BioImaging

Therapeutic applications of ultrasound: Costas Arvanitis’ research investigates the therapeutic applications of ultrasound with an emphasis on brain cancer, and central nervous system disease and disorders. His research is focused on understanding the biological effects of ultrasound and acoustically induced microbubble oscillations (acoustic cavitation) and using them to study complex biological systems, such as the neurovascular network and the tumor microenvironment, with the goal of developing novel therapies for the treatment of cancer and central nervous system diseases and disorders.

Diffuse optics, near infrared spectroscopy, diffuse correlation spectroscopy cerebral blood flow, cerebral oxygen metabolism, and hypoxia-ischemia. I am currently working on development and applications of a novel bedside monitor of cerebral oxygenation, perfusion, and metabolism. My goal is to apply these innovative optical techniques, dubbed near-infrared spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy, to pediatric populations that could greatly benefit from a non-invasive, continuous monitor of brain health.

We use light, neutrons, and molecular dynamics simulation to probe intramolecular and intermolecular motion on timescales ranging from MHz to PHz. These studies inform us about complex interactions between molecules and within molecular systems that underly macroscopic behaviors as disparate as materials properties and biological function.  Intra-molecular vibrations provide unique spectral “barcodes” for chemical substances. My group and I introduced broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (BCARS) microscopy in 2004, which uses nonlinear light-matter interactions to rapidly read these spectra and generate sub-micron resolved images containing full Raman vibrational spectra at each pixel. We continue to improved BCARS imaging speed and sensitivity. Our current pixel acquisition time is a few milliseconds, providing an imaging speed that is conducive to practical materials and biological applications, and our work was recognized in 2014 as as one of the top 10 innovations in BioPhotonics. The goals in this project focus on instrument development and scientific discovery. Instrument development opportunities include innovations in ultrafast, nonlinear optics and computation (we envision microsecond spectral acquisition, requiring data processing and analysis at Gb/s rates). Opportunities for scientific discovery are wide-ranging. We currently focus on selected mechanistic questions in cancer biology, viral infection, and lipid metabolism, and on developing approaches for characterizing cell culture and biopharmaceutical formulation.  Microscopic inter-molecular motions underly many macroscopic properties of liquids and solids. We use light scattering, neutron scattering, and molecular dynamics simulation to characterize these motions in pursuit of a clear, molecularly-based understanding of how they ultimately lead to relaxation and transport in amorphous systems (liquids and glasses). We have shown that liquid dynamics on a 1 picosecond timescale are composed of two distinct types of motion. This finding has allowed us to derive simple expressions for molecular transport in liquids and amorphous solids based on easily measured or simulated picosecond dynamic quantities.  As we develop these insights, they will help materials scientists to reliably perform bottom-up design of novel materials with targeted transport and relaxation properties. Opportunities on this project include development of novel approaches to characterize these picosecond motions, refining and testing our ideas about liquid dynamics, and applying these ideas to solve problems in areas such as ionic liquids for battery applications, performance of drug eluting stents, and stabilizing freeze-dried vaccines and therapeutic proteins for use in developing nations.

Bioengineering: lymphatics, lipid metabolism, biomechanics, biomedical optics, image processing, and tissue engineering.

• Real-time in vivo IVUS/IVPA imaging to detect and characterize vulnerable plaques • Molecular photothermal therapy of cancer using targeted metal nanoparticles • Translation of ultrasound-guided photo acoustic (USPA) imaging • Acoustic imaging of sentinel node metastasis using plasmonic nanosensors • Functional, cellular, and molecular imaging and therapy monitoring using ultrasound-guided photoacoustics

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy, brain thermometry, inflammatory biomarkers, and machine learning for neuroimaging. The focus of the Fleischer Biomedical Spectroscopy and Imaging Laboratory is the development of advanced imaging and spectroscopy tools for translational applications including identification of new biomarkers for monitoring cancer treatment and non-invasive brain thermometry. Our group is highly interdisciplinary and provides a collaborative and dynamic environment for students and trainees to conduct research with direct therapeutic and clinical applications.

Sensory physiology, neural circuits, cerebral cortex, computational neuroscience, neuroengineering, neural coding, optical imaging, and optogenetics. Bilal Haider’s research goal is to identify cellular and circuit mechanisms that modulate neuronal responsiveness in the cerebral cortex in vivo. He has identified excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms in vivo that mediate rapid initiation, sustenance, and termination of persistent activity in the cortex. He is investigating the role of inhibitory circuits during wakefulness. His work showed for the first time that synaptic inhibition powerfully controls the spatial and temporal properties of visual processing in the awake cortex. His future research will investigate mechanisms used by excitatory and inhibitory neuronal sub-types in the cortex during goal-directed behaviors.

Systems Biophotonics, Imaging Technology, Intelligent Materials, Optical AI

Magnetic resonance imaging, functional MRI, neural connectivity, learning and plasticity.

Dr. Lindsey is interested in developing new imaging technologies for understanding biological processes and for clinical use. In the Ultrasonic Imaging and Instrumentation lab, we develop transducers, contrast agents, and systems for ultrasound imaging and image-guidance of therapy and drug delivery. Our aim is to develop quantitative, functional imaging techniques to better understand the physiological processes underlying diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases and tumor progression.

Applied research and device development targeting the increased heath and function of persons with disabilities. Specific areas of interest include: wheeled mobility and seating, pressure ulcer prevention and treatment; design of diagnostic tissue interrogation devices; design of assistive technology.

Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems: Atomic force microscopy, pathogen adhesion and endocytosis, cell biomechanics, single molecule biophysics, drug delivery and targeting, cell membrane mimetics, and biosensors.

BioImaging, Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging and Medical Physics, Image-guided intervention, Medical Image Analysis, Radiomics

Full profile:

https://winshipcancer.emory.edu/bios/faculty/yang-xiaofeng.html

Bioimaging; biomaterials, nanotechnology; neuroengineering; Pharmaceuticals and drug delivery; tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

BioImaging, Systems Biology, Nanotechnology