Experimental imaging and image-guided therapy
Our research group for Experimental Imaging and Image-guided Therapy deals with new concepts for the further development of diagnostics and therapy. Imaging techniques such as MRI, CT and nuclear imaging play a central role in our research projects. We combine these modalities with new materials, such as new tracers, contrast agents or stimulus-responsive drug delivery systems, but also in combination with physical therapies such as MRI-guided high-energy focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU). These combinations are made possible by our facilities for nanomedicine, radiochemistry and preclinical imaging. The latter enables us to use all tomographic modalities for multimodal preclinical studies.
Main research areas
Experimental imaging
Imaging not only plays a central role in patient care, but also in biological and medical research, where small animal studies are carried out on a large scale to investigate diseases and new therapeutic approaches. In principle, all tomorgaphic procedures such as CT, MRI, PET and SPECT, which have been specially optimized for preclinical imaging, are available for imaging. In our laboratory, which is operated jointly with the Department of Nuclear Medicine and the Institute of Radiochemistry, multimodal and multiparametric imaging studies can therefore be carried out. Research in our group focuses on the technical development of imaging methods in combination with new, self-synthesized materials such as MR and CT contrast agents or new radiolabelled tracers and their use for the visualization and characterization of tumours and immunological reactions.
Image-guided therapy
Imaging not only plays a central role in diagnosis, but is also used to monitor and control various therapies. The central research topic here is MR-guided therapy with the aid of high-energy focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU). HIFU allows tissue to be heated or mechanically destroyed in a non-invasive way. In radiology, this procedure is already used for the treatment of uterine fibroids, desmoid tumors, or for the pain treatment of osteoid osteomas and bone metastases. Our research focuses on the design of new transducers, the acoustic characterization of sound fields, acoustic modelling and the preclinical evaluation of various HIFU-based treatment methods with the aim of bringing them into clinical application. Examples include the treatment of facet syndrome or pancreatic tumors, for which the first clinical studies will soon be launched.
Research projects
- Preclinical imaging and therapy of intraperitoneal metastases of colon carcinoma
- MR sequences for preclinical imaging
- Characterization and modeling of acoustic sound fields
- MR-HIFU classification and characterization of lung lesions
- New MR-HIFU applications
More information on research in experimental imaging and image-guided therapy can be found on the research group's website.