Analysis of a centrifugal fan designed for a Thrust Cushion Vehicle

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis, is characterized by chronic, relapsing, or progressive inflammation of the intestine. Canada has among the highest incidences and prevalence of IBD in the world with as many as 1 in 160 people with disease [1]. In ulcerative colitis, inflammation predominantly occurs in the epithelia cell lining of the colon, whereas in Crohn’s Disease extends through the entire thickness of the gut wall and most frequently occurs in the distal ileum. These sequelae cause intestinal dysfunction and/or obstruction that requires surgery in 1 in 3 patients with Crohn’s Disease within 10 years of diagnosis. Tremendous strides have been made in dampening down inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease to reduce symptoms but the underlying cause(s) of disease remains unknown. Up to 40% of people with inflammatory bowel disease are predicted to become refractory to all available treatments [2-4]. Novel strategies to target intestinal inflammation are urgently needed. The overall goal of this project is to identify common cellular and molecular mechanism involved in intestinal inflammation in people with IBD to develop novel therapeutic approaches to treat intestinal inflammation.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Sander Calisal

Student:

Mahmoud Alidadi

Partner:

Slipstream Vehicles Ltd.

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

University of British Columbia