RII Track-4: NSF: Enabling Aberration-free Transcranial Photoacoustic Computed Tomography for Human Brain Imaging

光声计算机断层扫描（PACT）是一种新兴的计算成像方式，它利用光学对比度和声学检测原理来形成人类/动物组织的高精度图像。然而，经颅脑成像（TBI）对于PACT仍然具有挑战性，因为强烈的颅骨超声畸变（即畸变）会导致显著的重建伪影。在这个项目中，PI和一名研究生将与伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校的专家合作，开发一个基于高精度建模工具和高性能计算（HPC）的计算数学框架，使TBI的无像差PACT成为可能。关于框架稳定性的科学知识和PACT的基本理论都将得到发展。这些进步将改善医疗结果、降低风险、提高患者满意度并降低医疗成本。为了改善阿拉巴马州的研究基础设施，PI将积极招募和指导具有不同背景的本科生和研究生（例如，女性，非洲裔美国人和其他少数民族）参与这项研究，接触K-12教育工作者和学生，以创造学生对STEM领域的兴趣，将研究结果纳入课堂模块，并将技术和研究结果传播给公众。这项研究基础设施改善轨道4 EPSCoR研究人员（RII轨道4）项目将为阿拉巴马大学塔斯卡卢萨分校的一名助理教授提供奖学金，并为一名研究生提供培训。该项目将推动经颅PACT技术的发展。通过使用伴随状态法推导数学表达式，该团队将创建一个新的联合重建框架，同时反演TBI的初始压力分布和参数化，耦合流体/固体声音的速度图像。该项目还将创建一个基于谱元方法（SEM）的计算JR框架和相关的hpc支持软件，以实现无像差的经颅PACT。SEM的高阶形状函数准确地代表了人体部位（如颅骨）的复杂拓扑结构，有望显著降低像差效应。将产生关于扫描电镜降像效果的科学知识。将对JR不稳定问题进行数学分析，并制定改进的缓解策略。项目成果将解决在TBI中应用PACT的障碍，填补阿拉巴马州缺乏PACT研究的空白，并提高阿拉巴马州在生物科学/生物技术方面的竞争力，这是阿拉巴马州EPSCoR重点研究领域之一。阿拉巴马将获得各种pact相关领域的能力和竞争优势，如脑成像、肌肉骨骼成像和非破坏性评估。由此产生的网络基础设施将使阿拉巴马州为广泛的计算和数据支持研究课题做好准备。临床转化潜力和显著的患者预后改善将使团队能够通过其他外部资助培养产业关系，以刺激阿拉巴马州的创业、研究基础设施和经济发展。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) is an emerging computational imaging modality that exploits optical contrast and acoustic detection principles to form high-accuracy images of human/animal tissue. However, transcranial brain imaging (TBI) is still challenging for PACT because of a strong skull-induced ultrasonic wave distortion (i.e., aberration), which leads to significant reconstruction artifacts. In this project, the PI and a graduate student will work with experts at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to develop a computational mathematical framework based on a highly accurate modeling tool and high-performance computing (HPC) that enables an aberration-free PACT for TBI. Both the scientific knowledge of the framework’s stability and the fundamental PACT theory will be advanced. These advancements will result in improved medical outcomes, reduced risks, higher patient satisfaction, and reduced healthcare costs. To improve the research infrastructures in Alabama, the PI will actively recruit and mentor undergraduate and graduate students with diverse backgrounds (e.g., women, African Americans, and other minorities) to participate in this research, reach out to K-12 educators and students to create student interest in STEM fields, incorporate the findings into class modules, and disseminate the technology and findings to the public.This Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-4 EPSCoR Research Fellows (RII Track-4) project would provide a Fellowship to an Assistant Professor and training for a graduate student at University of Alabama Tuscaloosa. This project will advance the state-of-the-art in transcranial PACT. By deriving the mathematical expressions using the adjoint state method, the team will create a novel joint reconstruction framework that simultaneously inverts the initial pressure distribution and the parameterized, coupled fluid/solid sound of speed images for TBI. The project will also create a computational JR framework based on a spectral element method (SEM) and the associated HPC-enabled software to enable aberration-free transcranial PACT. The high-order shape functions of SEM accurately represent the complex topology of human body parts (e.g, skull bones) and are expected to significantly reduce the aberration effects. Scientific knowledge will be generated on the aberration-reduction effects that SEM can bring. The mathematical analysis will be performed for the JR instability problem, and improved mitigation strategies will be created as well. The project outcomes will address barriers to applying PACT for TBI, fill the void of lacking PACT research in Alabama, and improve Alabama's competitiveness in Biosciences/Biotechnology, which is one of the Key Alabama EPSCoR research priority areas. Alabama will gain the capabilities and competitive advantages for a variety of PACT-related fields such as brain imaging, musculoskeletal imaging, and nondestructive evaluation. The resulting cyberinfrastructure will enable Alabama to be ready for a wide range of computational and data-enabled research topics. The clinical translation potential and significant patient outcome improvements will allow the team to cultivate industrial relationships through other external grants to stimulate Alabama’s entrepreneurship, research infrastructure, and economic development.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.