18th Annual Student Research Conference
Interdisciplinary
Image Analytic Skeletonization of Vascular Networks
Jason M. Hart
Dr. Jason E. Miller, Faculty Mentor
Both human endothelial cells and certain types of cancer (such as melanoma) are capable of spontaneously developing into vascular networks through a process known as vasculogenic mimicry. Scientists studying these tissues have traditionally been limited by their ability to turn qualitative observations of tissues samples into quantitative data sets useful for analysis. Even where crude schemes exist, they are typically been painstakingly slow and marred by subjectivity. Our project goal is to extend the ImageJ software package and develop an open-source image analysis toolset. This can be used in the laboratory to describe the structure and dynamics of these biological tissues. This toolset could provide evidence for the effectiveness of agents that either prevent network formation or expedite network destruction. Given the nature of the project, it is important to model the biology as closely as possible. Therefore, simple thinning algorithms are insufficiently precise, and a better skeletization method is needed.
Keywords: Endothelial, Medial Axis, Skeletization, Image Analysis
Topic(s):Interdisciplinary
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 50-4
Location: VH 1408
Time: 4:30