Dr. Thomas Yankeelov

Biography

Thomas Yankeelov leads a research program focused on developing quantitative medical imaging technologies that integrate data and computational models for cancer therapy prediction. His lab emphasizes predictive biophysical modeling of tumor growth, alongside pre-clinical development, validation, and clinical application. Traditionally, biomathematical models for tumor growth struggled with in vivo application due to the necessity for detailed input data that could not be acquired with enough spatial resolution from intact specimens at a single time point. Yankeelov proposes to use emerging quantitative imaging methods to initialize a new generation of predictive models. These imaging-based models aim to forecast clinical outcomes, including overall treatment response and time to progression, thereby offering opportunities for guided interventions that enhance patient care. His research also aims to develop and critically evaluate in vivo image data acquisition and analysis methods to yield quantitative biomarkers for tumor response to specific treatments. The guiding hypothesis of his work is that the type of treatment influences imaging metrics that are sensitive to early responses, enabling the matching of specific treatment classes with corresponding imaging approaches. This personalized medicine approach allows for the tailoring of therapies based on individual patient responses as early as one week after treatment initiation, with the long-term goal of providing the cancer community with practical data acquisition and analysis protocols for incorporating advanced imaging technologies into patient management and clinical trials.

Research Interests