ABSTRACTS OF NIH GRANTS
Academic Radiology, Vol 11, No 1, January 2004
ICD: IRG:
National Cancer Institute NCI
IN VIVO IMAGING NEOPLASIA Grant Number: PI Name:
3P50CA093990-01S1 Ross, Brian D.
Abstract: Description (provided by applicant): The establishment of this In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Center (ICMIC) will provide for multidisciplinary interactions between scientists located at the Van Andel Institute and the University of Michigan. The ICMIC will provide the framework for channeling these interactions into fully developed and novel applications in the field of molecular imaging. These interactions, which have occurred during the P20 (Pre-ICMIC) funding stage, have already yielded some of the most creative and insightful ideas in this rapidly evolving area of research termed molecular imaging. This application seeks to build upon these successful scientific interactions and experimental results in order to provide for significant advances in oncologic imaging. This group of investigators has worked diligently to bring together a uniquely integrated approach using highly novel molecular imaging constructs and imaging approaches to “report” occurrences of key cellular and molecular events. These events include carcinogenesis (Project #2), apoptosis (Project #1), activation of oncogenes (Project #3), angiogenesis (Pilot Project #1) and metastasis (Pilot Project #2). Both the initial biological event and the subsequent measured biological response can be noninvasively monitored using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy (MRI/S), in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and positron emission tomography (PET). This multidisciplinary and multimodality approach will provide for a more complete understanding of the integrated events involved in the transformation process leading to tumor initiation, progression, angiogenesis, metastasis, immune response, and overall therapeutic response (or resistance). These studies will not only provide new imaging reagents and approaches for detection of these biological events, but will also yield genetically engineered mice which will have reporter genes “built-in” for noninvasively and dynamically imaging these events in intact animals over time. As mentioned above, three Research Projects and two Pilot Projects have been developed along with a Career Development Program and three Cores. The Career Development Program provides a great opportunity to train and interact with young and enthusiastic investigators in the field of molecular imaging. The Administrative Core A provides administrative support including Internal and External Scientific review for all projects. The Small Animal Imaging Core B provides the necessary expertise and imaging services including microPET, MRI, microPET in vivo BLI, autoradiography, radiopharmaceutical synthesis and digital image processing. The Transgenic Animal Core C provides the necessary expertise
and centralized resources for efficient production of novel and important genetically engineered mouse imaging models. This research proposal is a natural outgrowth of the progress made with current P20 and R24 NCI support. Establishment of a world-leading ICMIC in Michigan is a priority and commitment made by the University of Michigan and the Van Andel Research Institute along with the State of Michigan (funds allocated through the Life Sciences Corridor) who have all contributed together with the NIH in order to provide the foundation necessary for ensuring the success of this vital and intriguing endeavor. Thesaurus Terms: carcinogenesis, imaging/visualization/ scanning, metastasis, molecular oncology, oncogene, radiology
Institution:
Fiscal Year: Department: Project Start: Project End: ICD: IRG:
University Of Michigan At Ann Arbor 3003 South State, Room 1040 Ann Arbor, MI 481091274 2002 Radiology 14-Jun-2002 31-Mar-2007 National Cancer Institute ZCA1
EARLY DETECTION OF LUNG CANCER VIA BI PLANE CORRELATION Grant Number: PI Name:
5R21CA091806-02 Samei, Ehsan
Abstract: Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, surpassing breast, prostate, colon, and cervix cancers combined. One of the keys to improving the prognosis of lung cancer is early detection of small solitary lung nodules in chest radiographs, a task highly limited by the presence of anatomical variations in the image and by perceptual visualization processes. This project proposes a new method, Bi-plane Correlation Imaging (BCI), for improved detection of subtle lung nodules. The method involves the utilization of angular information in conjunction with digital acquisition and computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) to cost-effectively reduce the degrading influence of anatomical variations with no increase in the patient dose. In BCI, two digital images of the chest are acquired within a short time interval from slightly different posterior projections. The image data are incorporated into an enhanced CAD algorithm in which nodules present in the thoracic cavity are detected by examining the geometrical correlation of the detected signals in the two views. Angular information minimizes the undesirable influence of anatomical noise by identifying and positively reinforcing the nodule signals, while CAD provides a complete search of the image data. The expected high sensitivity/specificity of the method has
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