Biomedical Technology Research Center

This Research Resource is based in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging of the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) at the Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIND) of the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center (SFVAMC).

The overall goal of this program is to develop, optimize, and implement innovative and improved MRI techniques for the diagnosis, early detection, treatment monitoring, and investigation of neurodegenerative diseases. These improved techniques will be made available to the scientific community.

We are focused on developing improved MR techniques which provide increased signal and contrast to noise and resolution per unit scan time, reduced susceptibility and motion artifacts, in order to obtain improved sensitivity to detect disease, in the following areas:

  1. MRI/MRS acquisition techniques including high resolution structural imaging, arterial spin-labeling perfusion imaging, diffusion spectrum imaging, spectroscopic imaging, and optimized radio frequency (RF) pulses
  2. Elimination of MR artifacts, especially those associated with high magnetic fields
  3. Improved reconstruction methods which break-out of the constraints of Fourier transform to accomplish improved spatial resolution, and reduced acquisition time
  4. Image processing of MRI/MRS data acquired at high field.