Stockton Kimball Awardee is Noted Medical Physics Researcher

Rudin accepted the honor May 29 during the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ Faculty and Staff Recognition Awards celebration.

Rudin is an internationally recognized expert in the field of medical physics.

He has worked with interdisciplinary teams to develop cutting-edge technologies and methods for medical diagnostics and interventional imaging, with clinical applications for brain and heart treatment.

These imaging methods will help advance new therapies Rudin’s team is developing to replace neurovascular surgical procedures for treating pathologies such as aneurysms, stenoses and malformations.

Rudin and his team believe their concepts for medical imaging may apply to all endovascular procedures, including diagnoses and interventions for cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease.

His research has been funded nearly continuously since 1977 by the National Institutes of Health and major corporations.

He has published more than 220 peer reviewed and invited articles, monographs, book chapters, refereed conference proceedings, patents and disclosures.

UB has recognized Rudin as one of the university’s top faculty-inventors for his key contributions to patented technologies.

Working with neurosurgeons, radiologists and engineers, he co-invented a radiographic image apparatus and method for vascular interventions and angiography. These innovations make use of digital x-ray imaging detectors to produce very high-resolution dynamic radiographic images over a region of interest at the interventional site.

With a major grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, Rudin and his colleagues are now testing their Micro-Angiographic Fluoroscope or MAF, designed to provide three main advantages over current imaging technology: increased image quality, improved image-guided intervention and lower patient radiation doses.

In recognition of the enduring impact of his scientific innovations, Rudin received a UB Exceptional Scholar — Sustained Achievement Award in 2003.

He also received support from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to develop asymmetric, variable porosity stents for the treatment of cerebrovascular aneurysms.

A UB faculty member for more than 35 years, Rudin founded and directs UB’s Medical Physics Graduate Program — one of 32 such accredited programs in the nation. He also is a research professor of both physiology and biophysics and neurosurgery.

In addition, he is an adjunct professor of biomedical engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical and aerospace engineering.

He has taught more than 25 courses at UB and Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) and has served as primary research or thesis adviser for 85 graduate students.

Among numerous national and international honors, Rudin was named a fellow of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, and he received the association’s Special Merit and Jack Fowler awards.

The Radiological Society of North America recognized him with multiple awards for scientific excellence as well as an Award for Excellence in Design.

SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics technology, honored Rudin with three awards for scientific excellence.

Rudin has served his profession, the Buffalo community, the university and the UB medical school in numerous ways.

Active in professional societies, he has contributed his expertise to editorial boards and has been associate editor of major journals. 

He was a founding co-director of the Toshiba Stroke and Vascular Research Center and radiation safety officer for ECMC.

He also has held several faculty leadership positions, including Faculty Council president and Faculty Senate member.

Rudin will deliver the Stockton Kimball Lecture in 2015.

The award and lecture memorialize Stockton Kimball, MD ’29, dean of the medical school from 1946 to 1958, and his contributions to physician training for more than 25 years.