Proposal

Name:

An Innovative Technology Enhancement: Vascular Ultrasound System

FiscalYear:

2013

Audience:

Education, College of

Submitter:

Huang, Chun-Jung

Budget Manager:

Robeson, Robert A.

Project Manager:

Huang, Chun-Jung

Proposal Approvers

Dept. Chair:

Wener, Deena L

Local IT:

N/A

Dean:

Bristor, Valerie J.

Facilities:

N/A

OIT:

Campbell, Glen R.

Proposal Funding

Year 1:

$ 90,500.00

Year 2:

$ 0.00

Year 3:

$ 0.00

Total:

$ 90,500.00

Proposal Funding versus Average

Questionnaire

Narrative
Florida Atlantic University’s Exercise Science and Health Promotion (ESHP) department has increased student enrollment to approximately 1000 undergraduates and 80 master’s degree candidates. Particularly, there are about 300 undergraduate students who are enrolled into exercise physiology lecture and eight sections of laboratory (16-20 students/section) each semester.  To demonstrate the understanding of effects of acute and chronic exercise on human physiological systems such as hormonal and cardiovascular responses, our students are required to gain practical experience from exercise physiology laboratory in utilizing the basic testing procedures following the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines.  Importantly, an innovative technology, noninvasive vascular ultrasound system, for healthcare has been used to measure blood flow and vessel diameter in response to physical and psychological stressors. These measures have been clinically utilized as indication of vascular function, especially in the populations with the high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (e.g., obese and type II diabetic patients).  Thus, ESHP students will not only use this technology to gain extensive laboratory skills and research experience, but also this will help our department to meet the mission of FAU Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) for the enhancement of educational quality.

 

With our on-going program growth, the ESHP faculty has been collaborating with colleagues in the Colleges of Medicine and Science to deepen the research covered in our department.  The research performed by ESHP students and faculty has focused on mechanisms of obesity- and aging-associated inflammation and how increased cardiorespiratory fitness provides anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective actions to prevent the risk of CVD.  In the last two years, the educational improvement by the FAU technology grant has led to more than five of our undergraduate students to receive competitive undergraduate research grants, graduate students presenting their research at several symposiums, and an increased number of graduate students going into the thesis track.  By funding this technology grant, the ESHP students and faculty can conduct cutting-edge research and increase the depth of practical knowledge of how exercise can be used as a treatment to enhance patients’ cardiovascular function and/or quality of life. 

 

In summary, to continue achieving the FAU QEP mission and follow the ESHP department’s primary mission of educating undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of exercise science and health promotion, we are requesting this technology fee grant for purchasing the noninvasive vascular ultrasound system.  Most importantly, if this proposal is funded, we can continue to provide students with the necessary physiology knowledge and laboratory skills that will maintain the high quality of our program and student retention.  Ultimately, this will not only strengthen our students’ applications for post graduate studies in physical therapy, physician assistant, and doctoral programs, but will also enhance their job opportunities (such as research associates).
Facilities
N/A
Hardware Requirements
An amount of $88,000 requested from the FAU Technology Fee Grant will be utilized for purchase of the vascular ultrasound System technology.
Software Requirements
The vascular ultrasound system comes with free software.
Personnel Costs
An amount of $2,500 requested from the FAU Technology Fee Grant will be utilized for the ultrasound system training.

 

 

 

Other Costs
N/A
Timeline
Proposed technology will be purchased as soon as funds are available, and this technology will be utilized in both exercise physiology course and student/faculty research experiments thereafter.
Sustainability
Proposed technology will be maintained by ESHP lab manager and graduate assistants.  Technology will be continued to be utilized in various physiology-related courses, and student/faculty research projects.  
Resource Matching
None
Implementing Organization
The installation of technology will be performed by the ESHP lab manager. There are no additional costs anticipated for this project.

Proposal Budget

Fiscal Year 1 Fiscal Year 2 Fiscal Year 3 Total
Hardware One-Time $ 88,000.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 88,000.00
Hardware Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Software One-time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Software Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Personnel One-time $ 2,500.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 2,500.00
Personnel Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Other One-time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Other Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Totals $ 90,500.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 90,500.00

Supporting Documentation

Filename Size Description
Philips iU22 ultrasound.pdf 1,439,378b Vascular Ultrasound System