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RESEARCH THEMES
Developing advanced ultrasound techniques for imaging and therapeutic interventions
Focused Brain Interventions
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Acoustic Holography
Illustration by Noe Jimenez
We design and 3D-print acoustic lenses to bend acoustic fields into arbitrary patterns. Using anatomical information and advanced imaging techniques, we shape the acoustic field to treat entire brain structures (e.g., the hippocampus) or disease sites (e.g., brain tumours).
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Remote neuronal activation
Illustration by Nicoletta Barolini
We use focused ultrasound and gene delivery vehicles (e.g., viral vectors) to modify neurons and make them responsive to external stimuli (e.g., light). Using non-invasive and remote excitation approaches, we excite or inhibit distinct neural pathways, in an effort to understand brain connectivity and treat neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
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Targeted drug delivery into the brain
We use focused ultrasound and circulating microbubbles to disrupt the blood-brain barrier for targeted drug delivery into the brain. This non-invasive approach can increase the delivered doses of multiple drugs (e.g., chemotherapeutics, growth factors, proteins, and viral vectors) and drug delivery vehicles (e.g. liposomes and nanoparticles). Our group's primary focus is the treatment of paediatric and adult brain tumours.
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Mechanical modulation of brain tumours using focused ultrasound
We investigate how focused ultrasound (FUS) can stimulate mechanosensitive ion channels, such as Piezo channels, to influence brain cancer cell behaviour. By adapting FUS parameters, we aim to activate these channels and potentially trigger tumour cell death through downstream signalling pathways. This approach explores a novel avenue in neuro-oncology, leveraging acoustic forces to stimulate mechanobiological responses in tumour cells that could aid in cancer treatment.
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Robot-assisted ultrasound therapy
We combine robotics and custom-designed transducers to perform robot-assisted ultrasound therapy. Using advanced 6- and 7-degrees-of-freedom (7-DOF) robotic arms, we develop automated targeting routines to accelerate procedures such as blood-brain barrier opening. In combination with real-time imaging techniques and acoustic feedback, we can compensate for patient motion and treat multiple structures across arbitrary trajectories.
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Photoacoustic monitoring of brain treatments
We develop photoacoustic (PA) imaging methods for real-time monitoring of blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening to identify BBB disruption and downstream effects during focused ultrasound treatment. Our work involves optimizing wavelength range and light delivery geometry of light source to obtain optimal PA images.
Super-resolution Ultrasound Imaging
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Super-resolution imaging of the microvasculature
Our research interests include ultrasound and contrast enhanced ultrasound imaging, with a focus on image and signal analysis of ultrasound data, ranging from fundamental studies to clinical applications. Our principal research involves the development of super-resolution ultrasound imaging techniques for quantitative and functional imaging of the microvasculature, along with developing techniques for artefact correction including aberration and motion correction techniques.
Ultrasound for Imaging & Material Characterisation
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Coherent multi-transducer ultrasound imaging
We coherently compound images from multiple transducers using our novel CoMTUS method to increase resolution, contrast to noise ratio and field of view. Our work involves optimizing beamforming techniques and spatial orientations of the transducers to obtain the best images possible, developing the real-time imaging capabilities of our system and improving material characterisation predictions.
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