JANUARY 14, 2021

Congratulate 8 undergraduate students who published their first papers on their undergraduate research works in the Quantitative Bioimaging Laboratory (QBIL) in 2020. These papers are listed below and are published and indexed by PubMed. They are the first author and their names are in bold.

1. James Huang, Halicek M, Shahedi M, Fei B. Augmented reality visualization of hyperspectral imaging classifications for image-guided brain tumor phantom resection. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng. 2020 Feb;11315:113150U. doi: 10.1117/12.2549041. Epub 2020 Mar 16. PMID: 32606488; PMCID: PMC7325483. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32606488/

2. Patric Bettati, Chalian M, Huang J, Dormer JD, Shahedi M, Fei B. Augmented Reality-Assisted Biopsy of Soft Tissue Lesions. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng. 2020 Feb;11315:113150W. doi: 10.1117/12.2549381. Epub 2020 Mar 16. PMID: 32528216; PMCID: PMC7289183. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32528216/

3. Matthew Pfefferle, Shahub S, Shahedi M, Gahan J, Johnson B, Le P, Vargas J, Judson BO, Alshara Y, Li Q, Fei B. Renal biopsy under augmented reality guidance. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng. 2020 Feb;11315:113152W. doi: 10.1117/12.2550593. Epub 2020 Mar 16. PMID: 32476704; PMCID: PMC7261605. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32476704/

4. Jose Vargas, Le P, Shahedi M, Gahan J, Johnson B, Dormer JD, Shahub S, Pfefferle M, Judson BO, Alshara Y, Li Q, Fei B. A complex dual-modality kidney phantom for renal biopsy studies. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng. 2020 Feb;11319:113190J. doi: 10.1117/12.2549892. Epub 2020 Mar 16. PMID: 32476707; PMCID: PMC7261611. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32476707/

5. Amol Mavuduru, Halicek M, Shahedi M, Little JV, Chen AY, Myers LL, Fei B. Using a 22-Layer U-Net to Perform Segmentation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma on Digitized Head and Neck Histological Images. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng. 2020 Feb;11320:113200C. doi: 10.1117/12.2549061. Epub 2020 Mar 16. PMID: 32476709; PMCID: PMC7261613. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32476709/

6. Abhishaike Mahajan, Dormer J, Li Q, Chen D, Zhang Z, Fei B. Siamese neural networks for the classification of high-dimensional radiomic features. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng. 2020 Feb;11314:113143Q. doi: 10.1117/12.2549389. Epub 2020 Mar 16. PMID: 32528215; PMCID: PMC7288755. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32528215/

7. Ka’Toria Edwards, Chhabra A, Dormer J, Jones P, Boutin RD, Lenchik L, Fei B. Abdominal muscle segmentation from CT using a convolutional neural network. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng. 2020 Feb;11317:113170L. doi: 10.1117/12.2549406. Epub 2020 Feb 28. PMID: 32577045; PMCID: PMC7309562. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32577045/

8. Chris Tran, Halicek M, Dormer JD, Tandon A, Hussain T, Fei B. Fully automated segmentation of the right ventricle in patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot using U-Net. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng. 2020 Feb;11317:113171M. doi: 10.1117/12.2549052. Epub 2020 Feb 28. PMID: 32476706; PMCID: PMC7261612. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32476706/

JANUARY 14, 2021

Dr. Baowei Fei, the Cecil H. and Ida Green Chair in Systems Biology Science at UT Dallas, is developing a smart surgical microscope that uses hyperspectral imaging and artificial intelligence to detect cancer cells during surgery. He recently received a $1.6 million grant from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to further develop the technology. Hyperspectral imaging, originally used in satellite imagery, orbiting telescopes and other applications, goes beyond what the human eye can see as cells are examined under ultraviolet and near-infrared lights at micrometer resolution. By analyzing how cells reflect and absorb light across the electromagnetic spectrum, experts can get a spectral image of cells that is as unique as a fingerprint. For more information, visit the following website:
https://www.utdallas.edu/news/research/cancer-smart-surgical-microscope-fei-2019/

jULY 29, 2019

Dr. Shashank Sirsi, assistant professor of bioengineering at the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at The University of Texas at Dallas, recently received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop superior image-guided methods of delivering chemotherapeutics to neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma most commonly arises in the adrenal gland and kidneys, but also other areas of the abdomen. Unlike many tumors, neuroblastomas are poorly perfused, requiring high-dosage chemotherapy, which can have deleterious short and long-term side effects in children. Currently, no clinical methods exist to optimize drug uptake in neuroblastoma in vivo. Methods of improving drug delivery to tumors are needed to improve therapy. In this study, we propose an innovative image-guided combinatorial drug therapy approach to remodel the tumor vasculature and treat neuroblastoma, using anti-VEGF antibody, bevacizumab (BV), in combination with acoustically delivered liposomal doxorubicin (L-DOX). Neither BV therapy nor L-DOX are currently indicated for neuroblastoma treatment, but together with sound-sensitive ultrasound contrast agents (UCA’s) they have the potential to dramatically improve neuroblastoma treatment efficacy. BV therapy was designed to induce vascular regression, however we and others have demonstrated that repetitive BV therapy causes vascular remodeling in NGP mouse tumor models by “cooption” of surrounding vessels and potentially making them more amenable to drug uptake by reducing mature pericyte coverage thereby compromising vascular integrity. In combination with BV therapy, we will test a novel platform for enhancing drug uptake in tumors utilizing ultrasound sensitive particles, called “Acoustic Clusters” (ACs), to maximize payload of doxorubicin specifically to tumor tissue. ACs are chemically crosslinked gas-filled spheres (“microbubbles”, ~1 μm diameter each) that vibrate in an ultrasound field. AC’s are assembled using drug carrying liposomes and are specifically designed to solubilize liposome-encapsulated drugs on-demand during ultrasound stimulation. ACs can also permeabilize blood vessels facilitating uptake of released drugs. We will test several novel image-guided drug delivery strategies using microbubble (and nanodroplet) based ACs to “uncage” encapsulated doxorubicin (with and without permeabilizing blood vessels) to maximize drug uptake in tumors. The strategy of simultaneously releasing drugs and permeabilizing vasculature is a novel approach that will enable more efficient drug targeting and eliminate the reliance on endogenous tumor vascular permeability for liposome encapsulated drug carrying molecules, such as L-DOX. The techniques developed in this study would be applicable to a wide range of drugs and cancers toward improving overall treatment efficacies.

JULY 29, 2019

Dr. Baowei Fei, a distinguished bioengineer at The University of Texas at Dallas, has been elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), an honor that represents the top 2 percent of individuals in medical and biological engineering.

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Fei, who also is a professor in the Department of Radiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, was elected for his transformative research in medical imaging and impact on cancer care. His work in quantitative imaging and image-guided intervention allows physicians to more precisely pinpoint cancer cells for earlier diagnosis and treatment, which can lead to better patient care and survival rates.

The College of Fellows comprises more than 2,000 outstanding medical and biological engineers in academia, industry and government, including engineering and medical school chairs, research directors, professors, innovators and successful entrepreneurs.

“Dr. Baowei Fei’s election as a fellow in AIMBE is driven by his distinctive and impactful research toward cancer treatment,” said Dr. Joseph J. Pancrazio, vice president for research at UT Dallas and professor of bioengineering, who was inducted as an AIMBE fellow in 2011. “The reputation of UTD’s bioengineering department has been growing substantially over the last several years, and Dr. Fei is a shining example of the clinical impact that can be achieved at the intersection of engineering, computer science and biomedicine.”

“Dr. Baowei Fei’s election as a fellow in AIMBE is driven by his distinctive and impactful research toward cancer treatment. The reputation of UTD’s bioengineering department has been growing substantially over the last several years, and Dr. Fei is a shining example of the clinical impact that can be achieved at the intersection of engineering, computer science and biomedicine.”

Dr. Joseph J. Pancrazio, vice president for research at UT Dallas

Fei’s work benefits medicine specifically in the areas of cancers of the prostate, head and neck, and heart disease. His group developed a technology system called molecular imaging directed, 3D ultrasound-guided biopsy, which improved upon 2D systems by allowing for earlier detection of potentially cancerous cells in the prostate. The technology is compatible with Fei’s larger goal: to support personalized precision medicine and customization of health care to the individual patient.

“Precision medicine is the tailoring of medical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient. The approach relies on our understanding of how a person’s unique molecular and genetic profile makes them susceptible to certain diseases,” Fei said.

Imaging technology is considered a leading advancement in personalized medicine.

“By quantifying the size and activity of cellular, molecular and metabolic happenings, we can better distinguish tissue that is normal from malignancy in an accurate, precise and consistent manner. With new imaging technology, we can then detect cancer early, before the disease progresses. It can also improve quality of life, lower health care costs and save lives,” he said.

Dr. Poras T. Balsara, interim dean of the Jonsson School, said Fei’s reputation for collegiality matches his research prowess.

“His courteousness and humility in his daily interactions and eagerness to mentor junior faculty members and students will enable him to find success and stand out even in the most competitive environments,” Balsara said.

Fei was formally inducted during a ceremony at AIMBE’s annual meeting in March in Washington, D.C. He joined UT Dallas in April 2018.

JULY 29, 2019

Dr. Kenneth Hoyt, associate professor of bioengineering at the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at The University of Texas at Dallas, recently received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study three-dimensional super-resolution ultrasound imaging (3D SR-US), specifically for breast cancer detection and treatment in the presurgical, or neoadjuvant, setting. The significant grant will total more than $1.4 million over four years.

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“The overarching goal of the funded research project is to develop a new 3D SR-US imaging system and image processing algorithms to improve breast cancer detection and assessment of early response to treatment,” said Hoyt.

Hoyt, director of the Small Animal Imaging Core Facility, recently published research on SR-US in Medical Physics in 2017, the Journal of Clinical Investigation in 2018, and the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine in 2019. Hoyt previously applied the imaging techniques to detect skeletal muscle microvascular dysfunction, specifically as a response to type 2 diabetes. Because SR-US has successfully quantified microvascular changes to skeletal muscle including insulin resistance in small animals with diabetes, Hoyt aims to apply the safe, low-cost imaging techniques to breast cancer.

Aggressive breast cancers can display distinctive microvascular characteristics as an ample blood supply is needed for these tumors to grow and metastasize. These microvascular networks can change quickly in response to effective treatment. Currently, physicians must use more invasive techniques such as tissue biopsies to study tissue changes, but the new 3D SR-US imaging system could be used in vivo, or within a whole, living organism. By effectively adapting the 3D SR-US imaging technique to breast cancer biomarkers, the imaging research could ultimately lead to improved breast cancer detection and early response assessment within weeks of starting treatment.

“While super-resolution ultrasound is in its infancy, there is tremendous momentum spurring continued development of this clinically translatable imaging modality,” Hoyt said.

The funded research project will feature broad, multidisciplinary collaboration between UT Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center. Hoyt provides experience in ultrasound instrumentation and signal processing; Dr. Baowei Fei, professor of bioengineering at UT Dallas, provides expertise in quantitative imaging and machine learning; Dr. Shashank Sirsi, assistant professor of bioengineering at UT Dallas, will focus on ultrasound contrast agent development; Dr. Jung-Whan (Jay) Kim, assistant professor of biological sciences at UT Dallas, will focus on cancer biology; and Dr. Basak Dogan, associate professor of radiology and Eugene P. Frenkel Endowed Scholar in Clinical Medicine at UT Southwestern will help guide technology development to facilitate future translational studies in breast cancer patients.

JULY 29, 2019

Dr. Baowei Fei was recently named a new Fellow of the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) and will be honored at the Plenary Session of the International Conference of SPIE Medical Imaging in San Diego, CA in February 2019.

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“It is my honor being a faculty member of Bioengineering at the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at UT Dallas. It is my privilege being part of this rapidly growing department and this rapidly growing university. Thank you for all your support.”

Fei, who joined the Jonsson School in 2018, is recognized as a prominent researcher in image-guided intervention.

From the SPIE website:

SPIE, The International Society for Optics and Photonics, was founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies. Serving more than 264,000 constituents from approximately 166 countries, the not-for-profit society advances emerging technologies through interdisciplinary information exchange, continuing education, publications, patent precedent, and career and professional growth. SPIE annually organizes and sponsors approximately 25 major technical forums, exhibitions, and education programs in North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific.

SPIE publishes the SPIE Digital Library, containing more than 480,000 research papers from the Proceedings of SPIE and the Society’s 11 scholarly journals with around 18,000 new papers added each year, and more than 350 eBooks from the SPIE Press catalog. The SPIE Press publishes print monographs, tutorial texts, Field Guides, and reference books. SPIE also publishes a wide variety of open access content.

The Society has named more than 1,200 SPIE members as Fellows since 1955. The Society welcomes 88 Members as new SPIE Fellows this year 2019, honored for their significant scientific and technical contributions in optics, photonics, imaging, and related fields.

November 15, 2018

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will support extramural research to investigate and mitigate challenges facing clinical assay development due to biopsy biospecimen preanalytical variability. The program will tie in with current efforts to optimize clinical biomarker assays utilized in NCI-sponsored clinical trials. Results from this research program will improve the understanding of how biopsy collection, processing, and storage procedures may affect all aspects of analytical performance for current and emerging clinical biomarkers, as well as expedite clinical biomarker assay development through the evidence-based standardization of biopsy handling practices. Critical information gained through these research awards may increase the reliability of clinical biomarker assays, reduce time requirements for assay development, and decrease assay failure during late-stage testing.

September 10, 2018

Provost Musselman of the University of Texas at Dallas appointed Dr. Baowei Fei to the endowed faculty position Cecil H. and Ida Green Chair in Systems Biology Science #3, one of the honorific appointment awarded by the University to its most distinguished faculty members.

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March 15, 2018

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is one of the most common valve lesions, which affects 9 million Americans, and is known to increase morbidity and mortality. MR occurs due to leakage of blood through the mitral valve and induces volume overload on the left ventricle, elevates diastolic wall stress and causes rapid left ventricular dilatation, ultimately leading to congestive heart failure within 5 years and death. Timely and effective repair of MR is of utmost importance to halt the progression of heart failure, but current options are limited. Open- heart surgery is the current standard of care and has a relatively high risk of post-operative mortality. Transcatheter mitral valve repair, is a new class of technologies in which MR repair is performed on a beating heart using a catheter that is guided to the mitral valve to deploy reparative devices. However, the route to the mitral valve is a challenging path for existing catheters to follow. The complexity associated with their implantation in a beating heart, often leads to failed procedures and conversion to open heart surgery. We propose to develop a novel intravascular steerable robot that is guided to the mitral valve by multimodality imaging and deploys a novel, low profile device that can effectively repair MR of all forms. This highly innovative and interdisciplinary project combines expertise in surgical robotics, imaging and mitral repair devices. We envision that the intravascular steerable robot and implant, guided by multimodality imaging will significantly simplify Transcatheter mitral valve repair, increasing the procedural accuracy and control, and reducing failure rates.

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