Scientific Laboratory for Optical Coherence Tomography

Scientific results:

1. We have created a world-class laboratory that features state-of the-art equipment and highly-qualified personnel that is able to conduct a whole range of research works in the domain of optical bioimaging – from research on tissues and samples to works involving model animals and patients.
2. The Laboratory has created devices for fast spectral optical coherence tomography, in which for the first time in the world we implemented 5 types of imaging: in vivo high-resolution 3D structural, polarization OCT images, OCT angiography, OCT lymphangiography and OCT elastography. 
3. We have developed methods ensuring the stabilization of research objects and algorithms for object motion compensation when working with multimodal OCT devices in clinical conditions.
4. The Laboratory has developed a method for the comprehensive quantitative assessment of all types of obtained OCT images while computing their optical coefficients of forward scattering, cross scattering and attenuation, elasticity modulus, densities of blood and lymphatic vessels. A new method has been developed for machine learning to distinguish tumors form normal tissue in optical coherence tomography.
5. We have conducted preclinical and clinical research that demonstrated the efficiency  and feasibility of the use of OCT for predicting individual response of tumors to photodynamic, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
6. Our researcher have studied the mechanisms of dysfunction of the intramural vascular bed and the onset of small intestine necrosis in occlusive mesenteric ischemia in an experiment.
7. A new algorithm has been developed for computing the attenuation coefficient with depth resolution, which allows to observe the structure of white brain matter with better contrast and in more detail and allows to numerically characterize the density and orientation of myelin fibers.   
8. We have demonstrated the high diagnostic efficiency of cross-polarization OCT and OCE for the differential diagnostics of various morpho-molecular subtypes of breast cancer and detecting the «margins» of a resection.
9. The Laboratory has performed an OCE segmentation of various pathomorphological strictures of experimental tumors in the 4T1 breast cancer model after chemotherapy with a near-histological accuracy.
10. We have formulated OCT features for the early and late (in severe cases) stages of vulvar lichen sclerosus as well as early signs of good response to low-intensity laser therapy.
11. The Laboratory has developed a scheme and designed a new specialized probe adapted for microneurosurgery tasks and for working with a microscope in the operating room.
12. We have developed and assembled a prototype of a sterilizable clinical probe with a curved working part. 

1. Devices has been created for cross-polarization optical coherent tomography that are used in clinical practice: in an oncological dispensary to determine the clean resection margin in breast cancer, in endoscopic urological practice for the differential diagnostics of malignant and non-malignant processes in bladder cancer, in the neurosurgery unit of a university clinic for detecting clean margins of in brain glioma resections.
2. OCT devices have been created that can perform angiography, can be used in clinical practice: in an  oncological dispensary for the assessment of the efficiency of photodynamic therapy in basal cell carcinoma, for the preventive diagnostics of acute radiation oral cavity mucositis in patients with oral cavity and throat tumors during radiation therapy, at a university clinic for determining necrosis margins and viable intestine in acute mesenteric ischemia, for the in vivo assessment of the gravity of lichen sclerosus.
3. The OCT elastography technology developed in the course of the implementation of the project has been implemented in devices for multimodal optical coherence tomography that are used in clinical practice for the differential diagnostics of morpho-molecular subtypes of breast cancer and for determining the clean resection margin during surgical treatment. 

Education and career development:

1. Five courses have been created for undergraduate and postgraduate students: «Multifunctional optical coherence tomography: the physical principle and areas of applicability», «Optical coherence tomography among optical bioimaging methods», «Modern trends in the development of medical imaging methods in oncology», «Optical methods of microcirculation diagnostics», «Multimodal optical coherence tomography in clinical practice». Two disciplines for master’s degree students majoring in Biology with specialization in Experimental medicine, profile: «Optical coherence tomography in medicine» and «Medical imaging methods».

2. Thematic improvement courses have been organized, «Optical coherence tomography» for doctors and professionals of other organizations. 29 professionals have completed occupational retraining.

3. We have conducted systematic series of classes and lectures in planning and organizing scientific research on the example of optical coherence tomography (as part of the School of Fundamental Medicine for Young Scientists at the Research Institute of Biomedical Technologies).

4. The Laboratory has conducted international academic events: the international conferences «Biophotonics in Cancer Research» as part of the Symposium Topical problems of biophotonics, the section «Biomedical technologies» within the scientific session for young researchers and students of the Privolzhskiy Research Medical University, the international seminar «Multi-photon tomography: possibilities of application».

5. 4 Doctor of Sciences dissertations and 8 Candidate of Sciences dissertations have been prepared and defended. 

Organizational and structural changes:

1. The laboratory has been furnished with unique world-class equipment for conducting research in optical bioimaging.
2. A new research institute for experimental oncology and biomedical technologies has been created at the Privolzhsky Research Medical University.     
3. The material and technical base of the university has been enhanced for personnel training. 

Other results:

• Russian Federation Patent No. 2572299. Method for assessing functional health of collagen tissue. Authors: Yelena B. Kiselyova, Natalya D. Gladkova, Yekaterina A. Sergeeva, Mikhail Yu. Kirillin, Yekaterina V. Gubar'kova, Mariya M. Karabut, Irina V. Balalaeva, Ol'ga S. Strel'tsova, Natalya S. Robakidze, Anna V. Maslennikova, Marina V. Kochuyeva.

• Russian Federation Patent No. 2615035. Device for recording images of cross-polarization low-coherence optical interferometry. Authors: Grigory V. Gelikonov, Valentin M. Gelikonov, Sergey Yu. Ksenofontov, Alexandr A. Moiseyev, Vladimir N. Romashov, Yelena V. Zagaynova, Yekaterina V. Gubarkova, Yelena B. Kiselyova,  Natalya D. Gladkova, Ilya Alex Vitkin.

• Russian Federation Patent No. 2626310. Method of visualizing object areas containing micromotions. Authors:  Aleksandr A. Moiseyev, Grigory V. Gelikonov, Valentin M. Gelikonov, Sergey Yu. Ksenofontov, Vladimir Yu. Zaytsev, Aleksandr L. Matveyev, Lev A. Matveyev, Yelena V. Zagaynova, Mariya M. Karabut, Marina A. Sirotkina, Natalya D. Gladkova, Ilya Alex Vitkin. 

Collaborations:

1. University of Toronto (Canada), Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (Canada): joint research for the creation of algorithms for processing angiography and elastography optical coherence images, exchange of young researchers, collaborative academic events, collaborative publications.

2. Optical and Biomedical Engineering Laboratory of the University of Western Australia (Australia): joint academic events, mutual consulting on the development of methods of OCT mapping of deformations.

3. Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia): joint research, academic events, publications, patents, conducting international scientific conferences.

4. Research and Technology Association «IRE–Polyus» (Russia): joint research of changes in tissue properties under laser exposure in oncology, joint publications.

5. Institute of Human Morphology of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (Russia): joint research to create animal models of brain gliomas, joint publications.

6. Nizhniy Novgorod Oncological Dispensary (Russia): joint research of patients with radiation-induced damage to the oral cavity in oral cavity cancer and basal cell carcinoma, vulvar lichen sclerosus, joint publications.

7. Nizhniy Novgorod Region Clinical Hospital named after N. A. Semashko (Russia): joint research of patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus, joint publications.

8. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Russia): joint research of the pathomorphosis  vulvar lichen sclerosus, collaborative publications.

9. «MelSyTech», Nizhniy Novgorod (Russia): joint research in the diagnostics and control of laser treatment of vaginal wall prolapse.