Kasey Freshwater

Kasey is a graduate student at West Virginia University in the Chemical and Biomedical Engineering department. The main goal of her master’s thesis is to develop a superior contrast agent to enhance breast cancer detection using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that further reduces the false positives associated with traditional diagnostic techniques. More specifically, she aims to design novel targeted pH-sensitive Nano-, Encapsulated, Manganese Oxide(NEMO) particles for specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within breast cancer cells. For this purpose, Kasey utilizes microfluidic co-culture devices to analyze nanoparticle efficacy, such as cell-cell and cell-particle interactions, particle cytotoxicity, and MRI signal.

In her undergraduate studies, Kasey received a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and a B.A. in chemistry from West Virginia University in May 2020. She is dedicated to helping others through developing her engineering, materials science, and chemistry expertise to advance medical imaging and technology. Following her master’s degree, Kasey will join the research and design industry with the ambition to make an impact in both the engineering and the medical field that will significantly help those affected by cancer.