The NRC-IBD Spectroscopy Group is developing infrared and optically based techniques that can be used to probe the hemodynamics, biochemistry or morphology of tissue in either ex vivo samples (biopsies or biofluids) or in vivo on intact living systems.

The ability to obtain this type of information is critical when tissue health and pathology are examined and the effectiveness of the methods is evident as blood, biochemical, and structural related information can be obtained before overt symptoms appear, making it possible to diagnose disease or dysfunction at an early stage, when treatments are most effective.

On their own,

can all be used to provide non-invasive, in vivo hemodynamic related information. Specifically these techniques provide measures of perfusion and oxygenation, which are vital components for viable tissue. Spectroscopic monitoring of tissue hemodynamics provides a basis for determining tissue status, which has important implications in a wide range of clinical applications and forms the basis of the Group's in vivo Spectroscopy Program.

Hemodynamics

Blood flow and oxygenation

Biochemistry

Chemical composition and vital processes

Morphology

Form and structure

Biochemical information can be obtained from vibrational spectroscopic methods, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, as well as Fluorescence spectroscopy. With techniques such as these, it is possible to obtain details of the chemical composition, molecular structure, and molecular interactions in cells and tissues. In some cases this information can be obtained during a non-invasivein vivo assessment and at other times from an ex vivo sample. Specifically, information related to proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids are some of the parameters that can be obtained from these spectroscopic techniques. Such biochemical information forms the backbone of the Group's Clinical Diagnostics and Oral-Dental Health Programs.

ex vivo analysis

in vivo measurement

Magnetic resonance imaging is one of the most non-invasive methods of obtaining structural or morphological information on tissue. The Magnetic Resonance Technology group is developing a number of new advances in the areas of anatomical and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Optical Coherence Tomography can also be used to provide exceptionally high resolution structural information both on ex vivo samples or in vivo on living systems. Optical coherence tomography is being developed in concert with optical biochemical and hemodynamic imaging methods to enhance the diagnostic capabilities of these techniques, in particular it will be used to provide structural information in the Group's Oral-Dental Health Program.

OCT - structural information

The NRC-IBD Spectroscopy group is intending on harnessing the potential of each of these techniques in a coherent fashion by developing optical instrumentation platforms that are capable of providing concurrent hemodynamic, biochemical and structural information that are critical in making diagnostic decisions. The development of multimodal instrumentation that is tailored to addressing specific clinical problems is at the heart of our Genomics and Health Initiative funded Multimodal Assessment program.

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