Biomedical hyperspectral imaging of murine tumors in the preclinical environment
Abstract
In this talk, we explore the application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in skin imaging and various applications of photoacoustic imaging in brain imaging. For skin imaging, we introduce a novel image analysis method to assess tissue health. This algorithm extracts optical radiomic signatures from OCT images, providing detailed insights into tissue characteristics. In the realm of brain imaging, we discuss the use of photoacoustic microscopy for vascular and functional imaging in small animals, addressing significant neuroscientific questions. Additionally, we highlight the application of photoacoustic tomography in large animal brain imaging, emphasizing its potential translation to clinical settings.
One significant finding is that lipid turnover decreases faster in aged female Drosophila compared to males. Additionally, dietary restrictions, downregulation of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathway, and AMPK activation significantly alter lipid metabolism in aged or Alzheimer’s-affected brains. The introduction of APoD and PRM algorithms has enhanced our current multimodal metabolic nanoscopy to deliver superresolution with hyperspectral volumetric imaging capabilities. By using deuterated molecules—including glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, and water molecules—as bioorthogonal probes, this technology provides insights into the metabolic heterogeneity of organs such as the brain, adipose tissue, liver, muscle, retina, and kidneys.
Biography
Tadej Dr. Kamran Avanaki is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Prior to this position he was an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering Department at Wayne State University. His areas of expertise include, design and development of photoacoustic imaging technology and optical coherence tomography for biomedical applications to solve critical problems in brain and skin imaging. He completed his postdoctoral-fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis in 2012 under Professor Lihong Wang, a pioneer in photoacoustic technology. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Kent with outstanding postgraduate student honors where he was mentored by Professor Adrian Podoleanu, the world’s leader in OCT instrumentation. As principal investigator, he has received multiple research grants/ fellowships. He is credited with more than 120 published first-authored/senior-authored peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals such as, PNAS, Cancer Research, IEEE Transaction of Medical Imaging, Photoacoustics, and Theragnostic. He currently serves as an associate editor of Biomedical Optics Express and Scientific Report. He has received the Outstanding Faculty Award from the College of Engineering at Wayne State University, in 2016, 2017, and 2019, also the Research Excellence Award in 2019 as well as the Excellence in Teaching Award in 2019. He has also received the prestigious 2020 Wayne State University Academy of Scholar Award, and most recently 2023 Rising Star Award and Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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