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We are pleased to welcome Joseph Reinhardt, Roy J. Carver Chair in Biomedical Engineering and Professor, to give a talk 'Seeing is believing? Using generative models in functional lung CT imaging' at 3 pm, Tuesday 22nd April 2025 in the Polaris Board Room, 18 Claremont Crescent. 

Abstract: 

Lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer, are significant global health concerns. COPD affects approximately 212.3 million people worldwide and causes around 3.3 million deaths annually. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths globally, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths each year. Early detection and accurate assessment of these conditions are vital for improving patient outcomes.

Computed tomography (CT) imaging of the lung is an important tool for understanding normal lung anatomy and detecting abnormalities. Additionally, by using volume-gated image acquisition and image registration, lung CT can be used to assess lung function by measuring local lung volume changes, which may serve as a surrogate for regional ventilation.

In this talk, I will explore the use of generative models in two key areas. First, I will discuss how generative models can be used to create synthetic images depicting lung anatomy and regional lung function, potentially aiding in the detection and evaluation of disorders such as COPD. Second, I will describe the application of generative models in repairing image acquisition artifacts in 4DCT data, which is essential for accurate radiation therapy treatment planning.

Biography

Joseph M. Reinhardt is the Roy J. Carver Chair of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Iowa. He received the BS degree from Carnegie Mellon University, the MS degree from Northeastern University, and the PhD degree from Penn State University, all in Electrical Engineering. Dr. Reinhardt worked for several years in industry as a radar systems engineer. He has been a professor at the University of Iowa since 1997 and previously served two terms as Department Executive Officer (chair) of the Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Reinhardt teaches courses in the areas of computer programming, biomedical instrumentation, and medical imaging.

Dr. Reinhardt is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), and the International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineers (IAMBE). His research interests are in the area of medical image processing, with a special emphasis on pulmonary imaging. Dr. Reinhardt has received research support from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, the Whitaker Foundation, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Dr. Reinhardt, together with colleagues from The University of Iowa, founded VIDA Diagnostics, an Iowa-based medical imaging software company that focuses on computer-aided diagnosis and image-guided interventions for lung disease.