Research
The Advanced Theranostics and 3-D Imaging Laboratory and its previous teams have been involved in the development of three-dimensional (3D) medical images, image-guided surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and medical robotics for about 20 years. Our research interests include the development of a novel autostereoscopic medical imaging technique and its implementation in an image-overlay system for surgical navigation. This technique has also been extended to other 3D areas, such as long-viewing-distance 3D visualization and a high-quality autostereoscopic display. Our current research projects also include the development of interventional surgical devices and medical robotics, as well as integrated medical images for minimally invasive precision diagnosis and therapy.
Shift Medical Imaging from Primarily Diagnostic Modality to Therapeutic and Interventional Aid
Integrate Diagnosis and Therapeutic Techniques for High-precision Minimally Invasive Surgery.
Rapid technical advances in medical imaging, including its growing application in drug/gene therapy and invasive/interventional procedures, have attracted significant interest in regard to the close integration of research in the life sciences, medicine, physical sciences, and engineering. Future works include promotion of medical imaging, moving from a primarily diagnostic modality to a therapeutic and interventional aid, driven by the streamlining of diagnostic and therapeutic processes for human diseases by applying imaging modalities and robotic-assisted surgery. Corresponding diagnosis and therapeutic techniques and medical devices will be developed for use in neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery, and abdominal surgery. Bio-medical imaging will play an increasingly important role in targeted therapy with interventions such as drug or gene therapy relying on more accurate delivery tailored to individual patients.
Furthermore, technical advances in therapeutic delivery and a growing demand for patient-specific treatment have accelerated the clinical applications of related diagnosis and therapeutic techniques. The integration of diagnosis and therapeutic techniques will be introduced into high-precision minimally invasive treatment with fusional development of imaging modalities and technological devices.
Translational Systems Medicine for Minimally Invasive Surgery with Pre-targeting and Local Treatment Devices
Cancers, as well as strokes and heart diseases to lifestyle-related diseases, are among the main causes of death. Against this background, the current research allows a paradigm shift in healthcare technologies from those focused on developing pharmaceutical products that target conventional molecules non-selectively to those designed to develop pharmaceutical products that target specific cells in vivo. To achieve this goal, especially related to minimally invasive surgery, the basis of this research will focus on the following three areas: first, exploratory research on candidate molecules for targeting, and evaluation of their candidate diagnostic/therapeutic agents; second, design and manufacture of probes, and development of systematic extra- and intra-corporeal imaging modalities; and third, development of pinpoint treatment by means of pre-targeting and local treatment devices. These focus points call for an integration of relevant research disciplines into systems biology and medicine.
Research Interests: