Translational neuroimaging group
MRI, neuroimaging, cerebrovascular diseases
Research aim
To develop and apply advanced MRI methods for (pre)clinical research on neuronal and cerebrovascular biology in order to: 1) unravel critical aspects of brain impairment and recovery 2) advance brain treatments (focus: cerebrovascular diseases).
About us
We are a multidisciplinary group including physicists, engineers, (bio)technicians, neuroscientists and medical trainees. We aim to enable detailed characterization of neuronal and vascular (dys)function in the brain and to assess promising treatments for cerebrovascular diseases. We focus on developing MRI technology, which encompasses hardware, data acquisition and analysis methods, and biophysical and computational modeling. We integrate MRI with other methods and measures such as MR spectroscopy, optical imaging, ultrasound, electrocorticography, neurostimulation and behavioral testing. Our translational research stretches from basic science to clinical trials and is embedded in the strategic research programs Brain and Circulatory Health of the UMCU, with many connections to various scientists and clinicians. We strongly collaborate with several labs and participate in various consortia in the Netherlands (e.g. Dutch high-field MRI sites, Dutch preclinical imaging centers (AMICE), Netherlands Experimental Stroke Alliance (NESA), national stroke consortium (CONTRAST)), Europe, Asia and the USA.
Facilities: clinical 3T & 7T MRI for human studies and a dedicated hardware lab for advanced coil development. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electromyography (EMG) equipment is available for non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic brain stimulation studies. Besides, we have 2 pre-clinical MR systems (9.4T & 7T) and rooms for experimental microsurgery.