Ahmed El Kaffas, Ph.D.
Special Seminar
Associate Professor of Radiology
Affiliate Professor of Bioengineering
University of California, San Diego
Seminar Information
Ultrasound is a highly portable, relatively affordable, radiation-free, and widely available bedside technology for medical imaging and therapy. Several recent innovations have significantly expanded the clinical reach of ultrasound — including a surge in handheld point-of-care devices both within and beyond radiology, the introduction of new imaging modes, and the regulatory approval of ultrasound contrast agents. Nonetheless, realizing ultrasound's full clinical potential requires bridging engineering innovation with translational rigor. In this talk, I will discuss our research group's multidisciplinary efforts to advance ultrasound as a tool that guides clinical decisions at the bedside for cancer patient management, liver imaging, and beyond. This includes the development and in-human assessment of molecular ultrasound imaging strategies, the translation of three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound, the use of artificial intelligence for operator guidance and tissue characterization, and the development of ultrasound-based mechanical stimulation as a novel therapeutic strategy.
Dr. Ahmed El Kaffas trained in engineering and biophysics with significant translational and direct clinical research experience at the Sunnybrook Research Institute (University of Toronto), and at Stanford University. He currently directs the Translational Ultrasound Lab, in Radiology, at UCSD. The multidisciplinary research group he has assembled includes physicists, biologists, computer scientists, engineers and clinical residents/fellows, and ultimately seeks to expand the use of medical ultrasound within and outside of Radiology. To do so, the group focuses on studying the interaction of sound with biological systems to develop AI-driven acoustic diagnostics, contrast-enhanced and molecular ultrasound probes, and mechano-acoustic therapies. Dr. El Kaffas's lab is supported by several NIH and foundation grants, and receives industry support.