Rolle, M., “Design of a device to dynamically condition tissue engineered vessel rings,” Northeast Bioengineering Conference (NEBC), Boston, MA, March 2009.

• Gray, C., Oliva, T., Christakis, A., Rolle, M., Billiar, K. “Design of a versatile, inexpensive vessel burst pressure measurement device,” Northeast Bioengineering Conference (NEBC), Boston, MA, March 2009.

• Throm, A.M., John, J., Billiar, K.B., “Mechanical Activation of Valvular Interstitial Cell Phenotype.” 13th Annual Hilton Head Workshop Regenerative Medicine: Advancing Next Generation Therapies, Hilton Head Island, SC March 5-8, 2009.

• Throm, A.M., John, J., Billiar, K.L., “Effects of Environment Stiffness on VIC Phenotype,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting, St. Louis, MO, October 1-4, 2008.

• Hu, J., Christakis, A., Gwyther, T., Skorinko, J., Billiar, K., Rolle, M., “A Model System for Rapid Generation of Cell-Derived Vascular Tissue,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting, St. Louis, MO, October 1-4, 2008.

• John, J., Billiar, K.L. , “Boundary stiffness regulates fibroblast behavior in collagen gels, ” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Marco Island, FL, June 2008.

• McCormick JJ, Weiss D, Lavado R, Billiar K, Wixted JJ.  "Biomechanical Investigation of a Novel Arthrodesis Nail."  American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society - 24th Annual Summer Meeting:  Denver, CO, June 2008.

• T. Ebner, T. Bitner, L. Deitelbaum, , H. Srbinoska, J. Balestrini, B,S., M. Rolle, and K. Billiar, “Design of Biaxial Device for Measuring Cell Contractile Forces,” presented at the 34th Northeast Bioengineering Conference, Providence, RI, April 2008.

• Kan, V., Malek, I., McDermott, S., Worobey, L., Rolle, M., and Billiar, K., “Design of Device to Measure the Stiffness of Suspended Collagen Gels,” presented at the 34th Northeast Bioengineering Conference, Providence, RI, April 2008.

• Bright, L., Sturgis, L., Thibideau, J., Dunn, R., Billiar, K., “Design of a New Rotational Interface between Microvascular Clips and Their Applying Forceps,” presented at the 34th Northeast Bioengineering Conference, Providence, RI, April 2008.

• Sierad, L., Throm, A., Bedard, C., Drnek, M., and Billiar, K., “Simultaneous control of the stretch and stiffness of a cell culture substrate for mechanobiological studies,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, September, 2007.

• Balestrini, J., and Billiar, K., “Biaxial stretch induces fibrin gel remodeling by lung fibroblasts,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, September, 2007.

• LeGare, S., Gammal, C., Horwitz, R., Hall, E., Dunn, R., Mendelson, Y., and Billiar, K., “A Device to Measure the Severity of Peripheral Edema,” presented at the 33rd Northeast Bioengineering Conference, March 2007.

• Pai, S., Dunn, R., Pins, G. Billiar, K.L., “Characterization of the in vivo forces on the sternum in pigs,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Keystone, CO, June 2007.

• Ahlfors, J., and Billiar, K.L., “Mechanical and biochemical comparison of cell-derived matrix, collagen gels, and fibrin gels for tissue engineering applications,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Keystone, CO, June 2007.

• Balestrini, J., Billiar, K., “Biaxial Stretch Induces Changes In Fibroblast Capacity To Rapidly Retract Surrounding Tissue,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting, Chicago, IL, October 2006.

• Throm, A.M., Hinds, H.C., Billiar, K.L., “Valvular interstitial cell mechanobiology: effects of substrate stiffness,” World Congress of Biomechanics, Munich, Germany, August, 2006.

• Balestrini, J., Billiar, K., “Cell-mediated remodeling of engineered tissue equivalents is nonmonotonic with strain magnitude,” World Congress of Biomechanics, Munich, Germany, August, 2006.

• McCormick, JJ, Reed, MA, Morse, A, Wilson, E, Billiar, K.L., Wixted, JJ.,” Biomechanical Effects of Harvesting Bone Graft with the Reamer/Irrigator/Aspirator,” Orthopedic Trauma Assn. 22nd Annual Meeting, Phoenix AZ, April, 2006.

• Conforte, M.L., Mavromatis, M., Youssef, J., Pins, G., Billiar, K.L., "A Method to Determine the Effect of Stiffness and Stretch on Cell Phenotype," presented at the 32nd Northeast Bioengineering Conference, April 1-2, 2006.

• Decoteau, D.M., Flannery, D.L., Hart, A.R., Zec, H.C., Dunn R. (UMMS), Billiar, K.L., "Cyclic Failure Analysis of Sternal Fixation Techniques," presented at the 32nd Northeast Bioengineering Conference, April 1-2, 2006.

• Bartels, G., Lalikos, J., Chowaniec, M., Collins, M., Wilson, E., LeClair, W., Roth, T., Billiar, K., Dunn, R., "Femur flap for tibial reconstruction: Circumference required to convey a mechanical advantage over the fibula", American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery 2006 Annual Meeting, January 14-17, 2006 Tucson, Arizona.

• Throm, A.M., Hinds, H.C., Rulfs, J., Billiar, K.L., “Effects of substrate stiffness on valvular interstitial cell activation,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting, Baltimore, MD, October 2005.

• Chowaniec, M., Collins, M., Wilson, E., Valle, L., Bartels, G., Lalikos, J., Dunn, R., Billiar, K.L., “Femur flap for tibial reconstruction: Biomechanical considerations,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting, Baltimore, MD, October 2005.

• Balestrini, J., Youssef, J., Billiar, K., “Magnitude of equibiaxial stretch modulates fibroblast remodeling of fibrin gels,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Vail, CO, June 2005.

• Bartels G, Lalikos J, Chowaniec M, Wilson E, Collins M, Billiar K, Dunn R, "Femur Flap for Tibial Reconstruction: % Circumference Required to Convey a Mechanical Advantage over the Fibula," Annual Meeting of the New England Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Mystic, CT,  June 2005.

• Grouf, J., Throm, A.M., Billiar, K.L., Biochemical and mechanical effects of EGF and TGF-b1 on fibrin gel tissue equivalents,” Society for Biomaterials 30^th Annual Meeting, Memphis, TN, April 2005.

• Hung, H., Chong, C., Steinhart, A., Trexler, J., Billiar, K., “Design of a Biaxial Test Device for Compliant Tissue,” 31st Annual NE Bioengineering Conference, Hoboken, NJ, April, 2005.

• Chowaniec, M., Collins, M., Wilson, E., Bartels, G., Lalikos, J., Dunn, R., Billiar, K., Femur flap for tibial reconstruction:  biomechanical considerations,” 31st Annual NE Bioengineering Conference, Hoboken, NJ, April, 2005.

• Holmes, M., Dufour, D., Kahan, M., Traynor, K., Billiar K., “A Method for Applying Strip Biaxial Stretch to Cultured Tissues,” 31st Annual NE Bioengineering Conference, Hoboken, NJ, April, 2005.

• Balestrini, J., Lopez, V., Billiar, K., “Biaxial stretch-induced changes in fibrin gel failure properties,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, October 2004.

• Pai, S., Gunja, N., Dupak, E., McMahon, N., Pins, P., Billiar, K.L., Francalancia, N., Lalikos, J., Dunn, R., Francalancia, N., “A biomechanical comparison of rigid and non-rigid sternal fixation techniques,” 45^th Annual Meeting of the New England Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Lenox, MA, June 4-6, 2004.

• Gunja, N., Pai, S., McMahon, N., Dupak, E., Lalikos, J., Dunn, R., Francalancia, N., Pins, P., Billiar, K.L., “A biomechanical study of a rigid plating system for sternal fixation,” 30^th Annual NE Bioengineering Conference, Springfield, MA, April 17-18, 2004. (1st Place Award, Undergraduate Oral Presentation Competition)

• Frey, M.T., Bush, K.A., Billiar, K.L., “Validation of an inflation method for measuring the strength of engineered tissues,” 30^th Annual NE Bioengineering Conference, Springfield, MA, April 17-18, 2004.

• Fontaine, C., Weindling, B., Billiar, K.L., “A device for quantifying the severity of lower extremity edema,” 30^th Annual NE Bioengineering Conference, Springfield, MA, April 17-18, 2004.

• Walsh, S.E., Downing, B.R., Tressel, S.L., Coughlan, K.A., Billiar, K.L., Pins, G.D. “Characterizing Surface Modifications to Basal Lamina Analogs to Enhance Keratinocyte Function and Tissue Regeneration,” Materials Research Society Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, December 2003.

• Billiar, K.L., Lock, C-H., Lopez, V., Throm, A., “Effect of EGF on the mechanics of a cell-derived matrix,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting, Nashville, TN, October 2003.

• Cornwell, K., Savage, M., Billiar, K.L., and Pins, G., “A device for studying cyclic mechanical loading of cells seeded on collagen fibers,” 29th Annual NE Bioengineering Conference, Newark, NJ, March 22-23, 2003.

• Tressel, S., Coughlan, K., Billiar, K.L., and Pins, G., “High-throughput method for the analysis of biomimetic surface-modified basal lamina analogs for applications in tissue engineering,” 29th Annual NE Bioengineering Conference, Newark, K, March 22-23, 2003.

• Billiar, K.L., Tran, T., and Bachrach, N., “Effect of longitudinal stretch on the compliance of a collagen vascular graft,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Snowbird, UT, June, 2001.

• Billiar, K.L., Murray, J., Abraham, G., Bachrach, N. and Sullivan, S., “In vivo remodeling of an acellular, small diameter collagen graft,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting, Seattle, WA, October 2000.

• Billiar, K.L., Odlum, K., Govignon, E., Bachrach, N. and Ronfard, V., “Mechanical characterization of the growth and development of a human extracellular matrix,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting, Seattle, WA, October 2000.

• Govignon, E.J., Murphy, M., Potzka, J., Crews, J., Billiar, K.L., Ronfard, V., "Development of a serum-free human cell derived extracellular matrix (ECM)," European Tissue Repair Society, Brussels, May 2000.

• Murray, J., Laude, D., Abraham, G.A., Wong, K., Billiar, K.L., and Bachrach, N. “Modification of the biomechanical properties of a collagen scaffold with carbodiimide and acetone” Transactions of the Society for Biomaterials, 22:87, 1999.

• Billiar, K.L. and Sacks, M.S. “Long-term mechanical fatigue response of porcine bioprosthetic heart valves” International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Anaheim, CA, November 15-20, 1998, Advances in Bioengineering.

• Billiar, K.L. and Sacks, M.S. “In-plane fatigue damage in bioprosthetic heart valves: Structural modeling” ASAIO 44^th Annual Conference, New York, NY, April 23-25, 1998.

• Gloeckner, D.C., Billiar, K.L., and Sacks, M.S.,  “Effects of fatigue on the bending behavior of bioprosthetic aortic heart valve” ASAIO 44^th Annual Conference, New York, NY, April 23-25, 1998.

• Gloeckner, D.C., Billiar, K.L., and Sacks, M.S., "The bending behavior of fixed porcine aortic cusp" 2^nd World Congress of Biomechanics, Sapporo, Japan, August, 1998.

• Billiar, K.L. and Sacks, M.S. “Effect of chemical fixation on the fiber kinematics of bovine pericardium” International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Dallas, TX, November 17-22, 1997, Advances in Bioengineering.

• Billiar, K.L. and Sacks, M.S. “A micro-mechanical model for the aortic valve cusp” Biomedical Engineering Society 1996 Annual Fall Meeting, San Diego, CA, October, 1997.

• Smith, D.B., Billiar, K.L., Sacks, M.S., and Livecchi, A. "Post-fixation structural analysis: A new method to produce uniform bovine pericardial tissue" ASAIO 43^rd Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, May 1-3, 1997.

• Billiar, K.L. and Sacks, M.S.  “A numerical-experimental method for integrating strain and fiber structure for the aortic valve" ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Sun River, OR, June 11-15, 1997.

• Sacks, M.S., Gloeckner, D.C., Billiar, K.L., and Jaquiss, R.D.B. "Microstructure-biaxial mechanical response of porcine intestinal submucosa" ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Sun River, OR, June 11-15, 1997.

• Billiar, K.L. and Sacks, M.S. “Effects of accelerated testing on aortic valve cusp biaxial mechanical behavior" VII International Symposium on Cardiac Bioprostheses, Madrid, Spain, June, 1997.

• Sacks, M.S. and Billiar, K.L. “Biaxial mechanical behavior of bioprosthetic heart valve leaflets subjected to accelerated testing” International Association for Cardiac Biological Implants, Washington, D.C., May 4, 1997.

• Bain, A.C., Billiar, K.L., Kotapka, M.J., McIntosh, T.K., Gennarelli, T.A., and Meaney, D.A.  “In vivo mechanical thresholds for traumatic axonal damage”  AGARD: Impact Head Injury:  Responses, Mechanisms, Tolerance, Treatment, and Countermeasures, Mescalero, NM, November 7-9, 1996.

• Billiar, K.L., and Sacks, M.S. “Fiber mobility in bovine pericardium” Biomedical Engineering Society 1996 Annual Fall Meeting, University Park, PA, October 3-6, 1996.

• Billiar, K.L., Sacks, M.S., Singh, G., and Thomson, K. “Collagen fiber mobility under biaxial stretch” Fifth World Biomaterials Congress, Toronto, Canada, May 29-June 2, 1996, Vol 1, p615.

• Laplaca, M.L., Billiar, K.L., Goldstein, D.M., and Thibault, L.E. "Biomechanical considerations for modeling traumatic brain and spinal cord injury in vitro." Third International Neurotrauma Symposium, 1995, Toronto, Canada.

• Billiar, K.L. and Thibault, L.E.  “The effect of smooth muscle activation on the mechanical properties of cerebral arteries” International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Chicago, IL, November 6-11, 1994, Advances in Bioengineering, V28, p329-330.

• Billiar, K.L. and Thibault, L.E.  “An in vitro technique for assessing the response of perfused cerebral vessels to dynamic elongation” Second World Congress of Biomechanics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, July 10-15, 1994, p I 30b.