Quantitative Optical Imaging Biomarkers of Interstitial Lung Disease - 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.
