Skill in 3D Anatomical Printing Wins Graduate a Research Internship at Memorial Sloan Kettering
Queensborough graduate Nishal Kayharee, ’17 has been selected to participate in a research program in Patient Specific 3D Anatomical Printing at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. He is working in the Department of Medical Physics where he is conducting research on a CAT scan of a patient that will be converted into a 3D model with features that include a skull, brain, eye, skin and other soft tissues. All of the parts will be removable so they can be viewed individually.
Nishal, who majored in Engineering Technology at Queensborough, worked in the College’s CUNY 2020 Advanced Manufacturing Lab under the supervision of Professor Michael Lawrence where he created many anatomical parts, including an eyeball, rib cage, prostate and pelvis from MRI/CAT Scan data. His 3D pelvis was used at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for pre-surgical planning on a patient who had a metastasized tumor in his pelvis. To prepare for the surgery, doctors did a scan on the patient and then referred to Nishal’s 3D model of the pelvis to determine precisely where the surgery needed to be performed. The 3D pelvis is part of a general project under the guidance of Professor Lawrence, who has a working relationship with Memorial Sloan Kettering in Connecticut.
“Queensborough was fortunate to receive a grant from the state in 2014 to build a world-class 3D lab which has allowed students to develop skill sets in an accredited engineering program to learn and create in the 3D,” said Professor Lawrence, Class of 2014.
Nishal, who was born and raised in Guyana, has always been fascinated with computer-based technology. He was first introduced to it in high school and upon graduation attended technical school to study engineering technology. In 2014 he left Guyana to join his family in Queens. Although he was not sure about pursuing his college education, his mother urged him to go to college and Nishal decided to enroll at Queensborough to study in the STEM program.
During his first year at Queensborough, Nishal worked under the supervision of Jerry Sitbon, Chief College Laboratory Technician in the Engineering Technology department, to conduct small scale 3D modeling as well as programming application development.
Not long thereafter, Nishal immersed himself in research on the process of creating 3D anatomical parts.
“Working with the faculty on the different 3D printers and software in the 3D lab was the best hands-on experience I’ve ever had to build a solid foundation for my career. Being able to gain new connections and learn how to communicate in a professional environment has introduced me to amazing opportunities.”
Nishal plans to continue his studies at York College (CUNY) in the fall where he will major in computer science.
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