Abstract

The human body is composed of soft matter and, therefore, it is not surprising that the sciences of rheology and interfacial mechanics are important to understanding the body’s responses to disease. In this presentation, two problems are addressed in detail: pathological changes in the mucous lining airways in the presence of acute asthma and cystic fibrosis, and the stability of the tear film in relation to dry eye disease. In both cases, new experimental tools are presented that reveal how disease can upset the delicate balance of biological composition and transport properties.

Biography

Gerald Fuller is the Fletcher-Jones Professor of Chemical Engineering at Stanford University. He joined Stanford in 1980 having received his Ph.D. from Caltech and his B.Sc. from University of Calgary. His research interests lie in the subjects of interfacial fluid mechanics and rheology with a particular focus on problems in biophysical phenomena, foams, and emulsions. His work has been recognized by receipt of the Bingham Medal of the Society of Rheology, election to the National Academy of Engineering, and Fellowship in the American Academy of Arts and Science. He has been granted honarry doctorates from the Universities of Crete and Leuven. He presently serves as the General Secretary of the International Committee on Rheology.