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R. Jason Stafford, Ph.D.

Present Title & Affiliation

Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment

Faculty, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Research Interests

Research Interests: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Image-Guided Interventions, Image-Guided Therapy; Thermal Therapy

My research focuses primarily on the development and use of MRI for the planning, targeting, monitoring and verifying thermal therapy delivery.  Current research in our group is centered on novel approaches to real-time acquisition and processing of MRI based temperature imaging for quantitative monitoring of thermal therapy delivery, biological thermodynamics for predicting response to thermal therapy, 3D finite element simulation of treatment delivery, and dynamic data driven modeling for predicting and controling outcomes in thermal therapy.  We are currently employing these in the development and validation of MR-guided laser induced thermal therapies (LITT) both with and without nanoparticle mediated approaches to photothermal heating.  The long term goals of these projects are to fully integrate quantitative data acquisition and processing techniques with model driven simulations for robust guidance to increase the safety and efficacy of these approaches to thermal therapy.

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2001 The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, PHD, Medical Physics
1996 California State University, Fresno, CA, MS, Physics
1994 California State University, Fresno, CA, BS, Physics

Board Certifications

2005 American Board of Radiology (Diagnostic Radiological Physics)

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Assistant Professor, Department of Imaging Physics, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2004-2010

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Fuentes D, Oden JT, Diller KR, Hazle JD, Elliott A, Shetty A, Stafford RJ. Computational modeling and real-time control of patient-specific laser treatment of cancer. Ann Biomed Eng 37(4):763-82, 4/2009. e-Pub 1/2009. PMID: 19148754.
2. Taylor BA, Hwang KP, Hazle JD, Stafford RJ. Autoregressive moving average modeling for spectral parameter estimation from a multi-gradient echo chemical shift acquisition. Med Phys 36(3):793-803, 3/2009. PMCID: PMC2736745.
3. Schwartz JA, Shetty AM, Price RE, Stafford RJ, Wang JC, Uthamanthil RK, Pham K, McNichols RJ, Coleman CL, Payne JD. Feasibility study of particle-assisted laser ablation of brain tumors in orthotopic canine model. Cancer Res 69(4):1659-67, 2/2009. e-Pub 2/2009. PMID: 19208847.
4. Carpentier A, McNichols RJ, Stafford RJ, Itzcovitz J, Guichard JP, Reizine D, Delaloge S, Vicaut E, Payen D, Gowda A, George B. Real-time magnetic resonance-guided laser thermal therapy for focal metastatic brain tumors. Neurosurgery 1 Suppl 1: ONS21-8; discussion ONS28-9, 7/2008.
5. Taylor BA, Hwang KP, Elliott AM, Shetty A, Hazle JD, Stafford RJ. Dynamic Chemical Shift Imaging for Image-Guided Thermal Therapy: Analysis of Feasibility and Potential. Med Phys 35(2):793-803, 2/2008. PMID: 18383702.
6. Shetty AM, Stafford RJ, Elliott AM, Kassouf W, Brown GA, Stephens LC, Tinkey PT, Bidaut L, Pisters LL, Hazle JD. Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of a convective therapy delivery paradigm in a canine prostate model. J Magn Reson Imaging 26:1672-1677, 12/2007.
7. Stafford RJ, Price RE, Diederich CJ, Kangasniemi M, Olsson LE, Hazle JD. Interleaved echo-planar imaging for fast multiplanar magnetic resonance temperature imaging of ultrasound thermal ablation therapy. J Magn Reson Imaging 20(4):706-714, 10/2004. PMID: 15390144.
8. Hirsch LR, Stafford RJ, Bankson JA, Sershen SR, Rivera B, Price RE, Hazle JD, Halas NJ, West JL. Nanoshell-mediated near-infrared thermal therapy of tumors under magnetic resonance guidance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100(23). e-Pub 11/2003. PMID: 14597719.
9. Stafford RJ, Hazle JD, Glover GH. Monitoring of high-intensity focused ultrasound-induced temperature changes in vitro using an interleaved spiral acquisition. Magn Reson Med 43(6):909-912, 6/2000. PMID: 10861889.
10. Stafford RJ, Kallel F, Price RE, Cromeens DM, Krouskop TA, Hazle JD, Ophir J. Elastographic imaging of thermal lesions in soft tissue: a preliminary study in vitro. Ultrasound Med Biol 24(9):1449-1458, 1998. PMID: 10385966.

Last updated: 11/3/2010