Areas of Research

Chief of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Imaging in the Department of Radiology

Assistant Professor of Radiology (Cardiovascular and Thoracic Imaging) 

Bio

My research and clinical interests include medical imaging, cardiovascular disease diagnosis and treatment, lung cancer, fluid mechanics, and computer science. As a cardiothoracic radiologist, I am interested in applying advanced imaging techniques, primarily cardiovascular and pulmonary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in diseases, cohorts, and clinical scenarios where these techniques have not been previously applied. For further details and images, visit the Northwestern CVMRI Group page.

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Associate Professor of Radiology (Basic and Translational Radiology Research)

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Assistant Professor of Radiology

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Research Assistant Professor of Radiology (Basic and Translational Radiology Research)

Bio

My research focuses on applications of MR perfusion methods such as arterial spin labeling (ASL) or dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) imaging. Some of my projects include using ASL to study brain changes after sports-related concussion, treatment-related recovery in aphasia patients and single dose DSC-DCE.

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Assistant Professor of Radiology (Neurointerventional Radiology)

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For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Assistant Professor of Radiology (Basic and Translational Radiology Research)

Bio

My expertise intersects between computer science, medical imaging and applied fluid dynamics. I have 12+ years of experience in medical image analysis research and development in both academia and industry. Recently, I have been focusing my research on cardiovascular hemodynamics, where I employ my technical background in medical image analysis, cardiovascular 4D flow MRI and fluid dynamics to develop methods to improve diagnosis and treatment of heart disease using the state-of-the-art 4D Flow MRI technology. In particular,I have developed methods to utilize 4D Flow MRI for advanced visualization and quantification of 3D time-resolved intra-cardiac blood flow patterns and energetics. For further details, visit my lab's website or the Northwestern CVMRI Group page.

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Assistant Professor of McCormick School of Engineering, Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences and Radiology (Basic and Translational Radiology Research)

Bio

I am an engineer and scientist with expertise in the application of computational electromagnetic techniques for the safety assessment of medical imaging and therapeutic devices. My work currently focuses on application of computational modeling to guide hardware design, safety assessments, and the optimization of imaging protocols for MRI scans in patients with conductive implants.

For more information on my research, please view my McCormick School of Engineering or my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profiles.

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Research Assistant Professor of Radiology

Bio

My areas of research are Aging, Arrhythmia, Cardiovascular diseases, Cardiovascular imaging, Clinical research, Heart disease, Heart failure, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Quantitative MRI, Radiology, X-ray, CAT scan, Medical imaging.

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Research Assistant Professor of Radiology

Bio

I am an imaging scientist specializing in the development of workflows for blood flow analysis, including hemodynamic parameter mapping and vessel stiffness assessment using pulse wave velocity. My research focuses on understanding heart-brain connections, aiming to help inform treatment and prevention strategies for age-related diseases, particularly in cardiovascular and cognitive health.

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Research Assistant Professor of Radiology

Bio

With a mechanical engineering Ph.D. background, my expertise lies in flow imaging and analysis for experimental fluid dynamics investigation. My key research interest is developing a multimodality quantitative cardiovascular flow assessment technique to understand cardiovascular fluid dynamics better and improve the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. My current work focuses on combining 4D flow MRI, echocardiography, and in-vitro flow modeling to understand valvular heart diseases better.

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Knight Family Professor of Cardiac Imaging

Professor of Radiology (Basic and Translational Radiology Research) and McCormick School of Engineering

Bio

I am the Director of CV Imaging at the Center for Translational Imaging. My research focuses on development of rapid MRI acquisition and reconstruction methods to address unmet needs in cardiovascular medicine. Our lab focuses on breaking new grounds in cardiovascular MRI by developing innovative pulse sequences and reconstruction methods to address unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular medicine. Building upon active collaboration with radiology and cardiology colleagues, our research activities span from imaging technology development to clinical translation in cardiovascular medicine.

Currently, ongoing projects include:

1. Role of diffuse LV fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation
2. Real-time CMR for diagnosing CAD
3. Rapid pediatric CMR without requiring contrast agent or anesthesia
4. Advanced CMR assessment of left atrial hemodynamic disorders in atrial fibrillation
5. Wideband CMR for predicting pre-implant right heart failure in LVAD candidates
6. Wideband CMR for imaging patients with ICDs

For details and images, visit the Northwestern CVMRI Group page.

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Image-guided medicine is rapidly growing to improve treatment regimens and advancing medical imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), radiography, ultrasound, positron emission tomography (PET), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). A combination of modern nanoplatforms with high performance in imaging and therapeutics may be critical to improve medical outcomes.

One of emerging fields is image-guided therapy using various nanoparticles. Therapies include basic bench, preclinical in vitro/in vivo and clinical researches combining synthesis of multifunctional nanoparticle and tracking/navigation tools to improve accuracy and outcomes of the therapeutics. Most of the emerging interventional technique such as heat-activated targeted drug delivery, image guided ablation (microwave or HIFU), percutaneous injection gene/bacteria therapy, transcatheter treatments for tumor specific local therapy, serial biopsy, thrombolytic therapy, and so on, can be combined with nanotechnology in clinic.

My research engages in careful design/selection/synthesis of multifunctional imaging/therapeutic nanomaterials with therapeutic agents will be critical for the translational optimization these new image guided medicine techniques. The DHKIM Lab for Biomaterials​ of Image Guided NanoMedicine has focused on developing various therapeutic/imaging carriers for the treatment of various cancers. Micro/Nanoparticles and their hybrid derivatives have been exploited as vectors for drug/therapeutic delivery and molecular imaging agents of MRI, CT, ultrasound and luminescent/fluorescents. We are working closely with clinicians, medical scientists, biologist and imaging professionals to translate new therapeutic approaches using multifunctional carriers and diagnostic imaging technique to the clinical setting.

Lab Manager: Xiaoke Huang

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Research Associate Professor of Radiology (Basic and Translational Radiology Research)

Bio

The INMRI research group founded by Dr. Leaver at Northwestern conducts precision neuroimaging research to understand and improve electrical neuromodulation therapies. Our studies encompass several topics spanning mental health and depression, chronic idiopathic tinnitus, noninvasive electrical neuromodulation technologies, and best practices in applied connectomics. Details about my projects can be found on the Leaver Lab website.

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Research Associate Professor of Radiology

Bio

For more information, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Research Assistant Professor of Radiology

Bio

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Research Associate Professor of Radiology (Basic and Translational Radiology Research)

Bio

I have a broad background in quantitative cardiovascular imaging, with specific training and expertise in coronary artery MRI. My research is focusing of identify subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients suffering type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In addition, I am also interested in evaluating regional myocardial changes in patients with various clinical or subclinical cardiovascular diseases. Recently, I am developing research projects for evaluating cardiovascular responses in treating cancers, immunological and neurodegenerative disorders, such as breast cancer, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD).​ For details and images, visit the Northwestern CVMRI Group page.

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Vice Chair for Research, Department of Radiology

Lester B. and Frances T. Knight Professor of Cardiac Imaging

Professor of Radiology (Basic and Translational Radiology Research)/McCormick School of Engineering

Bio

I am currently the Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Radiology. I have established a strong interdisciplinary research consortium. My research has had a major impact on the diagnosis and management of heart disease and stroke including 1) development of novel imaging techniques for the assessment of cardiac structure, function and hemodynamics, and 2) discovery of mechanisms underlying cardiovascular diseases development and cryptogenic stroke (aortic hemodynamics as a mechanism in the development of BAV aortopathy; retrograde embolization from aortic plaques and left atrial flow dynamics in atrial fibrillation as risk factors for stroke). I am internationally recognized as the pioneer of 4D flow MRI and work in this area has advanced the understanding of cardiovascular disease processes as well as enhanced patient care. I have created a highly successful and inseminating training environment in MRI technique development and translational imaging research. For details and images, visit the Northwestern CVMRI Group page.

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Professor of Radiology (Basic and Translational Radiology Research), McCormick School of Engineering and Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences

Bio

I have a strong expertise in image processing and neuroimaging with a special emphasis on MR based methods. My group and I have been successful in using advanced neuroimaging methods to demonstrate changes in BOLD, diffusion, perfusion, magnetization transfer and structural measures associated with function, memory and learning in the brain as well as movement, sensory, and pain in the spinal cord. I have a long history of methods development and application of neuroimaging methods to pathologic and clinical conditions. My current interests are developing novel methodologies to explore brain physiology to generate new imaging techniques to study the brain. These areas include neurovascular physiology, perfusion/permeability in tissue, multimodal imaging and image analysis, mechanisms of spinal cord structure and function, the use of infrared thermometry for intraoperative functional mapping in awake surgery, and application of machine learning to medical images. I have extensive experience conducting multi-center neuroimaging studies and understand the issues well.​ For details and images, visit the Parrish Neuroimaging Laboratory.

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Research Professor of Radiology (Basic and Translational Radiology Research)

Bio

My research projects focuses on preclinical Molecular Imaging using MRI, PET and CT.

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Research Professor of Radiology (Basic and Translational Radiology Research)

Bio

My research projects include Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging strategies for in vivo measurement of the brain to investigate effects of aging and of viruses, particularly HIV infection. Brain network analysis to investigate effects of aging and for early detection of neural injury. Collaborative projects involve applications of 4D flow imaging to investigate alterations in cerebral blood flow and relation to brain status. For details and images, visit the Northwestern CVMRI Group page.

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Research Associate Professor of Radiology (Basic and Translational Radiology Research)

Bio

My scientific interests overlap in the areas of biomaterials, anticancer drug development, quantitative imaging and therapeutic response assessment. With a background in molecular physics and informatics, I strive to apply concepts from one field to questions in another. I am also the manager of the Quantitative Imaging Core Laboratory (QICL) at Northwestern University - Feinberg School of Medicine.

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.

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Associate Professor of Radiology (Basic and Translational Radiology Research)

Bio

Dr. Yan is a tenured Associate Professor of Radiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Before she joined Northwestern University in 2022, she was a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California. Dr. Yan directs the Laboratory for Neurovascular Imaging Technology and Translation (NITT) at Department of Radiology. The research of her group focuses on developing novel MRI techniques for cerebral vascular and perfusion imaging (e.g., arterial spin labeling). Her research expertise includes MRI pulse sequence development, fast image acquisition and reconstruction, image processing, etc. Over the last decade, Dr. Yan and her team have developed several cutting-edged MRI techniques, including non-contrast enhanced time-resolved rapid 4-dimensional MR angiography, cerebrovascular territory mapping, cerebral arterial compliance and pulsatility, concurrent BOLD/ASL, etc.

Dr. Yan is also interested in translating novel MRI technology into a variety of clinical applications, such as cerebrovascular disease (stroke, intracranial atherosclerosis, arteriovenous malformation, moyamoya disease) and neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, aging). The mission of Dr. Yan’s research program is to develop non-invasive diagnostic MR imaging tools for cerebrovascular diseases and new imaging biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases.

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Associate Professor of Radiology

Bio

Dr. Zhou received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Yale University with the highest PhD honor of the Harding Bliss Prize. He also holds a Master's in Computer Vision from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master's in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. His research mainly focuses on AI for multi-modal medical imaging, especially in PET, SPECT, MRI, and CT.

His areas of research are Radiology; Radiology, X-ray, CAT Scan, Medical Imaging; Radionuclide Imaging; Cardiovascular Imaging; Medical Informatics; Bioinformatics; Big Data; Quantitative MRI; Radiation Oncology; Preventive Medicine; Pathology; Oncology; Translational Research

Profile, Grants, & Publications

For more information on my research, please view my Feinberg School of Medicine faculty profile.