Our research studies on health engineering and imaging
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Developing MRI technologies with impactful biomedical application
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Integrating innovative neuromodulation & neuroimaging methods
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Collaborating on interdisciplinary imaging studies
Team
We work together in developing and promoting MRI methods for various applications, ranging from studies of brain disorders, to pulmonary diseases, to assessing the impact of neuromodulation to brain physiology.
Research
Our research program focuses on developing innovative imaging and engineering approaches to effectively address challenges in studies of disorders.
01
Enabling robust MRI biomarkers of neurological disorders
Summary: In order to enable robust MRI biomarkers of neurological disorders, we aim to develop and optimize innovative MRI technologies that concurrently address major bottlenecks (e.g., long scan time of MRI; motion artifact; limited spatial-temporal-resolution) that are inter-connected and inter-dependent. The deliverables (including open-source and vendor-independent implementation of advanced neurological MRI pulse sequences; reconstruction software; motion-insensitive, high-resolution, high-precision MRI) enable robust imaging biomarkers of neurological disorders with significant and broad impact on basic research and clinical use. The developed methods are expected to largely benefit patients from challenging populations (e.g., people with dementia; tremor dominant Parkinson’s patients; children; seriously ill patients).
Funding Source: NIH R01-NS102220 “Development of High-Speed and Quantitative Neuro MRI Technologies for Challenging Patient Populations” (07/01/2018 – 03/31/2025)
02
Collaborative and multi-site neuroimaging studies
Summary: Overall project: The strategic vision of the Precision Aging Network (PAN: funded by NIH U19-AG065169) is to develop the essential scientific knowledge to understand the discrepancy that currently exists between cognitive healthspan and human lifespan. Cognitive Assessment and Neuroimaging Core: The goal of this Core is to provide neurological data with cognitive assessment, MRI, and carotid ultrasound, leading to the identification of key neurological signatures of individual differences in cognitive aging. Nan-kuei Chen and Chidi Ugonna oversee the creation of MRI acquisition protocols, the implementation of data processing pipelines, the orchestration of data annotation and management through the XNAT server, and the incorporation of innovative MRI pulse sequences. Nan-kuei Chen also facilitates communication and collaboration among a diverse cohort of neuroscientists, neurologists, radiologists, physicists, engineers and computer scientists.
Funding Source: NIH U19-AG065169 “Precision Aging Network: Closing the Gap Between Cognitive Healthspan and Human Lifespan” (08/05/2024-07/31/2026)
03
Building integrated systems for neuromodulation and neuroimaging
Summary: This research initiative aims at developing integrated neuromodulation-neuroimaging platforms, capable of mechanistically targeting key physiological processes, and improving brain health. In the first group of studies, we leverage electromagnetic, mechanical, and pharmacological approaches to modulate glymphatic activity of brains. In the second group of studies, a synergistic multi-modal approach will be used to modulate synaptic activity through mechanistically targeting astrocytes, and changes of synaptic activity will then be assessed with in vivo imaging methods (including multi-contrast MRI and PET).
Funding Source: NIH R21 NS137573 “Investigating electromagnetic field-based neuromodulation of slow-wave brain activity and glymphatic system” (08/05/2024-07/31/2026)
04
Improving healthcare delivery using low-field MRI
Summary: This research initiative aims at improving healthcare delivery with low-field MRI system (e.g., 0.5 Tesla: of significantly lower cost and smaller footprint as compared with high-field MRI system). These efforts are expected to benefit various types of MRI studies (e.g., neurological MRI, lung MRI, and abdominal imaging among others). For our funded lung MRI study, the goal is to revolutionize the way MRI is used to detect, monitor, and treat lung diseases. In this project our engineering team will deliver quantitative MRI techniques and computationally efficient image reconstruction algorithms to characterize lung pathologies with high-performance, affordable low-field MRI. We will demonstrate the unparallel advantages of our novel technology for the diagnosis of lung pathologies without exposure to ionizing radiation or invasive lung biopsy procedures.
Funding source: Arizona Department of Health Services “Development of high-performance, low-cost, low-field lung MRI to replace CT and improve care of lung cancer and respiratory illnesses” (04/01/2024-03/31/2027)
Address
1657 E Helen St,
Tucson, AZ 85719