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Welcome to the UEIL

Led by Prof. Elisa Konofagou, the Ultrasound and Elasticity Imaging Laboratory works on developing novel, ultrasound-based techniques for both imaging and therapeutic applications. Some of the ongoing research in the UEIL includes:

  • Enabling targeted drug delivery to the brain by opening the blood-brain barrier with focused ultrasound.

  • Mapping the mechanical and electromechanical properties of the heart using myocardial elastography and electromechanical wave imaging.

  • Monitoring High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) ablation therapy with harmonic motion imaging.

  • Using pulse wave imaging to quantify arterial wall mechanics and blood flow dynamics to characterize vascular diseases, including carotid atherosclerosis and hypertension. 

  • Modulating neural activity in the central and peripheral nervous system through high-intensity focused ultrasound.

The UEIL is located in the Columbia University Medical Center at the New York Presbyterian Hospital and is part of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University. If you have any additional inquiries, or if you would be interested in collaborating with our laboratory, please feel free to contact us.

Latest Lab Events and Celebrations

Latest News

May 21, 2026

Yangpei Liu to Showcase his Oral Presentation at AIUM 2026

Yangpei Liu will present his work from UEIL at the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) conference on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 5:10 PM. His talk is titled: Contrast-enhanced power Doppler (CEPD)-guided-sonoporation-enhanced chemotherapy extends survival in 4T1 breast cancer mice monitored using harmonic motion imaging (HMI).

May 20, 2026

Congratulations to Erica McCune on her successful PhD defense!

We’re excited to share that Erica successfully defended her PhD dissertation on May 11, 2026. Her dissertation was titled: Development and Clinical Translation of Focused Ultrasound Peripheral Neuromodulation for Chronic Pain Treatment.