VISE Seminar: Computational Modeling to Enable Therapeutic Intervention: Applications in Radiation Oncology
Title: Computational Modeling to Enable Therapeutic Intervention: Applications in Radiation Oncology
Dual Speaker Format:
Albert Attia, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, VUMC
and
Jared A. Weis, PhD, Research Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, VU
Date: Thursday, January 12, 2017
Time: 12:20pm start, 12:15pm lunch
Place: Stevenson Center 5326
Abstract: Patients with intracranial metastasis treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are evaluated for local control using serial MR imaging. It is difficult to radiographically distinguish a local tumor recurrence from radiation-induced necrosis, as both lesions demonstrate expanding areas of contrast enhancement and surrounding abnormality on follow-up imaging. Differentiating the two conditions is critical, as management strategies are drastically different; however, there is currently no definitive diagnostic method. In recent work, we have shown the promise of image-based mathematical modeling methodologies to potentially help differentiate radiation-induced necrosis from tumor recurrence in this clinically challenging setting. In this dual format seminar, we will review some of the clinical background and challenges associated with radiation therapy as well as present methodological details of our initial work toward prediction of enhancing lesion etiology following SRS.
Speaker Biographies:
Dr. Albert Attia, MD is an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology and Director of the Radiosurgery Program. He received his B.E. in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. He continued his medical education at Vanderbilt’s School of Medicine. He completed his medical internship at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. He then completed his residency at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Radiation Oncology and served as Chief Resident in his final year. Dr. Attia’s clinical and research areas of interest are in tumors of the brain and lung. He is especially interested in studying various methods to differentiate tumor recurrence vs. radionecrosis after SRS as well as better defining treatment algorithms for patients with brain metastases.
Dr. Jared Weis, PhD is currently a Research Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University. He received his B.S. from Washington University in St. Louis in Biomedical Engineering. He then received his M.S. and Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in Biomedical Engineering, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science (VUIIS). His research interests are concentrated in combining computational modeling with non-invasive imaging to explore tumor growth and response to therapy with an emphasis on driving therapeutic outcomes.