Biomedical research at the image-guided ultrasound therapeutics laboratories

Abstract

The Image-guided Ultrasound Therapeutic Laboratories (IgUTL) are located at the University of Cincinnati in the Heart, Lung, and Vascular Institute, a key component of efforts to align the UC College of Medicine and UC Health research, education, and clinical programs. These extramurally funded laboratories, directed by Prof. Christy K. Holland, are comprised of graduate and undergraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, principal investigators, and physician-scientists with backgrounds in physics and biomedical engineering, and clinical and scientific collaborators in fields including cardiology, neurosurgery, neurology, and emergency medicine. Prof. Holland’s research focuses on biomedical ultrasound including sonothrombolysis, ultrasound-mediated drug and bioactive gas delivery, development of echogenic liposomes, early detection of cardiovascular diseases, and ultrasound-image guided tissue ablation. The Biomedical Ultrasonics and Cavitation Laboratory within IgUTL, directed by Prof. Kevin J. Haworth, employs ultrasound-triggered phase-shift emulsions (UPEs) for image-guided treatment of cardiovascular disease, especially thrombotic disease. Imaging algorithms incorporate both passive and active cavitation detection. The Biomedical Acoustics Laboratory within IgUTL, directed by Prof. T. Douglas Mast, employs ultrasound for monitoring thermal therapy, ablation of cancer and vascular targets, transdermal drug delivery, and noninvasive measurement of tissue deformation.