What is BIAD? The Biomedical Image Analysis Division (BIAD) broadly supports each of the Research Imaging CenterÕs (RIC) divisions through collaborative scientific research and image processing and data management services. BIAD is also a scientific research division in its own right, collaborating with the RICÕs other divisions in the area of image processing. Through these collaborations, BIAD creates software for conducting complex data analysis and visualization. Because the software can be customized to meet the needs of a wide variety of research protocols and imaging equipment, researchers are free to experiment with unique new image forms.
How is image analysis used? The analysis of biomedical images at the RIC is complemented by its state-of-the-art equipment. Analysis and synthesis of biomedical images are the focus of software development. Analysis provides the ability to selectively make numeric measurements within images from the same or different modalities. This includes such activities as linear systems analysis with operations that can be applied globally or within selected regions of interest, an extensive library of image arithmetic routines, and morphological and segmentation operations that facilitate feature extraction. Synthesis provides the means to develop different but meaningful sets of images from raw images acquired using positron-emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography, and other tomographic medical imagers. Synthesis includes calculation of T1, T2, and proton density parametric images from MR images, generation of 3D surface and volume-rendered views of tomographic images, and the formation of many parametric images that can be produced from PET data.
Programmers work closely with investigators to design algorithms and develop software for special projects, modify existing proprietary software for specific needs, and develop new functions for open-architecture applications such as The Hayden Image Processing Group's Digital Image Processing Station (DIPStation). BIAD is a beta test site for the Macintosh and Unix versions of DIPStation software. Additional scientific and programming support is available from graduate students within the Radiological Sciences Graduate Program. These Ph.D. students receive specialized training in image acquisition and processing as part of their curriculum.
Image analysis at the RIC. Current BIAD projects include: (1) BrainMapÑa software tool for meta-analysis of the human functional brain mapping literatureÑwhich uses a suite of database and graphics programs, and spatial normalization operations to translate published findings from functional PET and MRI studies into a standard brain atlas, (2) evaluation of the volume of various brain structures in schizophrenics, and (3) measurement of brain tumor volume in multiple metastasis and grading of gliomas as an adjunct to treatment. Internal projects include developing new methods for multimodality spatial registration, brain spatial normalization (i.e., forcing all brain images to the same shape), and extensive software to support PET research.
The RIC/BIAD network. BIAD is a completely networked environment integrating a wide range of computer platforms, operating systems, application software, and communications protocols. Computers include Apple Macintosh, Sun SPARC, and Digital Equipment VAX-series machines. A union of TCP/IP (NFS) and AppleTalk/DEC Pathworks protocols provide complete interconnectivity between these different platforms. Either of the centerÕs two magneto-optical disk ÒjukeboxesÓ (with capacities of 36 and 52 gigabytes, respectively) may be accessed from any of the centerÕs 30 networked computers through a powerful SQL (structured-query language, pronounced ÒsequelÓ) database. High-capacity optical media is also used extensively on the desktop. The BIAD network includes high-speed microwave connections to Wilford Hall Medical Center, and fiber-optic connectivity with the Veterans Administration Medical Center and Medical Center Hospital.