Contrast-free ultrasound to measure blood flow in the lower leg
Official title: A Contrast-free Ultrasound-based Quantitative Angio Flow Imaging Technique to Assess Peripheral Arterial Disease of Lower Limb
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11159751 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new dye-free ultrasound method will measure tiny blood flow changes in the calf muscles of people with peripheral artery disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $738,796 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL174785-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159751 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with diagnosed peripheral artery disease or leg claudication, especially those with calf pain or limited walking ability, are the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without PAD, those whose issues are limited to large-vessel blockages already identified by other tests, or patients unable to perform mild exercise or tolerate pressure maneuvers may not benefit.
What this research studies
You would have a special ultrasound scan without contrast to measure small-vessel blood flow in your calf during gentle exercise and when mild pressure is applied. The team will process the ultrasound frames using advanced signal-processing steps (coherent ensemble selection, singular value decomposition clutter filtering, and noise equalization) to produce quantitative blood-flow measures. Researchers will compare flow changes before and after exercise or pressure to see how your microvascular response relates to symptoms and disease progression. The test is noninvasive, designed to run on widely available ultrasound machines, and intended to be low-cost and safe.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow earlier, safer, and less expensive detection and monitoring of microvascular problems in peripheral artery disease.
How similar studies have gone: Related ultrasound methods using contrast or advanced processing have shown promise, but contrast-free pressure-based microvascular imaging like this is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alizad, Azra — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Alizad, Azra
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.