Dr Amir Tavakoli Taba
Dr Amir Tavakoli Taba’s research focuses on evaluating new non-invasive imaging technologies and scientific innovations to enhance radiology, clinical care, and medical imaging optimisation and perception.
For example, over the past eight years, Dr Taba has been working on the clinical evaluation of phase-contrast computed tomography (PCT), a novel low-dose, high-quality three-dimensional breast imaging technology. This research, funded through NHMRC Projects and Synergy grants, is part of a cross-disciplinary programme in collaboration with leading academics and clinicians in Australia (e.g., University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, ANSTO, and Maroondah BreastScreen) and internationally (e.g., Harvard Medical School, University of Iowa, and Elettra Synchrotron Trieste). His work has established the optimal imaging conditions for breast PCT and supports the world’s first PCT clinical trial, scheduled for late 2024 in Melbourne.
Dr Taba’s research also involves utilising appropriate tools to assess clinical performance in radiology and analysing the effects of various personal characteristics, education, and screening policies on radiological errors. He has integrated the concepts of complex systems, including the significance of social networks and information and communication technologies, into observer performance studies in radiology. This innovative approach has provided a new direction for improving observer performance and has led to international recognition, including awards from SPIE Medical Imaging, and several subsequent research grants.
MRTY1037 Imaging Technology 1
MRTY4043 Professional Capstone
MRTY5131 Medical Imaging Technologies and Applications
MRTY5132 Medical Image Perception
MRTY5133 Medical Imaging Data Management and Analysis
MRTY5139 Medical Imaging Science Capstone
MRSC5049 Advanced Clinical Reasoning in MRS
Bachelor of Applied Science (Diagnostic Radiography) Honours
• BreastScreen Reader Assessment Strategy (BREAST)
• University of Sydney Cancer Research Network
• University of Sydney China Study Centre
• Sydney Vital Translational Cancer Research Centre
• Sydney Catalyst Translational Cancer Research
• Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group (PC4)
Project title | Research student |
---|---|
Optimising abdominal CT examination using emerging techniques and technologies. | Mohammed ALANAZI |
Phase-contrast imaging of the breast | Jenna ARBID |
Publications
Journals
- Jiang, Z., Gandomkar, Z., Trieu, P., Tavakoli Taba, S., Barron, M., Obeidy, P., Lewis, S. (2024). Evaluating Recalibrating AI Models for Breast Cancer Diagnosis in a New Context: Insights from Transfer Learning, Image Enhancement and High-Quality Training Data Integration. Cancers, 16(2), 322. [More Information]
- Trieu, P., Barron, M., Jiang, Z., Tavakoli Taba, S., Gandomkar, Z., Lewis, S. (2024). Familiarity, confidence and preference of artificial intelligence feedback and prompts by Australian breast cancer screening readers. Australian Health Review, 48(3), 299-311. [More Information]
- Alawaji, Z., Tavakoli Taba, S., Rae, W. (2023). Automated image quality assessment of mammography phantoms: a systematic review. Acta Radiologica, 64(3), 971-986. [More Information]
Conferences
- Lim, B., Lewis, S., Arhatari, B., Nesterets, Y., Mayo, S., Thomposon, D., Fox, J., Kumar, B., Hausermann, D., Maksimenko, A., Rickard, M., Giannotti, N., Gureyev, T., Brennan, P., Tavakoli Taba, S., et al (2022). Energy optimisation of propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography: a quantitative image quality assessment. Medical Imaging 2022: Physics of Medical Imaging, San Diego: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [More Information]
- Arhatari, B., Nesterets, Y., Tavakoli Taba, S., Maksimenko, A., Hall, C., Stevenson, A., Hausermann, D., Lewis, S., Dimmock, M., Thompson, D., Gureyev, T., Brennan, P., et al (2021). X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography for full-breast mastectomy imaging at the Australian Synchrotron. Developments in X-Ray Tomography XIII 2021, San Diego: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [More Information]
- Tavakoli Taba, S., Lewis, S., Baran, P., Arhatari, B., Nesterets, Y., Mayo, S., Thompson, D., Fox, J., Kumar, B., Prodanovic, Z., Gureyev, T., Brennan, P., et al (2020). Comparison of propagation-based phase-contrast CT and absorption-based CT for breast imaging using synchrotron radiation. 15th International Workshop on Breast Imaging (IWBI 2020), Bellingham: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [More Information]
2024
- Jiang, Z., Gandomkar, Z., Trieu, P., Tavakoli Taba, S., Barron, M., Obeidy, P., Lewis, S. (2024). Evaluating Recalibrating AI Models for Breast Cancer Diagnosis in a New Context: Insights from Transfer Learning, Image Enhancement and High-Quality Training Data Integration. Cancers, 16(2), 322. [More Information]
- Trieu, P., Barron, M., Jiang, Z., Tavakoli Taba, S., Gandomkar, Z., Lewis, S. (2024). Familiarity, confidence and preference of artificial intelligence feedback and prompts by Australian breast cancer screening readers. Australian Health Review, 48(3), 299-311. [More Information]
2023
- Alawaji, Z., Tavakoli Taba, S., Rae, W. (2023). Automated image quality assessment of mammography phantoms: a systematic review. Acta Radiologica, 64(3), 971-986. [More Information]
2022
- Tu, J., Brennan, P., Lewis, S., Tavakoli Taba, S. (2022). A bibliometric and social network analysis perspective of X-ray phase-contrast imaging in medical imaging. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 69(1), 37-46. [More Information]
- Dimmock, M., McKinley, J., Massey, A., Hausermann, D., Tam, N., Stewart, E., Cowling, C., Sim, J., Brennan, P., Gureyev, T., Tavakoli Taba, S., Schultz-Ferguson, C., Jimenez, Y., Lewis, S. (2022). Designing a breast support device for phase contrast tomographic imaging: getting ready for a clinical trial. British Journal of Radiology, 95(1138). [More Information]
- Lim, B., Lewis, S., Arhatari, B., Nesterets, Y., Mayo, S., Thomposon, D., Fox, J., Kumar, B., Hausermann, D., Maksimenko, A., Rickard, M., Giannotti, N., Gureyev, T., Brennan, P., Tavakoli Taba, S., et al (2022). Energy optimisation of propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography: a quantitative image quality assessment. Medical Imaging 2022: Physics of Medical Imaging, San Diego: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [More Information]
2021
- Wan, S., Arhatari, B., Nesterets, Y., Mayo, S., Thompson, D., Fox, J., Kumar, B., Prodanovic, Z., Hausermann, D., Maksimenko, A., Rickard, M., Gadomkar, Z., Vafa, E., Lewis, S., Gureyev, T., Brennan, P., Tavakoli Taba, S., et al (2021). Effect of x-ray energy on the radiological image quality in propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography of the breast. Journal of Medical Imaging, 8(5), 052108-1-052108-12. [More Information]
- Gandomkar, Z., Siviengphanom, S., Ekpo, E., Suleiman, M., Tavakoli Taba, S., Li, T., Xu, D., Evans, K., Lewis, S., Wolfe, J., Brennan, P. (2021). Global processing provides malignancy evidence complementary to the information captured by humans or machines following detailed mammogram inspection. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 20122. [More Information]
- Tavakoli Taba, S., Arhatari, B., Nesterets, Y., Gadomkar, Z., Mayo, S., Thompson, D., Fox, J., Kumar, B., Prodanovic, Z., Hausermann, D., Lewis, S., Gureyev, T., Brennan, P., et al (2021). Propagation-Based Phase-Contrast CT of the Breast Demonstrates Higher Quality Than Conventional Absorption-Based CT Even at Lower Radiation Dose. Academic Radiology, 28(1), e20-e26. [More Information]
2020
- Tavakoli Taba, S., Baran, P., Nesterets, Y., Pacilè, S., Wienbeck, S., Dullin, C., Pavlov, K., Maksimenko, A., Lockie, D., Mayo, S., Lewis, S., Gureyev, T., Brennan, P., et al (2020). Comparison of propagation-based CT using synchrotron radiation and conventional cone-beam CT for breast imaging. European Radiology, 30(5), 2740-2750. [More Information]
- Tavakoli Taba, S., Lewis, S., Baran, P., Arhatari, B., Nesterets, Y., Mayo, S., Thompson, D., Fox, J., Kumar, B., Prodanovic, Z., Gureyev, T., Brennan, P., et al (2020). Comparison of propagation-based phase-contrast CT and absorption-based CT for breast imaging using synchrotron radiation. 15th International Workshop on Breast Imaging (IWBI 2020), Bellingham: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [More Information]
- Gureyev, T., Paganin, D., Arhatari, B., Tavakoli Taba, S., Lewis, S., Brennan, P., Quiney, H. (2020). Dark-field signal extraction in propagation-based phase-contrast imaging. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 65(21), 215029. [More Information]
2019
- Tavakoli Taba, S., Mojtahedi, M., Newton, S. (2019). Disaster risk management approaches in construction and built environment: A research collaboration networks perspective. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 11(1), 85-99. [More Information]
- Tavakoli Taba, S., Brennan, P., Lewis, S. (2019). Dynamics of breast imaging research: A global scoping review and Sino-Australian comparison case study. PloS One, 14(1), 1-15. [More Information]
- Pacile, S., Dullin, C., Baran, P., Tonutti, M., Perske, C., Fischer, U., Albers, J., Arfelli, F., Dreossi, D., Pavlov, K., Tavakoli Taba, S., Lewis, S., Brennan, P., Gureyev, T., et al (2019). Free propagation phase-contrast breast CT provides higher image quality than cone-beam breast-CT at low radiation doses: a feasibility study on human mastectomies. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1-7. [More Information]
2018
- Pacile, S., Baran, P., Dullin, C., Dimmock, M., Lockie, D., Missbach-Guntner, J., Quiney, H., McCormack, M., Mayo, S., Tavakoli Taba, S., Lewis, S., Brennan, P., et al (2018). Advantages of breast cancer visualization and characterization using synchrotron radiation phase-contrast tomography. Journal of Synchrotron Radiation, 25(5), 1460-1466. [More Information]
- Lewis, S., Gureyev, T., Baran, P., Tavakoli Taba, S., Pacile, S., Dullin, C., Tromba, G., Hausermann, D., Peele, A., Lockie, D., Brennan, P. (2018). Towards clinic-friendly solutions for patient trials in breast cancer phase contrast imaging. 14th International Workshop on Breast Imaging (IWBI 2018), Bellingham: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [More Information]
- Tavakoli Taba, S., Gureyev, T., Alakhras, M., Lewis, S., Lockie, D., Brennan, P. (2018). X-ray phase-contrast technology in breast imaging: Principles, options, and clinical application. American Journal Of Roentgenology, 211(1), 133-145. [More Information]
2017
- Tavakoli Taba, S., Hossain, L., Heard, R., Brennan, P., Lee, W., Lewis, S. (2017). Applying a social network analysis (SNA) approach to understanding radiologists' performance in reading mammograms. SPIE Medical Imaging 2017: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment. [More Information]
- Baran, P., Pacile, S., Nesterets, Y., Mayo, S., Dullin, C., Dreossi, D., Arfelli, F., Thompson, D., Lockie, D., Tavakoli Taba, S., Brennan, P., et al (2017). Optimization of propagation-based x-ray phase-contrast tomography for breast cancer imaging. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 62(6), 2315-2332. [More Information]
- Tavakoli Taba, S., Hossain, L., Willis, K., Lewis, S. (2017). Social networks and expertise development for Australian breast radiologists. BMC Health Services Research, 17, 1-12. [More Information]
2016
- Tavakoli Taba, S., Hossain, L., Heard, R., Brennan, P., Lee, W., Lewis, S. (2016). Personal and Network Dynamics in Performance of Knowledge Workers: A Study of Australian Breast Radiologists. PloS One, 11(2), 1-15. [More Information]
2015
- Tavakoli Taba, S., Rahnamayie Zekavat, P., Alipour Esgandani, G., Wang, X., Bernhold, L. (2015). A Multidimensional Analytical Approach for Identifying and Locating Large Utility Pipes in Underground Infrastructure. International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks, 2015, 1-10. [More Information]
- Tavakoli Taba, S., Atkinson, S., Lewis, S., Chung, K., Hossain, L. (2015). A systems life cycle approach to managing the radiology profession: an Australian perspective. Australian Health Review, 39(2), 228-239. [More Information]
- Tavakoli Taba, S., Hossain, L., Atkinson, S., Lewis, S. (2015). Towards understanding longitudinal collaboration networks: a case of mammography performance research. Scientometrics, 103(2), 531-544. [More Information]
2014
- Atkinson, S., Tavakoli Taba, S., Goodger, A., Caldwell, N., Hossain, L. (2014). Synthetic standards in managing health lifecycles and Cyber relationships. International Journal on Advances in Life Sciences, 6(1-2), 41-51.
2013
- Atkinson, S., Tavakolitabaezavareh, S., Walker, D., Liu, L., Hossain, L. (2013). Securing the bolts before the horse has bolted: A new Perspective on Managing Collaborative Assurance. 2013 International Conference on Security and Management (SAM13), USA: CSREA Press.
- Atkinson, S., Tavakoli Taba, S., Goodger, A., Caldwell, N., Hossain, L. (2013). The Need for Synthetic Standards in Managing Cyber Relationships. The Third International Conference on Social Eco-Informatics (SOTICS2013), Lisbon: International Academy, Research and Industry Association (IARIA).
Selected Grants
2022
- Effective Artificial Intelligence for breast cancer screening: a second reader, pre-screening and triage model, Lewis S, Trieu P, Gandomkar Z, Brennan P, Borecky N, Tavakoli Taba S, National Breast Cancer Foundation/Investigator Initiated Research Scheme
2021
- IMPACT: IMplementation of x-ray PhAse-Contrast Tomography to transform cancer diagnosis, Brennan P, Quiney H, Lewis S, Nugent K, Peele A, Tavakoli Taba S, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Synergy Grant