Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/M53035/01
Title:	IMAGE ANALYSIS BASED ON AN OPTICAL MODEL OF THE SKIN FOR DETECTION OF EARLY SIGNS OF MELANOMA
Principal Investigator:	Claridge, Professor E
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Bedford Hospital Cambridge Design Partnership Ltd Cambridge University Hospitals Trust University Hospital NHS Trust University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Department:	School of Computer Science
Organisation:	University of Birmingham
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 August 1999	Ends:	31 March 2003	Value (£):	206,796
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Image & Vision Computing
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Healthcare
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The proposed research is concerned with the characterisation of pigmented skin lesions in the context of early diagnosis of malignant melanoma. The goal is to improve the diagnostic accuracy beyond that currently attainable through routine clinical examination and through existing image analysis methods.A new skin image analysis method developed by the applicants generates parametric images characterising skin structure and composition. A critical novelty of the method is that it exploits physics of image formation and uses an optical model of the skin to interpret the colours occurring in a lesion image in terms of lesion histology. Information contained in the parametric images complements that available in direct images, whether examined visually or by conventional image analysis. It is thus likely to help in lesion discrimination.Quantitative measures derived from the parametric images will characterise the amount, location and distribution of melanin and blood, and the architectural distortions induced by lesion, including the presence of melanin in the dermis often associated with malignant melanoma.Experimental validation on a large data set will establish whether the data provided by the new image analysis method improves diagnosis of early melanoma. Commercial exploitation by a British company is envisaged.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk Summary Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:
Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.bham.ac.uk