Interventional Radiology Research Lab
Mission
The IRRL is dedicated to performing cutting edge research on minimally invasive therapies.
Goals
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Support the research activities of the interventional radiology faculty at IU Medical Center.
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Serve as a core facility to provide angiography, surgery, and molecular physiology support to other departments at Indiana University.
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Support the pre-clinical development of new devices and therapies that may lead to less invasive and more efficacious therapies.
Future Plans
Our plan over the next six years is to develop the IRRL into the premier interventional radiology research facility in the world. We intend to increase our extramural funding from NIH including grants from NIDDK and NCI and intend to develop our business ties to increase corporate research within our lab. Finally, we intend to develop our business collaborations to increase the visibility of the lab at IU and promote the role of interventional radiology and research for improvements in patient care.
History
Cardiovascular research in the radiology department dates back to the 1980's when the radiology research laboratory was started under the direction of Robert Holden and Gary Becker. In the early history of the lab, research centered on thrombolytic agents and the development of new imaging techniques using animal models.
In the late 80's, experiments were conducted on ureteral obstruction with electrocautery. Activities in the lab fell off in the early 90's and independent research in interventional radiology became less prominent. At this time, the contract work the lab performed for cardiology department supplemented the lab's income.
With the arrival of Scott O. Trerotola in the mid 90's, the focus of research in the lab centered on venous disease and the development of percutaneous thrombectomy device. With the addition of Matthew Johnson, the interventional radiology department saw a resurgence of research in arterial atherosclerosis, restenosis, and drug delivery.
Gordon McLennan joined the department in 1998 as the first interventional radiology research fellow. With creation of this position, research productivity in the interventional radiology section increased substantially and the department developed a porcine model of venous stenosis and conducted multiple experiments of drug delivery, venous thrombectomy, and device development.