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Kheirolomoom, Azadeh

Dr. Kheirolomoom received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology (Tehran-Iran), and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering from Kyoto University (Kyoto-Japan) in 1984, 1988, and 1992, respectively. Her Ph.D. work with Dr. Shigeo Katoh was focused on membrane bound enzymes and their reconstitution in lipid bilayer of liposomes. In 1992,… Read more Kheirolomoom, Azadeh

Foiret, Josquin

Josquin Foiret received his B.Sc. degree in Physics and his M.Sc. degree in Acoustics from the University Paris VII in 2008 and 2009, respectively. In 2013, he received the Ph.D. degree from the University Paris VI for his work on characterization of cortical bone using ultrasonic guided waves. He joined the Ferrara lab in 2014… Read more Foiret, Josquin

Katherine Ferrara Lab

  Our laboratory has projects spanning all aspects of image-guided drug delivery. Major areas of interest include the fusion of images between ultrasound, PET, MRI and CT, the development of activatable drug delivery vehicles, and the development of molecularly-targeted drug delivery vehicles. Members of our laboratory bring expertise in many areas including biomedical engineering, physics,… Read more Katherine Ferrara Lab

View the CNN video on the Ferrara laboratory

Image-Guided Drug Delivery in Cancer

The central focus of our laboratory is image-guided drug delivery, combining nanovehicles, imaging techniques and methods to enhance delivery.  A great challenge in cancer therapy is to deliver efficacious doses of drug to diseased tissue with minimal systemic toxicity.  Another challenge is in the development of high-quality imaging protocols for identification of cancerous lesions as… Read more Image-Guided Drug Delivery in Cancer

Translational Cardiovascular Nanomedicine

We are creating nanotechnology solutions for cardiovascular disease.  Our lab is developing nanoparticles to image and deliver miRNA therapeutics to atherosclerotic plaque and damaged heart tissue.  We are creating VCAM-1 targeted nanotherapeutics and have demonstrated the ability to prevent the development of atherosclerosis in mouse models as shown on the left.  A current focus of the… Read more Translational Cardiovascular Nanomedicine

MR-guided Focused Ultrasound Therapy (MRgFUS)

Our laboratory has collaborated with Image Guided Therapy to develop preclinical MR-guided focused ultrasound technologies.  Using a 3 MHz annular array, Bruker 7T MRI and motorized positioning system, we have developed methods to treat cancer by combining ultrasound with chemo and immunotherapy.  We are now developing a 256 element MR-guided FUS system for integration with… Read more MR-guided Focused Ultrasound Therapy (MRgFUS)

Real-time Ultrasound Thermometry

  Ultrasound imaging can spatially map small temperature changes resulting from hyperthermia. In our laboratory we release drugs from vehicles using mild hyperthermia.  We have developed temperature-sensitive nanoparticles in which a drug is sequestered in a crystal at neutral pH and encapsulated in a lipid shell with a low melting point.  After temperature-mediated release, the… Read more Real-time Ultrasound Thermometry

Molecular Imaging

Molecular imaging is a highly interdisciplinary research field, involving scientists from the biological, engineering, physical and medical sciences.  Our laboratory explores the use of ultrasound, PET and MRI-based techniques to diagnose disease and to develop therapeutic strategies.  One focus of the laboratory is to develop microbubble contrast agents for ultrasound molecular imaging.  A second focus… Read more Molecular Imaging

Katherine Ferrara elected to National Academy of Engineering

Ultrasound engineer Katherine Ferrara elected to NAE Professor Katherine Ferrara, whose research has pioneered using ultrasound to image cancer and heart disease and who played a leadership role in establishing the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of California, Davis, has been elected to theNational Academy of Engineering, the highest professional recognition for an engineer