Visualizing the endothelial surface: imaging and other research techniques for studying the physiology of the endothelial-blood pool interface

While cardiovascular disease has been an area of significant research and clinical progress over the last few decades, it remains the leading cause of death worldwide and a substantial burden for both patients and healthcare providers. Nevertheless, medical advancements have drastically improved survival and quality of life across the range of cardiovascular pathologies, and imaging has played a key role in ushering in this improved standard of care. The diverse range of novel imaging modalities currently available for studying the heart and vasculature provides unique access to anatomy and physiology that would otherwise only be visible with surgical intervention and is at the center of both medical research and clinical practice.