Biomedical Imaging

Biomedical Imaging specializes in cutting-edge MRI, ultrasound, and optical imaging technologies to advance imaging capabilities, gain new biological insights, and apply these methods clinically across various medical departments, emphasizing a strong clinical focus.

This research spans from technical development to clinical application, aiming to enhance understanding of complex medical conditions and significantly impact patient care through ongoing innovation and collaboration.

Peter S Allen MRI Research Centre

The Peter S. Allen MRI Research Centre is a state-of-the-art facility housing two full-body MRI systems (3T Siemens Prisma and 4.7T). Supported by a team of highly skilled and dedicated professionals, it offers extensive opportunities for magnetic resonance and clinical research applications.

CAREERS

  • Imaging hardware development engineer
  • Image acquisition and processing engineer
  • Machine learning image analysis engineer
  • Imaging systems and management engineer

Area of Specialization

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

MRI uses powerful magnets to align the magnetic moments of the protons at the centre of the hydrogen atoms of water. A burst of Radio Frequency (RF) energy starts these magnetic moments spinning and producing their own RF energy, which is detected in an antenna. Thus MRI gets signal from water, and a myriad of contrast mechanisms enable differentiation and quantification of biological (and pathological) tissues, which are mostly water. Novel imaging methods and hardware are continually being developed to provide new biomarkers of disease, to improve resolution and decrease scan times, and to detect pathology previously missed.

  • Image acquisition and reconstruction innovation
  • Quantitative tissue characterization and mapping
  • Novel contrast mechanism development
  • Time-resolved imaging
  • Radio Frequency (RF) antenna and receiver system design
  • Multi-nuclear imaging (23Na)
  • Spectroscopy
  • Machine learning image analysis

Ultrasound

Ultrasound research focuses on the development of new hardware and methods for biomedical applications of high-frequency sound. While advancing Ultrasound imaging is a primary focus, alternative novel applications of biomarker amplification and targeted drug delivery are also being explored.

  • Micro-electromechanical systems
  • Biomarker amplification and localization using ultrasound
  • Ultrasound-triggered drug and gene delivery
  • High-frame-rate ultrasound

Optical imaging

The application of pulsed lasers to launch acoustic waves and create high-resolution images with optical-absorption contrast offers a new frontier in molecular and functional imaging, while nanoparticle based light-scattering promises a molecular fingerprint, enabling the visualization of complex biochemical pathways in action in the body.

  • Biomedical photoacoustics
  • Molecular imaging using nanoparticles
Faculty members