UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

Dan Regan

Education

B.S. Engineering, Miami University, 2017

Biosketch

In my time at Miami University, I was fortunate to be involved in several research projects. In my four years with Dr. Kennedy’s group, I investigated the correlation between metabolic biomarkers and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanINs). This was an effort to develop early-detection methods of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the leading cause of pancreatic cancer. Additionally, my senior engineering design team worked with Dr. Saul where we worked on developing methods for entrapping bacteriophage within lipid vesicles to serve as an alternative to prophylaxis antibiotics for burn-wound victims. As a member of the professional engineering fraternity, Theta Tau, and the Government Relations Network, I was able to discuss my research experience with government officials at both the state and federal level. My studies in bioprocess engineering and molecular biology laid the foundations for a career in biodefense.

Research Interests

My research interests are focused on the development of platforms for detection and deterrence of biological threats. In the Howell Biointerface & Biomimetics Engineering Lab, we are developing new strategies for point-of-care detection and diagnostics to increase their efficacy in the field. Point-of-care platforms are critical for rapid detection of biological agents for both military personnel and first responders. Our lab is interested in researching how modern technologies can benefit the front-end processes of concentration, conjugation, and handling of biological samples within the device. By studying material properties and implementing liquid-infused surfaces to the paper-based platforms, we look to bridge the gap between point-of-care devices and benchtop detection modalities. Our current projects are centered around the interactions and properties between bacterial samples and liquid-infused surfaces on paper substrates.

Selected Publications

Regan, D. P.; Lilly, C.; Weigang, A; White, L.R.; LeClair, E.J.; Collins, A.; Howell, C. Combining the Geometry of Folded Paper with Liquid-Infused Polymer Surfaces to Concentrate and Localize Bacterial Solutions. Biointerphases 2019, 14 (4).
Regan, D. P.; Howell, C. Droplet Manipulation with Bioinspired Liquid-Infused Surfaces: A Review of Recent Progress and Potential for Integrated Detection. Curr. Opin. Colloid Interface Sci. 2019, 39, 137–147.
Schmahl MJ, Regan DP, Rivers AC, Joesten WC, Kennedy MA (2018) NMR-based metabolic profiling of urine, serum, fecal, and pancreatic tissue samples from the Ptf1a-Cre; LSL-KrasG12D transgenic mouse model of pancreatic cancer. PLoS ONE 13(7): e0200658. https://doi.org/1371/journal.pone.0200658
Veite-Schmahl MJ, Rivers AC, Regan DP, Kennedy MA (2017) The Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer Atlas (MMPCA) for classification of pancreatic cancer lesions: A large histological investigation of the Ptf1a^Cre/+;LSL-Kras^G12D/+transgenic mouse model of pancreatic cancer. PLoS ONE 12(11): e0187552. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0187552
Veite-Schmahl, M.J., Regan, D.P., Rivers, A.C., Nowatzke, J.F., Kennedy, M.A. Dissection of the Mouse Pancreas for Histological Analysis and Metabolic Profiling. Vis. Exp. (126), e55647, doi:10.3791/55647 (2017).

Dissertation Mentor

Caitlin Howell