Washington University in St. Louis (WU)
My research focuses on the application of medical physics in radiology and nuclear medicine. I have been involved in projects and have contributed significantly to advancements in diagnostic and nuclear medicine modalities. Specifically, my research allows for better imaging quantification, optimization, and standardization, thereby improving patient care and medical accuracy. I investigated and developed a non-invasive background correction technique for spill-in effects. Understanding the spill-in effect is necessary for enhanced lesion detection when using PET scans, thereby reducing false-positives and false-negatives. I also investigated non-invasive imaging quantification approaches utilizing image-derived input function (IDIF) and population-based input function (PBIF) with the ultimate goal of eliminating the necessity for invasive arterial bloodwork tests. This was validated on healthy subjects as well as those with neurodegenerative disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. I am also involved in patient-specific radiation dose optimization and dosimetry based on age, size, clinical indications, and specific needs.