Posted: 2024-12-16

Source: UCI School of Medicine

UC Irvine Department  Dermatology, UC Irvine School of Medicine and UCI Health, in partnership with UC Irvine Beall Applied Innovation, recently launched a new initiative, called the Clinical Innovation Incubator Program, to foster collaborations among clinicians, basic scientists and engineers, and industry mentors to develop innovative solutions for clinical needs.

During a series of three workshops, candidates pitched their clinical problem and then worked with mentors and collaborators to create an innovative solution. The inaugural program saw eight incredible proposals and the following two awardees were selected to receive $50,000 each to further develop their innovations that will address a clinical need: Anand Ganesan, MD, PhD, professor of dermatology, for his project “Developing a New Vascular Targeted Treatment for Rosacea,” and Andrew Creadore, MD, a PGY-4 resident in the Department of Dermatology, for his project “Mobile App to Fill Gap in Natural Broadband Phototherapy Treatment Guidance.”

Congratulations to the awardees of the inaugural Clinical Innovation Incubator Program, and stay tuned for information on the next round of the Clinical Innovation Incubator Program that will be held in 2025.

Click here to read the full UCI School of Medicine newsroom announcement.

Your support in the 2022 UCI Anti-Cancer Challenge helped fuel this project led by UC Irvine School of Medicine Associate Professor, Liangzhong Xiang, PhD.

Watch the video and discover more about the research you helped fund!

Xiang’s Anti-Cancer Challenge Funded Research

When treating cancer with radiation therapy, imaging is crucial to help plan and deliver the treatment effectively.

With the emergence of a new type of radiation therapy called FLASH, new imaging techniques are needed to account for daily changes during treatment. Researchers are working on a new imaging modality called radiation-induced acoustic imaging, which will provide real time 3D dose verification for FLASH therapy.

This new technology will help ensure that the treatment is delivered precisely and accurately to the tumor and healthy tissues. This breakthrough can lead to a paradigm shift in using FLASH-RT for cancer treatment, which can benefit patients who may suffer from radiation-induced toxicities.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Dr. Thair Takesh designs novel dental device to minimize the spread of infection

In 2015, Dr. Thair Takesh, a dental surgeon, periodontist and implantologist, joined the lab of Dr. Petra Wilder-Smith at UC Irvine Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic.  With his specialty background, he found a home, contributing to technology development, commercialization and clinical research studies in oral health.

“It was a great partnership,” stated Dr. Takesh.  “Dr. Wilder-Smith was looking to expand her work.  Having advanced surgical training, I was able to address complex issues of the tooth and handle dental implants, contributing a different skill set to the team.”

Since then, Dr. Takesh’s research has spanned a wide range of topics.  This includes developing low-cost optical techniques for detecting microcracks in teeth; creating an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered low-cost pen for the detection and monitoring of acute and chronic wound infection by non-specialists and innovating several noninvasive approaches to mapping and monitoring gingival and periodontal health.

“As a clinician, I have the opportunity to assess the needs of dental professionals, consult on the existing projects and test protypes to provide feedback,” stated Dr. Takesh.  “My aim is to improve the lives of dentists and hygienists, as well as enhance outcomes for patients.”

Dr. Takesh’s latest project is designing and validating a novel aerosol-eliminating dental ultrasonic scaler to minimize the spread of infection between patients and dental professionals.  Ultrasonic scaling is known for producing the highest emissions and risk among dental and medical tools. However, current technologies that address this issue are costly, cumbersome, time-consuming and ineffective.  Dr. Takesh’s work seeks to overcome these challenges, providing a more effective, efficient and practical solution.

“The idea came after COVID, where the spread of infection was of high concern.  During dental procedures, saliva, blood, plaque and other liquids or invisible particles are suspended in the air from the patient’s mouth.” stated Dr. Takesh. “These aerosols remain airborne for up to three days, land on surfaces and potentially reach the lungs if there is no adequate way to alleviate the problem.”

The innovative dental ultrasonic scaler effectively evacuates 82 percent to 95 percent of dental aerosol and droplets directly at the source, thereby preventing the spread of airborne bacteria and viruses.  The design offers several benefits.  This includes reducing entry of infectious materials from entering the dental clinic environment, minimizing personnel costs by eliminating the need for an assistant to perform intra-operative suction and supporting clinicians by reducing musculoskeletal fatigue and injury through improved ergonomics.

“In working with Dr. Wilder-Smith, I am always learning and gaining new skills,” stated Dr. Takesh.  Often, I must shift my thinking from a traditional dentistry perspective to the mindset of a biomedical engineer.  I enjoy discovering a solution to each challenge.”

Dr. Takesh developed various methods to quantify the efficacy of the proposed design.  These approaches include mapping reductions in aerosols and droplets, measuring distance of the spread and completing thermal measurements to ensure that the device cools effectively. 

“Like with many inventions, there have been numerous iterations of this protype,” stated Dr. Takesh.  “With each iteration, we validate the design’s effectiveness and make improvements, continuously repeating this cycle until the risk of infection is minimized, while ensuring safe dental practices.”

Upon successful completion of the project, Dr. Takesh envisions translating the technology to multiple other dental and medical power-driven devices.  This could potentially enhance safety and efficacy across various healthcare settings by minimizing infection associated with aerosol generating procedures.

“Dr. Takesh’s contributions are invaluable in the field of dental and medical technology,” stated Dr. Wilder-Smith.  “His efforts showcase his ability to drive meaningful advancements in healthcare, positively affecting the lives of practitioners and patients worldwide.”

Beginnings in Syria

Dr. Takesh’s journey to UC Irvine was marked by significant challenges and resilience, with roots in Aleppo, Syria.  At the age of 12, his father was jailed for opposing the Syrian regime.  This left Dr. Takesh, the eldest son of seven children, with the responsibility of helping to raise his siblings.

“My father was jailed for 17 years,” stated Dr. Takesh.  “He never saw a judge or was brought to court.  He disappeared for a long period of time, and we went without knowing if he was alive or had died in jail.” 

In addition to caring for his family, he spent his childhood in a constant state of fear under the dictatorship regime.  This fear is encapsulated by a well-known saying in Syria, “the walls have ears.”

“We couldn’t even whisper,” stated Dr. Takesh.  “We were terrified of being punished for saying the slightest thing.”

Despite these hardships, Dr. Takesh’s mother prioritized education.  With the help of scholarships, she was able to send him and his siblings to private school.  This provided a healthier environment for the children.  This focus on education, along with Dr. Takesh’s dedication and passion for learning, enabled him to excel academically.  His strong academic performance led him to a career in dentistry.

“In dentistry, each person and each tooth are different,” stated Dr. Takesh.  “You are constantly using your hands, which means you continually have to improve your skills.”

In 2000, Dr. Takesh temporarily closed his twenty-year-old dental practice in Aleppo to pursue further specialty training in implantology and prosthodontics in the United Kingdom.  During this time, his wife, Amal Alachkar, was furthering her education by pursuing her Ph.D.  This period of advanced training and education allowed Dr. Takesh the opportunity to enhance his expertise.

Upon returning to Aleppo, Dr. Takesh re-established his practice, specializing in periodontology, oral implantology, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder and prosthodontics.  He also pursued an additional master’s degree in biomechanical engineering, which provided him with a biomechanistic understanding of many oral dysfunctions.  This multidisciplinary approach enriched his practice, allowing him to address complex dental issues with a comprehensive perspective.

“During this time, I was going to school, teaching and working at my practice,” stated Dr. Takesh.  “The money that I earned, provided for my mother and siblings.  In Syrian culture, you prioritize family much more than in Western cultures.  You support one another without having to ask.”

Coming to the U.S.

In 2011, Dr. Takesh traveled to the United States when Dr. Alachkar was awarded a one-year Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship to study at Penn State.  However, with the outbreak of civil war in Syria, the couple and their two children were unable to return to their home country.  This unexpected turn of events led the family to build an entirely new life in the states.

“When the revolution started, we thought it would be temporary, but it worsened and the regime was bombing our country – our city,” stated Dr. Takesh.  “We had spent our whole life saving to establish ourselves in our country.”

“We had left our house, our belongings – everything,” he stated. “It was impossible to go back.”

One year later, after the unbelievable challenge of starting anew, the family moved to California.  Dr. Alachkar, a neuroscientist, joined the UC Irvine School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. With no dental school on campus, Dr. Takesh spent the next two years working without pay in the Department of Chemical Engineering.  Eager to pursue something related to his profession, he was introduced to the only dentist at UC Irvine, Dr. Wilder-Smith, by Dr. Olivier Civelli, Eric L. and Lila D. Nelson Chair in Neurpharmacology and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Developmental & Cell Biology.

Returning to Syria

Besides dentistry, Dr. Takesh is passionate about serving underserved communities, particularly in his home country.  For the past three years, he has partnered with humanitarian organizations to provide aid to hundreds of refugees.  He hosts lectures about oral health at local universities, trains dental students and offers free dental care and performs oral surgeries for refugees.

“I typically fly into neighboring countries, like Turkey or Lebanon, then drive to the refugee camps in an area out of regime control,” stated Dr. Takesh.  “If I were to travel outside of this area, then I would be arrested and potentially jailed for the rest of my life.”

With over 2 million refugees residing in this compact area, these clinics provide critical access to healthcare for many displaced Syrians. During the few weeks that Dr. Takesh is in the country, he dedicates his time to helping as many people as possible.  His efforts make a significant difference in the lives of refugees, providing dental care amidst challenging circumstances.

“With the hardships that people face in the camps, oral health is the last thing on their minds,” stated Dr. Takesh.  “I stress the importance of teeth cleaning and the relationship between oral care and other diseases, especially those that affect the heart.”

It is not only the physical hearts of the patients that Dr. Takesh worries about, but also the emotional well-being of those he serves.  Having been displaced himself, he understands the country, the language and profound effects of trauma and stress.  This shared experience allows him to connect deeply with his patients, offering not only medical care, but also empathy.

“These overpopulated camps were designed to be temporary, but they are seemly permanent,” stated Dr. Takesh.  “It’s one thing to hear stories, but to witness the situation with my own eyes was above and beyond what I could have ever imagined. “  

Today, Dr. Takesh feels fortunate to have connected with Dr. Wilder-Smith and the opportunities that working at the Institute has provided.  It has allowed him to continue his professional journey and integrate his passion for dentistry with his commitment to serving others both locally and globally.  This partnership has opened many doors for collaboration and growth.

“It gave my life meaning again,” stated Dr. Takesh.  “I am fortunate to have raised my kids in a safe area, surrounded by kind people and having helped others – being able to help others is the most important thing.” 

“[As a Syrian,] it has been a difficult life, but perhaps a hard life makes you a better person,” he stated.

Facts about Syria

• After over a decade of conflict, Syria remains the world’s largest refugee crisis.
• Since 2011, more than 14 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety.
• More than 7.2 million Syrians remain displaced in their own country where 70 percent of the population needs humanitarian assistance and 90 percent live below the poverty line.

 Figures based on USA for The United Nations Refugee Agency

Click here to learn more about the lab of Dr. Petra Wilder-Smith.

Doug Brunk, Medscape

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) — a treatment most commonly thought of for field cancerization — is an effective tool for reducing rhytides and lentigines, results from a small prospective study showed.

“Our study helps capture and quantify a phenomenon that clinicians who use PDT in their practice have already noticed: Patients experience a visible improvement across several cosmetically important metrics including but not limited to fine lines, wrinkles, and skin tightness following PDT,” one of the study authors, Luke Horton, MD, a fourth-year dermatology resident at the University of California, Irvine, said in an interview following the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, where he presented the results during an oral abstract session.

For the study, 11 patients underwent a 120-minute incubation period with 17% 5-aminolevulinic acid over the face, followed by visible blue light PDT exposure for 16 minutes, to reduce rhytides. The researchers used a Vectra imaging system to capture three-dimensional images of the patients before the procedure and during the follow-up. Three dermatologists analyzed the pre-procedure and post-procedure images and used a validated five-point Merz wrinkle severity scale to grade various regions of the face including the forehead, glabella, lateral canthal rhytides, melolabial folds, nasolabial folds, and perioral rhytides.

They also used a five-point solar lentigines scale to evaluate the change in degree of pigmentation and quantity of age spots as well as the change in rhytid severity before and after PDT and the change in the seven-point Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) to gauge overall improvement of fine lines and wrinkles.

After a mean follow-up of 4.25 months, rhytid severity among the 11 patients was reduced by an average of 0.65 points on the Merz scale, with an SD of 0.20. Broken down by region, rhytid severity scores decreased by 0.2 points (SD, 0.42) for the forehead, 0.7 points (SD, 0.48) for the glabella and lateral canthal rhytides, 0.88 points (SD, 0.35) for the melolabial folds and perioral rhytides, and 0.8 points (SD, 0.42) for the nasolabial folds. (The researchers excluded ratings for the melolabial folds and perioral rhytides in two patients with beards.)

In other findings, solar lentigines grading showed an average reduction of 1 point (SD, 0.45), while the GAIS score improved by 1 or more for every patient, with an average of score of 1.45 (SD, 0.52), showing that some degree of improvement in facial rhytides was noted for all patients following PDT.

“The degree of improvement as measured by our independent physician graders was impressive and not far off from those reported with CO2 ablative laser,” Horton said. “Further, the effect was not isolated to actinic keratoses but extended to improved appearance of fine lines, some deep lines, and lentigines. Although we are not implying that PDT is superior to and should replace lasers or other energy-based devices, it does provide a real, measurable cosmetic benefit.”

Clinicians, he added, can use these findings “to counsel their patients when discussing field cancerization treatment options, especially for patients who may be hesitant to undergo PDT as it can be a painful therapy with a considerable downtime for some.”

Lawrence J. Green, MD, clinical professor of dermatology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, who was asked to comment on the study results, said that the findings “shine more light on the long-standing off-label use of PDT for lessening signs of photoaging. Like studies done before it, I think this adds an additional benefit to discuss for those who are considering PDT treatment for their actinic keratoses.”

Horton acknowledged certain limitations of the study including its small sample size and the fact that physician graders were not blinded to which images were pre- and post-treatment, “which could introduce an element of bias in the data,” he said. “But this being an unfunded project born out of clinical observation, we hope to later expand its size. Furthermore, we invite other physicians to join us to better study these effects and to design protocols that minimize adverse effects and maximize clinical outcomes.”

His co-authors were Milan Hirpara; Sarah Choe; Joel Cohen, MD; and Natasha A. Mesinkovska, MD, PhD.

Click here to read full article on Medscape.

Anti-Cancer Challenge Funded Research

The Anti-Cancer Challenge advances the UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center’s research mission by funding pilot projects that help investigators generate crucial preliminary data for high impact research.

Since our first Anti-Cancer Challenge Pilot Project in 2017, we have witnessed the impact of innovative research in the effort to reduce the cancer burden in our community. The following videos are from our first cohort in 2016 of the Principal Investigators reflecting on the progress of their research.

Thanks to the generosity of Anti-Cancer Challenge participants and donors, the following UC Irvine Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic investigators were awarded funds in support of their biotechnology, imaging and drug development cancer research projects:

2023 Anti-Cancer Challenge Awardees
Project Title: Enhancing the efficacy of radiation therapy by surgically targeted radiation-sensitizer loaded hydrogels: translation of in vitro results to a post-resection rat brain tumor model
Investigator: Hirschberg, Henry

2022 Anti-Cancer Challenge Awardees
Project Title: “Image-guided Precision Radiotherapy” Team Science Seed Grant
Xiang, Liangzhong

2020 Anti-Cancer Challenge Awardees
Project Title: Real-time dosimetric measurement for FLASH radiotherapy with acoustic emission
Investigator: Xiang, Liangzhong

2019 Anti-Cancer Challenge Awardees
Project Title: Pilot study for evaluating the multiphoton microscopy potential for non-invasive, early diagnosis of melanoma
Investigator: Kelly, Kristen

2018 Anti-Cancer Challenge Awardees
Project Title: Advancing oro-pharyngeal cancer screening and diagnosis to overcome disparities and improve control and outcomes
Investigator: Wilder-Smith, Petra

2017 Anti-Cancer Challenge Awardees
Project Title: RhoJ inhibitors – a novel treatment for early stage melanoma
Investigator: Ganesan, Anand

Click here for a list of all Anti-Cancer Challenge Awardees.

Click here to join the Institute Anti-Cancer Challenge BLI Photons in Motion team.