Machine Learning and Deep Learning for Advanced Medical Imaging and Diagnostics

Program Overview

This PhD program in Machine Learning and Deep Learning for Advanced Medical Imaging and Diagnostics aims to enhance medical image analysis, disease diagnostics, and prognostics. It focuses on developing novel models and algorithms for early disease detection, personalized treatment plans, and improved patient outcomes. The program explores various research directions, including image segmentation, disease detection, predictive modeling, transfer learning, and multimodal fusion.

Program Outline

Machine Learning and Deep Learning for Advanced Medical Imaging and Diagnostics

Degree Overview:

This PhD project aims to leverage machine learning and deep learning techniques to enhance medical image analysis, disease diagnostics, and prognostics. The focus will be on developing novel models and algorithms that contribute to the early detection of diseases, personalized treatment plans, and improved patient outcomes.

Research Directions:

Image Segmentation and Reconstruction:

Develop deep learning models for accurate and efficient segmentation of organ/tissue structures in medical imaging data, such as MRI and CT scans.

Transfer Learning and Domain Adaptation:

Explore transfer learning techniques to adapt pre-trained models to the specific characteristics of medical data. Investigate how models trained on one modality or population can be fine-tuned or adapted to improve performance on diverse datasets.

Expected Contributions:

The project aims to contribute to the field by advancing the state-of-the-art in deep-learning applications for healthcare. The developed models and algorithms should not only demonstrate superior performance but also address practical challenges in terms of interpretability, generalization, and ethical deployment in clinical settings. Contributions also include AI-based diagnostic tools for telemedicine settings to improve accessibility and timely interventions, as well as the acceptance and integration of AI-based diagnostic tools by healthcare professionals, ensuring alignment with clinical workflows and standards. The project will evaluate the approach and model/algorithm performance on benchmark datasets and its application potential in collaboration with industry partners.

Outline:

• Theoretical foundations of machine learning and deep learning
• Medical image analysis and processing techniques
• Algorithm development and implementation
• Evaluation and validation of models
• Research ethics and responsible AI

Assessment:

• Written reports and presentations
• Defense of thesis
• Peer review of research papers
• Project deliverables

Teaching:

• Regular supervision meetings with primary supervisor
• Collaborative research environment with strong AI research team
• Access to robotics and AI laboratories, high-spec computing facilities
• Opportunities to join research projects funded by UKRI, EPSRC, and industry
• Participation in outreach and impact generation activities

Careers:

• Research scientist
• Data scientist
• Machine learning engineer
• AI product developer
• Healthcare consultant

Other:

• Loughborough University is ranked among the top UK universities in research and innovation in science and engineering fields.
• The Department of Computer Science has an excellent research record in AI, machine learning, robotics, computer vision, and data science.
• The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with world-leading researchers and access cutting-edge research facilities.
• The program is actively seeking collaborations with industry partners, providing opportunities for real-world applications of research findings.

Conclusion

This PhD project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the advancement of AI in healthcare. By leveraging machine learning and deep learning techniques, the project aims to develop innovative solutions for disease detection, diagnosis, and treatment, ultimately improving patient outcomes and advancing the field of medical imaging and diagnostics.

UK fee: £4,712 Full-time degree per annum International fee: £26,000 Full-time degree per annum University fees and charges can be paid in advance and there are several methods of payment, including online payments and payment by instalment. Fees are reviewed annually and are likely to increase to take into account inflationary pressures.