The research line focuses on the development and application of novel techniques for volumetric quantification and morphological and functional characterization of polycystic kidneys on diagnostic images acquired by computed tomography (TAC) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The Medical Imaging Laboratory is involved in several clinical studies aimed at studying the efficacy of novel pharmacological therapies for polycystic kidney disease, assessing the drug effect on the progression of renal and hepatic total and cyst. A new fibrotic tissue component has been identified on contrast-enhanced CT images, and this has been shown to be associated with kidney function decline. Next aims is to use non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging to characterise the non-cystic component of renal tissue in a completely non-invasive way and identify new imaging biomarkers, also using radiomic techniques, to stratify patients, to monitor the disease from the earliest stages and to predict the progression of the disease and response to new therapies. The Laboratory is also involved in the development and validation of segmentation methods based on explicable and robust artificial intelligence techniques for the segmentation and automatic quantification of renal and hepatic volumes and cysts, both in clinical (CT and MRI images) and preclinical (murine microTAC images) studies.

The research line focuses on the investigation of short- and long-term effects of COVID-19 pathology, both in the lungs and in the brain. The Medical Imaging Laboratory has recently developed an image processing technique to quantify lung involvement on CT images, to objectively assess lung damage severity and its evolution over time in COVID-19 survivors. In the brain, the Medical Imaging Laboratory is involved in the processing of different types of magnetic resonance images, with the aim of evaluating the brain damage resulting from infection and studying its evolution over time. Given the multi-organ involvement of COVID-19 pathology, the laboratory aims to study possible associations between lung complications and those in the brain and in the kidney.

The research line focuses on the development, validation and application of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging techniques for the study of central and peripheral nervous system pathologies. The Laboratory is also involved in studying the role of hemodynamic stresses and vibrations in the formation of carotid stenosis and the development of cerebral aneurysms, using advanced imaging techniques and fluid dynamics simulations.

The research line focuses on the study of vascular cells' response to mechanical stress, combining computational and experimental techniques, with a specific focus on arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis. On the computational side, new technologies in medical imaging and modern computational fluid dynamics techniques have allowed us to accurately reproduce the distribution and variation of the hemodynamic stresses at the patient specific level, based on ultrasound and magnetic imaging data of the patient. In addition, morphological analysis on patient-specific three-dimensional models has allowed us to highlight the morphological variations that occur over time within the blood vessels following the creation of the arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis. We recently extended the analysis using fluid-structure interaction simulation techniques, which allowed us to identify the presence of high frequency vibrations in the vascular wall of the fistula. On the experimental side, we developed experimental set-ups expose vascular cells to disturbed haemodynamic conditions and to high-frequency vibrations. We now aim to investigate the effect of haemodynamic conditions and vibrations on vascular cell response, to elucidate the molecular mechanisms leading to vascular damage.

The research line focuses on the study of the sound of the arteriovenous fistula for the monitoring of its function. A preliminary analysis has shown that sound can provide important information on the hemodynamic conditions of the arteriovenous fistula and an indirect assessment of its correct functioning. In addition, we have shown that there is a significant difference between the sounds of well-functioning fistulas and those of malfunctioning fistulas, with high degree stenosis. We now aim to show the predictive power of sound in revealing the onset and progression of venous stenosis in the fistula in a prospective longitudinal clinical study.

The research line focuses on the evaluation of the toxicity of environmental particulates in 2D and 3D cultured human cells. To examine the toxicity generated by environmental particulates, we developed in vitro mutagenicity tests, cell viability tests and oxygen free radical generation tests. Cells exposed to toxic substances were also characterized for gene expression and inflammation. Being the lung is the main target organ of environmental particulates, we simulated in vitro the alveolo-capillary barrier, the functional unit of the lung, to test in vitro the toxicity of environmental matter under similar physiological conditions using a co-culture of epithelial and endothelial cells from the lung cavity and a particle spray system.