Development of imaging biomarkers for cancer patients through super-resolution ultrasound imaging

“超分辨率对比增强超声（CEUS）成像可能是最近超声成像历史上最令人兴奋的发展。将其应用于癌症的血流成像显示出更好地了解疾病的希望。该项目将研究这样一种革命性的成像方法，通过以低于衍射极限的空间分辨率跟踪血流中的单个微泡，将微血管网络可视化。该项目的目的是通过分析超分辨率图像中血管网络的特征，开发用于癌症患者无创诊断的成像生物标志物。我们赫瑞瓦特大学已经开发了一种新的粒子检测和跟踪框架，用于活细胞光学显微镜图像，最近利用现有的体外和体内动物模型数据，将这项技术转化为超声成像。该项目的博士生将有机会进一步发展这种超分辨率成像方法，包括应用最新的人工智能技术，以释放其全部潜力。该项目开发的技术将专门应用于前列腺癌患者，我们的超声成像分析结果将与患者的系统活检和其他成像结果（如MRI）进行比较。”

"Super-resolution contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging is perhaps the most exciting development in recent ultrasound imaging history. Its deployment to image blood flow in cancer has shown promise for gaining a better understanding of disease. This project will investigate such a revolutionary imaging method whereby micro-vascular networks will be visualized by tracking individual microbubbles in the blood flow at a spatial resolution below the diffraction limit. The objective of this project is to develop imaging biomarkers for non-invasive diagnosis of cancer patients by analyzing the features of the vascular networks from the super-resolution images. We at Heriot-Watt have already developed a new particle detection and tracking framework for live cell optical microscopy images and most recently translated this technology for ultrasound imaging using existing in vitro and in vivo animal model data. The PhD student in this project will have the opportunity to further develop this super-resolution imaging method, including applying the latest techniques in artificial intelligence, to unleash its full potential. The technology to be developed in this project will be applied specifically to prostate cancer patients, where our ultrasound imaging analysis results will be compared with systematic biopsy and other imaging results, such as MRI, of the patients. "