Medical biophysics
Encyclopedia
Medical Biophysics refers to the domain of study that uses physics to describe or effect biological process for the purpose of medical application. Like many areas of study that have emerged in recent times, it relies heavily on broad interdisciplinary knowledge between the so-called traditional fields such as physics
( i.e. medical physics
, radiation physics or imaging physics) and advanced biology
fields such as biochemistry
, biophysics
, physiology
, neuroscience
etc.
Some important areas of research in medical biophysics
which have evolved from medical physics and diagnostic imaging include medical imaging
(e.g. MRI, computed tomography
, and PET
), oncology
and cancer
diagnosis
using radiolabelling and molecular imaging
, and vasculature and circulatory system function.
Some important areas of research in medical biophysics
which have evolved from biology and biophysics include using targeted nanomedicine not only for medical imaging
but to also deliver energy to disease for treatment. The field of Interdisciplinary Medical Dosimetry (IMD) combines the fields of radiation biology and radiation physics with biochemistry and biophysics to define the proper way of comparing and properly prescribing the deposition of energy into biological tissue and molecular and cellular damage from diverse sources (i.e x-rays, electrons, protons, hyperthermia, ultrasound, oxidative stress etc) for medical applications and is an example of a newly emergent subfield of medical biophysics.
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
( i.e. medical physics
Medical physics
Medical physics is the application of physics to medicine. It generally concerns physics as applied to medical imaging and radiotherapy, although a medical physicist may also work in many other areas of healthcare...
, radiation physics or imaging physics) and advanced biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
fields such as biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
, biophysics
Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
, physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
, neuroscience
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
etc.
Some important areas of research in medical biophysics
Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
which have evolved from medical physics and diagnostic imaging include medical imaging
Medical imaging
Medical imaging is the technique and process used to create images of the human body for clinical purposes or medical science...
(e.g. MRI, computed tomography
Computed tomography
X-ray computed tomography or Computer tomography , is a medical imaging method employing tomography created by computer processing...
, and PET
Positron emission tomography
Positron emission tomography is nuclear medicine imaging technique that produces a three-dimensional image or picture of functional processes in the body. The system detects pairs of gamma rays emitted indirectly by a positron-emitting radionuclide , which is introduced into the body on a...
), oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
and cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
diagnosis
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of anything. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines with variations in the use of logics, analytics, and experience to determine the cause and effect relationships...
using radiolabelling and molecular imaging
Molecular imaging
Molecular imaging originated from the field of radiopharmacology due to the need to better understand the fundamental molecular pathways inside organisms in a noninvasive manner.- Overview :...
, and vasculature and circulatory system function.
Some important areas of research in medical biophysics
Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
which have evolved from biology and biophysics include using targeted nanomedicine not only for medical imaging
Medical imaging
Medical imaging is the technique and process used to create images of the human body for clinical purposes or medical science...
but to also deliver energy to disease for treatment. The field of Interdisciplinary Medical Dosimetry (IMD) combines the fields of radiation biology and radiation physics with biochemistry and biophysics to define the proper way of comparing and properly prescribing the deposition of energy into biological tissue and molecular and cellular damage from diverse sources (i.e x-rays, electrons, protons, hyperthermia, ultrasound, oxidative stress etc) for medical applications and is an example of a newly emergent subfield of medical biophysics.
See also
- Medical physicsMedical physicsMedical physics is the application of physics to medicine. It generally concerns physics as applied to medical imaging and radiotherapy, although a medical physicist may also work in many other areas of healthcare...
- BiophysicsBiophysicsBiophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
- Biophysical structures and phenomena
External links
- Journal of Biological Physics
- University of Toronto - Medical Biophysics Department
- University of Western Ontario - Department of Medical Biophysics
- University of Texas - Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Interdisciplinary Program Biophysics/Neurosciences
- Progress in Biophysics & Molecular Biology
- Biophysical Journal
- Profile of a Medical Biophysicist