Connectivity

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(Background)
(Challenges in forming synergies between imaging modalities)
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No single imaging technique is capable of analysing structure across scales from 'patient-to-protein'. This type of analysis would allow us to, for example, identify a tumour in a patient, image the cellular and subcellular changes within the tumour, and look for the causative mutations and the target and efficacy of therapeutic agents. We may be able to acheive this ambitious goal by linking multiple imaging modalities to analyse structure across scales, from whole organisms to tissue microanatomy to subcellular ultrastructure and single protein localization in a single sample. This would involve connecting equipment and expertise across a variety of biomedical imaging fields. The BioImagingUK community is well placed to make the necessary connections to undertake such a large scale project.
No single imaging technique is capable of analysing structure across scales from 'patient-to-protein'. This type of analysis would allow us to, for example, identify a tumour in a patient, image the cellular and subcellular changes within the tumour, and look for the causative mutations and the target and efficacy of therapeutic agents. We may be able to acheive this ambitious goal by linking multiple imaging modalities to analyse structure across scales, from whole organisms to tissue microanatomy to subcellular ultrastructure and single protein localization in a single sample. This would involve connecting equipment and expertise across a variety of biomedical imaging fields. The BioImagingUK community is well placed to make the necessary connections to undertake such a large scale project.
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==== Challenges in forming synergies between imaging modalities ====
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==== What are the most valuable synergies between biological microscopy, research in vivo imaging, and medical imaging? ====
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- Non-adjacency of facilities, especially where equipment is large and expensive e.g. distance of synchrotron and medical imaging to research infrastructure
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Synergies already exist between different imaging modalities. Correlative light & electron microscopy (CLEM) and correlative light & MRI are examples of multimodal imaging techniques which are currently being applied to important biological questions. In addition, commercial systems which combine imaging modalities within a single instrument are coming onto the market (eg PET and MRI, fluorescence and electron microscopy). However, to fully answer this question we need to gather information from the BioImagingUK community.Initially, we would like to gather a list of imaging techniques across the spectrum, a list of publications on correlative imaging so that we can start to identify hotspots of expertise, and a list of imaging probes so that we can begin to consider how to use or adapt markers for multimodal imaging. Our aim is to identify important scientific questions which can only be answered by imaging across scales in the same sample (ie patient-to-protein). Grant applications to acquire and/ or connect imaging equipment, probes, software and expertise could then be assembled. This effort will drive APPLICATION focused development rather then ‘technology for technology’s sake’.
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- Lack of cross-disciplinary expertise and training
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- Need for development of markers that can be detected across imaging techniques (light, X-ray, electron), requiring interaction of imaging experts with chemists?
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- Lack of software for correlating different imaging datasets
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==== Suggestions and discussion points ====
==== Suggestions and discussion points ====

Revision as of 15:29, 24 September 2010

Contents

Topics

What are the most valuable synergies between biological microscopy, research in vivo imaging, and medical imaging?

Members

- Lucy Collinson, Tony Ng, Martyn Chamberlain, Tony Gee, Jemima Burden, Dave Clarke, Boris Vojnovic, Jeremy Skepper

Activities

The first Connectivity Workgroup discussion took place at the BioimagingUK meeting on 3rd June 2010 at Imperial College.

An informal Connectivity Workgroup Roundtable Discussion was held on Tuesday 14th September 2010 at the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute. Attendees were Lucy Collinson (Electron Microscopy, CRUK LRI), Anton Page (Biomedical Imaging Unit, Southampton General Hospital), Martyn Chamberlain (Biophysical Sciences Institute, Durham University), Chris Phillips (IR imaging, Physics, Imperial College), Jason Swedlow (Image Informatics, Bioimaging UK and Dundee University), Jemima Burden (Electron Microscopy, MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology), Tony Ng (Cell and Molecular Biophysics, KCL), Liz Duke (Diamond Synchrotron), Raffa Carzaniga (Electron Microscopy, Imperial College) Tony Gee (PET and Tracer Development, Imperial College), Dave Clarke (STFC, Rutherford Appleton Lab), Jeremy Skepper (Cambridge University) and Boris Vojnovic (Advanced Technology Development Group, Oxford University). Apologies were received from John Girkin (Biophysical Sciences Institute, Durham University), Allison Van-de-Meene (Head of Bioimaging, Rothamsted Research), Kevin Brindle (MRI, Biochemistry, Cambridge University and CRUK CRI), Paul French (Photonics, Imperial College), Alex Ball (Electron Beam Lab Manager, Natural History Museum), David Hawkes (Medical Imaging Science, UCL) , Nick Long (Probes for MRI/PET/Optical Imaging, Chemistry, Imperial College), Daniel Zicha (Light Microcopy, CRUK LRI).

Resources

Background

No single imaging technique is capable of analysing structure across scales from 'patient-to-protein'. This type of analysis would allow us to, for example, identify a tumour in a patient, image the cellular and subcellular changes within the tumour, and look for the causative mutations and the target and efficacy of therapeutic agents. We may be able to acheive this ambitious goal by linking multiple imaging modalities to analyse structure across scales, from whole organisms to tissue microanatomy to subcellular ultrastructure and single protein localization in a single sample. This would involve connecting equipment and expertise across a variety of biomedical imaging fields. The BioImagingUK community is well placed to make the necessary connections to undertake such a large scale project.

What are the most valuable synergies between biological microscopy, research in vivo imaging, and medical imaging?

Synergies already exist between different imaging modalities. Correlative light & electron microscopy (CLEM) and correlative light & MRI are examples of multimodal imaging techniques which are currently being applied to important biological questions. In addition, commercial systems which combine imaging modalities within a single instrument are coming onto the market (eg PET and MRI, fluorescence and electron microscopy). However, to fully answer this question we need to gather information from the BioImagingUK community.Initially, we would like to gather a list of imaging techniques across the spectrum, a list of publications on correlative imaging so that we can start to identify hotspots of expertise, and a list of imaging probes so that we can begin to consider how to use or adapt markers for multimodal imaging. Our aim is to identify important scientific questions which can only be answered by imaging across scales in the same sample (ie patient-to-protein). Grant applications to acquire and/ or connect imaging equipment, probes, software and expertise could then be assembled. This effort will drive APPLICATION focused development rather then ‘technology for technology’s sake’.

Suggestions and discussion points

- Engage all life sciences imaging communities in BioImaging UK (biomedical, synchrotron,…)

- Gather a comprehensive list of imaging techniques e.g. Biological Microscopy X-ray microscopy (microCT, synchrotron), Light microscopy, Electron microscopy, NMR Biomedical imaging Nuclear imaging (SPECT, PET), Electromagnetic imaging (MRI), X-ray imaging (CT) Research in vivo imaging MicroMRI, MicroCT, Light microscopy

- Identify areas where synergies already occur (e.g. light and electron microscopy)...

- Consider appropriate co-location of imaging equipment and expertise at each tier from small to medium and large scale facilities…

- Consider availability of related disciplines at medium and large scale facilities (chemistry, materials, physics, image analysis/ bioinformatics)

- Develop training courses which encompass multiple imaging disciplines

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