Exploring New Model to Kill Tumors

Using new equipment funded by a National Science Foundation grant, Ing Chea Ang '04 is investigating the radio-frequency thermal ablation (excision) of tumors, in which electrodes are inserted directly into a tumor to generate heat and destroy it.

A candidate for a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and a bachelor of arts in mathematics-economics, Ang is pursuing the project as an honors thesis under the guidance of Erol Ulucakli, associate professor of mechanical engineering.

They are working to create a heat transfer model as well as ablation to estimate the temperature distribution around the radio- frequency probe and the thermal ablator. The technology is relatively new and not yet thoroughly explored. Ang says he finds it exciting to unearth knowledge that others have yet to discover.

"I find the topic particularly interesting because this project is a combination of mechanical and biomedical engineering," he says. "I think people will directly benefit from my work. It means a good deal to me that lives can potentially be saved from my discoveries."

Ang is an officer in the Tau Beta Pi national engineering honor society and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Epsilon (economics) honor societies. He is a head resident adviser and a member of the College Fed Challenge team, Asian Cultural Association, Lafayette Christian Fellowship, and International Students Association. He also participates in club soccer and is a drummer for the jazz quartet.