Custom Photoacoustic Imaging for Translational and Clinical Applications

Photoacoustic imaging is an emerging biomedical imaging technique that combines optical excitation with ultrasound detection to provide structural, functional and molecular information from biological tissues. It offers particular potential for visualising vascular structures, tissue oxygenation, blood flow and other physiological processes without the use of ionising radiation. This PhD project will focus on the development of a custom-built photoacoustic imaging system designed for a specific biomedical, physiological or clinically relevant application. Depending on the student’s interests and available clinical collaborations, the project may examine applications such as vascular imaging, tissue oxygenation, treatment-response monitoring, wound healing, musculoskeletal physiology, oncology or image-guided assessment. The research may involve optical and acoustic system design, hardware integration, data acquisition, image reconstruction, signal processing, quantitative image analysis and validation using phantoms, biological samples or preclinical models. Opportunities may also exist to integrate photoacoustic imaging with complementary imaging modalities, including ultrasound, optical imaging or optical tomography. The broader aim is to develop and evaluate imaging methods that provide meaningful physiological information and address an identified clinical or biomedical need. The project will connect fundamental imaging physics and instrumentation with translational research and potential future clinical application. This project would suit a student with a background in physics, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, medical imaging, medical physics, optics, computer science or a related discipline. Experience in programming, instrumentation, signal processing or image reconstruction would be advantageous.