Wei Chen, PhD

To quantitatively determine the dynamic relationships of metabolic and homodynamic changes in response to neuronal activity in the human brain using functional MRI (fMRI) and functional MRS (fMRS).
To explore and improve the capability of fMRI for mapping functional organizations and sub-organizations covering the entire brain, consequently, to achieve functional mapping neural networks in the human brain.
To develop and establish the 17O magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS) imaging methodology at ultra-high magnetic fields for imaging regional cerebral oxygen consumption rate (CMRO2) in animals and humans non-invasively.
To establish and improve the dynamic fMRI approach for probing fast neuronal interactions during brain activation.
To develop robust and efficient high-field RF coils using the approach based on the microstrip transmission line resonator.

Current Ongoing Research Projects
To quantitatively determine the dynamic relationships of metabolic and homodynamic changes in response to neuronal activity in the human brain using functional MRI (fMRI) and functional MRS (fMRS).
To explore and improve the capability of fMRI for mapping functional organizations and sub-organizations covering the entire brain, consequently, to achieve functional mapping neural networks in the human brain.
To develop and establish the 17O magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS) imaging methodology at high/ultrahigh magnetic fields for imaging regional cerebral oxygen consumption rate (CMRO2) in animals and humans non-invasively.
To develop in vivo 31P MRS approaches for studying high-energy phosphate metabolism, in particular, related to ATP production and utilization for supporting brain function.
To establish and improve the dynamic fMRI approach for probing fast neuronal interactions during brain activation.
To study brain at both normal and pathological conditions.