I am interested in new imaging methods based on x rays, magnetic resonance, and ultrasound.  I am also interested in the clinical application of medical physics.

Current projects include phase contrast tomosynthesis, where x-ray phase contrast effects are combined with digital tomosynthesis to provide improved visualization of soft tissues, and the study of coherent scatter computed tomography, where the coherently scattered x rays are used to improve soft-tissue visualization in a cross-sectional imaging (CT) system.  Coherent scatter CT is at the stage of Monte Carlo simulation of such a system.  Both of these projects are part of a collaborative group effort.

My interests have been in cardiopulmonary imaging using MRI, CT, and radionuclide techniques.  My current responsibilities center primarily on external relations " corporate and international " for the School of Engineering.

Currently, I serve as Associate Dean of the School of Engineering and am responsible for external relations both corporate and international. I am VUSE"s liaison to the Career Center and interact with employers recruiting VU students. A number of prominent corporate leaders serve on the VUSE Committee of Visitors, a group I coordinate. Internationally, I assist with the development of global relations for research and academic study and also facilitate study abroad for VUSE students. I enjoy teaching courses in systems physiology and imaging including clinical translational imaging.

I work for Philips Healthcare and provide technical support for the Human Imaging Core for their 7.0T Machine as well as their 3.0T Machines. I started here in 2006 as part of the collaboration project between Philips and Vanderbilt. I am part of the Customer Experience Team for the Business Information Unit (BIU) and provide level 3 support for all of North America MRI.

My research is focused at the detection, diagnosis, characterization, and treatment of disease through the integration of computational models into research and clinical practice.

Projects include the use of soft-tissue biomechanical computer models in conjunction with intraoperative data to compensate for deformation during image-guided brain, liver, and kidney surgery. The investigation of mechanical properties as biomarkers for cancer, and as an assessment tool for bone fracture healing. Other interests include radiofrequency ablation therapy and tumor growth models

I am interested in biomedical Image and signal processing, combined with different machine learning techniques to aid in clinical diagnosis and treatment procedures of various diseases.

At VUIIS, I am trying to analyze the intrinsic functional connectivity of the spinal cord of non-human primates, using the Local field Potential signal . In particular, I am trying to do data-driven analysis for analyzing the intrinsic functional connectivity of the spinal cord. Also, in another project I am involved in applying machine learning methods to differentiate between different stages of Alzeihmer's using White matter resting state connectivity obtained using fMRI.

My research interests include spatio-temporal modeling, multiple testing problems,  and their applications to imaging data, in particular, fMRI images.  I am also interested in multi-modal imaging data analysis, e.g., fMRI and DTI.

My current research focuses on investigating the effect of insulin detemir on longitudinal changes in reward circuitry and resting-state functional connectivity of the brain by using spatio-temporal models and the Likelihood Paradigm which is known to better control Type I and II error rates.

Having worked in the area of light-tissue interactions for over 20 years, my laboratory is interested in the development and application of lasers and optical technologies to solve problems in medicine and biology. Our efforts cover a range of activities from using lasers as therapeutic modalities, developing and applying novel optical imaging technologies and using optical spectroscopy for sensing and diagnosis.

The primary focus areas of my laboratory are include: 1) research focused on development and application of optical imaging technologies, in particular bioluminescence imaging; 2) fundamental studies of tissue optics and light-tissue interactions (especially ultrashort pulse tissue ablation); and 3) the development of optical neural interfaces. In particular the latter, currently the main focus in the lab, includes the development of novel ways to use light to exchange information with the neural system. This encompasses device development, studying the underlying neurobiological mechanisms, development of optically-based prosthetic devices and translating this technology to the clinic.

Large-scale Medical Image Analyses, Machine Learning, Image Processing

(1) Whole brain segmentation and surface reconstruction, (2) AbdominaL organ segmentation, (3) Lung cancer detection, (4) Heart segmentation and CAC detection, (5) Traumatic brain injury.

I am interested in studying the neural basis of psychotic disorders, specifically the early stages of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and related illnesses.

My current research project include
1) Hippocampal structure and function in psychotic disorders
2) Relational memory in psychosis