Dara L. Kraitchman, V.M.D., Ph.D., M.S.

Headshot of Dara L. Kraitchman
  • Cardiovascular Interventional Section Head
  • Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science

Research Interests

Interventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Techniques for Minimally Invasive Treatment; Development of Labeling Techniques for Cell Tracking and Drug/Protein Delivery; Non-Invasive Imaging for Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease; Imaging-Visible Embolics for the Treatment of Obesity and Cancer ...read more

Background

Dr. Dara Kraitchman is a Professor in the Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Radiology and Radiological Science. Her research focuses on non-invasive imaging and minimally invasive treatment of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Kraitchman serves as the Cardiovascular Interventional Section Head within the department. Dr. Kraitchman is also the Director of the Center for Image-Guided Animal Therapy (CIGAT), which provides state-of-the-art imaging and minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic options for pets as well as veterinary clinical trials.

The Kraitchman lab developed the first technique to provide radiopaque labeling of stem cells for x-ray fluoroscopic delivery and CT imaging of stem cell persistence for cardiac and peripheral arterial disease applications.

Dr. Kraitchman received her undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. She earned her M.S.E. and Ph.D. in bioengineering from University of Pennsylvania. She also completed her V.M.D. in veterinary medicine from University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Kraitchman joined the Johns Hopkins faculty in 1996.

She is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and a Distinguished Investigator in the Academy of Radiology.

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Titles

  • Cardiovascular Interventional Section Head
  • Center for Image-Guided Animal Therapy Director
  • Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science
  • Professor of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology

Departments / Divisions

Centers & Institutes

Education

Degrees

  • B.S.; Carnegie Mellon University (Pennsylvania) (1984)
  • M.S.; University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania) (1993)
  • Ph.D.; University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania) (1996)
  • V.M.D.; University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania) (1992)

Additional Training

  • Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland, 1983, Electrical Engineering
  • National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, 1997, Individual National Research Service Award Fellowship
  • USDA-APHIS / Accredited Veterinarian
  • Maryland State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners / Veterinarian
  • Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medicine / Veterinarian

Research & Publications

Research Summary

Dr. Kraitchman's research interests are concentrated on non-invasive imaging and minimally invasive treatment of cardiovascular disease and cancer. She has been actively involved in developing new methods to image myocardial function and perfusion using MRI. Current research interests are aimed at determining the optimal timing and method of administration of stem cells for cardiac regeneration using non-invasive MR fluoroscopic delivery and imaging. MRI, X-ray, and radiolabeling techniques include novel microencapsulation techniques to label stem cells to determine the location, quantity and biodistribution of stem cells after delivery as well as to noninvasively determine the efficacy of these therapies in acute myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial disease, and non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.  Microencapsulation techniques are also used for enhanced stem cell engraftment.

She is also focused on the development of new animal models of human disease for noninvasive imaging studies and the development of promising new therapies in clinical trials for companion animals.  Novel embolics are being studied for the treatment of brain, lung, and bone cancer in pets with spontaneously occurring disease. Recent veterinary clinical trials are focusing on the combination of immunotherapy with cryoablation for the treatment of bone cancer. In addition, low-cost devices for third world countries are being repurposed for the veterinary market to enhance therapies for pets.

Technology Expertise Keywords

Stem cell, veterinary imaging, cardiovascular, MRI, CT, PET, SPECT

Clinical Trial Keywords

obesity embolization interventional radiology

Clinical Trials

veterinary clinical trials

Selected Publications

View all on PubMed

Krimins R, Fritz J,Gainsburg L, Gavin P, Ihms EZ, Huso DL, Kraitchman DL. MR-Guided bone biopsy of a T11 vertebral body mass in a Rottweiler. J Amer Vet Med Assoc,2017 250(7):779-784

Weiss CR, Fu Y, Beh C, Hsu C, Kedziorek D, Shin EJ, Arepally A, Kraitchman DL. Bariatric arterial embolization with calibrated radiopaque microspheres and an anti-reflux catheter suppresses weight gain and appetite-stimulating hormones in swine. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2020; 31(9): 1483-1491

Kraitchman D, Kamel I, Weiss C and Georgiades C. Elucidation of percutaneously accessible lymph nodes in swine: A large animal model for interventional lymphatic research. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2017; 28:451–456

Lauer AM, El-Sharkawy AM, Kraitchman DL, Edelstein WA. “MRI acoustic noise can harm experimental and companion animals.” J Magn Reson Imaging. 2012 Sep;36(3):743-7. doi: 10.1002/jmri.23653.

Fu Y, Azene N, Ehtiati T, Flammang A, Gilson WD, Gabrielson K, Weiss CR, Bulte JW, Johnston PV, Kraitchman DL :X-ray fusion with magnetic resonance image-guidance of intrapericardial delivery of microencapsulated human mesenchymal stem cells in immunocompetent swine. Radiology, 2014 272(2):427-437.

Contact for Research Inquiries

Email me

Activities & Honors

Honors

  • Distinguished Investigator, Academy of Radiology Research, 2012
  • Fellow, American College of Cardiology, 2008
  • Fellow, International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 2015
  • Keynote Speaker, American College of Veterinary Radiology, 2019

Memberships

  • Affiliate Faculty in Institute for Computation Medicine
  • Affiliate Faculty in Institute of Nanobiotechnology
  • American Veterinary Medical Association
  • Fellow of American College of Cardiology
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
  • International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
  • Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance

Videos & Media

Recent News Articles and Media Coverage

Could Canine Patients Help Find A Cure For One Of The Deadliest Cancers? WJZ Baltimore (February 4, 2020)

One Health Company balances improving biomedical research and ethical animal testing, MedCity News (July 8, 2017)

Johns Hopkins begins using high-tech equipment on pets, The Baltimore Sun (April 14, 2015)

New Johns Hopkins University Center Brings Imaging Therapies To Pets, Johns Hopkins Medicine (March 16, 2015)

The Dog and Cat Wing: Hospital Sets Up a Scanner Center for Pets, Scientific American (January 20, 2015)

Human tech helping treat pets' pain, WBAL Baltimore (July 16, 2015)

Otter the Labrador Retriever Gets an MRI, The Baltimore Sun (April 7, 2015)

Johns Hopkins Offers Top-Of-The-Line Care For Pets, CBS Baltimore (March 19, 2015)

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