Ultra-sensitive 3D molecular assays using total body PET and deep learning. Recent advances in biomedical engineering have led to the development of Total Body Positron Emission Tomography (TB-PET), the most sensitive imaging device to date. Despite these impressive engineering advances, computational methods lag far behind and model-based approaches cannot deal with the complexity or volume of data these systems produce. We will develop new computational methods based on deep learning and stati ....Ultra-sensitive 3D molecular assays using total body PET and deep learning. Recent advances in biomedical engineering have led to the development of Total Body Positron Emission Tomography (TB-PET), the most sensitive imaging device to date. Despite these impressive engineering advances, computational methods lag far behind and model-based approaches cannot deal with the complexity or volume of data these systems produce. We will develop new computational methods based on deep learning and statistical methods that fully exploit the richness and complexity of the data generated by TB-PET, enabling 3D quantitative assays of molecular processes throughout the entire human body with unparalleled sensitivity. The technology we create will open up new capability for the study of complex physiological systems.Read moreRead less
Tissue Bio-physicochemical Quantification Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This project aims to develop novel magnetic resonance imaging methods to investigate tissue structure and function. Current MRI technologies use standard water-based contrast mechanisms to generate images with limited tissue information. In contrast, this project expects to provide a non-invasive, ultra-high-resolution MRI technology that measures the electrical, magnetic, and chemical signals generated from the human bo ....Tissue Bio-physicochemical Quantification Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This project aims to develop novel magnetic resonance imaging methods to investigate tissue structure and function. Current MRI technologies use standard water-based contrast mechanisms to generate images with limited tissue information. In contrast, this project expects to provide a non-invasive, ultra-high-resolution MRI technology that measures the electrical, magnetic, and chemical signals generated from the human body. Thus, the new imaging methods can probe deeper biological functionality while examining tissue structure. The potential benefits include: expanding the scope and capabilities of current MRI, facilitating a wide range of imaging-based research and applications, and accelerating knowledge expansion in life science.Read moreRead less
Suboptimal Sleep And Unhealthy Brain Ageing: Improving Outcomes Through Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$632,705.00
Summary
My research will address limitations in our understanding of the impact of sleep characteristics on memory and thinking abilities and biological markers of brain health in older adults, by; 1) exploring these relationships over time, and 2) enabling direct assessment of the effect of improved sleep on memory and thinking, and markers of brain health, following sleep-improvement therapy. My results will contribute to the development of strategies aimed at promoting healthy brain ageing.
Harnessing Imaging And IT Strategies To Expedite Targeted Treatment And Improve Outcomes In Cerebrovascular Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,914,215.00
Summary
This project will expand on my 25+ years of research in combining neuroimaging methods such as CT and MRI with nascent software tools to better target and coordinate treatment and achieve improved outcomes in cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke. We will develop & improve new CT and MRI methods and leverage latest advances in computer science, such as deep learning and mobile phone app technology, to achieve faster and more accurate identification of patients who can benefit from treatment.
Advancing the visualisation and quantification of nephrons with MRI. . This project aims to characterise key components of nephrons, the glomeruli and tubules, using magnetic resonance imaging without contrast agents, in combination with Deep Learning and super-resolution techniques. Nephrons, the basic functional unit of the kidney, are critical to the maintenance of the body’s homeostasis. Their number and architecture are critical determinants of kidney function. The expected outcomes are inn ....Advancing the visualisation and quantification of nephrons with MRI. . This project aims to characterise key components of nephrons, the glomeruli and tubules, using magnetic resonance imaging without contrast agents, in combination with Deep Learning and super-resolution techniques. Nephrons, the basic functional unit of the kidney, are critical to the maintenance of the body’s homeostasis. Their number and architecture are critical determinants of kidney function. The expected outcomes are innovative semi-automated nephron visualisation and quantitation tools that enable efficient renal phenotyping. Techniques tailored to widely accessible preclinical research scanners are expected to accelerate research into genetic and environmental factors affecting kidney microstructure in embryonic and post-natal life.Read moreRead less
A Network Approach To Mapping And Modifying Brain Changes In Psychosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,163,245.00
Summary
Psychosis fundamentally alters a person’s relationship with reality. Brain scans can map which parts of the brain are affected by psychosis, but they cannot reveal the actual disease processes that cause these changes. I will address this gap by integrating brain imaging with genetics and mathematical modelling to identify the brain circuits and molecules that impact risk for psychosis, and to develop targeted therapies that modify risk-related brain dysfunction.