Wei Chen
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Credentials
PhD
Bio
Dr. Wei Chen is a Professor in the Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He received his B.S. degree in physical chemistry at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. In 1985, he joined Professor Ackerman's lab as a graduate student at Washington University in St. Louis and received his Ph.D. in 1990. He spent three years as a postdoctoral fellow and research associate in Professor Shulman's lab at Yale University Medical School. In 1994, he joined the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR) at the University of Minnesota and became a full professor in 2002. His research focuses on development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/spectroscopy (MRS) methodologies and technologies for noninvasively studying cellular metabolism, bioenergetics, function and dysfunction of the brain and other organs. He has been a principal investigator for a large number of NIH RO1 grants, served as grant reviewer for many funding organizations and editorial boards for imaging journals.
Research Summary
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.