3D Printing & Imaging Lab
The 3D Printing and Imaging Laboratory (3DPIL) was founded in 2017 as a collaborative research group within the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Minnesota. The group is comprised of specialists across multiple disciplines including medical physics, clinical radiation oncology and veterinary medicine. Together, the 3DPIL group members have a broad range of expertise including the use of advanced imaging, computational modeling, artificial intelligence and 3D printing in an effort to improve the effectiveness of cancer therapies.
Radiomic analysis of medical imaging
The field of radiomics involves the large scale extraction of quantitative features from medical images. Research within the 3DPIL is focused on the use of radiomic techniques to predict cancer responses to therapies in an effort to guide precision medical therapies.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in radiation oncology
An area of active research within the 3DPIL is the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in cancer therapies. The 3DPIL group members are using these techniques to continuously improve the quality and efficiency of the radiation therapy treatments delivered to our patients.
3D printing in radiation oncology
The members of the 3DPIL have been on the forefront of the application of 3D printing technologies to the field of radiation oncology. One area of active research within the 3DPIL is the use of 3D printing to fabricate patient-specific devices for our patients receiving radiation therapy. These custom devices help to deliver the radiation doses to the tumors while shielding the surrounding tissues to prevent complications from treatment. Optimization of these devices remains an active area of research within the 3DPIL.
Positions
We are always looking for motivated student volunteers for both 3D printing and imaging-related projects. If interested, please send an email with your CV to Christopher Wilke MD, PhD at cwilke@umn.edu.