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April 2, 2008

Rose-Hulman student’s research could make ACL surgery recovery easier

Senior Rachel Miller named to All-USA College Academic third team

By Dale H. Long/Director of news services, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

If “tenacity” was a movie, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology senior biomedical engineering major Rachel Miller wouldn’t just be the title character, she would be the hero.

And, Miller recently earned an Oscar, being recognized among the nation’s top 60 college students on the 2008 All-USA College Academic Team, published in USA Today recently.

The Spring, Texas, native was a third-team selection and one of only two Indiana students to make this year’s list. She also continues a proud tradition of Rose-Hulman students honored on the All-USA College Academic Team.

“Rachel’s a great story in perseverance,” says soccer coach Brad Hauter.

Miller broke her foot in 2004, the summer before arriving for her freshman year at Rose-Hulman.

She arrived on campus with a protective device around her injured foot, unable to train or play.

Undaunted in her pursuit to be a member of the team, Miller attended every practice and took advantage of the time by doing push-ups and sit-ups on the sidelines.

“She worked harder than the players on the field,” Hauter recalled.

Miller’s hard work earned her the role as starting goalkeeper the next season. However, she was back on the sidelines at the end of her junior year after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee, causing her to miss half the season.

“I’ve had some setbacks, but [the injuries] made me more motivated to work harder,” she said during a recent interview.

Miller made a remarkable comeback this past fall season, leading the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference in goals-against-average (0.60) and victories (19), and helping the team achieve a school-record 12 shutouts, while leading the Engineers to their first conference championship and qualification to the NCAA Division III tournament. She was a third team all-region selection from D3kicks.com and a third team academic all-district honoree from ESPN: The Magazine and the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Miller’s injuries were part of her inspiration to pursue an interest in biomedical engineering and use her talents to conduct cutting-edge research to benefit society. She began conducting independent research on tissue-engineered ligament replacements, during the same year she tore her ACL, under the guidance of Kay Dee, Rose-Hulman professor of applied biology and biomedical engineering.

The ACL does not heal when injured and as many as 95,000 people undergo surgical ACL reconstruction each year in the United States. Currently, there are no good options for ACL reconstruction. The best option is to cut out a piece of the patient’s patellar tendon and use it to replace the ACL. This requires additional surgery, pain and extended recovery time. Without a stable ACL, the knee is prone to collapse. In a best-case scenario this causes limited mobility, hip and back pain, and severe long-term problems. In the worst of cases, the patient can’t walk.

During her research, Miller discovered a key dehydration step in the fabrication of collagen fibers, which strengthened the fibers by 500 to 10,000 times. Her discovery meant, according to Dee, tissue-engineered collagen is now strong enough to replace real human ligaments.

“Rachel’s research is therefore very important: She helped develop a completely new solution to a problem that causes a great deal of pain and severely affects the quality of life for nearly 100,000 people each year in the United States,” states Dee.

Miller made a presentation before professional researchers, doctors and biomedical engineering professors at the prestigious 2007 Society for Biomaterials national meeting. Miller also had a summer internship in 2007 with the National Institutes of Health, which attracts the best and brightest students from throughout the world. She researched musculoskeletal abnormalities in people with cerebral palsy, hoping to improve mobility treatment for patients.

“Rachel’s willingness to help and support the other students in the program was a clear sign of her respect for others and a true mark of her integrity of character,” stated Frances Gavelli, principle investigator for the NEH’s physical disabilities branch.

“She is self-motivated, is eager to learn and quickly returns this knowledge back to her community … I have no doubt that Rachel will do extremely well in whatever she applies herself to.”

This school year, Miller has been part of team of senior biomedical engineering students who have designed a device that tests aspects of the interactions of athletic shoes with turf or grass playing fields.

“It’s really frustrating not to be able to get around very easily,” Miller said. “It puts into perspective a little bit more, how much you can help people by giving them mobility they don’t have.”

Miller’s passion for helping people extends beyond her internships. Hauter said her altruism is understated.

“She downplays it,” he said. “But it’s part of who she is; it’s part of her day.”

Miller is the treasurer for Rose-Hulman’s student chapter of Habitat for Humanity and has been a member of the Best Buddies program, which pairs students with a mentally disabled person, for three years. While she’s only required to interact with her Buddy four times a month, Miller goes beyond the bare minimum.

“She has brought her buddy over [to her apartment], calls her buddy all the time,” says Sarah Graber, a senior mechanical engineering major, soccer teammate and friend.

Graber said that Miller devotes herself to any activity in which she’s involved. The two student-athletes suffered ACL injuries around the same time. Miller’s hard work and determination were readily evident throughout the rehabilitation process.

“She never quits,” Graber said.

Dee also noted this characteristic in Miller’s classroom and laboratory endeavors.

“She’s unflappable — calm in the face of challenge,” the professor said.

Miller, who has a 3.6 grade-point average (out of 4.0), is awaiting admissions decisions from several physical therapy and movement science graduate programs.

“I’m thrilled that she’s choosing to do something where she’ll interact and help people on a regular basis,” Dee said.

It’s not hard to understand the reasons for Miller’s continued interest in engineering.

“I just like to help people,” she said.

Miller becomes the fifth Rose-Hulman student to be recognized on the All-USA College Academic Team. Eric Clifft, a 2007 mechanical engineering graduate, was a second team choice last year; Chad Zarse, a 2005 applied biology and biochemistry major, was a second-team choice in 2005; Rachel Lukens, a 2003 electrical engineering graduate, was a second-team choice in 2003; and Dylan Schikel, a 1993 mechanical engineering alumnus, was an honorable mention selection in 1993.

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