Distinguished Medical Engineering Seminar

Abstract: I will present our work on optical imaging of brain using laser speckle and photoacoustic imaging. Firstly, we have combined multimodality (absorption, speckle, fluorescence) microscope for imaging technologies for long term imaging brain structure and vasculature in awake animals, focusing on the development of vascular changes associated with brain tumors. Our studies point to continual changes in tumor vasculature throughout the life time of the animal. Secondly, I will present our photoacoustic imaging system, which coupled with nanoparticles achieves contrast enhancement in brain tumors with the goal of targeting the tumor and identifying its margins. Further, I will present the results from brain tumor targeting with photodynamic therapy.

Biography: Nitish V. Thakor is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University since 1983. He has also been the Professor of Biomedical Engineering and served as the Director of Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology at the National University of Singapore since 2012. Prof. Thakor's technical expertise is in the field of Neuroengineering, where he has researched and developed many technologies for brain monitoring, imagine, prosthetic arms and neuroprosthesis. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, Life Fellow of IEEE, Founding Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society, and Fellow of International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering.  http://neuroengineering.bme.jhu.edu