Program Information
The Cancer Imaging Program is a transdisciplinary program that integrates imaging and engineering research with the study of cancer biology. The goals of this program are to build novel imaging technologies for discerning mechanisms of cancer biology, designing new targeted therapies, and developing innovative imaging modalities for improving patient care. Our research spans the spectrum, from fundamental biomarker identification for molecular imaging to development of new diagnostic and theranostic probes and image acquisition and data processing methods.
Program Aims
Develop targeted small molecules and nanoparticles to examine fundamental biology, facilitate diagnosis and treatment of cancer
By leveraging basic discoveries in cancer biology, our program creates novel targeted agents across all imaging modalities. Investigators utilize these agents to study the pathobiology, develop approaches for early diagnosis and image-guided therapeutic (theranostic) interventions of a broad range of diseases including prostate, breast, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers, brain and liver tumors and melanoma. Many of these developments have proceeded into clinical trials.
Generate enabling quantitative technologies to transform cancer research, diagnosis and treatments
The CI program generates quantitative imaging methods, advances imaging hardware and develops computational tools and imaging analytics. A broad team of investigators across the center utilizes these technologies to improve clinical cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Members are also combining imaging and therapeutic approaches to develop novel tools for personalized medicine and therapy response evaluation. We further leverage our technology to inform clinical trials and advance clinical discoveries.
Create machine learning tools to improve cancer characterization, therapy, and to predict patient outcomes with imaging
Starting with radiomics, quantitative features (not obvious to human eyes) extracted from medical imaging of tumors are analyzed to train a model for tumor characterization, prognosis and treatment response. Parallel work on digital pathology further broadens the application of the technologies. These developments of imaging analytics are greatly enhanced through machine learning.
Program Members
Abhinav Acharya, PhD
Associate ProfessorBiomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: axa1826@case.edu
Mehdi Alilou, PhD
Research Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringSchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: mxa574@case.edu
Amanda Amin, MD
Associate ProfessorSurgical OncologyUniversity HospitalsMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: amanda.amin@uhhospitals.org
Caroline (Charlie) Androjna, PhD
Assistant StaffLerner Research Institute, Cleveland ClinicMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: androjc2@ccf.org
Phone: 216.409.6244
Norbert Avril, MD
ProfessorDepartment of RadiologyDivision of Nuclear MedicineSchool of MedicineResearch ScholarDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: norbert.avril@case.edu
Phone: 216.844.3363
Chaitra Badve, MD
Associate ProfessorDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterSchool of MedicineEmail: chaitra.badve@UHhospitals.org
Phone: 216.844.8140
James P. Basilion, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringDepartment of RadiologyCase School of Engineering, School of MedicineCo-LeaderCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: james.basilion@case.edu
Phone: 216.983.3264
Susann M. Brady-Kalnay, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of Molecular Biology and MicrobiologySchool of MedicineProfessorDepartment of NeurosciencesSchool of MedicineProfessorDepartment of PathologySchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: smb4@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.0330
Samuel T. Chao, MD
Associate ProfessorDepartment of MedicineSchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: chaos@ccf.org
Phone: 216.445.7876
Yong Chen, PhD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineCo-DirectorImaging Research CoreSchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: yong.chen2@case.edu
Frank DiFilippo, PhD
Associate ProfessorDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: difilif@ccf.org
Phone: 216.445.9378
Jennifer Dorth, MD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Radiation OncologySchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterJudith Drazba, PhD
Assistant ProfessorCellular and Molecular MedicineLerner Research Institute, Cleveland ClinicMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: drazbaj@ccf.org
Phone: 216.445.3760
Christine Duval
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringCase School of EngineeringMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: christine.duval@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.8613
Agata A. Exner, PhD
Vice Chair of Basic ResearchDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineProfessorDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringCo-LeaderCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterAssociate DirectorMedical Scientist Training ProgramSchool of MedicineDirectorCWRU Center for Imaging ResearchEmail: agata.exner@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.6727
Chris A. Flask, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of RadiologyPediatricsBiomedical EngineeringSchool of MedicineCo-DirectorImaging Research CoreSchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: christopher.flask@case.edu
Phone: 216.844.4963
William Grissom, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of Engineering, School of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: wag57@case.edu
Mark Griswold, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: mark.griswold@case.edu
Phone: 216.844.8085
Amit Gupta, MBBS, MD
Associate ProfessorDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: amit.gupta@UHhospitals.org
Phone: 216.844.5330
Lauren E. Henke, MD, MS
Associate ProfessorRadiation OncologyUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical CenterMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: lauren.henke@uhhospitals.org
James W. Jacobberger, PhD
Professor EmeritusCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterConsultantCytometry and Microscopy Shared ResourceCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: james.jacobberger@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.4645
Michael Jenkins, PhD
Associate ProfessorBiomedical EngineeringCase School of Engineering, School of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: michael.jenkins@case.edu
Efstathios (Stathis) Karathanasis, PhD
Associate ChairDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringSchool of MedicineProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of Engineering, School of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: efstathios.karathanasis@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.4617
Leonardo Kayat Bittencourt, MD, PhD
Vice Chair of InnovationDepartment of RadiologyUH Cleveland Medical CenterRadiologistAbdominal ImagingUH Cleveland Medical CenterAssociate ProfessorDepartment of RadiologyCase Western Reserve UniversitySchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: Leonardo.KayatBittencourt@UHhospitals.org
Phone: 216.286.3249
Shlomo Koyfman, MD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of MedicineSchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: koyfmas@ccf.org
Vijay Krishna, PhD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Molecular MedicineSchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: krishnv2@ccf.org
Phone: 216.445.5966
Zhenghong Lee, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineAssociate ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringCo-LeaderCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: zhenghong.lee@case.edu
Phone: 216.844.7920
Shuo Li, PhD
ProfessorBiomedical EngineeringCase School of Engineering, School of MedicineProfessorComputer Data ScienceCase School of EngineeringMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: shuo.li11@case.edu
Zheng-Rong Lu, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of Engineering, School of MedicineM. Frank Rudy and Margaret Domiter Rudy Professor of Biomedical EngineeringMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: zheng-rong.lu@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.0187
Lan Lu, PhD
Assistant ProfessorRadiation OncologyCleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer InstituteMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: lul@ccf.org
Dan Ma, PhD
Associate ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of Engineering, School of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: dan.ma@case.edu
Phone: 216.844.5935
David B. Mansur, MD
ProfessorDepartment of Radiation OncologySchool of MedicineProfessorDepartment of PediatricsSchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: david.mansur@UHhospitals.org
Raymond F. Muzic, Jr., PhD
ProfessorDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringScientific DirectorQuantitative Imaging LaboratorySchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: raymond.muzic@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.0727
Donna Plecha, MD, FSBI
ChairDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineProfessorDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterTheodore J. Castele ProfessorDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineProfessorDepartment of PathologySchool of MedicineEmail: donna.plecha@uhhospitals.org
Phone: 216-983-4829
Lee E. Ponsky, MD
ProfessorDepartment of UrologySchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: lee.ponsky@UHhospitals.org
Phone: 216.844.4831
Andrew Rollins, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of Engineering, School of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: andrew.rollins@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.1917
Robert G. Salomon, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of ChemistryCollege of Arts and SciencesProfessorDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual SciencesSchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: rgs@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.2592
Anirban Sen Gupta, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of Engineering, School of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: anirban.sengupta@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.4564
Faezeh Sodagari, MD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of RadiologyUniversity HospitalsMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: faezeh.sodagari@case.edu
Giuseppe Strangi , PhD
Professor and Ohio Research Scholar in Surfaces of Advanced MaterialsDepartment of PhysicsCollege of Arts and SciencesMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: gxs284@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.6918
Jeffrey Sunshine, MD, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineAssistant ProfessorDepartment of Neurological SurgerySchool of MedicineAssistant ProfessorDepartment of NeurologySchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: jeffrey.sunshine@uhhospitals.org
Phone: 216.844.8140
Sidhartha Tavri, MD
Assistant ProfessorDivision of Interventional RadiologySchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: Sidhartha.Tavri@UHhospitals.org
Phone: 216.844.3363
Sree Harsha Tirumani, MD
Clinical Associate ProfessorDepartment of RadiologyCase Western Reserve UniversitySchool of MedicineDirectorAbdominal Imaging FellowshipUH Cleveland Medical CenterMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: SreeHarsha.Tirumani@UHhospitals.org
Phone: 216.844.8140
Satish E. Viswanath, PhD
Associate ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of Engineering, School of MedicineAssociate ProfessorDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineAssociate ProfessorDepartment of Electrical, Computer, and Systems EngineeringCase School of EngineeringMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterCo-LeaderCCCC Machine Learning Working GroupCo-DirectorCenter for AI Enabling Discovery in Disease Biology (AID2B)School of MedicineEmail: satish.viswanath@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.3888
Horst A. von Recum, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of Engineering, School of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: horst.vonrecum@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.5513
Ethan Walker, PhD
Senior Research AssociateDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: ethan.walker@case.edu
Phone: 216.983.3256
Xinning Wang, PhD
Research Associate ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: xinning.wang@case.edu
Phone: 216.844.4848
Yanming Wang, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineSecondary FacultyDepartment of ChemistryCollege of Arts and SciencesDirectorDepartment of Radiopharmaceutical DivisionSchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: yanming.wang@case.edu
Phone: 216.844.3288
Christopher Weight, MD, PhD
MemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: weightc@ccf.org
Phone: 216.444.0351
David L. Wilson, PhD
Robert J. Herbold Professor of Biomedical EngineeringDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of Engineering, School of MedicineProfessorDepartment of RadiologySchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: david.wilson@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.4099
Liangqi Xie, PhD
Assistant StaffCancer BiologyLerner Research Institute, Cleveland ClinicMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: xiel2@ccf.org