The first is the study of human kidney stones using micro computed tomography (micro CT) and molecular spectroscopy to determine the compositions and structures of stones. Few stones are homogeneous in composition, and most show 'growth rings' that indicate the processes that occurred in the past to create the stone. Our laboratory was the first to apply micro CT to the study of stones, and we are discovering many new things about the nature of stones in different forms of kidney stone disease. Our work in this area is in close collaboration with surgeons who treat patients suffering from kidney stones.
