BME and Radiology Professor Recognized For Pioneering Work in Ultrasound Technology

Dr. Elisa Konofagou, a radiology professor at Columbia’s BME department, is the recipient of Focused Ultrasound Foundation’s 2024 Visionary Award. Dr. Konofagou, Robert and Margaret Hariri Professor of Biomedical Engineering, has longstanding research interests in ultrasound technology and its applications to clinical practice, particularly in promoting less invasive methods of medical screening. 

Since coming to Columbia, Professor Konogagou has brought her interests in imaging techniques and elastography to her research activity. She is the Director of the Ultrasound and Elasticity Imaging Laboratory and has collaborated with Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.                                                                                                            

“I feel humbled and honored to receive the Visionary Award by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation,” says Konofagou,  “I have worked in the area of focused ultrasound for about 25 years and I feel that we are only now scratching the surface of how best to optimize and facilitate access to this amazing technology in order to combat diseases such as Alzheimer's and brain cancer. I am deeply thankful to the foundation for this honor and hope to do it justice in the many years to come.”

Prof. Konofagou was chosen amongst many for her research in therapeutic ultrasound to translate a portable system towards the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Her lab is especially interested in using these tools to treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s as well as brain tumors and breast cancer.

Elisa was awarded the 2024 Visionary Award on September 21, 2024 at the International Society of Therapeutic Ultrasound in Taiwan.