Image Guided Therapy using Ultrasound and MRI
The driving hypothesis of image-guided therapeutics is that the ability to monitor, guide and control treatments with imaging information will result in more accurate and effective therapies. Often, these types of treatment involve a lot of technology, but transform conventional surgical procedures into less-invasive outpatient procedures that enable people to return to their normal life quicker, and with better quality-of-life. Our group believes image-guided therapeutics have a very important role in the future of health care across a wide spectrum of diseases, and our efforts are directed towards developing and evaluating novel approaches.
A major focus of my group is on the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer with imaging technologies. We have three very active programs and multi-disciplinary research projects at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre involving scientists, clinicians, and industry, all aimed at making an impact in the significant health care burden of this disease.
Examples of ongoing projects include:
1) MRI-guided transurethral ultrasound
therapy for the treatment of localized prostate cancer
This project is attempting to redefine how localized prostate cancer
is treated in men. Instead of undergoing radical surgery or radiation
therapy, we propose that high-intensity ultrasound can be used to coagulate
prostate tissue from a minimally-invasive transurethral device. The entire
procedure would be done inside a conventional MRI which can visualize
the target, and can act as a 3D thermometer to control the heating of
tissue precisely. The procedure would take less than an hour, and could
be performed on an outpatient basis. The research spans device development,
preclinical testing, numerical modeling, and development of imaging techniques
and involves physicists, engineers, biologists, and clinicians.
2) Intracavitary MR Elastography (MRE)
Digital rectal examination is a proven screening technique for prostate
cancer which is based on the fact that many prostate tumours are stiffer.
MRI has the potential to provide high resolution images of tissue-stiffness
using a technique known as elastography in which micrometer amplitude
shear waves produced by a source of vibration are imaged as the pass
through tissue. Prostate MRE has not seen as much development as other
organs, however recent techniques we have developed to place the sources
of vibration in body cavities such as the rectum and/or urethra show
a lot of promise. There are exciting opportunities in this project
for people interest in development of medical devices, MRI acquisition
techniques, image-processing, and numerical modeling.
Other exciting projects are underway, and I am always open to meeting with people with a passion for biomedical research who want to explore opportunities. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have further questions.
Graduate Students:
- Arvin Arani
- Ian Pang
- Xitij Patel
- Robert Staruch
