Grant in the MINIATURA 6 contest – Marta Borowska, PhD, Eng, to conduct analysis of computed tomography images of incisors of horses affected by the EOTRH syndrome

The researcher will receive about 50 thousand zloty for her project named “Application of texture analysis of the three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) images in detection of radiological symptoms of resorption and hypercementosis of teeth on a model of a horse head in the course of EOTRH syndrome”.
 
 
– I’m interested in conducting a specialised analysis of CT images and assessing to what extent they can be helpful in preventing the condition and investigating its causes. We’re talking about the EOTRH syndrome, a painful disease of incisal teeth affecting more than 24% of young horses. Early detection of the disease, for example by means of CT scans, may facilitate early veterinary intervention and thus improve the condition and quality of life of the affected animal – the researcher explained.

During the implementation of the research project, Marta Borowska, PhD, Eng will closely cooperate with the Institute of Veterinary Medicine of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW). It is in its specialised laboratories that the research will be carried out using a 64-slice CT scanner, a unique device providing images of the highest quality. It has been planned that the CT imaging and the preliminary clinical classification to one of four degrees of EORTH severity will cover 60 objects – isolated horse heads taken post-mortem at a commercial slaughterhouse.

– These measures will allow us to create an extensive database. I will develop analytical methods based on the collected data, as well as on my years of experience in analysis of medical images. I also hope that the results obtained thanks to the grant will be promising enough to pave the way for a larger joint project of Bialystok University of Technology and the Warsaw University of Life Sciences and that they will enrich our – still relatively poor – knowledge of factors leading to development of this dangerous disease – Marta Borowska, PhD, Eng, said.

The grant received by the researcher is yet another example of the interdisciplinary cooperation between the Institute of Biomedical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology and leading scientific centres. The Institute’s team aims to develop research on biomechanics, technical means of supporting rehabilitation, modern engineering materials including biomaterials and modern methods of analysing of biomedical signals and images.

Marta Borowska, PhD, Eng, is a graduate of the Faculty of Computer Science of Bialystok University of Technology. Her scientific interests encompass application of computer science in biomedical engineering. She is the author of almost 50 publications in the field of analysis of medical and veterinary signals and images with a special focus on computer-aided biomedical diagnostics. She has received 49,995 zloty from the Polish National Science Centre (NCN) for the aims of conducting her project named “Application of texture analysis of the three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) images in detection of radiological symptoms of resorption and hypercementosis of teeth on a model of a horse head in the course of EOTRH syndrome”.

The aim of the MINIATURA contest is to support scientific activities leading to preparation of future research projects to be submitted in NCN competitions or other national and international competitions. In the current edition, funding ranging from 5 to 50 thousand zloty can be obtained and the budget of the entire contest amounts to 20 million zloty. The funds are distributed proportionally throughout the entire period of calls for project proposals and the proposal may be qualified for funding only if it falls within the funds allocated for a given month.

by mr