Schiffenbauer – 2024

The utility of infrared imaging in assessing autoimmune disease

The prospective summer intern will work on a project investigating the ability of infrared imaging to assess the extent and activity of autoimmune diseases.  One of the hallmarks of autoimmune disease is inflammation which can cause many signs and symptoms in patients, with one of the most common signs being the production of heat.  Infrared imaging has been used to detect inflammation in people suffering from infectious causes, but has only been evaluated in autoimmune diseases in a limited way.  It offers many advantages in evaluating patients in that it produces real time data, is minimal risk, involves no ionizing radiation, does not induce claustrophobia, and can be done in patients with implanted medical devices.  The EAG in collaboration with others has been performing infrared imaging in patients with autoimmune disorders to try and address ongoing questions on the utility of this technique.  

The BESIP summer intern would work with the EAG in developing tools to evaluate this imaging data and in analyzing it.  This would include working to develop tools and workflow to perform basic analytic activities, as well as, more advanced analysis such as texture analysis on these images and working to optimize them for efficiency.  The summer intern would also have the opportunity to come to the medical clinic to learn about using imaging equipment with patients and considerations for bringing new devices into the clinical setting. 

More information about our laboratory can be found at: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/crb/pi/ea