Bridging the translational gap: Implementation of multimodal small animal imaging strategies for tumor burden assessment in a co-clinical trial

I am a cancer biologist whose research laboratory focuses on solid tumor imaging.  We utilize multi-modal, multi-scale imaging, combined with nuanced statistical and machine learning approaches, to measure important features of cancer.  My goal os to develop and translate imaging approaches which improve clinical diagnostics and personalize care for cancer patients.

• Our lab's research focus lies primarily in developing novel quantitative imaging systems, reconstruction algorithms and analysis methods.  My major expertise is in preclinical CT.
• Currently, we are particularly interested in developing novel strategies for spectral CT imaging using nanoparticle-based contrast agents for theranostics (i.e. therapy and diagnostics).
• We are also engaged in developing new approaches for multidimensional CT image reconstruction suitable to address difficult undersampling cases in cardiac and spectral CT (dual energy and photon counting) using compressed sensing and/or deep learning.

• We are involved in co-clinical cancer trials and I have served as the Principal Investigator on the U24 Duke Preclinical Research Resources for Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers part of the NCI Co-Clinical Imaging Research Resources Program network (CIRP).