What is Imaging?
‘Use a picture it’s worth a thousand words’ [Arthur Brisbane 1911].
Imaging involves the formation of pictures of the lung typically either by (i) looking at how the lung responds to x-rays - computed tomography imaging or (ii) exploiting the magnetic properties of atoms in the lung and airways -magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
The power of imaging is that the output – the image- is a picture that everyone can see and interpret in a variety of ways – just like the photograph.
How will imaging research benefit patients?
Images of the lung are a very powerful way to look at how the lung functions in both health and disease. This is because conventional lung function tests often lack the sensitivity to detect early disease and damage within the airways. As such imaging tests can act as ‘biomarkers’ of early lung damage in diseases like asthma and COPD. In addition due to their sensitivity, imaging tests may help facilitate the development of smaller clinical trials.
What imaging research is taking place in Leicester Respiratory BRU?
The Leicester BRU is driving imaging research in airways disease and collaborates with a range of other imaging science groups and companies across the European Union through a variety of program grants and developmental work.
AirPROM – ‘Airways Disease Predicting Outcomes through Patient Specific Computation Models’ – is a large program of work coordinated by Leicester to develop computer models of patients lungs in asthma and COPD. The AirPROM team will try to use imaging techniques (both CT and MRI) to develop and validate the computer models. The models will be used to (i) validate lung function tests, (ii) assess the response to new asthma and COPD treatments and (iii) predict the natural history of lung diseases. For more information, please visit:
http://www.europeanlung.org/en/projects-and-research/projects/airprom/home
Parametric Response Mapping (PRM) and statistical analysis of imaging datasets - In collaboration with the Centre for Molecular Imaging- University of Michigan we are evaluating how to use statistics to analyse imaging datasets (both CT and MRI scans) to develop sensitive biomarkers of lung disease.
Who are the people working in imaging research within the BRU and who should I contact If I am interested in taking part in imaging research?
A group of people are developing imaging research within the Leicester BRU.
Prof Salman Siddiqui –Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine and Honorary Respiratory consultant.
Dr Sumit Gupta – Clinical Lecturer in Radiology
Dr Ruth Hartley – Clinical Research Fellow – Radiology.
Dr Sherif Gonem – Clinical Research Fellow – Respiratory Physiology
Where can I find out more information about Imaging?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_imaging - general internet link discussing imaging
http://www.rsna.org/-International society of radiologists, medical physicists and other medical professionals with more than 51,000 members from 136 countries across the globe.
