Department of Medicine
Faculty Profiles by Division

Department of Medicine

Faculty Profiles
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photo Flordeliza Villanueva, MD

Cardiology

Professor of Medicine

Associate Chief of Cardiology for Translational Research

Director, Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Imaging

Director, Center for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics

Vice Chair for Pre-Clinical Research, Department of Medicine

Email: villanuevafs@upmc.edu

Phone: 412-647-5840
Contact
Office: Heart and Vascular Institute, UPMC Presbyterian
200 Lothrop Street, SUite A-351
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
 
Phone: 412-647-5840
Fax: 412-647-4227
E-mail: villanuevafs@upmc.edu
Administrative Assistant:
Kimberly Ryan
Email: ryanks@upmc.edu
Education and Training
Education
MD, Boston University School of Medicine, 1984
Training
Internship, Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, 1985
Residency, Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, 1987
Research Fellowship, Cardiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1988
Clinical Fellowship, Cardiology, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, 1990
Research Interest
Dr. Villanueva's research focuses on the development of medical diagnostic and therapeutic strategies based on ultrasound and ultrasound contrast agents (gas-filled microspheres, or microbubbles). Her work has consistently bridged fundamental imaging sciences with translational biomedical research. As an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association, she has been a leader in the development of microbubbles for the assessment of myocardial perfusion, and ultrasound molecular imaging with targeted microbubbles for the detection of inflammatory and angiogenic endothelial markers in pre-clinical models of heart disease. Dr. Villanueva's lab has pioneered the development and application of microbubbles as molecular probes, and acoustic detection strategies for optimizing imaging sensitivity. Her lab group has applied fundamental principles of ultrasound and the physics of microbubble acoustic behaviors to develop novel targeted molecular therapeutics, whereby nucleic acid loaded microbubbles (siRNA, miRNA, plasmid), in the presence of precisely tuned ultrasound, selectively enhance membrane permeability and deliver payloads to the target site. These studies are conducted at the Center for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics, a translational multidisciplinary research facility which epitomizes the reciprocal relationship between imaging sciences and biomedical translational research.
Clinical Interest
Dr. Villanueva's clinical focus is on non-invasive cardiac imaging, and she currently is the Director of Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging for the Cardiovascular Institute based at Presbyterian University Hospital, UPMC.
Educational Interest
As the founding Director of the Center for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics and Director of Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging for the Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC, Dr. Villanueva has continuous exposure to a pool of outstanding trainees and is deeply committed to their mentoring as future clinical and basic translational scientists.
Publications
For my complete bibliography, Click Here.
Selected Publications:
Helfield B, Chen X, Qin B, Villanueva FS. Individual lipid encapsulated microbubble radial oscillations: Effects of fluid viscosity. J Acoust Soc Am. 2016; 139(1): 204-14.
Kopechek JA, Carson AR, McTiernan CF, Chen X, Hasjim B, Lavery L, Sen M, Grandis JR, Villanueva FS. Ultrasound Targeted Microbubble Destruction-Mediated Delivery of a Transcription Factor Decoy Inhibits STAT3 Signaling and Tumor Growth. Theranostics. 2015; 5(12): 1378-87.
Chen X, Wang J, Pacela JJ, Villanueva FS. Dynamic Behavior of Microbubbles during Long Ultrasound Tone-Burst Excitation: Mechanistic Insights into Ultrasound-Microbubble Mediated Therapeutics Using High-Speed Imaging and Cavitation Detection. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2016; 42(2): 528-38.
Yu FT, Chen X, Wang J, Qin B, Villanueva FS. Low Intensity Ultrasound Mediated Liposomal Doxorubicin Delivery Using Polymer Microbubbles. Mol Pharm. 2016; 13(1): 55-64.
Pacella JJ, Brands J, Schnatz FG, Black JJ, Chen X, Villanueva FS. Treatment of microvascular micro-embolization using microbubbles and long-tone-burst ultrasound: an in vivo study. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2015; 41(2): 456-64.
Leng X, Wang J, Carson A, Chen X, Fu H, Ottoboni S, Wagner WR, Villanueva FS. Ultrasound detection of myocardial ischemic memory using an E-selectin targeting peptide amenable to human application. Mol Imaging. 2014; 13: 1-9.
Yu, FT, Villanueva FS, Chen X. Radial modulation contrast imaging using a 20-MHz single-element intravascular ultrasound catheter. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2014; 61(5): 779-91.
Helfield B, Black JJ, Qin B, Pacella JJ, Chen X, Villanueva FS. Fluid Viscosity Affects the Fragmentation and Inertial Cavitation Threshold of Lipid-Encapsulated Microbubbles. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2016; 42(3): 792-94.
Kopechek JA, Carson AR, McTiernan CF, Chen X, Klein EC, Villanueva FS. Cardiac gene expression knockdown using small inhibitory RNA-loaded microbubbles and ultrasound. PLoS ONE. 2016; 11(7): e0159751.
Helfield B, Chen X, Watkins S, Villanueva FS. Biophysical insight into mechanisms of sonoporation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2016.
Sponsored Research/Activities
Title: Preclinical investigation of common mechanistic links between aberrant protein aggregation and blood-brain barrier dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's related dementias (AD/ADRD)
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Neurological Disorder & Stroke
Grant Number: RF1 NS117486
Start Year: 2020
End Year: 2024
Title: Acoustic Cluster Therapy (ACT) for Improved Treatment of Cancer and Brain Diseases
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Grant Number: RES
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2022
Title: Acoustic Cluster Therapy (ACT) for Improved Treatment of Cancer and Brain Diseases
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Grant Number: RES
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2022
Title: Biological and Physical Mechanisms of Ultrasound/Microbubble-Mediated Therapeutic Gene Delivery Across the Endothelial Barrier
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
Grant Number: R01 EB026966
Start Year: 2018
End Year: 2022
Title: Biological and Physical Mechanisms of Ultrasound/Microbubble-Mediated Therapeutic Gene Delivery Across the Endothelial Barrier
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
Grant Number: R01 EB026966
Start Year: 2018
End Year: 2022
Title: Biological and Physical Mechanisms of Ultrasound/Microbubble-Mediated Therapeutic Gene Delivery Across the Endothelial Barrier
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
Grant Number: R01 EB026966
Start Year: 2018
End Year: 2022
Title: Electrophysiologically-Activated Intravenous Ultrasound Contrast Agent for Imaging the Heart
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Drexel University
Grant Number: RES
Start Year: 2018
End Year: 2021
Title: Training Program in Imaging Science in Translational Cardiovascular Research
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: T32 HL129964
Start Year: 2016
End Year: 2026
Title: Training Program in Imaging Science in Translational Cardiovascular Research
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: T32 HL129964
Start Year: 2016
End Year: 2021
Title: Ultrasound Targeted Microbubble Cavitation to Treat Coronary Microvascular Obstruction
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R01 HL157497
Start Year: 2021
End Year: 2026
Title: Scar Detection and Treatment with Droplet Activation
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: University of Nebraska Med Center / National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R01 HL146489
Start Year: 2020
End Year: 2022
Title: Scar Detection and Treatment with Droplet Activation
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: University of Nebraska Med Center / National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R01 HL146489
Start Year: 2020
End Year: 2021
Title: Epigenetic Control of Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype During Microvascular Remodeling
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R01 HL146465
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2024
Title: Epigenetic Control of Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype During Microvascular Remodeling
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R01 HL146465
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2024
Title: Epigenetic Control of Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype During Microvascular Remodeling
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R01 HL146465
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2024
Title: 1/2 Sickle Cell Disease and CardiovAscular Risk - Red cell Exchange Trial (SCD-CARRE Trial)
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: UG3 HL143192
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2021
Title: 1/2 Sickle Cell Disease and CardiovAscular Risk - Red cell Exchange Trial (SCD-CARRE Trial)
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: UG3 HL143192
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2020
Title: The Placenta as a Window to Maternal Cardiovascular Risk
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Magee Womens Research Institute and Foundation/ American Heart Association
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2020
Title: Glycocalyx Pathways Linking Pregnancy Profile with Microvascular Dysfunction Postpartum
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: American Heart Association-National
Grant Number: RES
Start Year: 2016
End Year: 2020
Title: Microbubble-Mediated Ultrasonic Therapy for Coronary Microvascular Obstruction
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R01 HL125777
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2021
Title: Microbubble-Mediated Ultrasonic Therapy for Coronary Microvascular Obstruction
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R01 HL125777
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2020
Title: Specialized Program of Research Excellence SPORE - Project 2
Role: Co-Leader
Funding Agency: National Cancer Institute
Grant Number: P50 CA097190
Start Year: 2002
End Year: 2021
Title: Specialized Program of Research Excellence SPORE - Project 2
Role: Co-Leader
Funding Agency: National Cancer Institute
Grant Number: P50 CA097190
Start Year: 2002
End Year: 2020
Notable Achievements
Elected member, American Society of Clinical Investigation, 2004
Elected member, Association of University Cardiologists, 2008

Division Websites

Cardiology

Endocrinology and Metabolism

Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

General Internal Medicine

Geriatric Medicine
Hematology/Oncology

Infectious Diseases

Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Renal-Electrolyte

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Contact

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Phone:  412-648-9636
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