A Computational Framework Enabling Virtual Imaging Trials of 3D Quantitative Optoacoustic Tomography Breast Imaging

The broad objective is to develop, validate, and demonstrate computational tools for performing VITs that can inform the development of clinically viable and effective 3D breast OAT technologies. This will afford researchers an unprecedented level of control in modeling and validating quantitative OAT imaging of the tumor and tissue oxygen saturation distributions necessary for assessing breast cancer. The specific aims include: 1) developing multi-physics simulation tools for in silico simulation of realistic measurement data in 3D breast OAT; 2) systematically developing and refining quantitative OAT image reconstruction methods; 3) conducting physical experiments to validate the computational models; and 4) conducting VITs to explore quantitative OAT system optimization.