Welcome to the CCIR Spotlight Series! In this series, we celebrate the vibrant community of researchers, engineers, and visionaries driving groundbreaking innovations at the Case Western Reserve University Center for Imaging Research (CCIR).
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We’re delighted to share this spotlight of Dr. Lu’s research focus and a Q&A about the scientific impact of her work, best advice she’s received, and membership in CCIR. Dr. Lu joined CWRU and CCIR in May 2026.
Dr. Ning Lu is an ultrasound scientist working to improve ultrasound imaging, therapy, and instrumentation to address critical and unmet clinical needs. One major area of her work is histotripsy, a non-invasive, non-thermal, and non-ionizing ultrasound therapy that mechanically fractionates target tissue using acoustic cavitation generated by short, high-intensity ultrasound pulses. Since receiving FDA approval in 2023, histotripsy has been performed in more than 90 hospitals worldwide for the treatment of liver cancer and has demonstrated an abscopal immune response.
Despite its significant clinical potential, limitations in imaging guidance and real-time feedback remain major challenges. As a result, there are cases that could be treated more effectively, as well as many patients who could potentially benefit from this therapy but are not currently viable candidates. Fundamentally, if the target cannot be seen clearly, it is difficult to treat it precisely. For example, pancreatic tumors are particularly challenging to visualize using traditional imaging methods. In many cases, there is also a need to dynamically and quantitatively visualize treatment progression in 3D, which is not currently available.
The central question Dr. Lu’s lab aims to address is how to precisely guide and dynamically monitor treatment by leveraging ultrafast ultrasound imaging, potentially in combination with other imaging modalities or contrast agents. Addressing these technical gaps will not only enable high-precision, personalized histotripsy for new applications such as the brain and pancreas and for a broader patient population but will also enhance the ability to interrogate and optimize its oncologic effects.
What is the broader impact or significance of your research findings, or what future impact do you hope to achieve?
Histotripsy is just one example within the broader landscape of image-guided interventions. My hope is that the technologies we develop for histotripsy can be extended to improve other focused ultrasound therapies and image-guided interventions, including drug delivery, neuromodulation, and many more. My long-term goal is to advance ultrasound technology for early diagnosis, high-precision therapy, and continuous health monitoring across a wide range of applications, including cancer, neurological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and beyond. What motivates me most each day is the opportunity to really help more patients and to make ultrasound a more accessible and effective solution—as a treatment, or even eventually as a cure.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve received in your research career?
Challenge yourself with hard problems and work hard at them. Don’t rush. Write papers that will make you proud when you look back on them, whether that is five years or twenty-five years from now.
What is the most rewarding aspect of being a member of CCIR?
… being surrounded by, and constantly inspired by, a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative group of people. Every day I feel that I am learning something new, and whenever I need expertise outside my own field, there are always people to talk to. This environment has really broadened my perspective and reshaped the way I approach scientific problems, leading to many new ideas and research directions I am now excited to explore!
Dr. Ning Lu is actively recruiting a PhD student, postdocs, and research assistants. For questions or inquiries, please reach out to Dr. Lu via email.