Institute of Medical Science & Technology (in Persian: پژوهشکده علوم و فناوری های پزشکی) is situated in Shahid Beheshti University at Tehran the capital city of Iran. The IMSAT is a research institute which engineers, basic scientists and medical doctors work together in order to develop medical science. The institute has three main groups as Medical Engineering, Nuclear applications in Medicine and Neurological Engineering.

History

In order to reduce the gap and strengthen the interaction among the researchers in basic sciences and engineering with ones in medical sciences, Prof Farhadi, Minister of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT) and Prof Reza Malekzadeh, Deputy Minister of Research and Technology of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education agreed on the idea of establishing a joint research institute between the two ministries on December 2015.Prof. Mojtaba Zarei was appointed to set up this research institute under the name of Institute of Medical Sciences and Technologies (IMSAT). The IMSAT with MSc program in 3 research groups as nuclear technology in medicine, medical engineering, and clinical research was approved by the Development Council of the MSRT on June 2016.

Research

Center of Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary field, which applies engineering principles and materials to medicine and healthcare. The main scopes of this center are:

• Designing electronic devices required in medicine

• Designing imaging devices

• Recording, processing and analyzing biological signals and medical images

• Designing wearable and implantable devices to record biological activities such as movement, respiration, heart rate and brain activity for a desired application

The collaboration of biomedical engineers, electrophysiologists and imaging specialists in the IMSAT makes these aims achieve in an efficient way.

Center of Nuclear Technology in Medicine

Nuclear technology is widely used in medical sciences. After the discovery of radioactivity, the use of radioactive materials and ionizing radiation in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases has increased widely, and today many diagnostic and therapeutic methods of medicine are not possible without these technologies. The development of nuclear imaging techniques not only helps to diagnose diseases more accurately, but also provides a new tool for researchers to identify the mechanism and progression of diseases, develop therapeutic drugs, and study metabolic processes. Today, due to the high importance of nuclear technologies in medicine, the developed countries of the world do a lot of research and investments both in the field of diagnostics (PET and SPECT) and in the field of treatment.

The IMSAT for the further growth of the country in the framework of sustainable development, knowledge-based economy and development vision document by using the abilities of its professors and researchers and cooperation with other researchers inside and outside the country. The country, using close communication between basic science specialists, engineers, pharmacists and physicians, seeks to create the necessary infrastructure to advance nuclear technologies and their application in medicine. Research areas in this group include medical radiochemistry, preclinical and clinical research, and the development of image processing engineering.

The IMSAT, as the first center in the country, is launching a laboratory for research and development of medical radiochemistry for the manufacture and development of radiopharmaceuticals, and in this regard, it is cooperating with prestigious universities in France, Denmark and Germany. Among the accomplishment obtained by this center in the IMSAT, it worth to mention the request from European countries to this center for developing radiopharmaceutical protocols and their synthesis.

Center of Neuroscience and Neuroengineering

Neuroengineering is a branch of biomedical engineering that uses engineering methods to better understand brain function, identify the cause and treatment of various neurological diseases, develop new medical technologies, and ultimately strengthen and improve the nervous system of the brain. Today, the field of neuroscience and neurosurgery of the brain as one of the strategically important scientific fields is considered by many research and academic centers in developed and developing countries.

The field of neuroscience and brain engineering has a wide interdisciplinary relationship with the fields of biomedical engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, medicine, and mathematical and physical sciences. One of the most basic methods used in the field of brain neuroengineering is the study and recording of electrophysiology, optogenetics and optical imaging of the brains of laboratory animals. With these methods, the activity of neuronal signals and the cognitive and systematic function of neural networks and areas of the brain can be studied. In the field of neuroengineering, we can also strengthen, modify and improve the function of neural networks in the brain by making tools and technological medical devices. These products are sometimes used as neural prostheses, for example, to repair and improve hearing, vision, and sensory motor systems that are impaired. Neural prostheses are high-tech miniature devices that can control and stimulate nerve cells. These prostheses can repair or improve the dysfunction of the nervous system in the brain when the nervous system is malfunctioning or weakened. For example, in the field of hearing, cochlear implants can be implanted in the brainstem and implants in the midbrain. Called sensory-motor disorder.

ENIGMA Sleep Working Group

Enigma is a global consortium located at the University of Southern California and led by Professor Paul Thompson. In this consortium, senior researchers use various brain mapping methods to study the brain in its natural state and in various diseases of the brain, neurology and psychiatry. They answer fundamental and important questions using MRI imaging, genetics, clinical information, and aggregation of data collected from around the world. Therefore, special attention is paid to sleep studies in the IMSAT. Please follow the link below for more information about this project

http://enigma.ini.usc.edu/ongoing/enigma-sleep/

Computational Pathology Group

Digital pathology utilizes virtual microscope, which includes the process of digitizing glass slides using a whole slide image (WSI) scanner and then analyzing the digital images. Different image processing techniques are required to achieve a reliable image from biological tissues. Then, computational pathology involves extracting information from digitized pathology images in combination with their associated metadata, typically using artificial intelligence methods to detect, diagnose, and predict different diseases. We aim to develop image analytic that can quantify pathogenesis in a high throughput, bias-free and robust way.

Laboratories[edit]

Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering[edit]

In this laboratory, basic equipment for designing and manufacturing electronic devices has been provided. There are also expressions such as voltmeter, oscilloscope, power supply, signal generator and so on. Students who need to design and build a device in their project generally use this lab.

Examining and recording signals caused by the activity of body organs such as heart, brain, muscles, etc., has opened a window to better understand the body and its changes in various diseases. These signals can be of electrical or magnetic origin. In the first step, the signal must be separated from the ambient noise and the device, and then the desired vital signal is extracted using various techniques such as signal frequency processing, filters, and other mathematical calculations. Finally, by processing these biological signals, it is possible to help monitor the health status of individuals and, if necessary, differential diagnosis of diseases. Combining signals with different sources and using new processing methods are among the research fields in this field, and considering the potential and facilities available in the country, this research institute is actively researching in this field. Extracting behavioral patterns from diseases or examining factors that increase the likelihood of disease or its complications is one of the important topics in this field.

Laboratory of Neurobiofeedback and Biofeedback[edit]

The Neurobiofeedback Lab, in collaboration with EEG Info, the largest research and educational institution in electroencephalography and neurofeedback, is equipped with the latest 39-channel electroencephalographs, evoked potential recording system (ERP), neurofeedback (conventional and modern ILF method) and biofeedback. In this laboratory, the electrical activity (signal) of the brain is recorded by surface electrodes by an EEG device. The most important principle in this method is to install the electrode in the standard defined place. After decomposition (spectroscopy), the initial signal recorded at different frequencies can be seen. The amplitude of these frequencies in comparison between healthy and sick people according to the location of the electrode shows differences that are more or less in the sick person than the healthy person. It should be noted that this difference in frequency range can be corrected by the neurofeedback system.

Neurofeedback is a system that tries to teach a person a kind of self-regulation by recording the brain's electrical waves and giving feedback. Feedback is typically provided to the individual through sound, image, and touch. It is through this feedback that a person realizes whether he or she has made a proper change in his or her brain activity. The common neurofeedback method is able to individually and individually modulate the amplitude spectra of alpha, beta, theta and delta frequencies with neural feedback. This process can be done in terms of time in 20 to 40 45-minute sessions. But the latest neurofeedback (ILF) system, infrared low-frequency neurofeedback, has the ability to regulate the amplitude of brain waves by modifying a single frequency (below 1 Hz) that carries all alpha, beta, theta, and delta frequencies over a period of 20 years. Practice for 15 to 20 minutes. This system is the only system that, in addition to visual and auditory feedback, also provides tactile feedback to the individual. A biofeedback system is a system that works with a function similar to a neurofeedback system, but by recording heart rate, blood oxygen and body temperature and giving feedback, tries to teach a person self-regulation so that a person can increase his body efficiency by achieving physical relaxation.

Currently, joint international research projects between the Research Institute of Medical Sciences and Technologies and other faculties of Shahid Beheshti University in collaboration with EEG Info in areas such as artificial intelligence, increasing attention and reducing reaction time to visual and auditory stimuli, reducing stress Tinnitus and Parkinson's disease are being treated. In the mentioned projects, an attempt is made to find the abnormalities of the electroencephalogram in different diseases according to the location and information of the recording signals (frequency and amplitude) in comparison with healthy people, and the correct understanding of the electroencephalographic disorders of patients and the correct treatment of neurofeedback. to be presented.

Laboratory of Sleep Studies[edit]

The Sleep Studies Research Center was established under the leadership of Dr. Tahmasian at the Research Institute of Medical Sciences and Technologies and today coordinates sleep studies in the global ENIGMA project. This global project, involving hundreds of neuroscientists around the world, focuses on the study of brain MRI images and their relationship to genetics and clinical signs. The project is centered at the University of Southern California and is led by Professor Paul Thompson. Recently, a sleep study laboratory has been built with a polysomnograph device with 32 electroencephalographic channels and the ability to record other physiological parameters in the research institute.

Laboratory of Clinical Neurophysiology[edit]

An electroencephalograph (ECG) device is one of the first devices to record biological signals for studying the human brain. Advances in fast computing by high-powered computers today have given this old tool a new role in brain studies. In this laboratory, it is possible to record a maximum of 32 channels of biological waves simultaneously. In addition, the laboratory is equipped with an electromyographic device to record muscle activity, and set the speed of electrical conduction of peripheral nerves. Auditory, visual and sensory evoked potentials can also be recorded in this laboratory. All of these devices are used in clinical trials for physiological evaluations. The laboratory is also equipped with a variety of electrical and magnetic stimulation equipment for the brain. Devices such as rTMS, TDCS, TAC are available in this lab. Many of these devices are also used by doctors for diagnosis and sometimes treatment.

Laboratory of Medical Radiochemistry[edit]

Nuclear medicine (diagnosis & therapy) is dependent on radiopharmaceuticals (radiotracers). Radiochemistry is an essential science for development of radiotracers. In this lab we are designing new radiotracers and their production protocols. Moreover, we are developing efficiency of radiopharmaceutical absorption in body which result higher contrast nuclear images.

Laboratory of Medical Electrochemistry[edit]

Small, cheap, quick and easy to use are characteristics of electrochemical biosensors for detection and measurement of biomarkers. The challenging part of them is designing selective and sensitive biosensors. In this lab we are working on fabrication/development of new electrochemical biosensors and point of care devices.

Laboratory of Computational Pathology[edit]

In this laboratory, we are working on:

· Whole slide Imaging: Develop image stitching and image registration algorithms for 2D and 3D reconstruction of histological images

· Detect, diagnose, and predict pathogenesis: Develop image analytics using deep learning methods

References[edit]

http://en.sbu.ac.ir/Research_Institutes/MedicalSci/Pages/default.aspx

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