Selected Grantee Publications
Spatiotemporal Image Reconstruction to Enable High-Frame-Rate Dynamic Photoacoustic Tomography With Rotating-Gantry Volumetric Imagers
Cam et al., Journal of Biomedical Optics . 2024.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38249994
Dynamic photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) is a valuable imaging technique for monitoring physiological processes. However, the current imaging techniques are often limited to two-dimensional spatial imaging. While PACT imagers capable of taking three-dimensional spatial images are commercially available, these systems have substantial limitations. Typically, the data are acquired sequentially rather than simultaneously at all views. The objects being imaged are dynamic and can vary during this process; as such, image reconstruction is inherently difficult, and the result is often incomplete. Cam et al. propose an image reconstruction method that can address these challenges and enable volumetric dynamic PACT imaging using existing preclinical imagers, which has the potential to significantly advance preclinical research and facilitate the monitoring of critical physiological biomarkers. Supported by ORIP (R44OD023029) and NIBIB.
Synthetic Protein Circuits for Programmable Control of Mammalian Cell Death
Xia et al., Cell. 2024.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38657604/
Natural cell-death pathways have been shown to eliminate harmful cells and shape immunity. Researchers used synthetic protein-level cell-death circuits, collectively termed “synpoptosis” circuits, to proteolytically regulate engineered executioner proteins and mammalian cell death. They show that the circuits direct cell death modes, respond to combinations of protease inputs, and selectively eliminate target cells. This work provides a foundation for programmable control of mammalian cell death. Future studies could focus on programmable control of cell death in various contexts, including cancer, senescence, fibrosis, autoimmunity, and infection. Supported by ORIP (F30OD036190) and NIBIB.