Masters Theses

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14394/54497

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Regenerating the Urban Void: Design Strategies for Sustainable & Inclusive Communities
(2024-05) Young, Tyler A.
Central to architectural endeavors is the aspiration to cultivate spaces that not only evoke creativity and joy but also provoke community engagement. However, amidst careful design lies a stark reality - spaces neglected, misused, underused, or simply wasted (Hwang & Lee, 2018). In the face of the impending climate crisis, the demand for livable and sustainable cities has never been greater, and within this context emerges the concept of urban voids, holding promise for transformation. This thesis delves into the typology of urban voids, dissecting their current uses and misuses, and advocates for the imperative to reclaim these overlooked spaces. This research identifies and applies existing literature to advance strategies for fostering regenerative architecture that harmonizes with natural ecosystems. A paradigm shift is pivotal: to perceive neglected urban spaces not as liabilities but as prospects (Hwang & Lee, 2018). Through a design research methodology, this thesis proposes the potential of regenerative architecture to transform urban voids into dynamic, purposeful, and accessible public domains, thereby enriching the well-being of both humans and the environment.
Identifying Cultural and Spatial Intersections: The Experience of the In-Between
(2024-05) Berry, Palmer J.
Among the 330 million inhabitants of the United States, 5 million are adopted. Of those 5 million, around 200,000 are adopted from an Asian country such as China, Japan, Vietnam, or Korea (Witenstein, 2006). Economic and social factors from some Asian countries such as the one-child policy (China), diplomatic relations (such as forming trust with one another), and promoting adoption were part of building interest in transnational adoption. It is also important to note that Western interest in adoption was largely spurred on by a lack of available domestic adoption as well as racial stereotypes such as the misinformed idea that Asians are model people(Lee, 2006). Around 80% of the adoptions from Asia are by Caucasian families which can often lead to the adopted child living in a geographical location that is not adjacent to or part of an Asian community (Ibid., 2006). The census suggests that Asian-American communities are concentrated in and near major cities although this demographic is also present in some suburban areas (Census, 2022). A lack of connection to an Asian community can lead to feelings of isolation or confusion in identity due to being placed in a space between two cultures. This thesis looks to address the concept of that third or in-between space and will achieve it through the design of a cultural center . The cultural center can then become a place of connection and clarification rather than one of disorientation and aloneness. In addition to it becoming a connection space for people of all backgrounds, especially adoptees, it features a night-market inspired space that creates more connection with the broader community. Food is a tactile and exciting way to delve into a new culture without becoming overwhelmed.
Ethnic Minority Visitorship in Shenandoah National Park: An Analysis of the Impact of Social Media in Attracting Diverse Visitors
(2024-05) Azuela, Lauren M.
In 2017 the National Park Service (NPS) celebrated its’ 100th anniversary. In that same year the Office of Relevancy, Diversity and Inclusion would only be celebrating its fourth year in existence. From the time it was created the NPS sought to connect visitors with the most natural and well-preserved landscapes the country had to offer. However, the lens by which the proper use of park lands was determined originated from activities normalized by an overtly White population of Americans. In modern times the NPS has initiated campaigns and engaged public non-profits to address the chronic underrepresentation of ethnic-minority visitors in their parks. Historical catalysts like the Civil Rights Movement and the modern advent of the Black Lives Matter movement disseminated via social media, have paved the way for digital grassroots diversification efforts to more successfully engage demographics previously untapped through traditional in-person engagement. Through a qualitative research process, data from the social media app, Instagram was gathered to determine whether the use of content-specific terms, called ‘hashtags’ successfully conveyed the activities ethnic minority groups were choosing to engage with in Shenandoah National Park. Evidence from the study suggested that only a small number of unique hashtags conveyed ethnically diverse visitors engaging in activities exclusive to their demographic but were more likely being used by a small number of users to connect with a much larger group with specific, ethnicity-based commonalities. Based on the findings three models for future intervention were proposed: physical, digital, and remote. The implementation of these interventions offers engagement at varying levels of intensity that park managers or similar positions can choose from based on the capability and availability of their staff at any given time. Additionally, the intensity of engagement offers an option to the visitor to choose the level at which they will participate in reporting data. Ultimately the research contributes to the ongoing discourse on diversity and representation in public spaces and offers valuable insights on how interactive attractions and social media can be utilized to celebrate and promote diversity in Shenandoah National Park.
Ethical Memorialization: A Design Proposal for a Genocide Memorial at the University of Massachusetts
(2024-05) Berlin, Jacqueline E.
This thesis delves into the methods by which designers can cultivate environments conducive to inclusive dialogue and contemplation. It examines strategies for enriching public spaces through purposeful interventions aimed at elucidating challenging historical narratives and facilitating opportunities for introspection. In light of the prevalence of egregious acts of genocide throughout history, the thesis advocates for the utilization of landscape and architectural elements as educational instruments for the broader public. Illustrated by the conceptualization of a Genocide Memorial situated within the University of Massachusetts Amherst's campus, this work exemplifies the endeavor to establish a secure and inclusive haven conducive to reflection, solace, and community engagement. By scrutinizing ethical considerations rigorously, architects can devise memorials that not only impart historical knowledge but also elicit a sense of moral duty in commemorating the past. Thus, this study underscores the ethical imperative inherent in the practice of memorialization, emphasizing architects' capacity to stimulate public consciousness, elevate collective memory, and underscore the significance of ethical reflection in the built environment.
Development of a Salt Spreader Controller Program using Machine-Sensed Roadway Weather Parameters
(2024-05) Avhad, Vaishnavi Dattatray
Massachusetts owns over 1,300 material spreaders that deliver salt, sand, and liquid deicers to more than 15,000 lane miles of the Commonwealth’s roadways during winter seasons. In many salt spreader systems, a Remote Weather Information Sensor (RWIS) is used to obtain weather information including temperature, grip level, snow level, wind, etc. In the salt spreader utilized by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), the application rate of salt is automatically controlled by road grip or manually controlled by a driver or operator, taking into account factors such as weather conditions, road information obtained from RWIS, and visual observations. While controlling the salt rate, along with pavement grip, other road factors like surface temperature, surface state, and visual understanding help the operator decide the salt rate. To make salt spreaders more efficient in deicing material usage, and reduce human effort, it is desirable to eliminate human intervention by avoiding subjective analysis and deciding salt rate based on relevant road parameters. This can be achieved by allowing the system to deliver salt automatically by considering road surface conditions and environmental factors like surface grip, surface temperature, etc. In this thesis, a novel salt spreader control system is outlined, utilizing RWIS input to regulate salt distribution. Through a series of experiments, it was demonstrated that RWIS can be directly used to make intelligent salt-spreading decisions. In some cases, machine learning algorithms can be used to assist in decision-making.
Withdrawn
(2024-05) Willig, Daniel R.
In my thesis, I first aim to investigate the correlation between trauma and loneliness, examining how traumatic experiences often contribute to feelings of isolation. Following this, I will delve into how contemporary society fosters conditions that predispose individuals to loneliness. I will then analyze how my artwork reflects and addresses these interconnected themes and how my art practice provides relief and awareness, countering the effects of contemporary society. Finally, I will explore the ways in which other artists express similar concepts within their own creative endeavors, providing a broader context for understanding the relationship between trauma, loneliness, and contemporary society in the realm of art.
Regenerating the Urban Void: Design Strategies for Sustainable & Inclusive Communities
(2024-05) Young, Tyler A.
Central to architectural endeavors is the aspiration to cultivate spaces that not only evoke creativity and joy but also provoke community engagement. However, amidst careful design lies a stark reality - spaces neglected, misused, underused, or simply wasted (Hwang & Lee, 2018). In the face of the impending climate crisis, the demand for livable and sustainable cities has never been greater, and within this context emerges the concept of urban voids, holding promise for transformation. This thesis delves into the typology of urban voids, dissecting their current uses and misuses, and advocates for the imperative to reclaim these overlooked spaces. This research identifies and applies existing literature to advance strategies for fostering regenerative architecture that harmonizes with natural ecosystems. A paradigm shift is pivotal: to perceive neglected urban spaces not as liabilities but as prospects (Hwang & Lee, 2018). Through a design research methodology, this thesis proposes the potential of regenerative architecture to transform urban voids into dynamic, purposeful, and accessible public domains, thereby enriching the well-being of both humans and the environment.
Embodied Carbon: The Hidden Environmental Costs of the Modern "Green" Building
(2024-05) Auerbach, Alexander
Increasingly stringent building standards and building codes have driven improvements in building systems: envelope construction, air tightness, heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, and others. These improvements have reduced the energy needed to operate a building, but not necessarily the energy required to build the building in the first place. In some cases, modern high efficiency buildings can actually be more environmentally costly than their simpler and less efficient predecessors. Despite their mission to decrease carbon dioxide emissions from the building sector –globally the most significant source of greenhouse gases (GHG)—these high efficiency designs may contribute more to the problem than they solve. The aim of this thesis is to quantify these two environmental costs – “embodied carbon” and “operational carbon”- in the design of single-family homes and to arrive at a set of guidelines for balancing the two and achieving a truly net zero carbon building that meets the Paris Agreement’s (COP28) targets for 2050. These solutions include the reduction of concrete and the selection of different concrete mixes; the optimization of glazing (windows and glass doors); the substitution of biogenic materials for conventional wall insulation; the use of reclaimed and recycled materials; the reduction of overall building size; the avoidance of other high embodied carbon materials; the use of passive solar; and the adherence to energy code standards for thermal insulation, vapor barriers, air tightness, and other considerations. To illustrate these best practices this thesis proposes a case study of a representative single-family home and explores four different design iterations of the same project, making a series of substitutions in that building’s construction to reduce its embodied carbon. The resulting design reduces the environmental cost of this building from highly carbon positive –twice the national average—to significantly carbon-negative. In its construction, this building design sequesters more carbon than it uses.
Addressing Contemporary Housing Challenges with 3D Printing Technology
(2024-05) Varitimos, Emmit
The United States is currently facing a housing crisis characterized by a pervasive shortage of housing along with a significant increase in housing costs without a corresponding rise in household incomes. Compounding this issue, the construction industry is grappling with a substantial labor shortage in the workforce. In response to these challenges, a novel construction method, 3D printing, has emerged as a promising solution. 3D printing is an additive process where material is extruded from machinery to form a three-dimensional object. Proponents of this technology argue that it offers distinct advantages over traditional construction by expediting construction schedules and reducing costs through decreased reliance on manual labor. Additionally, it allows for flexible and novel design possibilities. This thesis explores the potential of 3D printing to design new housing typologies that better accommodate evolving domestic living arrangements while also addressing the issues underlying the housing crisis. The thesis begins by presenting research on the housing crisis, the challenges facing the residential construction industry, and the current state-of-the-art for 3D printing. It then moves on to test the potential of 3D printing through the design of two small houses: a micro-home in Austin TX and an average-sized single-family residence outside of Boston, MA. Specifically, the designs explore the opportunities created by combining 3D printing with prefabricated building elements. In conclusion, this thesis argues that by integrating 3D printing with prefabricated elements, it is possible to create new housing typologies that adapt to the changing household dynamics and, concomitantly, reduce the costs associated with housing construction.
Translating Japanese Boy's Love Dojinshi: The Liminal Space between Art and Text, Content Creation and Consumption
(2024-05) Trimmer, Blake
The main component of this thesis is a complete translation of the amateur manga (dōjinshi) Konya, kimi to te wo tsunaide doko made mo 『今夜、君と手をつないでどこまでも』 or in English, Tonight, I Will Hold Your Hand Wherever You May Go, written and drawn by Monia (モニア). Dōjinshi are self-published, self-financed works that often take the form of amateur manga. The nature of dōjinshi as both a textual and pictorial medium allows creators to exercise their creativity in vastly complex ways. However, this same multidimensional nature poses unique translation challenges. By translating and analyzing Monia's work, this thesis aims to bring attention to the unique characteristics of dōjinshi production and dōjinshi translation and to explore how dōjinshi creation provides a venue for marginalized individuals to express themselves and find self-fulfillment in a safe environment that emphasizes community. I argue that the unique process by which fan consumers become fan producers enables them to take control of a narrative and transform it to fit their needs. Furthermore, these transformed depictions reveal societal problems faced by Japanese women and how they choose to confront or escape them.
Home as the Nexus of Care: Reimagining Cogenerational Communities for Aging in Place
(2024-05) Tully, Colleen S.
This thesis explores the private residence as the nexus of care through the reimagining of a cogenerational residential community in Amherst, Massachusetts. Under 4% of U.S. housing is considered livable by people with moderate mobility difficulties, and only 0.15% of housing meets wheelchair accessibility standards. Yet, as of 2019, 39% of all U.S. households include at least one person aged 65 or older, person(s) with a disability, or both. Instances of disability are greatest among households with older residents, a demographic projected to grow substantially over the coming years. This is a population that wants to age in place, due in large part to the cost prohibitive and undesirable nature of institutional and boutique long-term care facilities. In fact, most long-term care is already taking place in the home. Therefore, this thesis seeks to challenge the notion of the traditional, static, single-family home, and investigates the potential for residential and communal design to respond to evolving, temporal relationships of care. Research was conducted via a mixed methodology including data analysis, historical research on aging care and attitudes, precedent analysis, and observational research through informal interviews and documentation.
"Leap before you look": Conditions that Promote Implicit Visuomotor Adaptation without Explicit Learning
(2024-05) Savalia, Tejas
How do we learn to drive a car? A teacher sits next to us and gives explicit instructions about the components that we need to interact interact with, the rules of the road, and directions to turn. But there are parts of driving that we get used to without such explicit instructions like adjusting to minor curves in the road, adjusting to the steering height and weight, adjusting how hard we push the breaks and the gas pedal to stop. In this thesis, through simpler versions of learning tasks and computational modeling, I investigate how the explicit and implicit learning components interact to allow us to adapt to changing environments. Specifically, this thesis, while focusing on motor learning, investigates the nature of instructions, the magnitude of required adaptation, and the nature of feedback we receive as key factors that control the proportion of how much we rely on our implicit and explicit learning. The first chapter introduces the implicit vs explicit learning literature in context of a simplistic laboratory task called “Visuomotor Adaptation". Chapter 2 discusses a version of the Visuomotor adaptation task study that was conducted and analyzed to assess the importance of task instructions, and adaptation magnitude on implicit and explicit learning. Finally, chapter 3 modifies the visuomotor adaptation task and discusses the effect of the nature of feedback participants received while they were adapting to the experimentally induced motor manipulation.
The Healthy Nordic Diet and Depression: A UMass Vitamin D Sub-Study
(2024-05) Scranton, Matthew R.
Major Depressive Disorder effects almost one fifth of adults in the United States and is the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide. Studies exploring the relationship between healthy diets and depression have shown that what we eat can help reduce our chances of experiencing depressive symptoms. Recent research has demonstrated the benefits of a Healthy Nordic Diet (HND) for many health conditions and many populations. Using food-frequency questionnaire data and the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms (IDAS), this study explores the relationship between HND adherence and depressive symptoms in college-aged females enrolled in the UMass Vitamin D Study (2006 to 2014). After controlling for potential confounding in multivariable logistic and linear regression models, we did not find any statistically significant associations between depression and an HND. We believe that limitations due to misclassification prohibited the ability to reveal a true association. Future studies should look to strengthen measures of depression and HND in a larger, more diverse population.
Long Term Exposure to Fine Ambient Particulate Matter and Behavioral Problems in School-age Children in Accra, Ghana
(2024-05) Tejan-Jalloh, Umu-Kultumie
Accumulating evidence indicates early life exposure to air pollution exerts neurotoxic effects that may negatively impact children's behavioral health. Most previous studies on this topic were conducted in high-income countries, particularly in Europe. Limited studies have been done in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially in sub-Saharan Africa where air pollution levels are among some of the highest. This study examined the relationship between long term ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and behavioral problems in school children in Accra, Ghana. The study population comprised of 909 (60% girls) children aged 7-15 years from 90 elementary schools in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA), who participated in the Accra School Health and Environment Study (ASHES). Behavioral problems, including externalizing and internalizing behaviors, were assessed using the parent version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Annual PM2.5 concentrations at schools and children's residences were estimated using a land-use regression model, and the average of both was used in the final analysis. We estimated covariate-adjusted associations between the average PM2.5 concentrations and behavioral problem scores using multivariable linear and logistics regression models. We also investigated potential effect modification by gender. PM2.5 concentration ranged 28.56 µg/m³ -39.46 µg/m³. After adjusting for confounders, there was a statistically significant positive association between PM2.5 and total SDQ score (beta per 10 µg/m³ increase = 2.7; 95% CI: 0.60, 4.7; p= 0.01) and internalizing behavior score (beta per 10 µg/m³ increase = 1.6; 95% CI: 0.50, 2.7; p= 0.004). Our results suggest no effect modification by gender. This study provides the first evidence of the effects of PM2.5 on children's behavioral problems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Future ongoing studies will examine the longitudinal effect of PM2.5 on child behavioral health.
Re-Analysis of the DISC Study: Advanced Statistical Approaches to Understanding Dietary Interventions in Pediatric Cardiovascular Health
(2024-05) Saeedi, Anahita
The DISC study originally shed light on pediatric cardiovascular health's response to dietary interventions. Leveraging recent advances in statistical methods, we sought to enrich these insights by re-analyzing the data with more sophisticated techniques. Our study pursued three objectives: (1) re-assess the DISC data using linear and spline mixed-effects models, (2) investigate treatment effects within various participant subgroups, and (3) determine the impact of compliance on dietary outcomes, focusing on average percent calories from fats. We applied strong statistical tools to examine LDL-C levels and fat intake, considering adherence to treatment and subgroup differences. The intervention group exhibited a significant initial decrease in LDL-C with p-value (0.027) and sustained reductions in total and saturated fat intake over time with p-values.
Plant Based Meat: A Textural Perspective and Hybrid Products: Insights from Textual and Consumer Insight Studies
(2024-05) Salgaonkar, Kashmira Tushar
Plant-based meat and dairy development have been the primary strategies for resolving environmental, health and animal welfare concerns. The estimated market value of plant-based meat was projected to reach $20 Billion by 2023, while the global market for plant-based dairy was valued at USD 25.19 billion in 2022. Sensory replication of animal-based meat and dairy products has been the major challenge faced by food scientists. Within the sensory domain, this study focused on the texture of different plant-proteins for use in meat and dairy alternatives. It first discussed the factors influencing the tribological behavior of plant-proteins and then compared the texture profile of commercially available plant-based hotdogs and sausages to animal-based hotdogs and sausages. The tribological study with its correlation to sensory attributes such as creaminess, slipperiness, smoothness and astringency showcased that each plant-protein exhibits distinct size, rigidity, solubility, protein and fat levels and also shows variation in its behavior with temperature. The Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) results of the 23 commercial products concluded that pea protein resulted in products with weaker structural strength while sausages and hotdogs containing a blend of soy protein and wheat gluten showed better replication to products formulated from beef and pork than pea protein. The two studies thus provided an insight into the textural domain of plant-proteins which can aid in future product development. Besides the sensory characteristics, the consumer acceptability of plant-based meat is challenged by several other product-specific and psychological parameters. Additionally, these parameters also prove to be challenging in reducing meat consumption. This study therefore conducted a consumer survey with 454 participants to determine the choice probability for hybrid meat. Hybrid meat products contain a blend of meat and plant-protein and are considered as a potential in reducing meat consumption. However, the results of a choice-based study known as conjoint analysis showed that hybrid meat hotdogs had the lowest preference in comparison to pure plant-based and pure meat hotdogs. The regression analysis determined that the product-specific attributes challenged the choice for hybrid hotdogs, while person-related parameters did not have any relationship, which was contrary to the results obtained for plant-based and beef hotdogs. This influence of the different parameters on the selection of hybrid meat was concluded to be due to the lack of consumer knowledge and familiarity with hybrid products.
Interaction between Time of Day and Corticosterone on Neuroimmune Responses
(2024-05) Santos, Nathan
The circadian clock governs many physiological processes, including immune responses which show time of day variations. Here we investigated the impact of time of day on immune responses to acute viral like pathogens using intranasal poly(I:C). We found that the transcriptional profile in the olfactory bulb, a key entry point for viral pathogens, varied significantly depending on the time of challenge. At (Zeitgeber time) ZT12, immune related transcripts were upregulated, indicating enhanced immune surveillance and response to viral infection. Conversely, at ZT0, transcripts associated with inflammation were downregulated, suggesting a dampened immune response. Additionally, we explored the role of acute stress induced corticosterone release in modulating time of day immune responses. Inhibition of corticosterone production with metyrapone altered the expression of clock gene nr1d1 to poly(I:C) in a time-of-day dependent manner, highlighting the interconnection between the circadian clock and acute stress hormone. This study has implications for further understanding of disease states in the context of both circadian and stress biology.
Exploring the Impact of Collaborative Learning Experience on Preservice Teachers' Philosophical Development
(2024-05) Rose, Emma M.
United States public education is guided by policies and practices designed to advantage White students’ identities, experiences, and funds of knowledge. In that vein, research in the field of music education has started to explore the impacts of Whiteness on school music programs, but this research has primarily centered on student populations, curricula, professional discourse, and pedagogical practices. Very few studies to date have included preservice teachers’ perspectives on working with students of color. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of a collaborative learning intervention on preservice teachers’ beliefs and pedagogy. I sought to gain insight on participants’ perceptions of teaching and learning with students of color after engaging in discourse, reflection, and observation through an antiracist equity lens. Throughout our collaboration, I also sought to understand what elements of the experience, if any, influenced the participants’ philosophies of teaching and learning to develop. The findings of this project provide many implications for preservice teacher education including suggestions for program redesign and increased field experience opportunities.
The Association between the Use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and the Risk of Male Breast Cancer
(2024-05) Aljizani, Firas
Background: Male breast cancer is a rare but serious condition with similarities to female breast cancer in hormone receptor status and histopathological features. Despite its rarity, male breast cancer often presents at a later stage and has a lower survival rate compared to female breast cancer. The potential chemo preventive role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in female breast cancer raises the question of whether similar protective effects could be observed in male breast cancer. We explored the relationship between NSAID use and incidence of male breast cancer to shed light on whether NSAIDs could offer a similar protective effect in men as they do in women. Methods: This study included male participants from the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study (N=187,827). NSAID use was assessed through self-reported questionnaires, with frequency categories for aspirin and non-aspirin NSAIDs. Incident breast cancer cases were ascertained from cancer registries and death certificates (N=228 over 15 years). Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate relative risks and adjust for potential confounders including age, race, education, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, smoking status, and history of bone fracture, diabetes, and alcohol consumption. Results: The analysis revealed no significant association between NSAIDs use and the risk of male breast cancer in the overall population (HR=0.97, 95% CI 0.64-1.46). Similarly, stratification by family history of breast or prostate cancer and age groups did not show significant associations. The frequency of NSAID use, as well as aspirin and ibuprofen use specifically, also did not significantly impact the risk of male breast cancer. Discussion: Although our study did not find a significant association between NSAIDs use and male breast cancer risk, the observations indicated a slight inclination towards a reduced incidence of the disease with increased NSAID consumption. Notably, specific evaluations among participants with no familial history of breast or prostate cancer hinted at a possible reduced risk. Nonetheless, these findings were not statistically robust, underlining the need for additional research with greater statistical rigor to clarify if NSAIDs could play a role in the prevention of male breast cancer. This subtlety in our results, combined with the modest statistical power of the investigation, suggests caution in interpretation, emphasizing the necessity for further research to elucidate the potential chemo preventive effects of NSAIDs on male breast cancer.
The Effect of TGF-Beta and FGF2 on Endothelial Cells and Breast to Brain Metastasis
(2024-05) Panagiotou, Alexi A.
Metastasis, the spread of cancer cells from the initial, or primary, site to another region of the body, accounts for 90% of cancer-related mortalities1. Of the secondary sites of metastasis, the brain is one of the hardest to treat. Treatments are complicated because of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the sensitivity of the brain. Our team builds upon the seed and soil hypothesis which suggests that metastasis is not random and is driven by secondary tissue remodeling in response to signals from the primary tumor which “prepare” the tissue for the eventual arrival of cancer cells. This “preparation” of the secondary site is often referred to as a pre-metastatic niche. In the brain extracellular matrix (ECM), there are many proteins that play an important role in the pre-metastatic niche and are upregulated to support breast cancer metastasis. The focus of thisproject is on transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2). In literature, TGF-β and FGF2 are two growth factors that are highly discussed as important upregulated proteins to support breast to brain metastasis2,3. FGF2 supports proliferation of the disseminated tumor cells at the secondary site through angiogenesis4. TGF-β promotes endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in endothelial cells which decreases the tight junctions in the BBB and allows for tumor cells to more easily extravasate into the brain ECM5. Despite these two proteins being heavily researched, what is not discussed as much, is how they affect each other and how this could affect the pre-metastatic niche. In endothelial cells, when FGF2 binds to its receptor, it increases miRNA-20a expression which inhibits TGF-β receptors6. I hypothesize that their interactions are important to the pre-metastatic niche by altering the BBB. By designing and applying a brain specific microvascular niche assay, I can analyze how the timing of addition for these two growth factors affects the endothelial cells, astrocytes, and the corresponding niche. Understanding brain metastasis and how circulating tumor cells extravasate through the BBB can give rise to new therapies for treating brain metastases.

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