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Wang Lab

Projects

Our research endeavors to advance noninvasive imaging techniques for the quantitative visualization of the underlying pathophysiology in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, we employ multimodal imaging to monitor disease progression, evaluate treatment efficacy, and predict clinical outcomes. Furthermore, we integrate machine learning methodologies into our research to enhance the ability and accuracy of analyzing large-scale and complex datasets.

Imaging Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease

The goal of this project is to develop and establish an advanced diffusion MRI technique that effectively addresses the need for safe, precise, and cost-effective neuroinflammation imaging in AD.

Neuroinflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and links strongly with AD’s neuropathological hallmarks, including amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. We propose to develop and establish an advanced MRI (dMRI) technique, Diffusion Dictionary Imaging (DDI), as a safe, specific endogenous, and cost-effective solution for the neuroinflammation imaging in AD. By tracking the random walk of water molecules using FDA-approved diffusion MRI sequence, DDI measures and specifically extracts the microstructural changes associated with the activation and infiltration of the microglia and astrocyte in AD. This will create an opportunity to advance our understanding of neuroinflammation in AD pathogenesis.

NIH/NIA R01 AG074909-01

Tammie L.S. Benzinger, MD, PhD
Yong Wang, PhD
Richard Perrin, MD, PhD
Suzanne Schindler, MD, PhD

Characterization of Neuroinflammation in Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer Disease

The goal of this project is to develop noninvasive imaging surrogate biomarkers of neuroinflammation and characterize the role of neuroinflammation in autosomal-dominant Alzheimer’s disease.

The Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) represents a large international study of autosomal-dominant Alzheimer’s disease (ADAD). Over the years, the DIAN study has collected rich datasets including fluid biomarker measures, MRI data, PET data, and cognitive assessments, etc. Therefore, the DIAN cohort provides a unique and rich platform for us to study the role of neuroinflammation in AD pathogenesis comprehensively. As a noninvasive and quantitative solution for inflammation imaging, DBSI is capable to provide not only the spatial distribution but also temporal progression of inflammation in AD. Accurate and quantitative markers for neuroinflammation would aid in the mission to “drive research for a cure” in AD.

NIH/NIA R03 AG072375-0

Tammie L.S. Benzinger, MD, PhD
Yong Wang, PhD
Suzanne Schindler, MD, PhD

Imaging Heterogeneity in Human Brain Tumors

The goal of this project is to simultaneously detect and characterize multiple tumor pathologies and capillary blood perfusion using diffusion MRI.

Primary brain tumors are composed of tumor cells, neural/glial tissues, edema, and vasculature tissue. Conventional MRI has a limited ability to evaluate heterogeneous tumor pathologies. We adopted DBSI into a novel, clinically feasible, Heterogeneity Diffusion Imaging (HDI) method to simultaneously detect and characterize multiple tumor pathologies and capillary blood perfusion using a single diffusion MRI scan. We will employ HDI to accurately separate and quantify the tumor cell fraction, the tumor cell packing density, edema, and capillary blood perfusion, which holds great promise to reveal an improved microenvironmental characterization of primary brain tumors. We aim to conduct more extensive studies to establish HDI’s clinical value further and to facilitate biopsy planning, treatment evaluation, and noninvasive tumor grading.

Yong Wang, PhD
Gloria Guzmán Pérez-Carrillo, MD
Jiayi Huang, MD
Tong Zhu, PhD

Primary brain tumors are composed of tumor cells, neural/glial tissues, edema, and vasculature tissue. Conventional MRI has a limited ability to evaluate heterogeneous tumor pathologies. We adopted DBSI into a novel, clinically feasible, Heterogeneity Diffusion Imaging (HDI) method to simultaneously detect and characterize multiple tumor pathologies and capillary blood perfusion using a single diffusion MRI scan. We will employ HDI to accurately separate and quantify the tumor cell fraction, the tumor cell packing density, edema, and capillary blood perfusion, which holds great promise to reveal an improved microenvironmental characterization of primary brain tumors. We aim to conduct more extensive studies to establish HDI’s clinical value further and to facilitate biopsy planning, treatment evaluation, and noninvasive tumor grading.

Our People

The lab, led by Qing Wang, PhD, comprises a diverse and interdisciplinary team dedicated to research in the fields of pathophysiology, disease mechanisms, engineering and imaging science.

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