The recording of this webinar can be found at the bottom of the page.
Aerosols in the Lung: Lessons Learned from Linking Imaging Data with Computational Models
Abstract
Respiratory diseases cause a substantial medical and financial burden worldwide and are often caused by inhalation of air pollution or cigarette smoke over a long period of time. Aerosolized medicine is an effective way to treat these diseases, however targeted lung delivery remains a challenge, especially in the presence of disease. Physiologically based computer simulations provide novel insight into lung dynamics; however, these models must incorporate patient-specific data to be predictive. In this webinar, I will first introduce our new simulation framework that features the ability to couple hyperpolarized 3He MRI with patient-specific models to predict gas flows and respiratory mechanics in healthy and asthmatic lungs. Next, I will present our work on particle dosimetry and therapeutic targeting to specific lung regions. At the end of the talk, I will discuss the challenge of validating computer models and my perspective on what is required to bring these types of models into clinical practices.