University of Wisconsin
School of Medicine and Public Health

University of Wisconsin Atherosclerosis Imaging Research Program

The University of Wisconsin Atherosclerosis Imaging Research Program (UW AIRP) is an ultrasound core laboratory for clinical and epidemiological research studies that use ultrasound, electrocardiographic, exercise, and other physiologic research tools to quantify atherosclerosis, arterial injury, and cardiovascular disease risk:

  • Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and grayscale analysis
  • Carotid artery plaque detection and quantification
  • Brachial artery reactivity testing of endothelial function and grayscale analysis
  • Arterial stiffness by tonometry and carotid ultrasound
  • Assessment of cardiac structure, function, and coronary blood flow (by echocardiography)
  • Exercise stress testing with electrocardiography, echocardiography, and metabolic measures
  • 12-lead electrocardiography
  • Heart rate variability

We also can perform ambulatory electrocardiography/12-lead Holter monitoring, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and coronary artery calcium scoring using cardiac computed tomography.

More about our services

The UW AIRP is the Carotid Ultrasound Reading Center for the NHLBI Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), the Fragile Families Cardiovascular Health Follow Up Study, the NuMOM2b Heart Health Study, and several other NIH-funded research studies. We also are the BART Reading Center for the NHLBI HIV-CVD Collaborative and several other studies.