Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence merge data science with medical imaging. These approaches enable automated image processing, feature extraction, and predictive modeling that support earlier diagnosis and individualized treatment planning across multiple modalities, including ultrasound, CT, MRI, nuclear imaging, and image-guided therapy. By integrating AI into radiological research and clinical workflows, UBC researchers are developing tools that improve diagnostic precision, optimize therapeutic interventions, and accelerate the translation of imaging discoveries into personalized medicine.
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People
Pedro Esquinas
BC Cancer Research Centre
Dr. Esquinas studied Physics at the University of Granada and completed a PhD in Medical Physics at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Dr. Anna Celler. His doctoral research focused on quantitative imaging and dosimetry for radionuclide therapies, with an emphasis on Rhenium-188.
Following his PhD, Dr. Esquinas continued as a post-doctoral researcher in Dr. Celler’s laboratory, where his work spanned dual-isotope SPECT imaging and the application of deep neural networks to enhance cone-beam CT image quality. He later worked as a Scientist at IBM Watson Health Imaging, developing deep-learning algorithms for automated detection and segmentation of lesions in CT and MRI. More recently, he worked at QUIBIM, a medical imaging company, contributing to the development and integration of AI-driven imaging solutions.
Dr. Esquinas is currently a Clinical Nuclear Physicist in the Molecular Imaging and Therapy department at BC Cancer and a researcher in Molecular Imaging and Artificial Intelligence at the Qurit Lab. His research interests lie at the intersection of artificial intelligence and theranostics, with a focus on image reconstruction, quantitative imaging and personalized radionuclide therapy.
Arman Rahmim
Primary Location: BC Cancer Research Centre
Dr. Rahmim is Professor of Radiology, Physics and Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC), as well as Distinguished Scientist and Provincial Medical Imaging Physicist at BC Cancer. He received his MSc in condensed matter physics and PhD in medical imaging physics at UBC. He was then recruited by Johns Hopkins University (JHU), leading the high-resolution brain PET imaging physics program. In 2018, he was recruited back to Vancouver, where his laboratory (Qurit Lab) pursues research in molecular imaging & therapy. He is Scientific Lead of the BC Cancer Medical Imaging Core (CanMIC) Lab, aiming to translate state-of-the-art imaging solutions to clinical trials and research. Additionally, he is Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Ascinta Technologies, working to develop easy-to-use, adaptable, and AI-enabled solutions for theranostics and radiopharmaceutical therapies.
Alexander Rauscher
Primary Location: UBC
Dr Alexander Rauscher obtained his MSc in Engineering Physics and PhD in Physics from the Vienna University of Technology, and after post-doctoral training at the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany, he joined the UBC MRI Research Centre at the University of British Columbia in 2007. He became Assistant Professor at the Department of Radiology at UBC in 2010. In 2015 he joined the Department of Pediatrics at UBC as a Canada Research Chair in Developmental Neuroimaging. Dr. Rauscher’s work focuses on the development and utilization of new quantitative magnetic resonance imaging methods for brain research. The overarching goal of this work is to develop markers for tissue damage and repair in the central nervous system. Research interests: MRI engineering, biophysical basis of MRI signal, magnetic susceptibility mapping, neuroimaging.
Ilker Hacihaliloglu
Primary Location: Vancouver General Hospital
Dr. Hacihaliloglu’s research focuses on developing advanced AI and machine‐learning methods to extract clinically meaningful information from medical imaging data—especially ultrasound—for applications including neurosurgery, liver and lung disease, orthopedics, interventional radiology, brain injury, and chronic disease. He is passionate about moving technologies from bench to bedside by collaborating closely with clinicians and designing tools for decentralized care and point-of-care diagnostics. He is specifically interested in decentralizing healthcare (out of hospital care) by applying point of care ultrasound for out-of-hospital risk assessment to enable a more personal, accessible, and connected healthcare. He participates actively in academic leadership (program committees, session chairs) in major conferences and serves as a bridge between academic innovation and commercial/clinical translation.
Carlos Uribe Munoz
Primary Location: BC Cancer Research Centre
Dr. Uribe is Leader of Clinical Nuclear Medicine Physics at BC Cancer and Clinical Assistant Professor at UBC Radiology. He has overseen the opening of 2 new PET/CT centres in BC. He co-leads the Qurit Research Program, and his research focuses on quantitative imaging and dosimetry for radiopharmaceutical therapies and is actively looking into how artificial intelligence can aid in the path to personalized theranostics. He is also Technology Lead of the BC Cancer Medical Imaging Core (CanMIC) Lab, aiming to translate state-of-the-art imaging solutions to clinical trials and research. He has made significant contributions to implementation of radiopharmaceutical therapies in Canada, internal radiation dosimetry, motion correction in PET, optimization of injected activities for PET imaging, and selection of new radiopharmaceuticals for clinical translation.
Charlotte Yong-Hing
Primary Location: BC Cancer Research Centre
Dr. Yong-Hing is Vice Chair Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Clinical Associate Professor at the UBC Department of Radiology. She is Past President of the BC Radiological Society and is Medical Director of the BC Cancer Breast Screening Program. She works at BC Cancer Vancouver where she was Medical Director of Breast Imaging from 2017-2024, and two UBC affiliated community imaging clinics. She co-chairs the UBC Radiology Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and chaired the Canadian Association of Radiologists Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group. Dr. Yong-Hing founded Canadian Radiology Women in 2018 and has been invited to speak internationally about actionable ways to improve equity, diversity and inclusion within the Radiology workforce and training programs.
Fereshteh Yousefirizi
Primary Location: BC Cancer Research Centre
Dr. Fereshteh Yousefirizi is a biomedical engineering scientist at the BC Cancer Research Institute and an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia Department of Radiology. Her research focuses on AI-powered quantitative imaging for medical imaging including oncological PET/CT, with an emphasis on tumor segmentation and tracking, predictive radiomics, and translational theranostics.
She works at the interface of nuclear medicine, deep learning, and clinical deployment, developing automated and reproducible imaging tools to support personalized cancer care. Her work actively bridges methodological innovation with real-world clinical workflows, aiming to advance the clinical adoption of AI in nuclear medicine imaging and theranostic applications.
Ren Yuan
Primary Location: BC Cancer Research Centre
Dr. Ren Yuan is an oncological radiologist at BC Cancer and a clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia. She is a member and clinician scientist with the Lung Cancer Program Integrative Oncology at the BC Cancer Research Institution. She co-directs the Radiomics Core of the philanthropically funded ProLung project at BC Cancer. Her current research focuses on clinical applications and implementation of artificial intelligence in lung cancer, including early diagnosis of cancer in high-risk screening populations and clinical outcome prediction in advanced lung cancer receiving immunotherapy. Other academic interests include investigating state-of-the-art imaging tools to assist precise and personalized oncology.