Mission
Statement of the Basic Science Section
of
the UTMB Radiology Department
To
conduct basic and clinical research that will lead to new and/or improved
applications of physics for diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Our research focuses on medical imaging with particular emphasis in 3-D imaging,
image processing and analysis in order to improve diagnosis, treatment and
understanding of disease. An
additional research focus is in the science of innovative communication for
improved training in radiology. Research
themes in imaging are strongly aligned with "minimally invasive
medicine," the paradigm for health care in the 21st century.
To
provide imaging and analytical support of radiologists and collaboration with
other basic and clinical scientists
who
will conduct research in all areas of medicine.
To
provide core instruction in medical physics and other basic sciences
for
radiology fellows, radiology residents, medical students and medical imaging
technologists.
|
|
Introduction
The Basic Science Section of
The Department of Radiology includes faculty with degrees in the sciences of
radiology. This includes those
trained in medical physics, engineering, chemistry and pharmacy sciences related
to radiology. Medical physics is a
branch of applied physics, which utilizes concepts and methods of physics to
help diagnose and treat human disease. Medical physicists in Texas must be
licensed by the State of Texas in the practice of medical physics and be board
certified by either of the following: The American Board of Radiology, The
American Board of Medical Physics or The American Board of Science in Nuclear
Medicine. Currently in the section,
the basic science faculty is comprised of two medical physicists with PhD degrees.
Description of the basic science section
The faculty of the Basic
Science Section provides basic science training through didactic and laboratory
teaching in basic, atomic and nuclear physics, instrumentation, functional,
anatomical, and interventional medical imaging, safety, chemistry including
magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and basic research in radiology.
Graduate training is provided to radiology fellows, radiology residents and
medical students. The same topics also are part of the training of medical
imaging technologists. In addition,
the basic scientists contribute to the daily clinical work in the department and
to both basic and clinical research in radiology as well as performing
administrative duties related to the Basic Science Section.
basic science education
Basic science curriculum for
residents in radiology lasts for one year and includes three one hour lectures
per week covering all the basic sciences, instrumentation and radiation safety
in radiology. Medical imaging
technology training includes a four month course in basic atomic and nuclear
physics for nuclear medicine, a four month course in radiation safety, a four month course in nuclear medicine instrumentation and three
four month courses in basic and advanced magnetic resonance imaging physics and
instrumentation.
basic science research
Faculty conduct research in
most areas of medical imaging including computed tomography (CT), magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), functional brain
imaging such as fMRI, ultrasound imaging, nuclear medicine imaging and 3-D
imaging, 3-D image processing and many other forms of image processing and
analysis. In addition, research has been proposed that includes a novel and unique delivery and
presentation of the physics of radiology utilizing a curriculum based on the
WWW, state-of-the-art video streaming technology and computer-generated 3-D
models and animations, which will augment and improve student comprehension and
understanding.
3-D Imaging, processing and analysis
One of the areas of emphasis in the Basic Science
Section is developing 3-D imaging in radiology.
3-D imaging does not supplant traditional training and diagnosis of
routine tomographic and planar clinical radiographic imaging but provides
methods of significant image enhancement. 3-D
images frequently give a global view of clinical problems and permit
interactivity with the 3-D image for better anatomical display.
3-D image immersion permits the physician to view the anatomy from within
the patient without an invasive procedure.
Patient care improvements have been demonstrated in providing better
clinical, interventional and surgical planning.
Global and immersive views of the anatomy from CT, MRI, Nuclear and
Ultrasound make medical training easier and enhance communication between the
physician and the patient. A
natural consequence of 3-D image reconstruction is the anatomical quantitation
that is possible. This has been
applied, for example, in the volume measurement of anatomical features including
tumors and other anatomical anomalies. This
3-D imaging technology is rapidly developing, has become routine in specific
clinical imaging protocols and is becoming integrated into the training of
medical students and radiologists.
|
