# Physics and Biology in Medicine Research Training

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2020 · $266,119

## Abstract

Abstract:
The specific aim of this training grant's competitive renewal proposal is to continue the development of
research scientists that are well versed in physics, biology, mathematics, chemistry, engineering and computer
science, who also understand the application of these disciplines to the detection, diagnosis and assessment
of treatment of disease. While the focus of this training program is the UCLA Physics and Biology in Medicine
(formerly Biomedical Physics) Interdepartmental Graduate Program, the training program is not limited to the
traditional practice of Medical Physics and is much broader in scope. This training program has four tracks.
The Medical Imaging track investigates the physics of diagnostic radiology modalities (e.g. MRI, MR
Spectroscopy, CT) and Computer Vision methods to investigate areas such as quantitative imaging, imaging
biomarkers and Radiomics (as well as correlation with genomic factors – Imaging Genomics) all of which seek
to extract additional information from image data and relate it to other key information about patients and
disease. The Molecular Imaging track investigates a wide range of topics including the physics of PET, optical
and combined imaging modalities, immuno-PET, the chemistry and biology of novel imaging tracers,
microfluidics, nanotechnology and others all focused on providing investigations of basic biological
mechanisms, both normal and pathological. This includes investigations with applications in oncology
(including responses to immunotherapies), traumatic brain injury, neurodegeneration and other conditions. The
Molecular and Cellular Oncology track investigates the molecular, cellular, and tissue-related effects of
radiation. This also includes a wide range of topics from Radiation Genomics (Radiogenomics) which explores
genetic components of both radiation sensitivity and radiation resistance, the role of the immune system in
response to radiation, cancer stem cells and radiation response as well as signal transduction pathways and
their influence on radiation response. The Therapeutic Medical Physics track investigates novel approaches to
treatment delivery systems including methods to improve the accuracy of treatment delivery such as breathing
motion models for real time MRI guided treatment delivery to 4π treatment methods and brachytherapy. This
program has been training primarily Ph.D. students for more than 60 years (40 years with this training grant),
and is unique in that it brings together researchers from basic sciences with investigators in the clinical
translational sciences and physicians who are truly clinical researchers, all in a common environment
dedicated to bringing basic research to clinical applications. This program has the faculty, students,
infrastructure and backing of its supporting Departments (Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Radiological
Sciences and Radiation Oncology) as well as the newly formed Graduate Programs in Biosciences to continue
to a...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9973216
- **Project number:** 5T32EB002101-44
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael F McNitt-Gray
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $266,119
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-08-19 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9973216

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9973216, Physics and Biology in Medicine Research Training (5T32EB002101-44). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9973216. Licensed CC0.

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