Dr. Matsunaga came to our department in 2007 after 16 years in the private sector where he was a primary developer of lipid-coated microbubbles that have been approved by the FDA and sold under the brand name Definity®. In addition, Dr. Matsunaga focused his attention upon the use of ultrasound-mediated bubble cavitation for dispersing of clots (Sonothrombolysis™). Currently, his efforts focus upon targeted microbubbles for cancer imaging as well as drug and gene delivery. His most recent efforts revolve around phase-change contrast agents for tumor detection and extravascular applications. Dr. Matsunaga received his AB degree in Biochemistry from the University of California at Berkeley, followed by a Pharm.D in Clinical Pharmacy at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Following a year of clinical training as a resident at the University of Michigan, he returned to UCSF where he received his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry under the mentorship of George L. Kenyon. From 1986 - 1992, he was a NIDA post-doctoral fellow in the laboratory of Professor Victor J. Hruby. Since 2010, he has chaired the Steering Committee for the NHLBI SMARTT (Science Moving Towards Research Translation and Therapy) Program.