Research Interests

Research Interests

Deformable gel dosimeters for radiation therapy

My interest in this field is two-fold: first, the primary focus is on the development of new radiochromic materials for use in radiation therapy dosimetry and developing optical techniques to read them; second, applying gel dosimetry to answer questions in radiation therapy, especially where organ motion and deformation are considered.

Development of poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogels to mimic the optical properties of tissues

Biophotonics is an emerging field in biological sciences that uses light to study tissue.  Advances in this field will benefit from realistic models that mimic the mechanical and optical properties of body tissues.  At present, very simple models are used to test new technologies prior to using them on living subjects.  This program seeks to develop new optical materials that address the need for better tissue models to support further technology development in biophotonics.  The mechanical and optical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogels (PVA-C) are well suited to this task.  The product of this research will be an anatomically and optically correct model of a male pelvis.  The primary end use of this model is in the field of photodynamic therapy; however, due to the material's tissue equivalence, other anticipated uses are in the field of radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

Diagnostic and therapeutic applications of light

My research background is in the field of photodynamic therapy dosimetry and tissue optics, especially as they apply to cancer.  Current research activities include the development of a photoimmunotherapy technique for the treatment of melanoma.

Publications

Recent Publications

O Mermut, KR Diamond, I Noiseux, S Leclair, N Hô, P Gallant,  J-S Marois, J-F Cormier, J-F Morin, ML Vernon, MS Patterson, “The use of magnetic field effects on photosensitizer luminescence as a novel probe for optical monitoring of oxygen in photodynamic therapy,” Phys. Med. Biol. 54(1), 1 – 16 (2009).

Isabelle Noiseux, Ozzy Mermut, Jean-Pierre Bouchard, Jean-François Cormier, Patrice Desroches, Michel Fortin, Pascal Gallant, Sébastien Leclair, Marcia L. Vernon, Kevin R. Diamond, Michael S. Patterson, “Effect of liposomal confinement on photochemical properties of photosensitizers with varying hydrophilicity,” J. Biomed. Opt. 13(4), 041313 – 1-11 (2008).

Ozzy Mermut, Isabelle Noiseux, Jean-Pierre Bouchard, Jean-François Cormier, Patrice Desroches, Michel Fortin, Pascal Gallant, Sébastien Leclair, Marcia L. Vernon, Kevin R. Diamond, Michael S. Patterson, “Effect of liposomal confinement on photothermal and photo-oximetric fluorescence lifetimes of photosensitizers with varying hydrophilicity,” J. Biomed. Opt. 13(4), 041314 – 1-11 (2008).

Jennifer A. Russell, Kevin R. Diamond, Tony Collins, Henry F. Tiedje, Joseph E. Hayward, Thomas J. Farrell, Michael S. Patterson, Qiyin Fang, “Characterization of Time-Domain Fluorescence Lifetime of Photofrin and Delta-Aminolevulinic Acid Induced Protoporphyrin IX in Living Cells using Single and Two-photon Excitation,” IEEE J. Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics 14(1), 158 – 166 (2008).

Kevin R. Diamond, Pawel P. Malysz, Joseph E. Hayward, and Michael S. Patterson, “Quantification of Fluorophore Concentration In Vivo Using Two Simple Fluorescence-Based Measurement Techniques”, J. Biomed. Opt. 10(2), 024007 – 1-10 (2005).

Graduate Students

Graduate Students

Current

• Allison Yeh (PhD, Biomed Eng)
• Molham Eyadeh (PhD, Med Phys)
• Jameel Bashehbah (MSc, Med Phys)
• Peter Fiee (MSc, Med Phys)

Recent Graduates

• George Counter (MSc, Med Phys)
• Maryam Dadgar (MSc, Med Phys)
• Pouria Ataei (MSc, Med Phys)

Courses Taught

Courses Taught

• Medical Physics 772