Project Summary:
RESEARCH: Precise, early detection and repeat, objective quantification of disease changes in interstitial lung
disease (ILD) could allow for early diagnosis and intervention and assess therapeutic responsivity over time. We
have previously shown that Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can provide low-risk, minimally invasive
microscopic ILD diagnosis with high accuracy compared to histopathology and clinical diagnosis. However,
qualitative evaluation and time-and labor-intensive manual segmentation of thousands of OCT images remains
challenging in the clinical setting. We hypothesize that OCT combined with well-established AI-based analysis can
accurately detect and segment microscopic ILD features in a larger cohort of ILD patients (Aim 1), quantify 3D ILD
volumetric disease burden and spatial distribution (Aim 2), and provide 4D quantification of disease change over
multiple time points (Aim 3). The successful completion of this proposal has the potential to streamline microscopic
ILD diagnosis and disease quantification over time.
CANDIDATE: Dr. Nandy is an Instructor in Medicine at MGH and Harvard Medical School. His long-term goal is to
establish a career as an independent translational researcher and imaging data scientist, using advanced
quantitative image analysis techniques that include artificial intelligence (AI). His strong background and training in
optical imaging and advanced image analysis have optimally positioned him to conduct the proposed research. To
achieve his career goals, he must obtain further training and experience in AI-based approaches, lung physiology,
biostatistics, epidemiology, clinical study design and effective mentorship. The award will provide him with the
resources and training to transition to a career as an independent quantitative imaging investigator.
MENTORING ENVIRONMENT/TRAINING PLAN: Dr. Nandy will train in an exceptional environment at MGH and
HMS with abundant intellectual and collaborative opportunities, and access to all the necessary resources to
conduct his research. His mentors, Drs. Lida Hariri and George Washko are luminaries in their respective fields of
pulmonary optical imaging and quantitative image analysis. They both have mentored multiple post-doctoral
trainees, many of whom have obtained K awards and/or full faculty positions. Drs. Raul San Jose Estepar, Brett
Bouma, Sophia Zhao and Barry Shea will also serve on Dr. Nandy’s RAC and provide further respective expertise
in AI-based approaches, translational optical imaging, biostatistics and clinical ILD research. Dr. Nandy will
complete courses and seminars in artificial intelligence, lung physiology, biostatistics, clinical study design,
epidemiology, mentorship and lab management through Harvard. Additionally, he will gain hands-on training from
his mentors and RAC in effective mentoring and lab management, grant and budget management, grant writing,
scientific writing, and responsible conduct of research, to successfully transition to an independent research career
and apply for his first R01.