MD Biomedical Imaging and Biosensing

Overview

The Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology builds on a long and prestigious history and remains a leading international centre for research into the fundamental principles of human physiology.

In the post genomic era, physiology has acquired a new importance as a discipline which provides a valuable link between basic and translational research. Within the Department we have recognised expertise in all aspects of modern physiology ranging from the regulation of gene expression to cell, tissue and whole organism biology. Each focused area of expertise is related to a complementary area of clinical research and/or drug development.

The Centre for Pre-clinical imaging provides expertise and infrastructure for non-invasive imaging in pre-clinical models. The technologies available for pre-clinical imaging currently at the Centre include high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), optical imaging, photo-acoustic imaging and ultrasound. Novel applications and contrast mechanisms are constantly being developed that will aid the further development and refinement of regenerative medicine therapies, and facilitate areas such as developmental biology, neurobiology, physiology, pharmacology and cancer.

Postgraduate researchers utilise state-of-art technologies, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to enable non-invasive assessment of anatomy and function, optical imaging to assess protein expression and reporter gene expression, ultrasound for the measurement of blood flow and vascularity and photo-acoustic imaging to facilitate assessment of renal function. All have widespread applications for diagnostics and therapeutic interventions in neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, physiology, musculoskeletal biology and other relevant fields.

Research themes

Research areas specifically focus on:

• Monitoring organ structure and function in health and disease, including the kidney, liver, neuro/CNS, and imaging cancer
• Tracking cells labelled with contrast agents such as Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs), e.g. stem cell tracking
• Application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess electrical conductivity of body tissues
• Developing strategies for evaluating the safety and efficacy of regenerative medicine therapies
• Utility of diffusion weighted imaging and spectroscopy to assess response to gene therapy, e.g. for brain tumours and for detection of apoptotic cell death in vivo
• Studying models of memory disorders, schizophrenia and autism.