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cancer patients. By injecting fluorescentagents into the body, surgeons could usethis system to better detect and removecancerous tumors.“If a surgeon leaves any cancerouscells behind, they can regrow locallyor shed into circulation and become ametastatic growth,” Bove said. “We haveagents that we’ve designed to go to themargin of a tumor. In real-time, you caninject a patient with an agent, cut alongthe fluoresecent line and remove the solidtumor mass and potential cancer cells thatregrow locally or shed into circulation. Ittruly gives surgeons another pair of eyeswhen they’re in the operating room.”This technology has other potentialuses beyond cancer surgery, Bove pointedout. “Just as we can light up tumor cells soyou can see them and take them out, wecan also light up nerves so we can see themand not touch them, which is a valuabletool for surgeons performing delicatesurgery in the body,” she said.The system has been miniaturizeddown into a “prototype” handhelddevice, which doctors could one day usein conjunction with minimally invasivesurgeries performed lathroscopically orwith an endoscope. “This will have animpact on changing health care and theoptions patients have when cancer needsto be removed or they’re undergoingdelicate surgery,” she said.Working in biosciences for GE GlobalResearch presents a unique opportunityfor researchers to share their expertise indeveloping technology that can change ––or even save –– lives.“I can’t think of a project that isn’tcollaborative, that’s only done by my labof six to eight people and myself,” Bovesaid. “We work with physicists, engineers,biologists, chemists and electricalengineers. It’s really a perfect union, wecome to work every day thinking we willmake a difference.”Train of thoughtAmong GE’s technologies and industriesis a locomotive engine that is designedto reduce emissions and improve fuelefficiency, according to OmowoleolaAkinyemi, senior engineer and projectleader for diesel emissions programs at GEGlobal Research.“We look into new technologies foradvancing GE’s transportation products,”he said. “A lot of that work is driven byEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)mandates and designing products theway the customer wants them to be. Thedriving differentiator for large engineperformance is fuel efficiency, and we’realways striving for better fuel efficiency tohelp them save on operating costs.”One of the most efficient methodsof transporting freight is by locomotive,Akinyemi pointed out, and increasing theirefficiency has a significant impact on theway we work and live in the United States.“We actually do engine research herein Niskayuna,” he said. “You might notthink of GE as an engine company, butwe are trying to push the frontier of largeengine performance. We have an enginelab where we run prototype engine partsand technologies, improve them, validateprojected performance and get them readyto commercialize as products in Erie, PA.”From GE’s locomotive manufacturinghas emerged a new energy businessexamining chemistry development forbattery technology, according to GlenMerfeld, energy storage platform leaderand manager of the chemical energysystems lab for GE Global Research.Mark Vermilyea, senior engineer and project leaderin the composites design and processing labGlen Merfeld, energy storage platform leader andmanager of the chemical energy systems labSeptember 2010 | VISIONS | 23