Biomedical Technology Program

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BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM (BTP) PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The central theme of the Biomedical Technology Program (BTP) is to establish novel technologies and computational methods to prevent and/or reduce the cancer burden in the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCDCCC) catchment area and beyond. The Program brings together engineers, physical scientists, and applied physicists who collaborate with key clinical investigators in the School of Medicine (SOM) and School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) with the goal of translating new or adapted technologies to improve cancer detection, diagnosis, and therapy. BTP has four Specific Aims that encompass the broad technological expertise found within the Program. Aim 1 is to develop and validate radiological diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. Aim 2 is to develop and validate optical spectroscopic and imaging technologies (Biophotonics). Aim 3 is to develop molecular and cellular technologies for translational and clinical applications. Aim 4 is to develop and validate computational methods and Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques. Laura Marcu, PhD (biomedical engineering) and Ramsey Badawi, PhD (radiological sciences) are co-leaders for BTP. The Program’s research portfolio encompasses a wide range of technologies and computational methods, from transformative developments related to PET and CT (including the development of the world’s first total-body PET scanner), and establishing fluorescence lifetime imaging as a means for intra-operative tissue characterization, to developing novel theranostic agents for imaging and therapy, and developing robust neural networks and other Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to improve cancer imaging. BTP has 21 full members from three schools/colleges and seven departments at UC Davis. BTP’s total cancer relevant funding is $9.6M annual direct cost, including $8.9M in peer-reviewed and $4.6M in NCI funding. The total number of publications is 313 of which 22% are intra-programmatic, 42% inter-programmatic, 46% multi-institutional, and 15% published in high impact journals. As a strong Program with several technologies entering clinical implementation or evaluation, the UCDCCC has deployed measures to ensure technology development and clinical translation continue. This includes institutional support to maintain robust transdisciplinary fora and provide discretionary funding support to the BTP, providing its leadership the ability to support pilot projects that will continue the Program’s transformative impact.