Research

Our laboratory is devoted to the development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) methods for integrative understanding of several prevalent diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and heart diseases. These diseases share a common underlying cause – metabolic dysfunction. We aim to develop state-of-the-art MRI and MRSI methods for noninvasive characterization of various aspects of tissue metabolism, from substrate delivery to oxygen utilization. Some of these technologies hold the potential for early detection of metabolic dysfunction. We also collaborate with investigators in basic science research to apply these technologies to laboratory animal models, including genetically engineered mouse models, for better understanding of the mechanisms leading to abnormal metabolism, and the response to therapeutic interventions.

Research Interests

  • Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy
  • In vivo metabolic imaging in diabetes and stroke
  • Neurofluids transport in stroke
  • Magnetic resonance fingerprinting in pre-clinical studies

Publications:

  • Gu Y, Pan Y, Fang Z, Ma L, Zhu Y, Androjna C, Zhong K, Yu X, Shen D. Deep learning-assisted preclinical MR fingerprinting for sub-millimeter T1 and T2 mapping of entire macaque brain. Magn Reson Med. 2023 Nov 6. doi: 10.1002/mrm.29905. Epub ahead of print.
  • Zhu Y, Wang G, Kolluru C, Gu Y, Gao H, Zhang J, Wang Y, Wilson DL, Zhu X, Flask CA, Yu X. Transport Pathways and Kinetics of Cerebrospinal Fluid Tracers in Mouse Brain Observed by Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI. Sci Rep. 2023 Aug 24;13(1):13882.
  • Gu Y, Wang L, Yang H, Wu Y, Kim K, Zhu Y, Androjna C, Zhu X, Chen Y, Zhong K, Yu X. Three-dimensional high-resolution T1 and T2 mapping of whole macaque brain at 9.4 T using magnetic resonance fingerprinting. Magn Reson Med. 2022 Jun;87(6):2901-2913.
  • Gu Y, Gao H, Kim K, Liu Y, Ramos-Estebanez C, Luo Y, Wang Y, Yu X. Dynamic oxygen-17 MRI with adaptive temporal resolution using golden-means-based 3D radial sampling. Magn Reson Med. 2021 Jun;85(6):3112-3124.
  • Kim K, Gu Y, Wang CY, Clifford B, Huang S, Liang ZP, Yu X. Quantification of creatine kinase reaction rate in mouse hindlimb using phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopic fingerprinting. NMR Biomed. 2021 Feb;34(2):e4435.
  • Clifford B, Gu Y, Liu Y, Kim K, Huang S, Li Y, Lam F, Liang ZP, Yu X. High-Resolution Dynamic 31P-MR Spectroscopic Imaging for Mapping Mitochondrial Function. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2020 Oct;67(10):2745-2753.
  • Zhang Y, Xu K, Liu Y, Erokwu BO, Zhao P, Flask CA, Ramos-Estebanez C, Farr GW, LaManna JC, Boron WF, Yu X. Increased cerebral vascularization and decreased water exchange across the blood-brain barrier in aquaporin-4 knockout mice. PLoS One. 2019 Jun 20;14(6):e0218415.
  • Gu Y, Wang CY, Anderson CE, Liu Y, Hu H, Johansen ML, Ma D, Jiang Y, Ramos-Estebanez C, Brady-Kalnay S, Griswold MA, Flask CA, Yu X. Fast magnetic resonance fingerprinting for dynamic contrast-enhanced studies in mice. Magn Reson Med. 2018 Dec;80(6):2681-2690.
  • Wang CY, Liu Y, Huang S, Griswold MA, Seiberlich N, Yu X. 31 P magnetic resonance fingerprinting for rapid quantification of creatine kinase reaction rate in vivo. NMR Biomed. 2017 Dec;30(12):10.1002/nbm.3786.

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