Featured Labs & Ongoing Research Projects
Developing Applications & Instrumentation for Advanced Biomedical Imaging Applications
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Biomedical Optics & NanoDiagnostics (BOND) Lab
Advancing nanotechnology, molecular imaging & biophotonics for early detection, diagnosis & treatment of cancer.
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Computational Research Lab
Applied mathematics, engineering, scientific computation & mathematical modeling of physics based phenomena.
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Magnetic Resonance Systems Lab
Engineering, physics, and imaging science in a highly multidisciplinary environment.
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Morfeus Lab
Tumor control and reduced toxicities through advanced image-guided focal cancer treatment.
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Photoacoustic Imaging Research Lab
Novel clinical applications of combined photoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging.
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Radioactive Therapy Group (Kappadath Lab)
Adapting novel Nuclear Medicine and PET imaging technologies into advanced clinical applications.
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Small Animal Imaging Facility (SAIF)
Advancing cancer science through preclinical imaging.
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Wu Laboratory
Development & application of innovative computational & analytical approaches to ending cancer.
Ongoing Research Projects
Multi-Site Development & Evaluation of a Quantitative 3D Hyperpolarized C-13 MRI Clinical Prostate Cancer Exam
The major goal of this project is to develop new and vastly improved methods for diagnostic assessment of prostate cancer by MRI of tumor metabolism using hyperpolarized pyruvate, and to assess the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of this exciting new metabolic imaging exam at UCSF and MD Anderson Cancer Center.
NIH 1R01CA211150-01A1 , 03/01/2017 – 02/28/2022
Radial Spectroscopic Imaging of Hyperpolarized [1-13C]-Pyruvate
This project will develop optimized protocols for imaging and methods for quality assurance of HP imaging strategies, which are vital steps towards our goal of bringing HP-MRI to clinical research and care for cancer at MD Anderson.
MDA GE-CABI WS#16, 06/01/2015 – 11/30/2017
Quantitative Imaging Methods for Clinical Hyperpolarized 13C MRI
The goal of this project is to develop and translate new acquisition and analysis strategies for HP 13C MR metabolic imaging that enable robust clinical assessments of human prostate cancer at multiple institutions.
MDA Bridge Funding Application, 12/01/2016 – 08/31/2017
Metabolic Imaging of Prostate Cancer Patients for Monitoring Therapeutic Efficacy
The goal of this project is to apply hyperpolarized 13C(1)-pyruvate metabolic imaging in patients with prostate cancer to interrogate therapeutic intervention in real-time and differentiate responders vs non-responders at an early stage.
MDA GE-CABI WS#28, 08/26/2016 – 08/25/2019
Imaging hepatic gluconeogenesis with hyperpolarized dihydroxyacetone
Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is a small molecule precursor of glycerol and glucose that readily enters the intracellular compartment, and is about twice as "gluconeogenic" as pyruvate. With a favorable safety profile and hyperpolarization (HP) characteristics, HP 13C-DHA shows tremendous promise for minimally invasive assessment of hepatic gluconeogenesis (GNG). We will develop new strategies for imaging GNG using HP 13C-DHA and examine its use to assess liver function in small animal models of diabetes.
NIH R01 DK105346 (Merritt, University of Florida), 07/30/2016-06/30/2021
Patient-Specific Treatment Planning System for MR-Guided Thermal Therapy in Brain
To develop computer models that can accurately and reliably predict the outcome of MR guided laser induced thermal therapy (MRgLITT) using the Visualase.
Medtronic, PA15-0091, 04/10/2015 – 10/09/2017
Developing Predictive Models of Treatment Response to HCC
This project will develop biophysical computer models for predicting treatment response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Biophysical models will be integrated with personalized medical data for patient specific calibration and prediction of HCC progression, resistance, and response.
MDA IRG, 09/01/2016 – 08/31/2018
Simultaneous Thermal and Osmotic Stresses in Tumor Ablation: Imaging and Biology
Cressman (PI), Fuentes (diversity supplement candidate)
The major goal of this supplement project is to develop biophysical computer models for predicting local control of thermochemical ablation delivery.
NIH/NCI 3R01CA201127-02S1, 08/01/2017 – 06/30/2019
Advanced Applications of Synthetic MR and MAGIC
The major goal is to develop methods for accelerating and improving simultaneous T1 and T2 mapping techniques for synthetic MR imaging and quantitative disease characterization, both in the brain and elsewhere in the body.
MDA GE-CABI WS#21, 12/01/2016 – 11/30/2019
Cancer Center Support Grant - Small Animal Imaging Facility
The major goal of this project is to provide small animal imaging resources to regional cancer investigators. The facility provides Cancer Center Members with powerful imaging technologies and the expertise that is necessary to integrate imaging into preclinical cancer research.
NIH P30 CA016672, 09/06/2013 – 06/30/2018
Advancing Magnetic Relaxometry
The overall goal of this sponsored research agreement (SRA) is to accelerate the development and validation of the Senior Scientific magnetic relaxometry (MRX) technology for early cancer detection and response assessment.
Senior Scientific, LLC, 08/31/2015 – 08/31/2018
Magnetic Detection Technology
The goal of this project is determine the optimal operating paradigm for the NanoMRX technology; improve the technology from a remote-sensing mode to a true imaging system; develop highly specific biological targeting methods using a variety of approaches; validate these technologies against an array of tumors in small animal models; and prepare for human trails of such a system at MD Anderson in the near future.
Apache Corp., 4/29/2015 – 4/28/2020
Quantitative 99mTc-Sestamibi Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) using GE Discovery NM750b
Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) is a new breast-specific nuclear medicine imaging technique that uses a small field-of-view semiconductor-based gamma camera in a mammographic configuration specifically designed to obtain high resolution images of 99mTc-sestamibi uptake in breast cancers. The primary objective of this study is to develop novel image acquisition and data processing techniques on GE Discovery NM750b that will yield quantitative MBI images. The long term goal is to assess quantitative MBI as an early predictor of response for patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
GE-CABI WS#19, 09/01/2015 – 09/01/2018
A TheraSphere Advanced dosimetry Retrospective Global study Evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma Treatment (TARGET)
The major goals of this study are to evaluate dosimetry software/methodology accuracy and reproducibility at clinical locations and obtain clinical data to generate predictive models for absorbed dose correlation to radioembolization specific adverse events and tumor response as a basis for alternative tumor and liver dose guidance.
Biocompatibles UK, Ltd., 01/01/2017 – 12/31/2017
CT Lesion Detection Using Post-Processing
The goalof this study is to advance quantitative CT for improved tumor characterization and visualization.
Resting-state Functional MRI in Glioma Patients Before and After Surgery
The major goal of this study is to develop a reliable resting-state (rs) functional MRI (fMRI) platform for preoperatie mapping of language network and for detecting postoperative functional brain reorganizations in patients with gliomas.
MDA DICRC Award, 04/24/2017 - 04/23/2019
Sara Thrower, Graduate Student
A Sparse Reconstruction Algorithm for Superparamagnetic Relaxometry
The goal of this study is to develop an algorithm to reconstruct the distribution of bound nanoparticle sources for superparamagnetic relaxometry.
NIH F31 CA210434, 08/01/2016 - 07/31/2018
Development of body MRI sequences
The major goal of this project is to develop and implement novel motion management strategies for body MRI.
Siemens, 05/28/2014 – 06/30/2019
Dosimetry for AminoMedix for radiation kidney protection during Peptide-Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT): Phase I, II Clinical Trial
The goal of this project is to perform dosimetry for AminoMedix for radiation kidney protection during Peptide-Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT): Phase I, II Clinical Trial.
RadioMedix, 05/16/2014 – 05/15/2018 (NCE)
4D PET/CT Using HD Chest on SIEMENS mCT Scanner
The goal of this project is to use HD.Chest available from Siemens on the mCT scanner at MDACC to generate motion-free PET images by using the relatively long quiescent phase of the breathing cycle of patients. These images will be evaluated to determine if there is an improved SNMR and lower radiation dose when compared to conventional gated PET-CT.
Siemens, 12/01/2015 – 12/31/2017
Characterization of Flow Motion Effects on Image Quality and Patient Experience
The goal of this project is to assess the effect of continuous bed motion with the use of the FlowMotion scanner on patient experience and its impact on image quality.
Siemens, 12/01/2015 – 01/01/2018
Functional Cellular and Molecular Imaging Using Ultrasound-Guided Photoacoustics
A partnership of two academic and two industrial groups propose to translate major enhancements onto a recent commercial ultrasound/ photoacoustic imaging platform release to provide quantitative tracking of tumor angiogenesis, and cellular and functional properties in mouse models.
NIH R01 CA158598 (MPI: Emelianov, Esteva, Homan, and Sokolov), 09/25/2012 – 06/30/2018 (NCE)
Acoustic Imaging of Sentinel Node Metastasis using Plasmonic Nansensors
The overall goal of this project is to develop molecularly targeted plasmonic nanoparticles and to apply them to detect the sentinel node metastasis using ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging.
NIH R01 EB008101 (MPI: Emelianov and Sokolov), 04/01/2012 – 02/28/2018 (NCE)
Optical Systems for In Vivo Molecular Imaging of Cancer
The overall goal of this project is to develop molecularly targeted plasmonic nanoparticles and to apply them to detect the sentinel node metastasis using ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging.
NIH R01 CA103830 (PI: Richards-Kortum, Rice University), 09/01/2007 – 07/31/2018 (NCE)
Development of Unconventional MRI Approaches to Imaging Cancer Immunotherapy
The goal of this exploratory project is to evaluate efficacy of cationic lipid coating of perfluorocarbon nanodroplets (PFCs) to improve labeling of NK cells for 19F MRI.
GE-CABI WS#22, 01/01/2016 – 12/31/2017
Interdisciplinary Translational Pre/Postdoctoral Program in Cancer Nanotechnology
The overall goal of this project is to develop a novel training program to prepare Ph.D. scientists who will transfer the many promises of cancer nanotechnology into clinical reality of the future.
NIH T32 CA196561, 09/01/2015 – 08/31/2020
Biodegradable nanoclusters for molecular cancer imaging
The major goal of this project is to develop technology based on molecular specific photoacoustic imaging with biodegradable plasmonic nanoparticles (BPNs) that would allow highly sensitive and noninvasive detection of microscopic ovarian cancer.
CPRIT IIRA RP170314, 12/01/2016 – 11/30/2019