Faculty

Bio

Dr. Gregor Adriany is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology. The main focus of his work is the design and implementation of novel ultra high field RF coils and related front-end components. After receiving an MSEE from the RWTH University of Aachen, Germany and work for Siemens Medical in Erlangen he joined our lab in 1994 to pursue a Ph.D in Electrical Engineering. He graduated with a Doctorate in engineering (Dr. Ing.) from the RWTH Aachen in 1998 and continued his research at the CMRR as a staff scientist.

Research Summary

Transmit Arrays (7T, 9.4T, 16.4T)
Novel Transmit - Receive array coil combinations for UHF
Specialty coils for the small bore systems (9.4T, 16.4T)

Bio

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of Minnesota. After receiving B.S. and B.A. degrees in Chemistry and Criminology & Law at the University of Florida, in 1997 I began my career in MRI physics and functional neuroimaging research by joining the lab of Drs. Richard Briggs and Bruce Crosson at the University of Florida as an undergraduate research assistant. I joined the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR) at the University of Minnesota in 1998. Working with Drs. Xiaoping Hu and Kâmil Uğurbil, I received my Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences and Medical Physics from the University of Minnesota in 2003.

My research focuses on developing and integrating software and hardware for improving MRI image quality, resolution, and acquisition speed. I have been especially interested in the use of ultra-high magnetic fields to achieve these goals, having started my career working on one of the first 3 Tesla whole-body human scanners at the University of Florida in 1997, then moving to the University of Minnesota where I have had the opportunity to work on the most powerful whole-body human MRI scanners in the world, such as the first 7 Tesla (installed at CMRR in 1999) and the first and only 10.5 Tesla (installed at CMRR in 2014).

Bio

Dr. Bolan is an Associate Professor in Radiology. After receiving his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois (UIUC) and post-graduate studies at UC Berkeley, Dr. Bolan spent five years working in industry as a software engineer. He joined Dr. Michael Garwood's group at the University of Minnesota in 1999 and received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in 2003 while developing methods for performing quantitative MR spectroscopy of breast cancer. He has continued at the UMN Center for Magnetic Resonance Research as a postdoc, Assistant, and Associate Professor. His research focuses on developing methods for quantitative MR imaging methods and integrating advanced imaging methods into clinical trials of cancer and obesity.

Selected Publications

Saunders SL, Leng E, Spilseth B, Wasserman N, Metzger GJ, Bolan PJ. (2021). Training convolutional networks for prostate segmentation with limited data. IEEE access : practical innovations, open solutions, 9, 109214-109223. doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2021.3100585 PubMed ID: 34527506.

Bolan PJ, Branzoli F, Di Stefano AL, Nichelli L, Valabregue R, Saunders SL, Akçakaya M, Sanson M, Lehéricy S, Marjańska M. (2020). Automated acquisition planning for magnetic resonance spectroscopy in brain cancer. Medical image computing and computer-assisted intervention : MICCAI ... International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention, 12267, 730-739. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59728-3_71 PubMed ID: 35005744.

McKay JA, Church AL, Rubin N, Emory TH, Hoven NH, Kuehn-Hajder JE, Nelson MT, Ramanna S, Auerbach EJ, Moeller S, Bolan PJ. (2020). A comparison of methods for high-spatial-resolution diffusion-weighted imaging in breast MRI. Radiology, 297(2), 304-312. doi: https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2020200221 PubMed ID: 32840468.

Partridge SC, Zhang Z, Newitt DC, Gibbs JE, Chenevert TL, Rosen MA, Bolan PJ, Marques HS, Romanoff J, Cimino L, Joe BN, Umphrey H, Ojeda-Fournier H, Dogan D, Oh K, Abe H, Drukteinis J, Esserman LJ, Hylton NM. (2018). Diffusion-weighted MRI findings predict pathologic response in neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer: The ACRIN 6698 multicenter trial. Radiology, 289(3), 618-627. doi: https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2018180273 PubMed ID: 30179110.

Bolan PJ, Kim E, Herman BA, Newstead GM, Rosen MA, Schnall MD, Pisano ED, Weatherall PT, Morris EA, Lehman CD, Garwood M, Nelson MT, Yee D, Polin SM, Esserman LJ, Gatsonis CA, Metzger GJ, Newitt DC, Partridge SC, Hylton NM, ACRIN Trial team ISPY-1 Investigators. (2017). MR spectroscopy of breast cancer for assessing early treatment response: Results from the ACRIN 6657 MRS trial. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 46(1), 290-302. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.25560 PubMed ID: 27981651.

Bolan PJ, Arentson L, Sublinvong T, Zhang Y, Moeller S, Downs LS Jr., Ghebre R, Yee D, Froelich J, Hui S, (2013). Water-fat imaging for assessing therapy-induced bone marrow damage in gynecologic cancers. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 38(6), 1578-1584. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.24071 PubMed ID: 23450703.

Bolan PJ, , Meisamy S, Baker EH, Lin J, Emory T, Nelson M, Everson LI, Yee D, Garwood M. (2003). In vivo quantification of choline compounds in the breast with 1H MR spectroscopy. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 50(6), 1134-1143. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.10654 PubMed ID: 14648561.

Research Summary

Deep learning approaches for quantitative MRI
Developing and evaluating advanced diffusion-weighted imaging in breast cancer
Computational methods for MR spectroscopy acquisition and analysis

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.

Bio

Dr. Dinesh K. Deelchand is a Research Associate at the Center of Magnetic Resonance Research at the University of Minnesota. Dr Deelchand obtained a BSc in Physics from the University of Mauritius (Mauritius) in 2000 and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Nottingham (UK) in 2004. He joined CMRR as a postdoctoral associate under the supervision of Dr. Pierre-Gilles Henry at the end of 2004. Recently he joined Dr Gulin Oz's group to work on 1H MRS in patients with spinocerebellar ataxias.

Research Summary

¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy (MRS) at high-fields
Develop and validate new approaches to study brain metabolism and neurotransmission
Real-time motion correction for MRS applications

Bio

Dr. Yigitcan Eryaman received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Bilkent University, Turkey. Following the graduation, he joined the National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM) in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Bilkent University, where he earned his MS (2007) and PhD (2011) degrees. He continued his research at the Research Lab of Electronics at MIT and Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at MGH. He joined CMRR as a research associate in 2014 and later promoted to an assistant professor in 2018. He has published journal and conference papers as well as patents on various problems related to magnetic resonance imaging. His research interests include investigation of hardware and software based solutions for radio-frequency safety problems in MRI. He is a recipient of NIH/NIBIB K99 Pathway to Independence Award (2016).

Selected Publications

Sadeghi-Tarakameh, A., Jungst, S., Lanagan, M., DelaBarre, L., Wu, X., Adriany, G., Metzger, G. J., Van de Moortele, P.-F., Ugurbil, K., Atalar, E., & Eryaman, Y. (2021). A nine-channel transmit/receive array for spine imaging at 10.5 T: Introduction to a non-uniform dielectric substrate antenna. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

Sadeghi-Tarakameh, A., DelaBarre, L., Lagore, R. L., Torrado-Carvajal, A., Wu, X., Grant, A., Adriany, G., Metzger, G. J., Van de Moortele, P.-F., Ugurbil, K., Atalar, E., & Eryaman, Y. (2020). In vivo human head MRI at 10.5 T: A radiofrequency safety study and preliminary imaging results. Magnetic resonance in medicine, 84(1), 484--496. 

He, X., Erturk, M. A., Grant, A., Wu, X., Lagore, R. L., DelaBarre, L., Eryaman, Y., Adriany, G., Auerbach, E. J., Van de Moortele, P.-F., Ugurbil, K., & Metzger, G. (2020). First in-vivo human imaging at 10.5 T: Imaging the body at 447 MHz. Magnetic resonance in medicine, 84(1), 289--303. 

Erturk, M. A., Wu, X., Eryaman, Y., Van de Moortele, Pierre-Fran\ccois, Auerbach, E. J., Lagore, R. L., DelaBarre, L., Vaughan, J. T., Ugurbil, K., Adriany, G., & Metzger, G. J. (2017). Toward imaging the body at 10.5 tesla. Magnetic resonance in medicine, 77(1), 434--443. 

Eryaman Y, Kobayashi N,Moen S, Aman J,Grant A,Vaughan J T,Molnar G,Park MC, Vitek J,Adriany G,Ugurbil K,Harel N. A simple geometric analysis method for measuring and mitigating RF induced currents on Deep Brain Stimulation leads by multichannel transmission/reception. Neuroimage. 2019;184:658-68.doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.09.072.

Eryaman, Y., Guerin, B., Akgun, C., Herraiz, J. L., Martin, A., Torrado-Carvajal, A., Malpica, N., Hernandez-Tamames, J. A., Schiavi, E., Adalsteinsson, E., & Wald, L. L. (2015). Parallel transmit pulse design for patients with deep brain stimulation implants. Magnetic resonance in medicine, 73(5), 1896--1903. 

Research Summary

Radiofrequency Safety Issues in UHF MRI

MRI of Neural Implants

Radiofrequency Coil Design

Bio

For the past 26 years, researchers in the Garwood laboratory have had a focus on developing cutting-edge MRI and MR spectroscopy techniques and on exploiting them in studies of tissue function, metabolism, and microstructure. An emphasis has been on identifying and validating quantitative metrics to assess normal and disease states non-invasively with imaging, and on applying them to learn about metabolism, hemodynamics, and tissue micro-environment. On the technical side, the Garwood group has recently made a significant advancement in the way MRI is performed - a technique called SWIFT. SWIFT exploits time-shared RF excitation and acquisition to preserve signals from water molecules possessing extremely short transverse relaxation times, T2 and T2*. With SWIFT, broadband frequency-swept excitation, together with extremely short acquisition delay, make it possible to also preserve frequency-shifted signals in the vicinity of magnetic objects. For example, magnetically-labeled nanoparticles (e.g., SPIOs), which cause signal voids in conventional MR images, give rise to positive contrast (bright spots) in SWIFT images, thus improving the capability to track and quantify targeted contrast agents and molecular therapies, as well as magnetically-labeled cells. Finally, the Garwood group has a focus on the physics of nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation, in an effort to improve the sensitivity and specificity of MRI for disease characterization, diagnosis, and treatment monitoring. In particular, we are developing ways to "tune" MRI's specificity to certain dynamic processes in tissues (e.g., assessing the tumbling times and exchange rates of different pools of tissue water) and we are investigating their utility as quantitative markers of neurodegeneration and cancer aggressiveness, and as early indicators of response to treatments. These methods are currently in pre-clinical and clinical trials (lung, breast, and brain cancers; Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis) in collaboration with other faculty in the University of Minnesota and elsewhere.

Research Summary

To apply theoretical formalisms to describe the magnetic resonance phenomenon; in particular, the interaction between nuclear spins and a radiofrequency field having a variable amplitude and frequency in time.
To exploit the unique properties of these frequency-modulated RF techniques to enhance sensitivity and data quality in MRI and MRS.
To expose molecular properties of cancers using MRI and MRS, and to use these for making diagnoses and for evaluating and guiding cancer treatments, all non-invasively.

Bio

Dr. Harel is a Professor in the departments of Radiology and Neurosurgery, at the University of Minnesota. After receiving his B.Sc. in biology from Tel Aviv University, Israel, Dr. Harel moved to the University of Toronto, Canada, where he received his MSc (1996) and PhD (2000) in Physiology and Neuroscience for mapping auditory areas using optical imaging technique. For his post doctoral training, Dr. Harel moved to the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota where his research focused on the development of methods for high-resolution MRI and functional MRI (fMRI) applications using high magnetic fields (7T & 9.4T). In particular, Dr. Harel developed fMRI capabilities for mapping columnar and laminar organization in cerebral cortex both in human and animal models. In 2002, Dr. Harel moved to the University of Pittsburgh as a research associate and soon after returned to Minnesota and joined CMRR as a faculty member.Dr. Harel's current research focuses on the development and integration of 7T and high field neuroimaging data into deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgical navigation in particular and brain surgery in general.

Research Summary

High-resolution brain imaging for clinical application.
Integration of 7T neuroimaging data into DBS surgical navigation.
High-resolution mapping of brain activity using MR methods at ultra high magnetic fields.
High-resolution, high-specificity fMRI applications.
Visualization techniques for imaging brain microvasculature.

Research Summary

My group focuses on using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) to understand brain function at the biochemical and cellular level, and to identify new biomarkers of brain disorders. Current research topics include:
To understand how neurons and astrocytes cooperate metabolically to support neurotransmission. For this purpose, we perform tracer studies using 13C-labeled substrates and 13C MRS, which allows us to measure metabolic rates non-invasively in the brain in both neurons and astrocytes.
To develop new metabolic models to analyze 13C MRS data, particularly two-compartment neuronal-glial models to measure the "glutamate-glutamine cycle". This would provide a non-invasive measurement of glutamatergic neurotransmission.
To explore the potential of hyperpolarized 13C for the study of brain metabolism and for the detection of tumors in brain and other tissues.
To develop new methodologies for 1H MRS and 1H MRSI at very high-field for the measurement of metabolite concentrations ("neurochemical profile") with improved spatial and temporal resolution.

Bio

Dr. Djaudat S. Idiyatullin is an assistant professor in the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology. He graduated from Kazan State University, Kazan, Russia in 1980 with a M.S. in Department of Radio Physics (subject of degree work: "Digital temperature controller for NMR spectrometer"). At 1996 he earned a Ph.D. Physics & Mathematics (Department of Molecular Physics, Kazan State University, dissertation entitled: "NMR relaxation and spin diffusion of segmented polyurethanes"). He joined Dr. Michael Garwood's group at CMRR at 2003. Dr. Idiyatullin is co-inventor on 11 US and International patents and has more than 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Research Summary

Dental, maxillofacial, musculoskeletal MRI
Hard- and soft-ware methods of MRI
Chemical Exchange, Nuclear magnetic cross and auto-relaxation, dipolar cross-correlation
Spin and self-diffusion in heterogeneous systems

Bio

Dr. Lenglet is a McKnight Land-Grant Associate Professor at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (Department of Radiology) and a Scholar of the Institute for Translational Neuroscience (ITN). After receiving a M.Sc. in Computer Science & Engineering from the Compiègne University of Technology (Compiègne, France, 2003), and a M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics from École Normale Supérieure de Cachan (Cachan, France, 2003), he earned a Ph.D. in Biomedical Imaging and Neuroscience from INRIA Sophia Antipolis - Méditerranée (Sophia Antipolis, France, 2006). He then joined the Imaging and Visualization Department at Siemens Corporate Research in Princeton, New Jersey as a Research Scientist. In 2008, he moved to the University of Minnesota as a Research Associate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. In 2010, he became a faculty member of the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research.Dr. Lenglet's group develops computational tools to harness the power of high-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for neuroscience and clinical applications. His research aims at better understanding the structural and functional alterations of brain connections in neurodegenerative disorders. He also enjoys swimming, biking, running, and has competed in several Ironman triathlons.

Bio

Dr. Mangia is a Professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of Minnesota. She got her master degree in Physics (1999), the Ph.D. in Biophysics (2003) and the title of "Specialist in Medical Physics" (2005) at the University of Rome "La Sapienza" (Italy). Since 2004 she has been working at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR).

Research Summary

Functional studies of human brain metabolism under increased or decreased neuronal activity
Neurovascular coupling and neuro-glia interactions
Oxidative and non-oxidative brain metabolism; glucose and lactate metabolism
Novel MR contrasts based on rotating frame relaxation measurements, magnetization transfer and chemical exchange
Applications of novel MRI/MRS protocols for studies of neurological diseases as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis Measurements of blood flow with arterial spin labeling methods, and their application to diseases as diabetes
Proton NMR Spectroscopy at high fields
Resting state fMRI, especially in relation to brain metabolism

Bio

Małgorzata (Gosia) Marjańska is a professor in the Department of Radiology. Dr. Marjańska received a B.S. in chemistry with minor in mathematics from Loyola University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley. She joined the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR) in 2002 as a post-doctoral fellow working with Prof. Kamil Ugurbil and subsequently became a research assistant professor two years later, and assistant professor in 2013. In 2015, she was promoted to an associate professor and in 2020 to a professor.

Dr. Marjańska first encountered magnetic resonance while working with Prof. Keith Jameson at Loyola University of Chicago, first learning and then training other undergraduates to operate a 300 MHz Varian system. During the summer after her 3rd year of undergraduate studies, she worked at Bell Laboratories with Dr. Peter Mirau on solid state NMR characterization of polymer films. In order to follow her interest in NMR, she decided to pursue a Ph.D. at the University of California at Berkeley in the group of Prof. Alexander Pines. Her thesis titled "Quantum Logic Gates, Local Field, Selective Excitation and Structural Studies of Dipolar Couplings in Oriented Molecules" was focused on NMR as a technique to study molecules dissolved in liquid crystals.

Research Summary

Dr. Marjańska is interested in developing MRS techniques for humans and rodents over a wide range of field strengths (3 T up to 16.4 T) and applications of those methods to study various diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, dystonia, depression, and brain tumors. Dr. Marjańska has been interested in ¹H and heteronuclear MRS (¹³C and ²H), diffusion-weighted MRS and relaxometry. The long-term goal of her research is to develop and assess robust, non-invasive and repeatable MRS methods for discovery of quantitative biomarkers for clinical research and practice.

Bio

Dr. Metzger received his B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992 and his Ph.D. from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota in 1997. His graduate research, conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Xiaoping Hu, focused on novel magnetic resonance chemical shift imaging techniques. After his graduate studies, Dr. Metzger accepted a position with Philips Medical Systems as a clinical scientist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. In this position, he expanded his knowledge in clinical research with specific work on breast, kidney, cardiac and brain MRI applications. In his final two years of his eight year tenure with Philips, he worked at NIH as a senior clinical scientist focusing on diagnostic prostate imaging and MRI guided prostate interventions. With a desire to return to academia, he accepted a position at the University of Minnesota in 2005 with a joint appointment in the departments of Radiology and Urologic Surgery.

Research Summary

Prostate Cancer
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Ultra-high field MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represents a promising method to determine the clinical significance of prostate cancer. Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer have small tumors with low inherent biological propensity for invasive growth and metastasis. These patients may be best treated through observation, or limited therapies. To the contrary, some patients have extensive, biologically aggressive tumors best treated by prostatectomy. Unfortunately, current diagnostics methods, short of pathologic examination of prostatectomy specimens, cannot reliably determine disease extent (volume and spread outside the prostate) and biological aggressiveness.

Dr. Metzger's lab is investigating the potential of magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy to non-invasively determine the extent and aggressiveness of prostate cancer in clinical studies. This information would be used to improve diagnosis and staging, target therapy and monitor treatment. Initial research objectives involve the development of a multi-parametric statistical model to non-invasively determine cancer probability maps based on anatomic and functional 3 Tesla MRI data. This statistical model will use registered pathology sections as a gold standard of tumor extent and co-localized molecular studies as a gold standard of aggressiveness. A second major focus of Dr. Metzger's lab involves the development of novel RF coils and imaging methods necessary to make prostate imaging at ultra-high magnetic fields feasible. The increased spatial and spectral resolution of an optimized 7 Tesla prostate imaging platform will improve the ability to track small changes in prostate cancer biomarkers facilitating the study of local disease progression and treatment response.

Research Summary

My research is focused on relaxations during radiofrequency irradiation and development of non-invasive contrast methods for Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging and spectroscopy at high magnetic fields (3T and higher). This research effort has resulted in numerous contributions that have fundamentally impacted brain and body research. Rotating frame relaxation methods based on adiabatic pulses were first developed in our laboratory at CMRR in Minnesota. We followed this development with a large body of work (utilizing theoretical modeling and experiments) investigating different relaxation pathways in vivo at different magnetic field strengths. The novel MR contrasts and protocols developed in my group were proven to provide an excellent tool for investigation of neurodegenerative processes in Parkinson's disease as well as cancer and stroke. It has been 3 years that we applied our rotating frame relaxation methods T1 and T2 to investigate iron accumulation and neuronal loss, respectively, in substantia nigra (SN) of Parkinson's disease patients. Recently we developed rotating frame method that comprises two relaxation pathways, T1 and T2. This method provides greater sensitivity to molecular motion and is entitled Relaxation Along a Fictitious Field (RAFF). Utilization of fictitious fields in MRI is an important aspect of research in my group.

Bio

Dr. Steen Moeller is a Research Associate Professor in Radiology at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota ("CMRR"). After obtaining a Master's Degree (Cand.Scient.) in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Aalborg, Denmark in 1997, Dr. Moeller conducted research on inverse problems for electrical impedance tomography and was awarded the Ph.D. degree in 2002 from the Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Aalborg. He joined CMRR as a post-doctoral associate for Dr. Kamil Ugurbil in 2003 and focused on mathematical algorithms for accelerated image reconstructions at ultra high fields utilizing multi-channel arrays. His work was focused on the implications for functional MRI and hardware design criteria. In 2006, Dr. Moeller joined Dr Michael Garwood's group for investigating and developed mathematical tools for the SWIFT (Sweep Imaging with Fourier Transformation) technique developed at CMRR. The technologies developed were licensed by Steady State Imaging, LLC and subsequently licensed by General Electric. Since 2010, Dr. Moeller has been involved in the technology development for the Human Connectome Project and has developed robust mathematical techniques for fast image reconstruction.

Research Summary

Mathematical techniques for accelerated image reconstruction in MRI
Quantitative and qualitative techniques for image quality evaluatio
Ultra high Field Imaging
Functional MRI

Bio

Dr. Gülin Öz is a Professor in the Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR). Following BS degrees in Physics and Chemistry and a PhD in Biochemistry, she continued with postdoctoral training at the CMRR where she later joined the faculty.

Dr. Öz uses high field, multi-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to delineate neurochemical and metabolic alterations in neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes. She leads a program in spinocerebellar ataxias and has studied neurochemistry in Parkinson, Huntington, Alzheimer diseases and ALS. She co-led an effort by the MRS Consensus Group to provide guidelines for MRS data acquisition and analysis, quality assessment, and interpretation. She further led a multi-site Bioengineering Research Partnership (BRP) for across-platform harmonization of advanced MRS methods. She serves as PI of a Consortium to assess COVID-19 sequelae in the brain (COVID-BRAIN) and MPI of an international clinical trial readiness study (READISCA) that aims to validate MRI and MRS biomarkers in the earliest stages of neurodegeneration in spinocerebellar ataxias. Finally, she leads the MR Biomarkers Working Group of the Ataxia Global Initiative.

Selected Publications

Chandrasekaran J, Petit E, Park YW, du Montcel ST, Joers JM, Deelchand DK, Považan M, Banan G, Valabregue R, Ehses P, Faber J, Coupé P, Onyike CU, Barker PB, Schmahmann JD, Ratai EM, Subramony SH, Mareci TH, Bushara KO, Paulson H, Durr A, Klockgether T, Ashizawa T, Lenglet C, Öz G for the READISCA Consortium. Clinically meaningful Magnetic Resonance Endpoints Sensitive to Preataxic Spinocerebellar Ataxia Types 1 and 3. Ann Neurol, doi: 10.1002/ana.26573.

Deelchand DK, Henry PG, Joers JM, Auerbach EJ, Park YW, Ratai EM, Kantarci K, Öz G (2022) Plug-and-play Advanced Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Magn Reson Med, 87(6):2613-2620.

Deelchand DK, Berrington A, Noeske R, Joers JM, Arani A, Gillen J, Schär M, Nielsen JF, Peltier S, Seraji-Bozorgzad N, Landheer K, Juchem C, Soher BJ, Noll DC, Kantarci K, Ratai EM, Mareci TH, Barker PB, Öz G (2021) Across-vendor standardization of semi-LASER for single voxel MRS at 3 Tesla. NMR Biomed, 34(5):e4218.

Öz G, Deelchand DK, Wijnen JP, Mlynárik V, Mekle R, Noeske R, Scheenen TWJ, Tkáč I and the Advanced Single Voxel ¹H MRS Working Group (2020) Advanced single voxel ¹H magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques: Experts' consensus recommendations, NMR Biomed, e4236, DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4236.

Öz G, Harding IH, Krahe J, Reetz K (2020) MR Imaging and Spectroscopy in Degenerative Ataxias: Towards Multi-modal, Multi-site, Multi-stage Monitoring of Neurodegeneration, Curr Opin Neurol, 33(4):451-461.

Cheong I, Deelchand DK, Eberly LE, Marjańska M, Manousakis M, Guliani G, Walk D, Öz G (2019) Neurochemical Correlates of Functional Decline in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 90(3):294-301.

Joers JM, Deelchand DK, LyuT, EmirUE, Hutter D, GomezCM, BusharaKO, Eberly LE, Öz G (2018) Neurochemical abnormalities in premanifest and early spinocerebellar ataxias, Ann Neurol, 83(4):816-829.

Park YW, Deelchand DK, Joers JM, Hanna B, Kantarci K, Soher BJ, Barker PB, Park HW, Öz G, Lenglet C (2018) AutoVOI: Real-time automatic prescription of volume-of-interest for single voxel spectroscopy, Magn Reson Med, 80(5):1787-1798.

Deelchand DK, Kantarci K, Öz G. (2018) Improved localization, spectral quality and repeatability with advanced MRS methodology in the clinical setting, Magn Reson Med, 79(3):1241-1250.

Öz G, Alger JR, Barker PB, Bartha R, Bizzi A, Boesch C, Bolan PJ, Brindle KM, Cudalbu C, Dincer A, Dydak U, Emir UE, Frahm J, González RG, Gruber S, Gruetter R, Gupta RK, Heerschap A, Henning A, Hetherington HP, Howe FA, Hüppi PS, Hurd RE, Kantarci K, Klomp DWJ, Kreis R, Kruiskamp MJ, Leach MO, Lin AP, Luijten PR, Marjańska M, Maudsley AA, Meyerhoff DJ, Mountford CE, Nelson SJ, Pamir MN, Pan JW, Peet AC, Poptani H, Posse S, Pouwels PJW, Ratai EM, Ross BD, Scheenen TWJ, Schuster C, Smith ICP, Soher BJ, Tkáč I, Vigneron DB, Kauppinen RA. The MRS Consensus Group. (2014) Clinical Proton MR Spectroscopy in Central Nervous System Disorders, Radiology, 270(3):658-79.

Emir UE, Tuite PJ, Öz G (2012) Elevated pontine and putamenal GABA levels in mild-moderate Parkinson disease detected by 7 tesla ¹H MRS, PLoS One, 7(1): e30918.

Emir UE, Auerbach EJ, Van De Moortele PF, Marjańska M, Ugurbil K, Terpstra M, Tkáč I, Öz G (2012) Regional neurochemical profiles in the human brain measured by ¹H MRS at 7 tesla using local B₁ shimming, NMR Biomed, 25: 152–160.

Öz G, Tkáč I (2011) Short-echo, single-shot, full-intensity ¹H MRS for neurochemical profiling at 4T: Validation in the cerebellum and brainstem, Magn Reson Med, 65(4):901-10.

Öz G, Nelson CD, Koski DM, Henry PG, Marjańska M, Deelchand DK, Shanley R, Eberly LE, Orr HT, Clark HB (2010) Noninvasive Detection of Pre-symptomatic and Progressive Neurodegeneration in a Mouse Model of Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 1, J Neurosci, 30:3831-3838.

Öz G, Kumar A, Rao JP, Kodl CT, Chow L, Eberly LE, Seaquist ER (2009) Human Brain Glycogen Metabolism during and following Hypoglycemia, Diabetes, 58(9):1978-85.

Tkáč I, Öz G, Adriany G, Uğurbil K, Gruetter R (2009) In vivo ¹H NMR spectroscopy of the human brain at high magnetic fields: Metabolite quantification at 4T vs. 7T, Magn Reson Med, 62:868–879.

Öz G, Seaquist ER, Kumar A, Criego A, Benedict LE, Rao JP, Henry PG, van de Moortele PF, Gruetter R (2007) Human Brain Glycogen Content and Metabolism: Implications on its Role in Brain Energy Metabolism, Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 292(3): E946-51

Öz G, Berkich DA, Henry PG, Xu Y, LaNoue K, Hutson SM, Gruetter R (2004) Neuroglial metabolism in the awake rat brain: CO₂ fixation increases with brain activity, J Neurosci, 24: 11273-11279.

Research Summary

Dr. Öz’s research interests are:

• To develop high and ultrahigh field MRI and MRS methodology for human and rodent applications.
• To establish in vivo MRI and MRS biomarkers of neurodegeneration, in parallel studies with patients and transgenic mouse models. Such biomarkers are expected to facilitate early disease detection and treatment monitoring in pre-clinical and clinical trials.
• To determine the effects of diabetes and the hypoglycemic consequences of intensive insulin therapy on brain glucose and glycogen metabolism and to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms of impaired awareness of hypoglycemia using MRS.

Bio

Dr. Patriat is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of Minnesota. After receiving a B.A. in Physics and Film Studies (2010) from the University of Minnesota-Morris, Dr. Patriat earned a M.S (2012) and a PhD (2015) in Medical Physics from the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Patriat has been working on ultra-high field (e.g., 7Tesla) MRI research and its application towards the creation of patient-specific anatomical models to improve DBS targeting and efficacy, first as a Postdoctoral Researcher at CMRR (2015-2019) and then as Faculty (since 2019). Dr. Patriat’s work includes manual segmentation and machine learning applications based on direct anatomical visualization as well as structural and functional connectivity analyses.

Research Summary

Use of ultra-high field MRI technology to improve neuromodulation applications such as Deep Brain Stimulation surgery
Studying brain disorders, including movement disorders, using high-resolution resting-state functional MRI and diffusion imaging
Patient-specific brain modeling using ultra-high field MRI technology and high-resolution images
Translational research focusing on neuroimaging methods and neuroscience
Visualization and characterization of brain anatomy and connectivity networks
 

Bio

Dr. Pramod Pisharady is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR, Department of Radiology) at the University of Minnesota Medical School. After earning his PhD in Computer Vision and Machine Learning from NUS (2012), he did postdoctoral research in the Biological Engineering department at MIT (2013-2014). Before his appointment as Assistant Professor (2022) at CMRR, he worked as a Postdoctoral Associate (2014-2017) and a Research Associate (2017-2022) at CMRR. Dr. Pisharady is a recipient of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) Imaging Scientist grant award (2020). His current research interest is to develop methods to bridge the information gap between macroscale and microscale imaging using multimodal imaging with diffusion MRI and microscopy, and to apply these methods to detect disease-related structural changes in neurological disorders.

Awards & Recognition

• Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) Imaging Scientist Grant Award, 2020
• Best Poster Award, Institute for Research in Statistics and its Applications (IRSA), 2017
• Travel Award, Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Interventions (MICCAI) Society, 2017
• Travel Award, Big Data Neuroscience Workshop 2017 (NSF-funded), Indiana University, 2017
• Best Student Paper Award, Pattern Recognition and Machine Intelligence Association (PREMIA), 2013
• Postgraduate Research Scholarship, National University of Singapore, 2007
• University Gold Medal (First Rank), Calicut University, 2003

Research Summary

• Diffusion MRI
• Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography
• Imaging biomarkers
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Bio

Kamil Ugurbil currently holds the McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair Professorship and is the founding Director of the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR) at the University of Minnesota. After completing his B.A. and Ph.D. degrees in physics, and chemical physics, respectively, at Columbia University, New York, N.Y., Prof. Ugurbil  joined AT&T Bell Laboratories in 1977, and subsequently returned to Columbia as a faculty member in 1979. He was recruited to the University of Minnesota in 1982 where his research in magnetic resonance led to the evolution of his laboratory into an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary research center, the CMRR. His primary research focus has been the development and application of MR methods and instrumentation towards obtaining high spatiotemporal resolution and high accuracy functional and anatomical information in the human brain, and the development of ultrahigh magnetic fields for human imaging for biomedical research in general. This body of work has culminated in pioneering accomplishments, such as the co-introduction of functional brain imaging (fMRI), the introduction and development of ultrahigh magnetic fields (defined as ≥7 Tesla), functional mapping of columnar and layer specific functional responses in the human brain, highly accelerated functional brain imaging, and MR spectroscopy for studies of metabolism in vivo. He was one of the two PI’s of the Human Connectome Project and one of the fourteen members of the first BRAIN Initiative working group. He was recognized by several awards and honors including membership in the US National Academy of Medicine, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Richard R. Ernst Gold Medal, ISMRM Gold Medal, ISMAR Prize, Koç Award, the IEEE Medal for Innovations in Healthcare Technology, and two honorary doctorates.

Research Summary

Kamil Ugurbil's central research interest is tackling biological problems, particularly in the brain, with new and transformative imaging technologies that involve instrumentation, image acquisition and reconstruction methods. His research is characterized by development of new technologies, and applications of these technologies, to obtain new and previously unavailable information about biological processes. This central interest was initially focused on developing, for the first time, new magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy methods to monitor intracellular chemistry in intact biological systems, using systems such as bacteria in suspension and perfused organs. This work pioneered the general field of using MR for the study of biological processes in vivo. In the past three decades, his focus has predominantly been the development of ultrahigh field MR methods for human neuroimaging, particularly for imaging brain activity (functional imaging (fMRI)) and connectivity and combining these methodological and instrumentation developments with neuroscience applications in the human and animal brain to advance our understanding of brain function in health and disease.

Dr. Ugurbil's research brings together physics and instrumentation with physiology, neuroscience and neurochemistry to assess cerebral function. fMRI was first achieved simultaneously by two independent teams; one was the team he lead at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR) at the University of Minnesota. This development has been followed by a large body of seminal work from his laboratory on the mechanisms of coupling between magnetic resonance detected signals and neuronal activity, and development of new instrumentation and techniques to exploit this information, leading to the most advanced neuroimaging studies we have today. 
The effort of his group to develop new technologies to advance neuroimaging pioneered the use of ultrahigh field (≥7 Tesla) imaging in humans, particularly (but not only) for pushing the boundaries of mapping brain function and connectivity. 7 Tesla and associated methods developed to overcome the significant challenges faced with imaging the human body at such high magnetic fields currently represent the most advanced platform used for human brain research and are now increasingly used world-wide. This effort also led to the development of instrumentation capable of human imaging above 10 Tesla for the first time (see the article The world’s strongest MRI machines are pushing human imaging to new limits).

Recently, these advances have been extended to mapping the macro-connectome of the human brain under the auspices of the Human Brain Connectome project launched by the NIH Neuroscience Blueprint initiative and continued through Human Connectome Project Lifespan project.

Bio

Dr. Luca Vizioli is an Assistant Professor in the U's Departments of Neurosurgery and the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR). He received his PhD from the Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology at the Center for Cognitive Neuroimaging, University of Glasgow, Scotland. Dr. Vizioli is a seasoned researcher and a reviewer for several scientific journals. He has gained extensive experience in working in ultrahigh-field imaging at CMRR. His main duties revolve around developing basic and transitional fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) research programs, with a keen eye towards intraoperative fMRI.

When he has spare time, Dr. Vizioli enjoys reading, basketball, and music (guitar, drums, piano).

Education

• PhD, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, Center for Cognitive Neuroimaging, University of Glasgow, Scotland
• BA, Psychology and Sociology, Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Postgraduate Certificate in Psychological Studies, University of Glasgow

Research Summary

Dr. Vizioli's main research interests lie in the optimization of submillimeter fMRI, geared towards the non-invasive study of human cortical layers and columns; what can be learned about the human brain by pushing spatial and temporal limits of fMRI; the development and optimization of novel fMRI analytical tools; how top-down modulations shape neural responses to identical stimuli; vision; and face processing. 

Bio

Xiaoping Wu, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), Department of Radiology, at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Wu received his Bachelor of Engineering (2001) and Master of Engineering (2004) degrees in Engineering Physics from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. In 2004, Dr. Wu became a graduate student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota and, in 2005, joined the CMRR to pursue his PhD degree. His thesis work was focused on parallel radiofrequency (RF) transmission for ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging and was conducted under the mentorship of both Kamil Ugurbil, Ph.D. and Pierre-Francois van de Moortele, Ph.D. After receiving his Ph.D degree in 2010, Dr. Wu continued to work at the CMRR as a Postdoctoral Associate (2010-2011), Research Associate (2011-present), and subsequently as an Assistant Professor (2013-present).

Research Summary

Radiofrequency (RF) pulse design, in particular parallel transmission RF pulse design.
Parallel RF transmission for MRI and MRS applications at ultra-high magnetic field.
RF safety in parallel transmission.

Research Summary

My research interests are in developing and applying high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI) for human applications. My work has emphasized pushing the spatial and temporal resolution limits of fMRI using high magnetic fields and MRI pulse sequence developments. With the ability to non-invasively monitor the working human brain with such high degrees of spatial and temporal precision, the aim is to map and understand intrinsic functional architectures and neuronal inter-connections.

Bio

Dr. Xiao-Hong Zhu graduated from Fudan University, Shanghai, China in 1985 with a B.S. degree in Chemistry. She came to US in 1987 and obtained a Ph.D. in Chemistry (Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri-St. Louis) at 1991. After graduation, she received postdoctoral training in Professor Robert G. Shulman's lab (Magnetic Resonance Center, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University) where she started MR related research. Dr. Zhu joined the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR) in 1994 working with Prof. K. Ugurbil, SG Kim and W. Chen in developing and utilizing MR imaging and spectroscopy technologies for basic biomedical research; she has over 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals and became an associate professor (w/o tenure track) in the Department of Radiology in 2003.

Research Summary

To develop and improve the in vivo 17O MRS/I techniques at high/ultra-high fields for non-invasively studying oxygen metabolism in normal and diseased tissues
To develop and establish novel in vivo 31P MRS/I techniques at high/ultra-high fields for quantitatively understanding the energy metabolism and NAD/NADH redox state in health and diseases
To implement and integrate various MR and non-MR methods and apply them to different animal models for studying cerebral hemodynamic, metabolic and energetic responses in animal brains under pathophysiological conditions