Early Detection of Prostate Cancer is Goal of Collaborative Research Team

Researchers at the UW-Milwaukee and the Medical College of Wisconsin received a one-year, $50,000 grant from the Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin (CTSI) to study new imaging systems to identify prostate cancer.

The project is titled “Ex Vivo Thermoacoustic Imaging of Prostate Cancer;” the primary investigator is Sarah Patch, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Co-primary investigators are William See, M.D.; Kenneth Jacobsohn, M.D.; and Holly Kelly, R.N.; Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin.

Identifying early cancer in the prostate has proven very challenging, as CT, MRI, MR spectroscopy and ultrasound have poor sensitivity for disease detection. This study is designed to determine whether ex vivo thermoacoustic computed tomography can detect early signs of prostate cancer.

This is one of 19 pilot projects being funded in 2012 through CTSI. The goal is to create synergy through collaboration, and studies are specifically designed to lead to major future research support. The projects explore findings that have the potential to be translated into clinical practice and community health, and are led by investigators at the CTSI’s eight partnering institutions: the Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, UW-Milwaukee, Froedtert Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, the VA Medical Center, and the BloodCenter of Wisconsin.

CTSI is part of a national consortium of top medical research institutions. Working together, the CTSI institutions are committed to improve human health by streamlining science, transforming training environments and improving the conduct, quality and dissemination of clinical and translational research. The CTSI program is led by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health.

Support for the Pilot Award Program comes from the National Institutes of Health, the John and Jeanne Byrnes CTSI Award, and both MCW’s Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin program, and MCW’s Biotechnology and Bioengineering Center.