Health Innovation Professor Wawrzyniec L. Dobrucki

Why I'm Motivated to be a HIP Faculty Member:

In my role as a Health Innovation Professor, I serve as a bridge between physicians and academic researchers working at the intersection of medicine, basic science, and engineering. As the co-director of Phase 1 Cardio block and through my ongoing commitment to service at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, I am dedicated to integrating engineering fundamentals into medical education. Specifically, I am directing efforts to provide students with hands-on experience in preclinical imaging and laboratory techniques, which are crucial for their development as well-rounded physicians and scientists. My goal is to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to innovate and improve health care through the application of cutting-edge technology and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Carle Illinois College of Medicine Related Research

The combination of various imaging modalities and technologies has immense potential to transform the diagnosis and treatment of pathophysiological disorders at the cellular and organ level. This, in turn, can significantly reduce the social and economic costs associated with managing diseases. In the Experimental Molecular Imaging Laboratory (EMIL), my research focuses on developing integrated imaging approaches to enable personalized disease prevention through advanced diagnosis, risk stratification, and targeted cell therapies, leading to more efficient healthcare.

Professor Dobrucki's research interests involve creating novel, non-invasive targeted multimodal imaging strategies to assess tissue microenvironments and various biological processes in vivo. Specifically, he investigates therapeutic neovascularization, atherosclerosis, neoplastic progression, and cancer response to experimental therapies. By leveraging these cutting-edge technologies, we can more effectively monitor disease progression and assess the efficacy of different therapies, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Professor Dobrucki's work aims to contribute to a better understanding of disease pathogenesis and to support the development of novel therapeutic strategies tailored to individual patients.