Speaker: Manojit Pramanik, Associate Professor at the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Title: Listening to Light – Photoacoustic Imaging and Its Biomedical Applications
Abstract: Photoacoustic imaging is a novel hybrid imaging technique combining both optical and ultrasound imaging. A short-pulsed laser source illuminates the tissue to generate sound waves called photoacoustic waves. These sound waves are used to obtain high contrast, high resolution deep tissue imaging of various physiological parameters. Photoacoustic imaging like ultrasound imaging is a multi-scale, multi-depth imaging modality. In this talk various photoacoustic imaging systems with different resolution and depth capabilities and their biomedical applications will be discussed. First a low-cost, high-speed, compact pulsed laser diode-based desktop photoacoustic tomography imaging system for small animal brain imaging will be discussed. Translating photoacoustic imaging into clinic is a challenge. A handheld photoacoustic imaging system based on clinical ultrasound platform will also be discussed for noninvasive sentinel lymph node imaging in small animals. This type of imaging system has high potential for clinical applications. In addition to photoacoustic tomography, high resolution photoacoustic microscopy system for angiogenesis imaging will be discussed. We also discuss about machine learning approaches to enhance the photoacoustic imaging. Combining imaging system with contrast agents opens door for targeted molecular imaging. A few contrast agents for photoacoustic with molecular imaging capabilities will also be talked about.
Bio: Professor Pramanik is an Associate Professor at the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. He received his Ph.D. degree (2010) in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. He has masters (MTech) from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, and undergraduate (BTech) from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur. His industry experiences include two years at General Electric Global Research (GRC), and one year at Philips Medical System, India. His research interest is in Medical Imaging Systems, Photoacoustic and Thermoacoustic Imaging, Image Reconstruction, Machine Learning, Medical Image Processing, Contrast Agents, Molecular Imaging, Monte-Carlo Simulation for light-tissue interaction, Biomedical Optics, Biomedical Device Design, Healthcare Innovation, Clinical Application areas such as Breast Cancer Imaging, Brain Imaging, Pancreatic Cancer, Diabetes, Treatment Monitoring etc. He has more than 100 international journal publications. He serves as the Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Biomedical Optics, Photoacoustics. Professor Pramanik is also the inaugural “Biodesign Faculty Fellow” offered by the Singapore Biodesign Programme in collaboration with Stanford Biodesign.