Morton W. Miller, Ph.D.

He spent a year (1963) as a NATO Postdoctoral Fellow in Science at the Botany School in Oxford, England doing research in genetics and then two years (1963 - 1965) as a postdoctoral fellow in the Biology Department at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York where he did research in radiation biology. Dr. Miller spent two years (1965 - 1967) as Second Officer at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Unit of Radiobiology in Vienna, Austria before he joined the University of Rochester as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Biology and Biophysics in 1967. Dr. Miller has been a Research Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Rochester since 1996.

Current areas of interest:
Dr. Miller has extensive expertise in in vitro mammalian cell culture techniques (monolayer, suspension, multicell spheroids), chick embryo, human eye (in vivo) e-field exposure, culture (slime mold) and cellular assays [growth, chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchange, cell transformation, histology, mutation (6-TG), DNA synthesis (scheduled and unscheduled (³H-TdR), ⁴⁵Ca-uptake, protein synthesis, RNA synthesis], electric and magnetic field stimulator use (electrodes in conducting medium, electrodes in air, Helmholz coils; megnetotoroid, stainless steel and ceramic electrodes; agar bridges), electrolytic contaminant assay (direct and current plasma atomic emission spectrometer), plant root exposure to electric and magnetic fields; growth, histological and biochemical assays, thermal teratogenesis in mammalian model systems, and ultrasound bioeffects including thermal and non-thermal mechanisms of action, with emphasis on health and safety.

Dr. Miller is a charter member of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement (NCRP), Scientific Committee 66 (Ultrasound) since 1980. The Committee has produced three NCRP reports. He is also a fellow of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM).

Dr. Miller has involvement in two areas of research. The first deals with non-thermal mechanisms of action of ultrasound as related to bioeffects. The general hypothesis driving the research is that bioeffects are due to the acoustic activation of bubbles. The availability of ultrasound contrast agents has provided a useful tool for general gas nucleation of media. In general, bioeffects (e.g., hemolysis) are substantially greater during insonation if an echo contrast agent is present, as opposed to its absence. The effects are ultrasound amplitude- and frequency-dependent, and include results from in vitro and in vivo systems. This area of research activity has had continuous support from NIH for 29 consecutive years.

The second deals with the potential of ultrasound to heat fetuses to levels known to be teratologic. The focus is on thermal mechanisms of action. These are challenging studies to the extent that in vivo application of ultrasound must heat the soft tissue of the in utero fetuses, yet avoid the overheating of nearby spine and pelvic girdle (both of which have substantial acoustic absorption coefficients). Nonetheless, procedures and techniques are available for circumventing these potentially confounding aspects. For example, a novel (if not singular) model has been developed and tested for determining thermal dose in a research setting involving animals with varying core temperatures. The overall hypothesis driving this research on teratology is that the effects of heat on the in utero fetus follow an Arrenhius relation (linearly with time, exponentially with temperature), as opposed to having a thermal threshold. Both areas of research have implications for the safe use of clinical diagnostic ultrasound.

How to contact Dr. Miller:
E-mail Address: Morton_Miller@urmc.rochester.edu
Phone: (585) 275-3634

Current research and publications:

• Miller, M.W., Miller, W.M. and Battaglia, L.F. Biological and environmental factors affecting ultrasound-induced hemolysis in vitro. 3. Antioxoidant (Trolox®) inclusion. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology 29: 103-112, 2003.
• Miller, M.W., Battaglia, L.F. and Mazza, S. Biological and environmental factors affecting ultrasound-induced hemolysis in vitro. 4. Medium tonicity. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology 29: 713-724, 2003.
• Abramowicz, J.S., Miller, M.W., Battaglia, L.F. and Mazza, S. Comparative hemolytic effectiveness of 1 MHz ultrasound on human and rabbit blood in vitro. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology 29: 867-873, 2003.
• Miller, M.W. and Battaglia, L.F. The relevance of cell size on ultrasound-induced hemolysis in mouse and human blood in vitro. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology 29: 1479-1485, 2003.
• Miller, M.W., Miller, R.K., Battaglia, L.F., Dewey, W.C. and Edwards, M.J. A feasibility test of the ?T thermal dose concept. In vivo teratogenesis. J. Thermal Biology 29, 141-149, 2004.
• Mazza, S., Battaglia, L.F. and Miller, M.W. A feasibility test of the ΔT thermal dose concept. 2. In vitro cellular effects. J. Thermal Biology 29:151-156, 2004.
• Miller, M.W. and Dewey, W.C. An extended commentary on “Models and Regulatory Considerations for Transient Temperature Rise During Diagnostic Ultrasound Pulses” by Herman and Harris (2002). Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology 29: 1653-1659, 2003.

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Updated December 6, 2004