UCCRC Research Program Five

Advanced Imaging

Program Leaders:  Greg Karczmar, PhD and Heber MacMahon, MD

The University of Chicago Cancer Research Center (UCCRC) is at the forefront of the imaging revolution that is transforming cancer care. Extraordinary advances in imaging pioneered at the UCCRC are helping specialists diagnose cancer in its early, less harmful stages, and attack cancerous tumors with greater precision and with less harm to healthy tissue. Imaging is a crucial element in cancer treatment, in the analysis of many animal models of cancer, and in a large number of in vitro cancer-related experiments.

The Advanced Imaging Program consists of 25 members from two departments.  The scientific goals of the Program include:

  • investigating new methods for computerized image analysis to help in the early diagnosis of cancer (breast, lung, colon, and prostate carcinomas);
  • investigating new methods of image reconstruction for use in CT (computed tomography), SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography), and PET imaging;
  • developing new methods of image acquisition such as MRIS (magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy) and EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance imaging) methods;
  • identifying  imaging methods for oncology practice and for the evaluation of response to target-based cancer drugs; and
  • investigating methods for the evaluation of imaging systems, especially as they apply to computer-aided diagnosis and new imaging instrumentation.

The Program strives to achieve these goals by integrating and focusing the work of investigators with established research programs and by promoting collaborations.

Program Highlights 2008

 

 

Program 1
Cell Signaling and Gene Regulation
Program Leaders: Marsha Rosner, PhD and Suzanne Conzen, MD

Program 2
Molecular Genetics and Hematopoiesis
Program Leaders: Wendy Stock, MD and Michael Thirman, MD

Program 3
Immunology and Cancer
Program Leader: Thomas F. Gajewski, MD, PhD

Program 4
Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics
Program Leaders: Everett E. Vokes, MD and M. Eileen Dolan, PhD

Program 5
Advanced Imaging
Program Leaders: Greg Karczmar, PhD and Heber MacMahon, MD

Program 6
Cancer Risk and Prevention
Program Leaders: Brian Chiu, PhD and Andrea King, PhD