Ana Pejović-Milić
Chair, Department of Physics
Professor
Faculty of Science
Department of Physics
Toronto, Ontario
anamilic@torontomu.ca
Office:
(416) 979-5000 ext. 557952
Expert In
Bio/Research
My research group carries out research in the general area of medical physics by developing non-invasive elemental techniques for medical applications, primarily for applications in the field of occupational and bone health or toxicology. In particular, we use a variety of nuclear techniques (i.e...
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Bio/Research
My research group carries out research in the general area of medical physics by developing non-invasive elemental techniques for medical applications, primarily for applications in the field of occupational and bone health or toxicology. In particular, we use a variety of nuclear techniques (i.e. neutron activation, x-ray fluorescence) to determine the amount of toxic trace elements stored in human bone. We are active in establishing both commercial and research collaborations, as well as are actively seeking new graduate students.
Toxic elements are commonly measured in blood and serum, or by a bone biopsy. It is widely accepted that blood and serum concentrations of elements provide information only about the recent exposure to the element, and therefore do not necessarily reflect chronic exposure of an individual. On the other hand, bone biopsy is painful, involves a risk to the patient and it may not be possible to repeat it several times.
The assessment of lifetime exposure from a medication, environment, or in the work place, to a toxic element therefore requires a different approach. Because many toxic/trace elements are well retained by bone tissue and may reside there for years to decades, a non-invasive, non-distractive and without-pain X-ray fluorescence (XRF) based or neutron activation based diagnostic technique is being developed to assess these elements.
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Toxic elements are commonly measured in blood and serum, or by a bone biopsy. It is widely accepted that blood and serum concentrations of elements provide information only about the recent exposure to the element, and therefore do not necessarily reflect chronic exposure of an individual. On the other hand, bone biopsy is painful, involves a risk to the patient and it may not be possible to repeat it several times.
The assessment of lifetime exposure from a medication, environment, or in the work place, to a toxic element therefore requires a different approach. Because many toxic/trace elements are well retained by bone tissue and may reside there for years to decades, a non-invasive, non-distractive and without-pain X-ray fluorescence (XRF) based or neutron activation based diagnostic technique is being developed to assess these elements.
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