Computational Breakthroughs in Medical Imaging - Profile Umberto Villa

When Umberto Villa joined the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences in 2022, he brought with him what he calls a “unique background in engineering, computational science, and mathematics.” His work spans everything from modeling blood flow in arteries to creating virtual imaging trials for next-generation cancer detection—and along the way, he’s never lost sight of the real-world impact his research can have. 

Now a Research Associate Professor and Principal Faculty at the Institute, Villa is a member of two research groups at the Oden Institute: the Predictive Engineering and Computational Sciences (PECOS) group and the Optimization, Inversion, Machine Learning, and Uncertainty for Complex Systems (OPTIMUS) research group.

Villa recalls how his love for math started young. “In elementary and middle school, I was very good at math. It was much easier for me to write equations and formulas than to write, [you know,] a literature paper,” he explains with a laugh. He considered studying pure mathematics, but a lecture by Professor Alfio Quarteroni at Politecnico di Milano in Italy changed his trajectory. That presentation, which demonstrated how computational modeling can optimize the design of a regatta boat, “kind of blew my mind,” says Villa, making him realize the practical and wide-ranging applications mathematics could have. Quarteroni gave a Distinguished Lecture at the Oden Institute in Spring 2024, and is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute.

After pursuing a Ph.D. at Emory University—where his dissertation focused on simulating blood flow in arteries—Villa became fascinated by using computational models in biomedicine. “I always like to be able to have a real impact in practical applications, and in particular in biomedical applications,” he notes. While his skill set is highly computational, the end goal is always to improve health outcomes, whether by enhancing medical imaging or optimizing anti-cancer therapies.

 

A major focus of his current research at the Oden Institute is virtual imaging trials. These trials use advanced computational modeling to simulate everything from patient anatomy to how an imaging device collects data, without needing to build a physical prototype or recruit live participants. 

“We can start exploring different possible designs of the imaging system cheaply using a computer, instead of having to build the physical instrument,” Villa points out. A digital twin is a highly detailed virtual model that replicates a physical system, allowing researchers to test and refine designs in a simulated environment before real-world implementation. By creating these digital twins of patients and imaging systems, he hopes to push promising new medical technologies closer to the clinic—faster and with fewer ethical or financial barriers.

Villa’s work also intersects with artificial intelligence (AI), a field he approaches with both excitement and caution. While AI-based methods can produce stunning images from raw data, Villa stresses that appearance alone isn’t the best measure of success. 

“Sometimes the simplest methods work better than more complicated methods...we found out that just looking good does not mean being helpful,” he says. Instead, he uses rigorous statistical techniques like numerical observers that act like radiologists, to see whether an AI-generated image actually supports accurate diagnoses. This emphasis on trustworthiness is crucial, especially when new tools might one day guide critical medical decisions.

Villa credits the Oden Institute’s interdisciplinary culture for helping him tackle complex problems. “The Oden Institute is the best place in the world to do the type of interdisciplinary research that I’m interested in. We have access to the best students, great computational resources, and brilliant colleagues all in one building.”  

Collaborative projects like the Joint Center for Computational Oncology (JCCO) have given him the chance to work with experts from MD Anderson Cancer Center and beyond. Together, they’re developing pipelines to predict how tumors respond to various therapies—work that could streamline drug development and lead to more personalized care.

In 2023 Villa was among a handful of researchers to receive funding from the JCCO to focus on his research. With the funding, Villa and Mark Pagel, professor of Cancer Systems Imaging at MD Anderson, aimed to develop robust optical imaging techniques to measure tumor perfusion, or the passage of blood and fluid through a tumor, as potential tools to monitor the efficacy of specific cancer therapies across a wide range of cancers.

The JCCO strategic initiative creates a unique opportunity to align mathematical modeling and advanced computing methods with oncology expertise to bring forward new approaches that can improve outcomes for patients with unmet needs, by bringing together MD Anderson’s oncology expertise and data with novel mechanism-based computational modeling and data science techniques led by researchers at the Oden Institute and the Texas Advanced Computing Center.

Ultimately, Villa wants to see “virtual imaging trials” become a regular part of how medical devices and imaging techniques are tested and approved. “My long-term goal is to promote virtual imaging trials as the first step in developing new medical imaging technologies.” He believes these computational approaches can fast-track innovations from idea to lab instrument and, finally, to real patients in need.

Outside of research, Villa enjoys spending time with his family and four-year-old daughter. He jokes that much of his free time is spent keeping up with her energy. “A family afternoon kayaking on Lady Bird Lake or chasing her while she’s biking around” are some of his favorite ways to unwind. 

As Villa continues to blend mathematics, computation, and biomedical engineering, he remains driven by the potential to transform patient care. From his early fascination with regatta boat designs to his present-day quest for safer, more effective cancer diagnostics, Umberto Villa’s work exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary research and proves that great ideas can flourish when math meets real-world challenges.