Workstation for quantitative analysis and visualization of multi-dimensional imaging datasets

申请人，Drs. J. Singh，G.亚当斯和B。Singh拥有各种NSERC资助的研究项目，这些项目严重依赖成像技术。辛格博士的研究重点是影响牛卵母细胞质量的因素。亚当斯正在研究精浆中促排卵因子的作用和前列腺癌的早期发现，B博士。辛格探索了肺部炎症的机制。他们通过共聚焦显微镜、超声波和同步加速器X射线成像研究健康和患病组织中的细胞和分子相互作用。这些成像方法生成复杂且非常大的数据集，其表示组织体积中的细胞、亚细胞结构和功能分子的分布。申请人要求为计算机工作站提供资金，以便对这些数据集进行定量分析和可视化。工作站将包括1）能够实时渲染和显示3D体积的高功率台式计算机，2）用于校正成像方法引入的光学伪影的去卷积软件包，以及3）用于将代表感兴趣对象的体素与其余组织分离的分割和定量软件包。该软件的分析模块将允许定量评估结构特征的差异（例如，数量、分布、表面积、体积、空间相互关系）。申请人积极参与高素质人才的培训，并以庆祝学生的成就为荣。自2003年以来，申请人已经在他们的实验室培训了超过125名学生。所要求的设备的可用性将提高研究生的经验，提高他们的研究质量和影响，并使他们在研究生涯中更具竞争力。我们预计，我们地区的其他几位同事将从成像工作站中受益。

Applicants, Drs. J. Singh, G. Adams and B. Singh, have diverse NSERC-funded research programs that rely heavily on imaging technologies. Dr. J. Singh's research focus is on factors affecting oocyte quality in cattle, Dr. G. Adams is investigating the role of ovulation inducing factor in seminal plasma and early detection of prostatic cancer, and Dr. B. Singh explores the mechanisms of lung inflammation. They study cellular and molecular interactions in healthy and diseased tissues by confocal microscopy, ultrasonography, and synchrotron based x-ray imaging. These imaging methods generate complex and very large datasets representing distribution of cells, sub-cellular structures and functional molecules in tissue volumes. The applicants request funding for a computer workstation to perform quantitative analyses and visualization of these datasets. The workstation will consist of 1) a high-power desktop computer capable of real-time rendering and displaying 3D volumes, 2) a deconvolution software package to correct for optical artifacts introduced by imaging methods, and 3) a segmentation and quantitative software package for separation of voxels representing objects of interest from the rest of tissue. Analysis modules of this software will permit quantitative assessment of differences in structural features (e.g., number, distribution, surface area, volume, spatial inter-relationship) during normal physiologic phases and during disease processes. The applicants are intensely involved in the training of highly-qualified personnel and take pride in celebrating the accomplishments of their students. Collectively, the applicants have trained more than 125 students in their labs since 2003. The availability of the requested equipment will enhance the graduate student experience, improve the quality and impact of their research, and make them more competitive in research careers. We anticipate that several other colleagues in our area will benefit from the imaging workstation.