Radiology research forum is a long-running lecture series held approximately every two weeks at our Center.
The forum rotates among lectures by distinguished visiting researchers, presentations by partners involved in Collaborative Projects with our faculty, and research reports by scientists from the radiology department at NYU Langone Health, which operates our Center.
Many of the lectures comprise the Seminar in Biomedical Imaging (BMSC-GA 4416), part of the Biomedical Imaging and Technology PhD Training Program.
Upcoming and most recent lectures are shown first.
On-site seminars are held on the 4th floor at 660 First Avenue, unless otherwise noted. For seminars held via Webex, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, guests from outside our Center may request an invitation link by reaching out to Rania Assas.
Date: April 17, 2025, at noon
Location: 227 E 30TH ST FL 7 RM 717 and via Zoom
Assistant Professor of Radiology
Co-Director of the Imaging Research Core Case Western Reserve University
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a critical role in diagnosis and staging of various pathologies. Traditional MRI techniques rely on a set of contrast-weighted images, which limit their capability to provide a more comprehensive assessment for clinical diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) is an advanced quantitative MRI method, which can provide rapid and accurate quantification of multiple tissue properties. My research focuses on developing and translating the MRF technique for body imaging. The developed methods have demonstrated superior performance in both repeatability and reproducibility compared to existing quantitative MRI methods. In this presentation, I will introduce recent technical advances in MRF, followed by findings from multiple clinical studies.
Date: April 16, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.
Location: 227 E 30TH ST FL 1 RM 120 and via Zoom
Postdoctoral Researcher
Stanford Unviersity
This presentation explores the growing role of AI in biomedical research, focusing on two innovative advancements. First, GPT-RadPlan, an AI-driven framework, fully automates radiotherapy treatment planning, consistently outperforming traditional methods by leveraging large multimodal language models like GPT-4V. Second, we introduce TextGrad, a framework that optimizes AI agentic systems using natural language feedback from large language models, applicable across various domains, including biomedical research. Together, these tools demonstrate the potential of AI to revolutionize clinical decision-making and advance the field of biomedical research.
Date: April 3, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
Location: 60 5TH AVE RM 150 and via Zoom
Machine Learning Researcher
Calico Life Sciences
There is a regulatory code written in DNA and RNA sequences that controls gene expression and isoform processing. Developing accurate models of this code is crucial for advancing human health – such models allow us to interpret harmful genetic mutations and design improved regulatory sequences. In this talk, I will first give an overview of existing machine learning methods for sequence-based prediction of regulatory functions (transcription, RNA splicing, etc.). I will then present a unified model of gene regulation that directly learns to predict raw RNA expression profiles from DNA sequence alone. In the second part of the talk, I will discuss methods for designing improved regulatory sequences and highlight their potential for molecular therapies. I will conclude by discussing future opportunities and challenges in developing even better models of gene expression..
Date: March 26, 2025, at noon
Location: 227 E 30TH ST FL 1 RM 120 and via Zoom
PhD Candidate
Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
University of California at Berkeley
Acoustic noise is well-acknowledged as a major source of patient discomfort during MRI scans, and quiet scans have been shown to improve exam success rates. In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of quiet DCE-MRI using zero echo-time (ZTE) imaging, which offers a unique combination of high scan efficiency and low acoustic noise. Specifically, we address two main challenges of using ZTE for DCE applications: (1) dominant PD-weighting and (2) poor temporal k-space sampling. To overcome these limitations, we first increase T1-weighting using phase-modulated RF pulses and a corresponding inverse problem-based reconstruction, which enables quiet post-contrast imaging. Next, we improve temporal k-space sampling using Arc-ZTE, a method that continuously slews the gradients to achieve improved k-space coverage with minimal gradient refocusing. Arc-ZTE allows for flexible and quiet dynamic imaging, which we demonstrate by visualizing contrast uptake in a custom-built phantom. Overall, these advancements enable significantly improved patient cooperation and comfort, especially for neonates and young pediatric patients.
Date: March 19, 2025, at noon
Location: 227 E 30TH ST FL 1 RM 120 and via Zoom
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
Binghamton University (State University of New York)
Cortical folding is a fundamental process in human brain development, driven by the complex interplay between mechanical forces, tissue growth, and connectivity establishment. As the cerebral cortex expands significantly in volume and surface area, it undergoes extensive gyrification, which is essential for efficient neural wiring and cognitive function. Disruptions in this process have been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), epilepsy, and schizophrenia, where abnormal folding patterns are often accompanied by structural connectivity impairments. Despite growing evidence linking cortical morphology to brain connectivity, the underlying mechanisms governing this relationship remain largely unknown.
In this talk, I will present our latest findings on the multiscale mechanics of brain growth, folding, and connectivity development. We will explore how mechanical forces shape cortical morphology and contribute to the organization of neural circuits, as well as how deviations from these processes may lead to pathological conditions. Using an integrated approach that combines neuroimaging, multiscale computational modeling, and deep learning techniques, we aim to uncover the fundamental principles governing cortical folding and its role in healthy and disordered brain development. Furthermore, I will discuss our recent insights into the structure-property relationships of brain tissue from the microscale to the macroscale, shedding light on how mechanical properties influence cortical architecture and connectivity. These findings provide a critical foundation for understanding the origins of abnormal development associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Date: March 5, 2025, at noon
Location: 227 E 30TH ST FL 1 RM 120 and via Zoom
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine
Dr. Joshua Siegel’s work has focused on developing precision functional mapping (PFM) and applying it to understand the mechanism of psychoactive drugs. Part 1 will present a recently published study showing that psilocybin, the psychedelic found in magic mushrooms, drives widespread desynchronization of brain activity across spatial scales (local, areal, global). Part 2 will discuss implementation of advanced fMRI and PFM tools at NYU Langone, including some sequence testing and pilot data.
Date: Februrary 19, 2025, at noon
Location: 227 E 30TH ST FL 1 RM 120 and via Zoom
Research Assistant Professor
Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center
The incidence of loneliness has increased over the past several decades worldwide and is particularly common among people with serious mental illnesses. However, this major public health problem has been difficult to address, in part because the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying loneliness are poorly understood. This talk will discuss research on the neurobiological correlates of loneliness and isolation in those with psychotic spectrum disorders using ASL and fMRI techniques alongside peripheral biomarkers in two independent samples.
Date: Februrary 5, 2025, at noon
Location: 227 E 30TH ST FL 1 RM 120 and via Zoom
Staff Scientist, Siemens Healthineers
Collaborations Scientist, NYU Langone Health
This talk will provide an overview of the Free.Max 0.55T scanner that was recently installed at the 22nd Street Gramercy imaging facility. Details of the system with a focus on available hardware and software features will be presented. This will include information on product pulse sequences and supported WIP packages along with examples of various imaging applications.
Date: January 22, 2025, at noon
Location: 227 E 30TH ST FL 1 RM 120 and via Zoom
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Radiology
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Hepatic encephalopathy is a severe complication of chronic or acute liver disease causing toxin accumulation in the brain, but its structural and neurometabolic consequences are still poorly understood. Following a general introduction about MR spectroscopy (MRS) and the current clinical trends of the field, I will present the two main results of my PhD work. In a rat model of hepatic encephalopathy, we measured: (1) altered cerebellar microstructure using diffusion-weighted MRS and diffusion MRI and (2) down-regulated glucose metabolism using FDG-PET and downfield 1H MRS at 14.1 T. Methodological developments regarding MR sequence design and PET quantification that enabled these findings will be described alongside. Finally, our first implementation of diffusion MRS at CBI will be presented, comparing the “stick compartment” in human brain as derived from diffusion MRS and diffusion MRI.
Researchers at the Center for Biomedical Imaging at NYU Langone Health develop transformative imaging technologies to advance basic science and address unsolved clinical problems.
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