Principal Investigator
Yi-Ting Tzen, Ph.D.
Dr. Tzen’s research interest is early detection and prevention of pressure injury in people with spinal cord injury. She has had clinical training in Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, and technology training in bioinstrumentation and signal processing.
Image
Students
Amir Akhavan, BS
Amir Akhavan is an M.D. candidate at the TCU Burnett School of Medicine, currently involved in skin blood flow research in patients with acute and chronic spinal cord injuries with Dr. Tzen. Amir’s current research project goes hand in hand with his goal of becoming a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician where he will care for patients with spinal cord injuries. His research aims to provide valuable information on the prevention of pressure ulcerations in this patient population while also informing future treatment strategies. Amir completed his Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology and Cognitive Science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He has worked previously at the Golshani Neurology Lab at UCLA and is currently undergoing another research project surrounding collegiate rodeo athlete injuries.
Bhavana Sreepad, BS
Bhavana Sreepad is a medical student at the TCU Burnett School of Medicine, currently involved in lipidomics research with Dr. Tzen. Her research is focused on exploring lipid profiles within the context of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), a specialty she is highly considering for her future medical career. With a passion for understanding the biochemical and molecular underpinnings of neurological and musculoskeletal recovery, Bhavana aims to apply her research findings to advance patient care and improve functional outcomes.
Bhavana completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She has been actively engaged in various research projects throughout her academic career, resulting in multiple publications and conference presentations. Her diverse research interests include lipidomics, metabolomics, and healthcare disparities.
At Dr. Tzen’s Lab, Bhavana hopes to contribute to innovative lipidomics research and is committed to translating these insights into clinical strategies that benefit PM&R patients.
Henry Wang
Henry Wang is an undergraduate student studying neuroscience at Brown University, currently involved in lipidomics research with Dr. Tzen. His research is focused on exploring lipid profiles within the context of spinal cord injury, an area of research that he is passionate about. Through projects at Dr. Tzen’s lab, Henry hopes to understand the biochemical and physiological processes that affect musculoskeletal recovery. His research aims to apply findings to prevent and detect spinal cord injury complications, and improve patient outcomes through novel treatment strategies. Henry’s other research interests include neurosurgery outcomes, wound care, in-patient care, and healthcare disparities. At Dr. Tzen’s lab, Henry hopes to contribute to lipidomics research and translate findings into improved patient care in the clinical setting.
Spoorthi Sadasivuni
Spoorthi Sadasivuni is an undergraduate student studying neuroscience at The University of Texas at Dallas. She is currently focusing on identifying and measuring predictive factors that contribute to secondary complications in individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI). This research aims to improve understanding of the physiological, psychological, and socio-environmental factors that influence post-operative recovery. Her previous projects include investigating the effects of upregulated astrocytes in chronic traumatic encephalopathies (CTEs) to provide an innovative approach to treating neurodegeneration. Through her work, Spoorthi hopes to gain insight into PM&R, taking a comprehensive approach to healthcare as she continues pursuing a career in neurosurgery.
Alumni
Research
The research theme of Dr. Tzen's lab revolves around early detection and prevention of secondary complications in people with spinal cord injury, specifically pressure injury, depression, and heterotopic ossification. Studies in Dr. Tzen's lab have been conducted at the bedside in both trauma and inpatient rehabilitation settings, and laboratory setting. Dr. Tzen's lab is equipped with non-invasive skin blood flow measurement devices and research tools to compute biological signal processing. The Tzen Lab also works closely with core facilities on campus to investigate serum markers and their impact on chronic wound development. Other clinical and research collaborators of the Tzen Lab include Dr. Merrine Klakeel and Dr. Wei-Han Tan at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Dr. Yen-Sheng Lin at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Featured Publications
Pubmed links
Clinical risk factors of perioperative pressure injury in older adult patients with a hip fracture.
Tzen YT, Sambandam S, Delmore B, Wang J, Chu A, Wukich D. Adv Skin Wound Care 2023 Dec
-
Champagne PT, Tzen YT, Wang J, Bennett B, Van Beest D, Tan WH. J Spinal Cord Med 2023 Feb
-
Tzen YT, Champagne PT, Rao V, Wang J, Tan WH, Klakeel M, Jain NB, Wukich DK, Koh TJ, Int Wound J 2022 May
-
Van Beest D, Koh SJ, Tzen YT, Wang J, Moore-Matthews D, Kargel JS, Cutrell JB, Bedimo RJ, Bennett BR, Tan WH, J Spinal Cord Med 2022 Apr 1-9
-
Tzen YT, Purohit R, Mei S, Tan WH, Wound Manag Prev 2020 03 66 3 16-28
-
Tzen YT, Brienza DM, Karg PE, J Tissue Viability 2019 Nov 28 4 173-178
-
Tzen YT, Weinheimer-Haus EM, Corbiere TF, Koh TJ, PLoS ONE 2018 13 7 e0200247
Lab News
Mr. Akhavan presented at the 2024 ACRM Conference
Medical student Mr. Amir Akhavan presented poster "Skin blood flow reseponse to weight bearing in people with aacute and chronic spinal cord injuries" at the 2024 ACRM conference.
November 2nd, 2024
Ms. Sreepad presented at the 2024 ACRM Conference
Medical student Ms. Bhavana Sreepad presented poster "The role of lipids in rotator cuff injuries: a cross-sectional study with plasma lipidomic analysis" at the 2024 ACRM conference.
November 1st, 2024
Dr. Champagne presented two posters at the 2024 ACRM Conference
Lab alumnus Dr. Tasha Champagne presented two posters "Identifying depression, hopelessness, and affect in persons with spinal cord injury", and "Identifying depression utilizing the quick inventory of depressive symptomatology-self report, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and endothelial function in spinal cord injury" at the 2024 ACRM conference.
November 1st, 2024
Dr. Tzen presented at the 2024 ACRM Conference
Dr. Yi-Ting Tzen presented "Emerging early detection measurements for secondary complications in soft tissues after spinal cord injury" at the 2024 ACRM conference.
Nov1st, 2024
Dr. Tzen presented at the 2024 PVA Summit
Dr. Yi-Ting Tzen presented "Insulin resistance index for pressure injury risk in people with chronic spinal cord injury" at the 2024 Paralyzed Veterans of America Summit.
August 28th, 2024
Dr. Tzen presented at the 2024 NPIAP Webinar
Dr. Yi-Ting Tzen presented "Pressure injuries in the spinal cord injury population: current evidence in risk assessment, prevention and early detection" at the 2024 National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel Webinar.
June 18th, 2024
Dr. Tzen presented at the 2024 UT Southwestern School of Health Professions Capra Symposium
Dr. Yi-Ting Tzen, Dr. Yen-Sheng Lin and Applied Clinical Research PhD student Andrew Nasr presented "Rotator cuff myosteatosis: a multimodal musculoskeletal imaging study" at the 2024 UT Southwestern School of Health Professions Capra Interdisciplinary Healthcare Symposium. Read the 2024 Capra Symposium news on UT Southwestern Center Times Plus.
February 14th, 2024
Dr. Tzen Re-elected to serve as Board of Director for the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel
Dr. Yi-Ting Tzen was re-elected to serve as Board of Director for the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel. Dr. Tzen currently serve as co-chair for the Standards Mission Committee and task force chair of the Emerging Leaders Program.
Jan 1st, 2024.
Congratulations Dr. Tasha Champagne!
PhD student Ms. Tasha Champagne received PhD in Applied Clinical Research at the 2023 UT Southwestern School of Health Professions Commencement. Her dissertation topic is "Identifying depression in spinal cord injury utilizing Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and endothelial function -- a pilot study". Congratulations Dr. Champagne!
December 17th, 2023
Dr. Tzen Received the 2023 Research Recognition Award
Dr. Yi-Ting Tzen received the 2023 Research Recognition Award from the UT Southwestern School of Health Professions.
November 2nd, 2023
Ms. Champagne Received the 2023 Dr. Ruth Guy Student Leadership Award
PhD student Ms. Champagne received the 2023 Dr. Ruth Guy Student Leadership Award from the UT Southwestern School of Health Professions.
November 2nd, 2023
Dr. Tzen presented at the 2023 NPIAP conference
Dr. Yi-Ting Tzen presented "Markers for pressure injury in patients with spinal cord injuries" at the 2023 National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel annual Conference at San Diego, CA.
March 17th, 2023
Ms. Tasha Champagne presented at the 2022 ACRM conference
PhD student Ms. Tasha Champagne presented her research study "Predictors of one year pressure injury outcomes in hospitalized spinal cord injured veterans" at the 2022 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine annual Conference at Chicago, IL.
Nov. 10th, 2022
Dr. Tzen Spoke on RN Huddle Podcast
Dr. Yi-Ting Tzen spoke about pressure injury in the spinal cord injured population on RN Huddle Podcast.
Feb. 3rd, 2022
Dr. Tzen received research grant from the PVA Research Foundation
Dr. Yi-Ting Tzen received research grant from the Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation.
Jan. 1st, 2021
Contact Us
Dr. Yi-Ting Tzen
Email address: Yi-Ting.Tzen@UTSouthwestern.edu
Phone Number: 214-648-1786
Participate in our research study
Phone Number: 214-648-1786