Dr. Chris Flowers, MD
Dr. Chris Flowers, Director of Breast Imaging and Research, is a radiologist at Moffitt Cancer Center affiliated with the Center for Women's Oncology and the Diagnostic Imaging Program. He is board-certified in radiology.
Originally from the U.K., Dr. Flowers received his medical degree (MBBS) at the University College of London. Additional education and training includes: Internship at Harrogate Hospitals (Surgery) and Hull University Hospitals (General Medicine); Medical residency at Hull University Hospitals, Radiology residency and fellowship in mammography at Nottingham University Hospitals.
Dr. Flowers has been a breast imager since 1987 from the start of national breast screening programs in Europe. He led the South West Wales breast screening service for 19 years, His research interests included digital mammography, where he worked with FUJI Medical Systems in Europe in the mid 1990's to develop CR imaging in mammography, the precursor of current full field digital mammography. He led the education of UK radiologists in breast biopsy in the early 1990's, and was the editor of a book on breast biopsy.
In 2001, he won a European Union small business award for a feasibility study using optical imaging to visualize tumor cells in the axilla, to determine whether tagged cancer cells can be detected by fluorescent techniques. He was also the lead European partner for a prototype optical breast imaging device, developed in the USA.
In 2007, he was recruited to the University of California, San Francisco,where he became the Statewide lead as Radiology P.I. in the University of California ATHENA Breast Health Network which has brought together the 5 University of California Medical Centers, and formed an academic-industrial partnership to develop multidisciplinary studies and comparative effectiveness research in breast cancer.
Research Interests also include:
- Molecular Mammographic Imaging for Cancer Detection: The goal of which is to determine whether spitting an image of the breast into its water, fat and protein components, potentially improves the sensitivity and specificity of mammography
- Reducing radiation dosage in medical imaging
- Dual energy tomosynthesis
- Imaging of tumor heterogeneity
- Collaborative research between Florida and California to show research initiatives translate into clinical practice, as a model for the nation
- I-SPY 2 trial
