Deep Learning guided Imaging to correlate imaging from a whole organ to cellular level

Brief description of the context of the research including potential impact

Hierarchical Phase-Contrast Tomography (HiP-CT) is an X-ray technique developed using high-energy X-rays, that allow us to create images of whole human organs at high resolution (ca. 1 um) and in three dimensions. This allows us to better understand the complex structure and function of the human body, as well as to better understand changes caused by disease.

Our new imaging technique is similar to the X-ray CT used widely in conventional medical imaging but uses a synchrotron X-ray source based at the ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation facility in Grenoble). This X-ray source offers the brightest and most coherent beam in the world, and, coupled to the HIP-CT technique we're developing, allows us to image entire human organs (including lung, heart, brain) with 25um resolution, and zoom in on cellular structures at ~1.2um resolution without cutting the tissue. We have imaged human organs in health and disease including Covid-19 victims.

Aims and Objectives

The specific objectives are to:
Develop and apply deep learning techniques to segment HiP-CT data (airways, blood vessels, cells, etc.) to enable biological insights to be drawn and for further biophysical simulations.
Explore more advanced machine learning techniques such as generative adversarial networks, in order to correlate HiP-CT data with images from other modalities (such as histology, lightsheet, MRI and CT). This type of analysis will enable substantially better interpretation of HiP-CT so that it can provide quantitative biological and medical insights.

Novelty of Research Methodology

Alignment to EPSRC's strategies and research areas

Any companies or collaborators involved

The project is an international interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists and mathematicians at UCL, ESRF and DLS, and clinicians at Hannover-biobank, Mainz and Heidelberg, UCL and Imperial College London, together with many other collaborators.

The critical mass of scientists and engineers that i4health will produce will ensure the UK's continued standing as a world-leader in medical imaging and healthcare technology research. In addition to continued academic excellence, they will further support a future culture of industry and entrepreneurship in healthcare technologies driven by highly trained engineers with deep understanding of the key factors involved in delivering effective translatable and marketable technology. They will achieve this through high quality engineering and imaging science, a broad view of other relevant technological areas, the ability to pinpoint clinical gaps and needs, consideration of clinical user requirements, and patient considerations. Our graduates will provide the drive, determination and enthusiasm to build future UK industry in this vital area via start-ups and spin-outs adding to the burgeoning community of healthcare-related SMEs in London and the rest of the UK. The training in entrepreneurship, coupled with the vibrant environment we are developing for this topic via unique linkage of Engineering and Medicine at UCL, is specifically designed to foster such outcomes. These same innovative leaders will bolster the UK's presence in medical multinationals - pharmaceutical companies, scanner manufacturers, etc. - and ensure the UK's competitiveness as a location for future R&D and medical engineering. They will also provide an invaluable source of expertise for the future NHS and other healthcare-delivery services enabling rapid translation and uptake of the latest imaging and healthcare technologies at the clinical front line. The ultimate impact will be on people and patients, both in the UK and internationally, who will benefit from the increased knowledge of health and disease, as well as better treatment and healthcare management provided by the future technologies our trainees will produce.

In addition to impact in healthcare research, development, and capability, the CDT will have major impact on the students we will attract and train. We will provide our talented cohorts of students with the skills required to lead academic research in this area, to lead industrial development and to make a significant impact as advocates of the science and engineering of their discipline. The i4health CDT's combination of the highest academic standards of research with excellent in-depth training in core skills will mean that our cohorts of students will be in great demand placing them in a powerful position to sculpt their own careers, have major impact within our discipline, while influencing the international mindset and direction. Strong evidence demonstrates this in our existing cohorts of students through high levels of conference podium talks in the most prestigious venues in our field, conference prizes, high impact publications in both engineering, clinical, and general science journals, as well as post-PhD fellowships and career progression. The content and training innovations we propose in i4health will ensure this continues and expands over the next decade.