Overview of Research

The Department of Radiology is pursuing cutting-edge medical imaging research in a number of areas. The research is organized within the department in the Division of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering with  Michael King, PhD , as Vice-Chairman and  Ajay Wakhloo, MD, PhD , as Director of Clinical Research. Support personnel include Ms. Ruth Logan who is the Administrative Assistant and Ms. Kim Serra who is the Financial Assistant.

Research Groups

  1. Computerized Tomography / Mammography lead by  Stephen Glick, PhD  
  2. Interventional Neuroradiology lead by  Ajay Wakhloo, MD, PhD  
  3. Molecular Imaging lead by Alexei Bogdanov, PhD
  4. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Physics which is currently under recruitment
  5. Nuclear Medicine Physics lead by  Michael King, PhD  
  6. Nuclear Medicine Radiochemistry lead by Donald Hnatowich, PhD
  7. Radiological Physics lead by John Copeland, PhD
  8. Ultrasound Physics lead by Joyoni Dey, PhD

Human Imaging Research Center

With the opening of the new 7,520 sq ft Imaging Research  CORE Facility on A-level in early 2006, the Department of Radiology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School will have state-of-the-art technology to support translational research. The facility is designed for both animal and human volunteer imaging research. Housed within it will be a 3T clinically capable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (Achieva Quasar System, Philips Medical Systems) with supporting equipment room, electronics laboratory, patient reception, waiting, and care areas. There will also be a flat-panel interventional angiography unit (Allura XPER FD20, Philips Medical Systems) with adjacent chemistry & hemodynamics laboratories, microscopy room, lockers, and surgical preparation area. The MRI and angiography units are installed co-linearly and separated by a doorway allowing for unique multimodality imaging and interventions. Finally there is a small animal imaging room that will house an optical scanning system (Xenogen IVIS) and nuclear medicine imaging system capable of planar, single photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT), and high resolution SPECT imaging employing multi-pinhole collimators (Prism300 from Philips Medical Systems). There will be adjacent office space for faculty, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and technologists.

Additional Facilities

  1. Medical Physics Group with expertise in SPECT, positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), ultrasound (US), and image reconstruction
  2. Radiochemistry Group with expertise in radiolabeling molecular imaging agents
  3. Molecular Imaging Group with expertise in developing optical and MRI contrast agents
  4. Neuro-interventional Group with expertise in the development of new intravascular devices and procedures.

This adds to the approximately 7,500 sq ft existing research facilities of the department which house the medical physics, radiochemistry, and molecular imaging research groups.