ABSTRACT: 2014 ELATE Institutional Action Project Poster Symposium
Project Title: Enhancing Computational Biological Imaging Research at UChicago
Name and Institution: Maryellen Giger, Ph.D., A. N. Pritzker Professor of Radiology/Medical Physics, ViceChair of Radiology for Basic Science Research, The University of Chicago
Collaborators: Kenneth Polonsky, M.D., Dean of BSD and Medical School; Conrad Gilliam, Ph.D., Dean for
Research & Graduate Education, David Paushter, M.D., Chair, Radiology
Background, Challenge or Opportunity: Imaging can be viewed as its own scientific program of study (science
of imaging) as well as a resource for other scholarly programs of study (imaging of science). World-renowned
UChicago imaging scientists are engaged in research on acquisition (instrumentation, source, detector design,
probes) and computational imaging (reconstruction algorithms, quantitative image analyses/computer vision,
visualization). In addition, such research often involves interfacing with scientists in other disciplines, such as
cancer, neuroscience, genomics, bioengineering, and paleontology. During the past decade, imaging
initiatives have emerged in various localized regions (silos) of the University creating research resources for
the imaging of biological sciences for basic science, pre-clinical, and clinical research. Additional initiatives are
in the planning stage for molecular imaging with cyclotron and radiochemistry labs and a MRI (magnetic
resonance imaging) center. Furthermore, there has been a substantial increase in imaging users as new
university initiatives (e.g., Institute for Molecular Engineering, Big Data Science) and alliances (with Argonne,
Marine Biology Labs, Fermi) have been formed. Imaging is an area where the University can uniquely leverage
expertise to yield impact on theory, methods & practice -- across multiple scales and tasks. Thus, we have the
opportunity to identify the parallel imaging efforts across campus in order to gain a unified approach through
cross-talk, reduced redundancies, and joint funding opportunities.
Purpose/Objectives: The purpose of this IAP is to assess imaging at UChicago, and better align & integrate its
role within the various initiatives of the University’s Strategic Plans. The goal is to leverage our faculty’s
imaging expertise as well as its computational strengths across all scales (from molecular all the way to
organismal) to establish a (virtual) imaging institute in order to move UChicago away from silos of imaging
research expertise to a unified, multi-disciplinary intellectual home for imaging faculty with an integrated, but
distributed, research resource for the university’s expanding biological sciences and molecular engineering
disciplines. We aim to strategically position UChicago as a world leader in quantitative computational
bioogical imaging, including the various divisions, institutes, and national labs (i.e., BSD, PSD, SSD, IME, CI,
ANL, Fermi, MBL).
Methods/Approach: Towards the assessment of current biological imaging across campus, I will (a) host
meetings with stakeholders from various departments/institutes/labs, (b) create, distribute, and analyze
results from a campus-wide “imaging survey” to learn what scientific imaging programs and resources
currently exist, (c) review peer institutions and identify the areas of imaging in which we are already
competitive, (d) work with administration to create a website that will serve as a virtual imaging institute
(including a “match.com” aspect for both faculty-faculty and faculty-resource collaborations), and (e) along
with others, compose a white paper on our distinctive strengths, potential programmatic research and
educational opportunities, short- and long-term goals with realistic milestones, and plans for sustainability.
Outcomes and Evaluation: Success/impact metrics will be the number of (a) multidisciplinary scholarly
collaborations enhanced by imaging, (b) multidisciplinary imaging-related grants and/or industry agreements,
(c) patents or other IP, and (d) the inclusion of imaging in the university’s strategic plan.
Enhancing Computational Biological Imaging
Research at UChicago
Introduction
• Biological imaging has an increasing role in biological discovery.
• Imaging can be viewed as its own scientific program of study (science of
imaging) as well as a resource for other scholarly programs of study (imaging
of science).
• World-renowned UChicago imaging scientists are currently engaged in
research on acquisition (instrumentation, source, detector design, probes)
and computational imaging (reconstruction algorithms, quantitative image
analyses/computer vision, visualization).
• Such research often involves interfacing with scientists in other disciplines,
such as cancer, neuroscience, genomics, bioengineering, and paleontology,
which currently are highlighted in UChicago’s strategic planning.
The Challenge
• During the past decade, imaging initiatives have emerged separately in
various localized pockets of the University creating potentially redundant
research resources.
• Initiatives are progressing for molecular imaging with cyclotron and
radiochemistry labs and a magnetic resonance imaging research center.
• Initiatives are progressing for the microscopic imaging of live cells in
collaboration with the Marine Biology Labs.
• There is a substantial increase in imaging users as new university
initiatives (e.g., Computation Institute, Institute for Molecular
Engineering, and Big Data Science) and alliances (with Argonne, Marine
Biology Labs, Fermi) have been formed.
• Imaging is an area where the University can uniquely leverage expertise to
yield impact on theory, methods, & practice across multiple scales and tasks.
• Thus, we have the opportunity to identify the parallel imaging efforts across
campus in order to gain a unified approach through cross-talk, reduced
redundancies, and joint funding opportunities.
Mentors & Collaborators
•
•
•
•
Kenneth Polonsky, M.D., Dean of the Biological Sciences Division
Conrad Gilliam, Ph.D., Dean of Research & Graduate Education
Martin Feder, Ph.D., Dean for Academic Affairs
David Paushter, M.D., Chair of Department of Radiology
Maryellen L. Giger, Ph.D.
A. N. Pritzker Professor of Radiology / Medical Physics
The University of Chicago
Objectives
• Assess imaging at UChicago, and better align & integrate its role within the
various initiatives of the University’s Strategic Plans.
• Leverage UChicago faculty’s imaging expertise as well as its computational
strengths across all scales (from molecular all the way to organismal) to
establish a (virtual) imaging institute in order to move UChicago away from
silos of imaging research expertise to a unified, multi-disciplinary intellectual
home for imaging faculty with integrated, but distributed, research resources
for the university’s expanding biological sciences and molecular engineering
disciplines.
• Strategically position UChicago as a world leader in quantitative
computational biological imaging.
Approach
• Hold one-on-one and group meetings with UChicago leaders & faculty
• Stakeholders include:
• Imaging science faculty & staff
• Biomedical & molecular engineering research faculty & staff
• Students
• Institution
• Industry
• Society
• Prepare a campus-wide “imaging survey” to learn what scientific imaging
programs and resources currently exist
• Review peer institutions to identify the areas of imaging in which we are
already competitive & host an external group to campus for advice
• Seek administrative support to create a website that will serve as a virtual
imaging institute
• Clearing house for imaging-related talks, conferences, symposia
• A “match.com” for faculty-faculty & faculty-resource collaborations
• Compose a white paper on our distinctive strengths, potential programmatic
research and educational opportunities, short- and long-term goals with
realistic milestones, and plans for sustainability
Imaging
Source
Detector
System
Contrast Media
& Imaging
Probes
Post-Processing,
Image Reconstruction,
Image Registration
Quantitative Image Analysis:
Morphology & Physiology;
Computer-aided Diagnosis;
Interpretation; Datamining
Visualization;
Human/Computer
Interface & Data
Output
Image-Guided
Interventions
CT (CT/PET)
Optical
Nuclear medicine
The Science of Imaging: The Imaging Chain
Subject (Human,
Animal, Specimen,
Cells, Materials)
X-ray radiography
EPR
Biological
Research &
Imaging
Science
Microscopy (molecules,
cells) (optical, x-ray..)
MRI
PET
Ultrasound
The Imaging of Science
molecules cells
• Live cells
• Fixed cells
small
tissue animals humans fossils earth universe
•
•
•
•
Patients
Subjects
Mummies
Fossils
• Methods to be scaled to humans
• Methods to be used on animal models
for basic science & pharma studies
Evaluation Metrics
Future impact will be measured in terms of the number of:
• multidisciplinary scholarly collaborations enhanced by imaging
• multidisciplinary imaging-related grants and/or industry agreements
• patents or other IP
• inclusion of imaging in the university’s strategic plan
Expected Impact & Next Steps
• Strategically positioning UChicago as a world leader in quantitative
computational biological imaging will greatly impact scientific discovery,
novel engineering developments, and clinical and entrepreneurial
translations, which ultimately will benefit society.
• Exemplary expected next steps made possible from this integrated effort:
• Scientific program focused on the in vivo human imaging of live cells.
• Enhanced molecular engineering with imaging of lymphatics.
• Big data imaging to heighten the inquiry possible across populations by
linking characteristic objective big data across scale – from genomic to
molecular to cellular to functional to structural – and potentially across
time by allowing the span to include evolutionary biologists.
• Systems imaging approach for disruptive imaging configurations.