Education

• Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas (1996)
• M.S. in Electrical Engineering, University of New Hampshire (1990)
• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, University of New Hampshire (1989)

Awards

• Faculty Excellence Award for Career Achievement in Research
• Distinguished Faculty Award in Research for Basic and Applied Sciences
• Endowed Chair Cardiac Implant Science
• University Scholar
• ASAIO Willem J Kolff Young Investigator Fellowship Award
• Bioengineering Faculty Favorite

Research, Teaching, and Service

• Biomedical engineer (33+ years) with research focus on the physiologic responses of mechanical circulatory support (MCS), catheter-based pumps, cardiopulmonary devices, ventricular assist devices, and total artificial hearts on the heart and vasculature for the treatment of end-stage heart failure (HF)
• Biomedical instrumentation (sensors, signal conditioning, hemodynamic data acquisition and analysis) and medical device development (efficacy, reliability, and safety), including study designs, standard operating procedures (SOPs), IACUC and IRB protocols, ASTM standards, and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)
• Our laboratory uses pre-clinical computational, static and dynamic mock flow loops, acute and chronic large animal, and human cadaver models to comprehensively simulate, investigate, and analyze MCS system and medical device functional, hydrodynamic, hemodynamic, and hemocompatibility performance
• Our laboratory has extensive experience and expertise with cardiovascular surgery, catheterization, medical device development, imaging (echocardiography, fluoroscopy, CT, MRI), instrumentation, and data acquisition and analysis (LabChart, Matlab, Prism)
• Developed bioengineering undergraduate (medical device design, biomeasurements lab) and graduate (bioinstrumentation, biomedical rotation) courses, instructed 600+ bioengineering students, and mentored 100+ medical and engineering students
• Heartwheels! STEM mobile outreach program featuring hands-on labs, sharing experiences, and advising on future career opportunities through community engagement with 9000+ students and their families.

Recent Publications

• Neimat J, Bina R, Koenig SC, Memirors E, Burke R, Melodia T, Jimenez J. A novel closed-loop brain stimulation device featuring wireless low energy ultrasound power and communication.  Neuromodulation (accepted February 2024).
• Monreal G, Koenig SC, Taskin ME, Shambaugh Jr C, LaRose JA, Slaughter MS.  Feasibility testing of the RT Cardiac Systems percutaneous mechanical circulatory support device.  ASAIO J 2023;69:519-526.        DOI: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000001887, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36763814/
• Monreal G, Koenig SC, Slaughter MS, Morello GF, Prina SR, Tompkins LH, Huang J, Gellman BN, Dasse KA. Feasibility testing of the Inspired Therapeutics NeoMate mechanical circulatory support system for neonates and infants. PLoS One. 2022 May 11;17(5):e0266822. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266822. PMID: 35544516; PMCID: PMC9094552.
• LH Tompkins, SR Prina, BN Gellman, GF Morello, T Roussel, JA Kopechek, SJ Williams, PC Petit,MS Slaughter, SC Koenig, and KA Dasse.  Development of Inspired Therapeutics pediatric VAD: Computational analysis and characterization of VAD V3.  Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology, 13(4):624-37, 2022 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13239-021-00602-2
• Ausich, WI, SC Koenig, A Goldstein, and G Monreal. 2021. Evolutionary and taphonomic significance of a new species of Amphoracrinus from the early Viséan of Kentucky. Journal of Paleontology, 95(6):1273-83, 2021 https://doi:10.1017/jpa.2021.42 
• Slaughter MS, G Monreal, SC Koenig, GA Giridharan, LH Tompkins, J Jimenez.  Demonstration of proof-of-concept of StrokeShield system for complete closure and occlusion of the left atrial appendage for non-valvular atrial fibrillation therapy. PLOS One,16(6):e2053299: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253299
• LH Tompkins, SR Prina, BN Gellman, GF Morello, T Roussel, JA Kopechek, SJ Williams, PC Petit,MS Slaughter, SC Koenig, and KA Dasse.  Development of Inspired Therapeutics pediatric VAD: Quantifying impeller torques and forces for MagLev motor design.  Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology, 13:307-17, 2022 DOI:10.1007/s13239-021-00578-z 
• Tomkins LH, BN Gellman, GF Morello, SR Prina, TJ Roussel, JA Kopechek, PC Petit, MS Slaughter, SC Koenig, and KA Dasse. Design and computational evaluation of a pediatric maglev rotary blood pump. ASAIO J, 67(9):1026-35, 2021DOI:10.1097/mat.0000000000001323

Recent Intellectual Property

• Slaughter MS, Monreal G, Koenig SC, Jimenez J, Tompkins L. Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) device, delivery tool, and related methods (UofL Invention Disclosure no. 21038, filed February 1, 2021).
• Slaughter MS, Giridharan GA, Sobieski MA, Soucy KG, and Koenig SC. Atrial appendage closure device and related methods (US Patent 10,898,202 AWARDED January 26, 2021).
• Slaughter MS, Giridharan GA, Sobieski MA, Soucy KG, and Koenig SC. Atrial appendage closure device and related methods (US Patent 10,531,878 AWARDED January 14, 2020).

Active Grant Awards and Contracts

R44HL144214-01 (multi-PI Monreal, Koenig, Slaughter)                           9/23/2022 – 6/30/2025           

NIH SBIR phase II Grant (Inspired Therapeutics, Merritt Island FL)                             $6,070,246

Development of the Inspired Therapeutics Neomate MCS system for neonates and infants

The objective of this project is to complete engineering development and pre-clinical testing of the IT NeoMate system to provide mechanical circulatory support (MCS) therapy for neonate and infant heart failure patients.

Kentucky Academy of Science (PI: Monreal, co-I: Koenig)                         3/1/2024 – 4/15/2025

Athey Science Education and Outreach Grant                                                                       $1,474

Tactile and spatial learning with anatomical heart models at Heartwheels! STEM Mobile Outreach

The major goal of this project is to engage with community students and their families via hands-on pre-clinical testing lab, sharing our medical device development experiences, and discussing future career opportunities.

Industry Contract (multi-PI: Slaughter, Monreal, Koenig)                             7/1/2023 – 6/30/2024

CoRISMA (Minneapolis MN)                                                                                             $228,792

MCS Device Testing

Successfully complete pre-clinical feasibility testing of LA-AO blood pump in mock flow loop (static and dynamic) and acute animal (ovine) models.

R01HL150346-01 (PI: Rodefeld, co-I: Koenig)                                               8/1/2020 –7/31/2024           

NIH R01 Grant                                                                                                                 $8,940,118

Cavopulmonary Assist to Reverse the Fontan

The major goal of this project is to conduct develop a catheter-based pediatric circulatory support device to support Fontan patients and complete pre-clinical testing in large animal model to demonstrate efficacy, reliability, and safety.