Radiology Research Home Page
The Department of Radiology is actively engaged in research in a number of areas. If you have a research idea, but need assistance with planning or the imaging protocol please click to the following link Radiology Research Collaboration for further directions.
A major departmental research effort is the investigation of clinical applications of magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. The department has a strong program in basic research and development in high field MRI that is focused on developing techniques to assess organ metabolism for clinical applications. We have leading scientists in the field of MR including Dr. Phillip Purdy (Gulf War Syndrome, spinal cord injury, interventional neuroradiology), Dr. Richard Briggs (fMRI, Gulf War Syndrome), Dr. Ron Peshock (cardiology), Dr. Craig Malloy (cardiac MR spectroscopy), Dr. Diane Twickler (Obstetrics). Dr. Orhan Oz is in the field of Bone Biology. Dr. Ralph Mason (Prognostic Radiology, tumor physiology) is the director of a new program of imaging applications on the molecular level of diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
There are currently 35 full-time Ph.D. scientists on the faculty, specializing in such areas as radiological physics, radiation biology, biochemistry, radiochemistry, biomedical engineering, computer science, positron emission tomography (PET) and biomedical magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy.
The department offers both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in radiological sciences through the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering in conjunction with UT Arlington, under the direction of Dr. Peter Antich. These programs maintain active research laboratories investigating numerous topics, including the effects of radiation, computer applications in radionuclide cardiology and positron emission tomography (PET), and the medical applications of new physical concepts and instrumentation. The section includes a well equipped machine shop capable of producing a wide variety of phantoms and other research aids.
The Neuroradiology Division in Radiology has recently established a Neuroimaging Research Laboratory, as part of a collaborative effort with the Division of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine, to form a neuroimaging research program. The goal of this laboratory is to develop and apply the most advanced magnetic resonance (MR) and other neuroimaging technology to further understanding of normal and abnormal brain and spinal cord function.
Directed by Dr. Richard Briggs, the Neuroimaging Research Laboratory features a Siemens Trio 3 Tesla whole-body human MR system, housed in the Algur H. Meadows Diagnostic Imaging Center on the UT Southwestern campus near the General Clinical Research Center. This instrument is used for functional MR imaging (fMRI), MR spectroscopy (MRS), and perfusion/diffusion imaging.