Dr. Ling Jian Meng

Engineering at Illinois Engineering at Illinois

Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering

Dr. Ling Jian Meng

Dr. Ling Jian Meng

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

  • High resolution X and gamma ray detectors for radiological imaging applications. We are developing a novel energy-resolved photon-counting (ERPC) sensor that combines compact, high-resolution CdTe or CZT detectors with custom-designed readout electronics. This detector provides an excellent candidate for the next generation SPECT and PET systems.
  • Ultra-high resolution SPECT system for small animal brain studies. The emphasis of this work is to develop a so-called single-photon emission microscope (SPEM) system that offers a sub-hundred micro spatial resolution, while providing an adequate detection efficiency for in vivo mouse brain studies.
  • Multi-modality imaging systems. In this effort, we are developing instruments that allow simultaneous SPECT/MRI, SPECT/CT data acquisition. The SPECT/MRI instrucment will be based on high resolution CdTe detectors customized for operation in strong magnetic field.
  • Statistical and computional approaches for the design and optimization of nuclear imaging system.

EDUCATION:

  • B.Sc. in Modern Physics (1995), University of Science and Technology of China, PRC
  • Ph.D. in Detector Physics (2001), University of Southampton, UK

ACADEMIC POSITIONS HELD:

  • Research Fellow, Department of Radiology and Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, July 2004 - present
  • Assistant Research Scientist, Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, July 2004 - February, 2004
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2006 - present.

MAJOR CONSULTING ACTIVITIES — last five years

National Institute of Health:

National Institute of Health Consulting Acitivities List

  • Special Emphasis Panel/Scientific Review Group 2005/10 ZRG1 SBIB-J (01)(S) meeting, 06/27/2005-06/28/2005
  • Special Emphasis Panel/Scientific Review Group 2006/05 ZRG1 SBMI-F (10)(B) meeting, 02/28/2006.
  • Special Emphasis Panel/Scientific Review Group 2006/10, scheduled on June 26-27-2006.

SELECT PUBLICATIONS:

ARTICLES IN JOURNALS
  • L. J. Meng and Z. He, "Estimate interaction timing in large volume HgI2 detector using cathode pulse waveforms", Nuclear Instruments and Methods A, vol. 545, pp 234-251, 2005.
  • L. J. Meng and Z. He, "Exploring the Limiting Timing Resolution for Large Volume CZT Detectors with Waveform Analysis", Nuclear Instruments and Methods A, vol. 550, pp 435-445, 2005.
  • L. J. Meng, "An Intensified EMCCD Camera for Low Energy Gamma Ray Imaging Applications", IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., vol. 53, pp. 2376-2384, 2006.
  • L. J. Meng, N. H. Clinthorne, S. Skinner, R. V. Hay, and M. Gross, "Design and Feasibility Study of a Single Photon Emission Microscope System for Small Animal I-125 Imaging", IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. , vol. 53, pp. 1168-1178, 2006.
  • L. J. Meng, Z. He, B. Alexander and J. Sandoval, "Spectroscopic Performance of thick HgI2 Detectors", IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., vol. 53, pp1706-1712, 2006.
  • L. J. Meng and N. Li, "A Vector Uniform Cramer-Rao Bound for SPECT System Design", to appear on IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci, 2008.
  • L. J. Meng and G. Fu, "Investigation of the Intrinsic Spatial Resolution of an Intensified EMCCD Scintillation Camera", to appear on IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 2008.
ARTICLES IN CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS:
  • L. J. Meng, "Self-adapting Aperture System for Single Photon Emission Microscope System," Supplement in Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 2006.
  • L. J. Meng, G. Fu, and Jia-Wei Tan, "Design and preliminary studies of UI-SPEM - a single photon emission microscope system with a sub-100 resolution and a variable aperture system for small animal brain studies," Supplement in Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 2006.
  • L. J. Meng, Chien-Min Kao, Di Li, Seungryong Cho, Charles Pelizzari, Jeffrey S. Souris, Xiaochuan Pan, and Chin-Tu Chen, "Imaging Performance of an Ultra-High Resolution SPECT/CT System", presented in IEEE NSS/MIC 2006, San Diego.
  • G. Fu, Jia-wei Tan, and L. J. Meng, "Aperture Design for Ultra-High Resolution SPECT Systems for Small Animal Imaging", IEEE NSS/MIC Conference Record, 2007.
  • L. J. Meng, Jia-Wei Tan, and Geng Fu, "Design Study of an MRI Compatible Ultra-High Resolution SPECT for In Vivo Mice Brain Imaging", IEEE NSS/MIC Conference Record, 2007.
  • L. J. Meng, Geng Fu, E. J. Roy, B. Saupe, Jun-Guo Bian, Chin-Tu Chen, et al, "Development of an Ultra-High Resolution SPECT System for In Vivo Tracking of Radio-labeled T Cells in Mouse Brain", presented in the IEEE NSS/MIC, Hawaii, 2007.
  • L. J. Meng, G. Fu, J. W. Tan, and C. T. Chen, "Targeted Ultra-High Resolution Nuclear Imaging with a Single Photon Emission Microscope System", presented in Joint Molecular Imaging Conference, Rhode Island, 2007.
  • G. Fu, L. J. Meng, J. W. Tan, and C. T. Chen, "Development of the Gamma Cube - An Ultra-high Resolution, High Sensitivity SPECT System for In Vivo Imaging of Radio-labeled T Cells in Mouse Brain", presented at the SORMA West 2008 Conference, Berkeley, CA, June, 2008.
  • L. J. Meng, J. W. Tan, P. J. LaRiviere, and N. H. Clinthorne, "Feasibility of Synchrotron X-ray Fluorescence Computed Tomography Using An Emission Tomography System", presented at the SORMA West 2008 Conference, Berkeley, CA, June, 2008.

OTHER (patents, designed and marketed software, magazine articles, etc.)

  • L. J. Meng, D. K. Wehe, W. L. Rogers, N. Clinthorne, "Method and system for generating an image of the radiation density of a source of photons located in an object", United States Patent #6,881,959.
  • D. Ramsden, L. J. Meng, O. Ivanov, S. Ignatov, "Gamma-ray Spectrometry ", United States Patent #20060027754.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY:

  • IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society member, 2000 - present