Research

The Weis Lab employs a hybrid experimental/computational approach towards characterizing disease, employing tools of imaging, biophysics, and computational modeling to study disease progression and response to therapy in cancer and intestinal diseases. 

Research spans the length scale of disease from preclinical in vitro and in vivo model systems to translational clinical-based investigations within the scope of several overarching projects: 

1. Non-invasive photoacoustic imaging for biophysical indicators of neonatal intestinal health and disease

Imaging and biophysical computational characterization methods within the Weis Lab have been recently extended to study the developing gastrointestinal system under a multi-disciplinary team-science approach. In this work, we are developing and deploying new advanced non-invasive imaging and image analysis methods for intestinal disease within the neonatal setting using photoacoustic imaging. The extension of quantitative imaging characterization methodology development to study intestinal health and disease into this setting presents significant translational opportunity to improve quality of care in neonatal and pediatric patients. We are actively developing imaging-based measurement methods to assess intestinal vascular and motility function as diagnostic imaging biomarkers of neonatal intestinal disease for necrotizing enterocolitis in preclinical and clinical studies.