Research

Models for targeted cancer imaging

When treating cancer, it's important to know about the tumor's condition, such as what kind of mutations it has, how it reacts to certain drugs, and its vascularization. By using imaging, doctors can see what's happening inside the tumor without having to do a painful procedure like a biopsy. In the following projects, I used math and modeling techniques to get more quantitative information from imaging data.

• Prediction of optimal contrast times post-imaging agent administration to inform personalized fluorescence-guided surgery (learn more)

• Noninvasive quantification of target availability during therapy using paired-agent fluorescence tomography (learn more)

• Generalized paired-agent kinetic model for in vivo quantification of cancer cell-surface receptors under receptor saturation conditions (learn more)

• Correcting for targeted and control agent signal differences in paired-agent molecular imaging of cancer cell-surface receptors (learn more)

• Examining the Feasibility of Quantifying Receptor Availability Using Cross-Modality Paired-Agent Imaging (learn more)

• Ultrasound imaging of immuno suppressive markers

Models for early detection of cancer

Many cancers are detected at late stages, when they are already metastasised and spread to other parts of the body. Early detection of cancer, while it is still localized may improve the chances of a successful treatment. Methods for early cancer screening include imaging, blood tests, biopsy, etc. In the following projects, I developed models that can tell the difference between malignant and benign cancers.

• Tumor volume doubling time estimated from digital breast tomosynthesis mammograms distinguishes invasive breast cancers from benign lesions (learn more)

• Optimized screening and classification of early aggressive cancers with machine learning techniques

Targeted cancer therapy

Even if cancer is found early, it's still important to give each patient a treatment that is tailored for their cancer. In my following projects, I joined up with brilliant biologists and material scientists to find better ways to do gene therapy and to make sure the medicine goes exactly where it's needed.

• A rationally identified panel of microRNAs targets multiple oncogenic pathways to enhance chemotherapeutic effects in glioblastoma models (learn more)

• A microfluidics-based scalable approach to generate extracellular vesicles with enhanced therapeutic MicroRNA loading for intranasal delivery to mouse glioblastomas (learn more)

• A New Nrf2 Inhibitor Enhances Chemotherapeutic Effects in Glioblastoma Cells Carrying p53 Mutations (learn more)

• Inhaled Gold Nano-Star Carriers for Targeted Delivery of Triple Suicide Gene Therapy and Therapeutic MicroRNAs to Lung Metastases (learn more)

• Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Polyaminocarboxylate Ligand‐Based Theranostic Conjugates for Antibody‐Targeted Cancer Therapy and Near‐Infrared Optical Imaging (learn more)

For complete list of publications please check my Google Scholar