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The Unified Medical Ultrasound Technology Development (UNMUTED) predoctoral training program harnesses the ultrasound and technology transfer expertise and resources in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina to prepare the next generation of ultrasound engineers to meet vital clinical needs for cost-efficient, readily-accessible, and intelligent imaging platforms that improve health care access globally. The curriculum has three polestars: ideation, implementation, and translation to commercial development emphasizing ultrasound’s impact as the only available imaging technology to much of the world population.
Environment
Like few other geographic regions, North Carolina is a center of medical ultrasound technology development. With multiple powerhouse universities surrounding the Research Triangle Park, the region is home to multiple collaborative and complementary ultrasound research laboratories that have ready pathways to commercial translation within a thriving high-technology entrepreneurship network. By harnessing this synergy of knowledge, resources, and partnerships, UNMUTED will uniquely enable excellence in medical ultrasound training, research, and service for North Carolina, the United States, and the world.
What’s Unique About UNMUTED?
UNMUTED trains the next generation of ultrasound engineers with a cutting-edge curriculum comprising a wide spectrum of high-level ultrasound technology classes taught by experts, complemented by training in other engineering and basic science disciplines and public health. Mentoring teams include multiple ultrasound specialists who focus on complementary aspects of technology development to provide context that is both deeply and broadly relevant to the modern ultrasound field. Research projects are multidisciplinary, enabling trainees to collaborate across research labs and synthesize knowledge by integrating advancements from diverse perspectives. Trainee research successes are highlighted at an annual research symposium, which also foster new collaborations between groups. A robust professional development program, including networking events, leadership training, immersive teaching experiences, and industry internships, round out the curriculum to yield graduates who are uniquely well-prepared to usher medical ultrasound technology development into the accessible and intelligent commercial products of the future.
Research Opportunities
The UNMUTED training program is supported by eight independent research laboratories spanning the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. These laboratories are led by established principal investigators who specialize in different but complementary areas of medical ultrasound technology development. The investigators and their group members share ideas, knowledge, experience, skills, and equipment to propel ultrasound technology development further and faster than any single lab working independently could. The effectiveness of such multi-lab collaboration is evidenced by authorship on manuscripts and presentations at scientific meetings, joint grant awards, and shared patents. Numerous other collaborations with basic science, veterinary, clinical, and public health experts within the universities will uniquely enable advanced and significant research opportunities.