University of Copenhagen

The 3D Craniofacial Image Research Laboratory (3D-Laboratory) is an inter-disciplinary research unit jointly sponsored by:

• School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen
• The Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet
• DTU Informatics, Technical University of Denmark

The unit carries out research at the interface between engineering and medicine/dentistry. In particular, its mission is to develop state-of-the-art medical image analysis methodology and apply it to craniofacial research. Topics include morphology and growth in congenital craniofacial malformations and cleft lip and palate, surgical treatment planning and evaluation, outcome prediction and genotype-phenotype correlation.

The research is carried out in the form of collaborative projects between the 3D-Laboratory and one or more clinical and technical partners.  Current focus areas include the application of statistical shape modelling and non-rigid image registration to population studies and quantification of shape, growth and surgical outcome, quantification of 3D ultrasound scans for prenatal diagnostics, and analysis of surface scans of the face and head.

The laboratory was founded in 1994 and is headed by Professor Sven Kreiborg. The laboratory currently employs two full time research engineers and four externally funded PhD-students.

While strongly focusing on craniofacial research, the laboratory has an interest in cross-fertilization with other application areas of medical imaging and image analysis.

The laboratory has experience with many 3D image modalities including CT, Cone-Beam CT, micro-CT, MRI, 3D ultrasound, range scans, histologic/cryosection images, and operates a facility for stereophotogrammetric face and head scanning (3dMDcranial system donated by the Oticon Foundation) which is used for both clinical and research purposes.