Principal Investigators | Scientific Focus Areas | Core Facilities | Programs & Initiatives
![]() | Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program Keith Horvath, M.D., Director This program is focused on translational aspects of cardiothoracic surgery. The 3 main areas of interest are: Use of cell-based regenerative medicine for repair of damage from myocardial ischemia; Use off engineering technologies to develop minimally invasive cardiac surgery procedures; and Development of a “humanized” pig heart for xenotransplantation surgery. |
![]() | Imaging Probe Development James B. Mitchell, Ph.D. and Murali Krishna Cherukuri, Ph.D., Acting Directors This program synthesizes novel imaging probes for intramural scientists with diverse research interests. All imaging modalities — optical, radionuclide, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance — are available. The program combines expertise in medicinal chemistry and imaging for state of the art probe development. |
| Magnetic Resonance Technology Program Michael Hansen, Ph.D., Director This program is focused on the development of innovative MRI techniques for the diagnosis of and imaging of disease. Specific aims include improving image speed, motion robustness, and image quantitation. Additional interests include developing infrastructure framework for the MRI community as a whole to improve the patient experience. |
![]() | Medical Signal and Image Processing Program Peter Kellman, Ph.D., Director This program is focused on development of signal processing algorithms for applications to science and medicine. Current emphasis is on improving magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for cardiovascular applications. |
![]() | Sickle Cell Program John Tisdale, M.D., Director The sickle cell program was created in 2011 to accelerate the translation of basic discovery to therapeutic application. The program is focused on pre-clinical and clinical testing of drugs and innovative compounds that reduce polymerization, improve red cell rheology, or induce fetal hemoglobin; elucidating genetic modifiers that may affect disease severity; studying and preventing end organ damage that may lead to increased morbidity and mortality; and the development of potentially curative stem cell transplantation strategies. |