Farrar Lab

Deep learning neural network for CEST fingerprinting of tumor apoptosis induced by oncolytic virotherapy
CEST MR Fingerprinting detects oncolytic virotherapy induced tumor cell apoptosis, which is associated with decreased intracellular pH and protein synthesis. Decreased amide proton exchange rate and volume fraction co-localized with caspase-3 positive apoptotic tumor regions on histology.
Quantitative CEST semi-solid and amide proton exchange rate and proton volume fraction maps of the human brain using CEST Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting.
Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) imaging of oncolytic virotherapy using a herpes simplex virus (G47Δ) engineered to express a lysine rich protein (LRP) CEST reporter gene.
Imaging liver fibrosis with EP-3533, a collagen targeted contrast agent, in bile duct ligated (BDL) rat models. R1 relaxation rate was significantly elevated in 18-day BDL rats compared to sham rats.
Off-Resonance Image (ORI) of iron-oxide nanoparticle accumulation in an infarcted mouse myocardium. Dependence on water suppression bandwidth (WSBW) and spin-echo time (TE).
Fluorescein labeled RNA aptamer (β55) targeted against amyloid-β (Aβ) visualizes amyloid plaques and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in live transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.

About the Lab
Our research is focused on the development of new Magnetic Resonance molecular imaging methods and contrast agents. The tools being developed in our lab are being applied to studies of a wide range of diseases, including cancer, stroke, liver fibrosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. Our recent molecular imaging efforts have been focused on the development of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI reporter genes for imaging oncolytic virotherapy and deep learning based CEST magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) methods for rapid and quantitative CEST imaging of brain tumors and stroke.