Beverly A. Lau

Graduate Student

Entered program: 2006

Hometown: Anaheim, CA

Email: beverly[at]uchicago.edu

Advisors: Bob Nishikawa, Ph.D.,

I earned a B.A. degree in physics from Reed College in 2006. I entered the program in the fall of 2006. My main research interest is in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), which is a promising new 3D imaging technique to improve the early detection of breast cancer. Because conventional mammography is a 2D technique, overlapping breast tissue can obscure lesions as well as mimic ones. DBT is essentially limited-angle cone beam CT, where multiple projections are taken at different angles and a 3D image is reconstructed.  With this 3D image, masses can be differentiated from superimposed layers of breast glandular tissue. I am also interested in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), which, at least theoretically, is the silver bullet for a cancer cure.