This research will focus on developing advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic sensing techniques. Research topics include 1) imaging radiation propagation and absorption in tissue mimics, 2) characterizing novel nanomagnetic contrast agents using NIST NMR/MRI, 3) combining low-field MRI with neural sensing using low field atomic magnetometers, 4) developing and testing advanced magnetic sensors in the NIST Magnetic Metrology and Sensor Facility, and 5) developing benchtop microMRI systems with novel point-of-use hyperpolarization.  The radiation imaging will explore imaging microwave, Xray, and ultrasonic radiation in the NIST MRI systems. The contrast agent work will involve cleanroom fabrication of functional nano-agents based on spintronics concepts and characterizing them in the NIST variable field microMRI imager. The low field imaging/sensing work involves setting up atomic magnetometer neural sensing systems with associated AI analysis and then working to integrate with a low field MRI system for spinal imaging.  The hyperpolarized microMRI work will focus on developing benchtop imaging systems for biopsies and organoid growth.  The primary focus will be on optimizing the integrated hyperpolarizer, gradient system, FPGA based imaging console, and bioreactor functionality.

References

1. Stephen E. Ogier et al.Imaging cell phone radiation in tissue mimics with hyperpolarized low-field MRI.Sci. Adv.12,eaea0223(2026).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.aea0223
2. Oberdick SD, Russek SE, Poorman ME, Zabow G. Observation of iron oxide nanoparticle synthesis in magnetogels using magnetic resonance imaging. Soft Matter. 2020;16(45):10244-51. doi: 10.1039/D0SM01566K.
3. Yin X, Russek SE, Zabow G, Sun F, Mohapatra J, Keenan KE, Boss MA, Zeng H, Liu JP, Viert A, Liou S-H, Moreland J. Large T1 contrast enhancement using superparamagnetic nanoparticles in ultra-low field MRI. Scientific reports. 2018;8(1):11863. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-30264-5.

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