Steering Committee

Gary H. Glover, PhD

Professor, Department of Radiology

By courtesy, Departments of Psychology and Electrical Engineering

Director, Lucas Service Center

Current Interests

My research interests encompass the physics and mathematics of imaging with Magnetic Resonance. Presently my research is directed in part towards exploration of rapid MRI scanning methods using spiral and other non-Cartesian k-space trajectories for dynamic imaging of function. Using spiral techniques, we have developed MRI pulse sequences and processing methods for mapping cortical brain function by imaging the metabolic response to various stimuli, with applications in the basic neurosciences as well as for clinical applications. These methods develop differential image contrast from hemodynamically driven increases in oxygen content in the vascular bed of activated cortex, using pulse sequences sensitive to the paramagnetic behavior of deoxyhemoglobin or to the blood flow changes. Other applications include imaging of contrast uptake in the breast.

gary.glover@stanford.edu

Office: (650)723-7577 I Cell: (650)302-6902

Garry Gold, MD

Professor, Department of Radiology

By courtesy, Departments of Bioengineering and Orthopedic Surgery

Chair, Department of Radiology

Current Interests

My primary focus is application of new MR imaging technology to musculoskeletal problems. Current projects include: Rapid MRI for Osteoarthritis, Weight-bearing cartilage imaging with MRI, and MRI-based models of muscle. We are studing the application of new MR imaging techniques such as rapid imaging, real-time imaging, and short echo time imaging to learn more about biomechanics and pathology of bones and joints.

gold@stanford.edu

Kim Butts Pauly, PhD

Professor, Department of Radiology

By courtesy, Departments of Bioengineering and Electrical Engineering

Division Chief, Radiological Sciences Laboratory

Current Interests

We are investigating the use of focused ultrasound for neuromodulation of the brain for direct stimulation and inhibition of the brain for preclinical mapping of brain function, reduction of epileptic seizures, and for general study of the brain. We are using focused ultrasound to open the blood brain barrier in order to enhance drug delivery to cancers of the brain. We are also using focused ultrasound to thermally ablate tissue for movement disorders such as essential tremor, as well as for cancers in the body. In addition to the basic science study of neuromodulation and cancer treatment, we are also engineering key MRI methods that enable monitoring these interventions, include MR thermometry, MR-acoustic radiation force imaging, and phase aberration correction using a combined approach of simulation and ultrashort echo time MRI imaging of bone.

kbpauly@stanford.edu

Brian A. Hargreaves, PhD

Professor, Department of Radiology

Current Interests

Current interests include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications including cardiovascular, abdominal, breast and musculoskeletal imaging. These applications require development of faster and more efficient MRI methods that provide improved diagnostic contrast compared with current methods. His work includes novel excitation schemes, efficient imaging methods and reconstruction tools.

bah@stanford.edu

Michael Moseley, PhD

Professor, Department of Radiology

Current Interests

My interests involve research and diagnosis of disease states using new techniques of magnetic resonance (MR) in research and clinical. Water diffusion-sensitive MR imaging of the brain and other tissues. Mapping brain water diffusion has revolutionized our knowledge of the onset and evolution of cerebral stroke, making the MR scanner a potential "operating room" of choice for early and effective treatment of stroke and vascular disease. Because these diffusion and blood flow maps can be rapidly acquired, rapid identification of tissues that are in need of thrombolytic therapy or cytotoxic protection in the first critical hours following stroke or during surgery can be made. This non-invasive mapping of water motion and diffusion represents a new field of imaging and has created a breakthrough in assessment and treatment in stroke.

moseley@stanford.edu

Jessie Leong

Lucas Center Division Manager

Jessie Leong is the MRI Division Manager. Researchers who are interested in becoming users at the facility should contact her regarding scan rates, service contracts (external users) and billing info.

jesleong@stanford.edu

Office: (650) 497-6820

Karla E. Epperson, R.T.(MR)(ARMRIT)

Manager, MR Whole Body Systems

Karla E. Epperson is the Manager of the MR Whole Body Systems at the Lucas Center. Researchers who are interested in becoming users at the facility should contact her regarding access to all Lucas MRI scanners, IRB Human Subjects Protocols, MR scan parameters and RF coils, and technical support.

karlae@stanford.edu

Cell: (650)521-7836

Allan L. Reiss, MD

Howard C. Robbins Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Professor of Radiology

Current Interests

Allan L. Reiss, M.D. is the Howard C. Robbins Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR) at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Reiss uses advanced research methods and tools such as multi-modal neuroimaging, genetic analyses and neurobehavioral assessment to focus on neurodevelopmental and neurogenetic disorders of childhood onset. In particular, he studies how genetic and environmental factors affect brain structure and function, and how this ultimately impacts the development and function of persons with these disorders. Dr. Reiss has worked extensively with individuals affected by neurogenetic and medical disorders that increase risk for serious cognitive and behavioral dysfunction including fragile X syndrome, sex chromosome variation (e.g., Turner and Klinefelter syndromes), Williams syndrome, 22q deletion syndrome, type 1 diabetes and preterm birth. A particularly important focus of this work is identifying gene-environment-brain-behavior interactions that have relevance to the development of more specific and effective interventions.

Vinod Menon, MD

Rachel L. & Walter F. Nichols Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

By courtesy, Department of Neurology

Current Interests

Dr. Menon’s lab uses advanced imaging and computational techniques to investigate the functional and structural architecture of cognitive networks in the human brain. His lab also investigates how disruptions in specific brain circuits impact behavior, cognition, emotion and learning in individuals with neurodevelopmental, psychiatric and neurological disorders. 

Current projects include: (1) typical and atypical development of large-scale brain networks; (2) disruption of large-scale brain networks in psychopathology; (3) cognitive, affective, and social information processing systems in children with autism; (4) neural basis of learning disabilities in children; (5) brain training and interventions to remediate poor cognitive skills in children with learning disabilities; (6) computational methods for probing dynamic functional circuits; (7) computational modeling of large-scale functional and structural brain networks.

Sean Mackey, MD, PhD

Redlich Professor, Department of Anesthesiology

By courtesy, Department of Neurology

Current Interests

Functional neuroimaging of pain. Imaging of cognitive and affective dimensions of pain, neural plasticity contributing to chronic pain and effects of treatment. Effects of membrane stabilizing medications on neuropathic pain. Chronic pain outcomes tools development and measurement.

Under Dr. Mackey’s leadership, researchers at the Stanford Pain Management Center and the Stanford Systems Neuroscience and Pain Laboratory (SNAPL) have made major advances in the understanding of chronic pain as a disease in its own right, one that fundamentally alters the nervous system. Dr. Mackey has overseen efforts to map the specific brain and spinal cord regions that perceive and process pain, which has led to the development of a multidisciplinary treatment model that translates basic science research into innovative therapies to provide more effective, personalized treatments for patients with chronic pain.

Kathleen Poston, MD, MS

Associate Professor, Department of Neurology

By courtesy, Department of Neurosurgery

Current Interests

Dr. Poston's research interests include the development, validation and application of functional and structural neuroimaging as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of movement disorders. Specifically, her research focuses on using FDG PET and fMRI to understand abnormal brain networks that lead to both motor and cognitive dysfunction in patients with parkinsonism. She is also interested in the development of novel imaging analysis techniques for establishing diagnosis and monitoring disease progression in early parkinsonian disorders, such as Parkinson s disease, multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration. Such techniques can be used in the development and testing of novel therapeutic interventions, such as gene transfer therapy in Parkinson s disease.