Scientific Laboratory for Optical Coherence Tomography

1. A world-class laboratory has been created, equipped with the latest equipment and highly qualified personnel, capable of conducting a full cycle of research work in the field of functional optical bioimaging - from research on tissues and samples to work with model animals and patients.
2. High-speed spectral optical coherence tomography devices have been created, in which 5 types of visualization have been implemented for the first time in the world: intravital high-resolution 3D structural, polarization OCT images, OCT angiography, OCT lymphangiography and OCT elastography.
3. Methods have been developed to ensure the stabilization of research objects and algorithms for compensation of object movements when working with multimodal OCT devices in a clinical setting.
4. Methods have been developed for a comprehensive quantitative assessment of all types of OCT images obtained with the calculation of optical coefficients of forward scattering, cross-scattering and attenuation, elastic modulus, density of blood and lymphatic vessels. A new machine learning method has been developed to distinguish between tumor and normal tissue in optical coherence tomography.    
5. Preclinical and clinical studies have been carried out, which have shown the effectiveness and feasibility of using OCT to predict the individual response of a patient's tumor to photodynamic, radiation and chemotherapy.
6. The mechanisms of dysfunction of the intramural vascular bed and the development of necrosis of the small intestine in acute occlusive mesenteric ischemia in the experiment were studied.
7. A new algorithm for calculating the attenuation coefficient with a depth resolution has been developed, which allows one to observe the structure of the white matter of the brain with greater contrast and in more detail and allows one to numerically characterize the density and direction of myelin fibers.
8. High diagnostic efficiency of CP OCT and OCE methods for differential diagnosis of various morpho-molecular subtypes of breast cancer and detection of “negative” resection margins has been demonstrated.
9. Performed OCE segmentation of various pathomorphological structures of the experimental tumor model of breast cancer 4T1 after chemotherapy with an accuracy close to histological.
10. OCT formulated signs of early and late (with severe course) stages of lichen sclerotic vulva, as well as early signs of a good response to LILI (low-intensity laser radiation).
11. A scheme has been developed and a new specialized probe has been designed, adapted to the tasks of microneurosurgery and work with a microscope in an operating room.
12. A prototype of a clinical sterilizable probe with a curved working part of the device has been developed and assembled in a mock-up format.

Implemented results of research:

1. Created devices for cross-polarization optical coherence tomography, which are used in clinical practice: in the oncological dispensary to determine the clear margin of resection in breast cancer, in endoscopic urological practice for the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign processes of the bladder, in the neurosurgical department of the university clinic for determination of the clear margin of resection in brain gliomas.
2. OCT devices with angiography function have been created, which are used in clinical practice: in an oncological dispensary to assess the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in basal cell skin cancer, for the preventive diagnosis of severe radiation mucositis of the oral cavity in patients with tumors of the oral cavity and pharynx during radiation therapy , in a university clinic to determine the border of necrosis and viable intestine in acute mesenteric ischemia, for an in vivo assessment of the severity of lichen sclerosus.
3. The OCT elastography technology, developed during the project, is implemented in multimodal optical coherence tomography devices, which are used in clinical practice for the differential diagnosis of morpho-molecular subtypes of breast cancer and determination of the clear resection margin during surgical treatment.

Education and career development:

1. Created 5 courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students: "Multifunctional optical coherence tomography: physical principle and scope", "Optical coherence tomography in a number of optical bioimaging methods", "Modern trends in the development of medical imaging methods in oncology", "Optical methods of diagnostics of microcirculation "," Multimodal optical coherence tomography in clinical practice. " 2 disciplines have been developed for the Master's degree in Biology, profile Experimental Medicine: "Optical Coherence Tomography in Medicine" and "Methods of Medical Imaging".
2. Conducted courses of thematic improvement "Optical coherence tomography" for doctors and specialists from outside organizations. 29 people underwent professional retraining.
3. Systematic cycles of classes and lectures on planning and organizing scientific research were carried out using the example of work on optical coherence tomography (within the framework of the School of Young Scientists in Fundamental Medicine at the Research Institute of Biomedical Technologies).
4. International scientific events were held: international conferences Biophotonics in Cancer Research in the framework of the Symposium Topical problems of biophotonics, section "Biomedical technologies" in the framework of the scientific session of young scientists and students of the Volga Research Medical University, international seminar "Multiphoton tomography: possibilities of use".
5. Defense: 4 doctoral dissertations, 7 master's theses.

Organizational and structural changes:

1. Equipping the Laboratory with unique world-class equipment for conducting research on optical bioimaging.
2. Creation of a new research institute of experimental oncology and biomedical technologies at the Privolzhsky Research Medical University.
3. Improving the material and technical base of the university and the level of training of specialists.

Other results:

• Patent of the Russian Federation No.2572299. A method of assessing functional state of collagen-containing tissue. Authors: E. V. Kiselyova, N. D. Gladkova, E. A.Sergeeva, M. Yu. Kirillin, E. V. Gubarkova, M. A. Karabut, I. V. Balalaeva, O. S. Streltsova, N. S. Robakidze, A. V. Maslennikova, M. V. Kochueva.
• Patent of the Russian Federation No.2615035. A device for registering images by cross-polarization low coherence optical interferometry. Authors: G. V. Gelikonov, V. M.Gelikonov, S. Yu. Ksenofontov, A. A. Moiseev, V. N. Romashov, E. V. Zagainova, E. V. Gubarkova, E. B. Kiselyova, N. D. Gladkova, I. A. Vitkin.
• Patent of the Russian Federation No.2626310. A method of visuazliztion of regions of an object containing micromovements. Authors: A. A. Moiseev, G. V. Gelikonov, V. M. Gelikonov, S. Yu. Ksenofontov, V. Yu. Zaytsev, A. L. Matveev, L. A. Matveeva, E. V. Zagainova, M. M. Karabut, M. A. Sirotkina, N. D. Gladkova, I. A. Vitkin.

Collaborations:

1. University of Toronto (Canada), Ontario Cancer Institute (Canada): joint research in the field of creating algorithms for processing angiographic and elastographic OCT images, exchange of young scientists, joint scientific events, joint publications.
2. Laboratory of Optical and Biomedical Engineering of the University of Western Australia (Australia): joint scientific events, mutual consultations on the development of a method for OCT-mapping of deformations.
3. Institute of Applied Physics RAS (Russia): joint research, scientific events, publications, patents, holding international scientific conferences. 
4. Scientific and technical association "IRE-Polyus" (Russia): joint research in the field of changes in the optical properties of tissue under laser exposure in oncology, joint publications.
5. Institute of Morphology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (Russia): joint research on the creation of animal models of brain gliomas, joint publications.
6. Oncological dispensary, Nizhny Novgorod (Russia): joint studies in patients with radiation injuries of the oral mucosa with cancer of the oral cavity and nasopharynx, with basal cell skin cancer, lichen sclerotic vulva, joint publications.
7. N. A. Semashko National Clinical Hospital, Nizhny Novgorod (Russia): joint studies of patients with lichen sclerosus of the vulva, joint publications.
8. First Moscow Medical Institute. THEM. Sechenova (Russia): joint research on the pathomorphosis of lichen sclerosus of the vulva, joint publications.
9. Melsitek, Nizhny Novgorod (Russia) - carrying out joint research in the field of diagnostics and control of laser treatment of vaginal wall prolapse.