High frequency ultrasound transducers for characterisation of the tumour microenvironment

Solid tumours are often highly desmoplastic, characterised by excessive stromal components, such as collagen, which act to stiffen cancer. The increased stiffness of tumours compared to surrounding normal tissues has been exploited for tumour detection, most likely for millennia, but it is now believed that the biomechanical properties of tumours can help us understand how a tumour may respond to treatment. There is evidence to show that stiffer tumours are more likely to spread and that they are more likely to have a poor blood supply leading to treatment resistance. Preclinical tumour models are required in cancer research to help understand the biological, physical, immunological and genetic mechanisms that drive cancer and influence its response to treatment. Researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), have been using ultrasound to measure the biomechanical properties of tumour models to help understand how they affect the efficacy of treatments. To link the biomechanical properties with the stromal components of the tumour microenvironment, these properties need to be measured with very fine spatial detail (ideally with spatial resolution of less than 100 microns). One of the principal factors that limits ultrasound spatial resolution is the ultrasound beam width.
The successful FUSE PhD student will work in collaboration with the ICR, to develop novel methods to produce highly focused high frequency ultrasound beams that can used to probe the tumour microenvironment. The student will develop new transducer technology/hardware, and apply it to the measurement of tissue stiffness. There is opportunity to spend time in London performing measurements at the ICR.