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Research

Multimodal optical imaging of bladder cancer

lab

A major research focus is development and translation of multimodal optical imaging technologies for detection, characterization, and resection of bladder cancer. Ongoing and past research:
1) Augmented endoscopy using artificial intelligence and computer vision
2) Molecular imaging and focal targeting therapy of CD47, an innate immunity checkpoint
3) Optical biopsy of the urinary tract using confocal laser endomicroscopy

Urinary liquid biopsy and molecular diagnostics

urine dx photo

We are identifying and validating urine-based biomarkers to inform bladder cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response. Given its abundance and non-invasive nature of sample collection, urine serves as an ideal source of liquid biopsy.

To overcome the diagnostic shortcomings of standard urine cytology, we have utilized high throughput sequencing technology as a discovery and diagnostic tool. Initially, we applied bulk RNA sequencing to urinary pellets for biomarker discovery and developed a diagnostic 3-marker urinary RNA panel (Sin 2017) and led a multi-center effort to validate another 3-marker urinary RNA panel using an integrated microfluidic cartridge (Wallace 2019). Subsequently, we identified the key biomarkers from the initial panels that could provide the highest sensitivity for bladder cancer detection and surveillance (Shkolyar 2021).  We are currently working to validate this panel in a multi-site study and explore avenues to incorporate the biomarker analysis in clinical settings.

Given its abundance and ease of sample collection, urine is ideally suited as the source for development of bladder cancer molecular diagnostics.  We applied high throughput sequencing and multiplex quantitative PCR to identify cancer-specific and ultrasensitive detection of tumor-derived RNA and cell-free DNA.

Medical device development - Kidney Stone Disease & Urinary Tract Infections

lab

Our lab has strong interest in collaborative research with engineering collagues to develop medical devices for 1) retrieval of kidney stone fragments using magnetic hydrogel and 2) rapid detection of uropathogen and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Efficient capturing of different stone types using MagSToNE
My group has collaborated with colleagues in urology, nephrology, and engineering in clinical and translational research related to kidney stone disease.  These research endeavors have established the background and impetus for our current NIDDK-funded R21 to develop new tools for kidney stone fragment removal.
 

Li H, Shkolyar E*, Wang J, Conti S, Pao AC, Liao JC, Wong TS, Wong PK. SLIPS-LAB-A bioinspired bioanalysis system for metabolic evaluation of urinary stone disease  Sci Adv. 2020 May;6(21):eaba8535. PMCID: PMC7244315.

Ge TJ, Roquero DM, Holton GH, Mach KE, Prado K, Lau H, Jensen K, Chang TC, Conti S, Sheth K, Wang SX, Liao JC. A magnetic hydrogel for the efficient retrieval of kidney stone fragments during ureteroscopy. Nat Commun. 2023 Jun 22;14(1):3711. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38936-1. PMID: 37349287.