The interventional radiology subspecialty of the UCSF Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging is focused on developing new diagnostic techniques and cutting edge interventions and therapies for diseases throughout the body.  Research into applications of interventional radiology techniques has had an enormous positive impact on patients’ health, convenience, and comfort, as well as cost.

Our current research involves:

• Liver cancer patients: improving treatment options for patients with liver cancer to make transplantation a viable alternative. We are working with Francis Yao, MD, medical director of the Liver Transplant Program at UCSF Medical Center, to convert patients who would not be considered candidates for liver transplantation into patients who may be eligible for this procedure.
• Improving survival in patients with metastatic disease to the liver: using hepatic arterial therapies including both chemoembolization and radioembolization.
• Implantation of pancreatic islet cells: as a joint project with UCSF Transplant Services.
• Improving respiratory function: with the use of expandable stenting in the airways.
• Gallbladder surgery patients: treatment options for patients with complications from gallbladder surgery.