Bchara Sidnawi, PhD Student

Education

• M.S., Mechanical Engineering (Aeronautical specialty), University of Balamand, Lebanon, 2015
• B.S., Aeronautical Engineering, University of Balamand, Lebanon, 2012

Research

• Research Project: Modelling Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD) in arteries
• Project description: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been the national leading cause of death for many decades. Understanding the mechanisms underlying CVD is therefore of paramount importance for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of many of these diseases. Like the capillary refill test where the doctor squeezes the patient’s fingers (or toes) to examine the time it takes for them to restore their pinkish color, the Flow Mediated Dilation test basically examines the same kind of response but for large arteries. The blood flow is first obstructed for about five minutes in the brachial artery using a pressure cuff wrapped around the upper arm, causing the artery to become almost completely shrunken. The cuff is then suddenly deflated allowing the flow back in while the dilating artery is being monitored using an ultrasound scanner. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the transient response of the artery can provide insights into its current physical state, from which its susceptibility to CVD can be inferred.
• Partially funded by the Birle Chair Professorship in Energy and Technology