High-Resolution Computerized Tomography (CT) and Cardiovascular Disease

For years, heart disease has been the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. For this reason, research to develop and assess new diagnostic techniques and therapies for fighting cardiovascular disease is a top health care priority.

In this research project, we aim to develop and apply high-resolution computerized tomography (CT) methods to detect and explore the effects of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension and obesity, on the myocardial and renal microvessels.

Using advanced medical imaging techniques, our lab is able to identify the structural and functional changes of microcirculation in the heart and kidneys in order to develop and evaluate new approaches to these pathogenic conditions. We're also applying these tools to investigate the impact of interventions and novel therapies, such as transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells or mesenchymal stem cells, on the heart and kidneys.

These studies are likely to shed important light on the mechanisms of atherosclerotic heart and kidney disease, and suggest new preventive and interventional measures.

We also have adopted and developed new applications for a novel imaging technique with high-resolution micro-CT, which can identify early changes in the cardiac and renal vascular structure.

The future direction of this research is identifying patients who are likely to benefit from specific interventions and developing strategies for selective targeting in order to foster individualized and specific therapeutic approaches.

Project contact

For more information about our project on high-resolution computerized tomography and cardiovascular disease, email Xiang Y. Zhu, M.D., Ph.D.