Targeted Microbubbles ­ Ultrasound Contrast Agents for Molecular Imaging part of the Molecular Imaging Resident Training Series September 14, 2012 | 2:00pm ET | Register Brief description: This presentation will provide basic introduction to contrast agents applied for ultrasound molecular imaging. The presentation will first discuss the approaches to ultrasound imaging with contrast agents, then focus on the design of targeted microbubbles capable of molecular imaging, leading to application of ligand‐carrying microbubbles for ultrasound molecular imaging in animal models. This seminar will be of interest to those interested in setting up ultrasound molecular imaging studies in preclinical experimental setting, and to those interested what to expect of clinical ultrasound molecular imaging agents once they reach clinical application. Learning Objectives:  The participants will be able to identify the crucial factors leading to the design of a successful targeted ultrasound contrast agent for molecular imaging applications.  The participants will be able to explain which microbubble detection techniques work best in vivo.  The participants will be able to explain how the choice of ligands for successful targeting may be different for ultrasound contrast and other imaging modalities; the importance of association kinetics as compared with equilibrium affinity constant.  The participants will be able to perform molecular ultrasound imaging with targeted contrast agents in a murine model setting, provided they have basic animal experimentation skills. About the Presenter: Alexander L Klibanov, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at Cardiovacular Division (Department of Medicine) at University of Virginia School of Medicine (with joint appointments at Biomedical Engineering and Radiology). He joined UVA in 2001, after nearly 8 years of research appointment at Mallinckrodt Inc (St. Louis, MO), now Covidien, where he worked on the design and formulation of ultrasound contrast materials. His research interests at UVA are in the area of molecular imaging (with the general focus on ultrasound imaging, but also includes liposome application for cell labeling) and drug delivery, including ultrasound‐triggered drug release for tumor therapy. 1850 Samuel Morse Drive, Reston, VA 20190-5316
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