Radiology Research Labs
The Advanced Imaging Lab (AIL) - Alex Barker, PhD
The Advanced Imaging Lab (AIL) engages basic science and clinical faculty to provide a platform for cutting edge non-invasive translational imaging research. Housed in Children’s Hospital Colorado, we focus on pediatric imaging; however, research activities often span the lifetime of the patient. AIL faculty and staff include experts in MRI pulse sequence programming, cardiac and vascular MRI, image reconstruction and postprocessing. Additional services include the operation of an imaging core, which supports clinical and research image acquisition and postprocessing.
Brain Alcohol Research Laboratory - Joshua Gowin, PhD
We are interested in better understanding how brain function relates to an individual’s likelihood for engaging in risky patterns of substance use. We are currently studying adolescents in the transition period after high school to determine whether brain imaging metrics can help predict an individual’s likelihood of developing problematic patterns of use in the future. Future interests include examining the endogenous cannabinoid system to better understand how its function relates to substance use. We are also interested in acute drug administration methods to examine how neurotransmitter systems like dopamine and serotonin impact behavior and overall brain function.
iQ Lab - Julio Carballido-Gamio, PhD
The iQ Lab is dedicated to the development and implementation of novel image analysis algorithms for the identification and quantification of relevant features in medical images for musculoskeletal assessments in osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and HIV.
We work with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), quantitative computed tomography (QCT), high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) and dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
Miao Lab - Yubin Miao, PhD
The research interests in my laboratory focus on developing novel radiolabeled peptides for cancer (melanoma, breast and prostate cancers) diagnosis and treatment. Specifically, we are using radiolabeled peptides to target G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are over-expressed on cancer cells for cancer detection and therapy. Radiolabeled peptides are attractive probes for cancer imaging and therapy due to their specific nanomolar binding with the GPCRs on cancer cells. Radiolabeled peptides can selectively deliver diagnostic and therapeutic radionuclides to cancer cells through peptide-receptor interactions for imaging and therapy. Hence, malignant tumors can be detected non-invasively by imaging modalities (SPECT or PET) through the collection of photons generated from diagnostic radionuclides. Moreover, malignant tumors can be effectively treated by targeted radiation yielded from therapeutic radionuclides delivered by peptides.
Animal Imaging - Natalie Serkova, PhD
Oncologic imaging is one of the fastest developing areas in cancer research because it answers multiple mechanistic and translational questions by noninvasive means and often in real time. The Animal Imaging Shared Resource (AISR) provides CU Cancer Center investigators access to state-of-the-art imaging instrument to facilitate non-invasive animal imaging studies. We offer MRI, PET, CT, bioluminescence, and fluorescence imaging. In addition, NMR-based metabolomics and irradiation services are available. We provide our investigators with the established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all imaging-related animal handling and help in submitting to the IACUC.