Arooj Shahid is a doctoral student in the School of Medicine's Translational Biosciences Program and a member of Associate Professor Timothy Domeier's lab in the Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology. She stands by "Caffeinated Heart," an image that captures the heart muscle's recovery following exposure to an extremely high dose of caffeine. The multicolored loops represent data from an experiment tracking calcium-contraction relationships in heart muscle cells. Caffeine extracts calcium from these cells, and as the heart recovers, the loops gradually enlarge, indicating the restoration of calcium levels and stronger contractions. Her artwork symbolizes the heart’s remarkable ability to adapt and overcome challenges. Photo by Chris Lorson | Artwork descriptions courtesy of BioNexus KC
Artwork from three Mizzou investigators sold last month during the annual BioNexus KC meeting. The University of Missouri is a stakeholder in the organization, which advances life sciences research and collaboration in the greater Kansas City area.
Chris Lorson, associate vice chancellor for research and strategic initiatives and a Curators’ Distinguished Professor, represents Mizzou on the BioNexus Institutional Advisory Committee, a group of scientific leaders from higher education and health care.
“BioNexus KC is a driver of innovation and helps catalyze the interface between academia and industry,” Lorson said. “Having students, trainees and faculty involved with various BioNexus KC events is an excellent opportunity to grow networks, connect with community leaders and learn a lot about the area’s ecosystem.”
BioNexus organizes events and programs focused on human and animal health. One example is the Science2Art program, which gives scientists a platform to display and describe their research through the visual arts. Each year, BioNexus sells the art via an online auction. Mizzou's three pieces raised a total of $1,855, which BioNexus will donate to regional science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics programs.
“Science2Art is an exciting way for our investigators to engage with the community and bring somewhat esoteric ideas to reality through beautiful artwork that is an extension of their research,” Lorson said.
Charles Norton III, assistant professor in the Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, calls his artwork "A Beneficial Exchange." His image showcases research focused on mitigating lung damage and improving blood flow control in lung diseases. In disease conditions like pulmonary fibrosis, connective tissue deposits in the alveolar spaces prevent effective gas exchange. Gas exchange in the lung is important to oxygenate blood and eliminate carbon dioxide. This image shows a large airway (left) that allows gases to move in and out of the lung. A large artery (right) supplies blood to the lung, enabling gas exchange in the alveoli (small round areas throughout the image). Each alveolus is surrounded by thin-walled capillaries that facilitate the movement of gases into and out of the bloodstream. The large vessels are separated from the alveoli by connective tissue (light blue).
Fazle Elahi, a postdoctoral fellow in Norton's lab, titled his art "Seeing Blood Vessels." His image illustrates the small blood vessels in the retina, the part of the eye responsible for detecting light. This intricate network of vessels delivers essential oxygen and nutrients to maintain healthy vision. Endothelial cells (shown in red) form capillaries and regulate the exchange of substances between the bloodstream and surrounding tissues. Smooth muscle cells (shown in green) encase the endothelial cells of retinal arteries, controlling their diameter and directing blood flow to specific areas of the eye. Damage to these vessels from aging, diabetes or strokes can disrupt blood flow, leading to blurred vision, altered color perception, and, in severe cases, blindness. This research aims to improve blood vessel structure and function to preserve vision.