Research Projects
The overarching theme connecting various projects in the MRI research program is to obtain comprehensive structural/anatomical information as rapidly as possible so that the time saved may be invested in determining tissue and organ function. Various aspects of the collective research program include techniques for rapid imaging and methods to extract biologically and clinically relevant functional information, ranging from the molecular to the macroscopic scale. This ensures improved robustness and accuracy/precision for consistent diagnostic quality combined with quantitative analysis of disease status. Another important theme is to integrate MRI information into treatment including planning and monitoring response to novel therapies. Some of our active projects are listed below.
Arterial Spin Labeled (ASL) MRI
Tissue perfusion is an important physiological parameter. Existing methods require administration of exogeneous contrast agent to measure tissue perfusion. Madhuranthakam Lab is developing ASL MRI methods that can measure tissue perfusion without the need for exogenous contrast agent. They are currently evaluating ASL-MRI in a variety of pathologies including brain tumors, kidney cancer, lung imaging and placenta imaging. Pedrosa Lab is also evaluating ASL as part of the multiparametric MRI for characterization of kidney cancer.
Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST)
CEST is a novel imaging method that allows the measurement of molecular characterization and alterations that are currently inaccessible by conventional MRI. Vinogradov Lab is developing and evaluating CEST in breast cancer, kidney cancer, and in neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s.
Fat/Water Separation and Fat Quantification
Fat appears bright on conventional MRI and often confounds the visualization and characterization of underlying anatomical structures and pathologies. Madhuranthakam Lab is developing advanced imaging methods to achieve uniform fat/water separation without increasing scan times, and applying towards whole-body imaging. Dr. Yokoo is optimizing and evaluating fat quantification methods for accurate characterization of fatty liver disease.
High Temporal and Spatial Resolution (4D) MRI
High quality images with high spatial and temporal resolution that captures the transfer of exogenous contrast bolus provides quantitative parameters for accurate characterization of tumors. Dr. Guo and Pedrosa Lab are optimizing and evaluating 4D MRI techniques in liver cancer.
Inhomogeneous Magnetization Transfer (ihMT)
ihMT is a novel imaging method that allows detection and visualization of molecular characteristics specific to myelin. Vinogradov Lab is developing and evaluating ihMT in brain, spinal cord, and optic chiasm.
Multiparametric Imaging of Kidney Cancer
Pedrosa Lab focuses on evaluating novel MRI techniques for identification of vascular MRI measures that correlate to aggressiveness and molecular measures of angiogenesis, and the measures of tumor perfusion as an indicator of initial and acquired resistance to antiangiogenic therapies in metastatic disease.
Radiogenomics
Dr. Udayakumar is applying radiogenomics to decipher molecular and genomic alterations that are correlative to quantitative MRI features using pre-clinical models. She is extending these to human models in kidney cancer, in collaboration with Pedrosa Lab, and in breast cancer in collaboration with Vinogradov Lab.
Statistical Analysis
Dr. Xi supports various projects in the MR research program and in the Department of Radiology for statistical analysis. He is also developing pipelines for radiomics analysis and advanced statistical models to use radiological features as prognostic and predictive biomarkers.
Susceptibility Artifact Correction
Over 95% of orthodontic appliances are stainless steel that introduce magnetic susceptibility artifacts interfering with clinical brain MRI examinations. Wang Lab is developing methods including field correction devices using permanent magnets that can be used to correct for these artifacts without the need to remove the orthodontic appliances.