Abstract: Diffusion MRI is an important imaging tool to non-invasively detect the intra- and extra-cellular motion status of water molecules, and thus reveal the microstructural information of the human brain. However, the current acquisition and encoding techniques of diffusion MRI remain inadequate for accurate brain microstructure mapping. For example, the widely used diffusion MRI acquisition method, single-shot echo planar imaging (ss-EPI), is known to be confronted by a typically low resolution, relatively low SNR, and geometric distortions. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with single/linear diffusion encoding is a commonly used diffusion encoding pattern but lacks sensitivity and specificity for brain microstructure detection. In this presentation, I will first review the basic principles of diffusion MRI. Then I will introduce our recent work on the developments of new diffusion encoding and acquisition techniques and how they affect the measurement of brain microstructures. Finally, I will introduce other work in Dr. Jennifer McNab’s lab for diffusion validation and interpretation, including histology, animal, and patient studies. 

Bio: Dr. Erpeng Dai is currently a postdoctoral research fellow in the Radiological Sciences Laboratory (RSL) at Stanford University, working with Dr. Jennifer McNab. He received his Ph.D. from Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China in 2018. Since his Ph.D. study, Dr. Dai has focused on the development and employment of advanced diffusion acquisition and encoding models for a better understanding of the human brain microstructures. Specifically, Dr. Dai has developed a series of new acquisition techniques for high-resolution and fast diffusion MRI. Recently, Dr. Dai’s research interests further extend to the design and use of new diffusion encoding waveforms to improve the sensitivity and specificity of human brain microstructure mapping. Dr. Dai is keen on leveraging the up-to-date hardware advancement, such as the ultra-high field (7T) and high-performance gradient system, to push the limits of diffusion MRI. He is also actively interacting with a multi-discipline team (radiology, psychology, neurology, and neurosurgery) to apply the advanced diffusion MRI for addressing neuroscientific and clinical problems.

~BME Faculty Host: Dr. Uzay Emir ~

NOTE: Students registered for the seminar are expected to attend in-person.

Zoom link:  https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/7731446991?pwd=RHdkZTVnRkxTM3J3dnRvY1VLWTlYUT09