People

Computational cardiovascular mechanics

The aim of my research is to generate new scientific knowledge and methods using innovative ideas in numerical methods and biomechanics that contribute towards improved cardiovascular healthcare.

My academic and research interests lie on biomedical and biomechanical studies and applications. More specifically, I am working in Image-Based Modelling and in Haemodynamics area with the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

I am a clinical cardiothoracic radiologist with experience in lung, cardiovascular and oncologic imaging. I am interested in multidisciplinary research approaches with the application of novel imaging techniques and advanced quantitative software tools to provide better analysis of disease states and wish to develop imaging as a biomarker. In addition to the relatively traditional single organ system approach, I am interested in the interactions of these systems within the larger groups of diseases, including COPD, asthma, atherosclerosis and cancer. Towards this end, I intend to develop programs that will appeal to multiple specialities that may not currently be working together within a single group of researchers. Apart from these ideas and interests, I am trained in Clinical Epidemiology and am interested in developing Evidence Based Radiology into clinical practice and build this within the registrar training scheme. It is my firm belief that this will aid in developing an academic career pathway within Radiology. My current role is that of director of the clinical research imaging centre, which houses 3T MRI, 128 PET-CT and 320 detector row CT. This is supported by a GE cyclotron with a fully functional MHRA inspected GMP radiochemistry facility as well as a research laboratory, allowing clinical/research production as well as development of novel radiotracers. An integrated advanced image analysis laboratory completes the centre.

The cardiac contractile work is fundamental to maintain heart’s tissue perfusion. Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is the main chemical fuel used for this purpose. Almost 90% of ATP in the healthy heart is synthesised through the FAO, while the remaining 10% is produced via the glycolysis pathway. In the Heart Failure (HF) syndrome a switch between these two pathways has been reported: in the early stages of HF the FAO/glycolysis relative rates are unchanged, while in the advanced ones there is a downregulation of the FAO pathway strongly linked to disease’s progression and severity. Thus, assessing the FAO rate would improve patients monitoring and therapy effectiveness. FAO imaging using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) allows its absolute quantification through a tracer labelled with radioactive nuclides, for instance ¹¹C or ¹⁸F. Metabolically trapped probes are particularly interesting because they undergo the FAO generating a radioactive metabolite, which is trapped in the mitochondria reflecting the oxidation rate. A novel PET candidate has been designed to be taken up by the myocardium as a conventional fatty acid and would be a FAO substrate; the β-oxidation cycle is then expected to generate a reactive difluoroketone which would be trapped inside the mitochondria and its emitted radioactivity would reflect the FAO rate.

I have been using 3D laser scanning microscopy since 1993 to study vascular structure & function.  In recent years my imaging studies have focused on the autonomic innervation of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT).  During all of these years I have been continually frustrated by the limited 3D visualisation options offered by most microscope-based 3D analysis packages (usually just 'tilt and turn').  A collaboration with the Glasgow School of Art, Digital Design Studio, alerted me to the possibility of importing 3D microscope-based data into sophisticated animation software (i.e. Autodesk Maya & 3Ds Max).  This has led to a new interest in animation & multimedia for teaching, learning & outreach.

If you have a 3D image volume that needs repaired, enhanced or brought to life, please get in touch.

http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/lifesciences/staff/craigdaly/3dservice/