Fall 2004 Bioengineering Seminar Series
Thursdays, 12:00 p.m., 2240 Digital Computer Lab
(unless otherwise noted)

Edward Hsu, Ph.D.

"MR Diffusion Tensor Imaging: Bridging Between Tissue Structure and Function"

Abstract:
Functional properties of tissues such as their biomechanical and electrophysiological behaviors are largely mediated by the geometry and organization of the underlying microstructure. Exploiting the sensitivity of diffusion of water on its microscopic environment, magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MR-DTI) is a promising noninvasive or nondestructive means for assessing the structures of ordered tissues such as the brain white matter, myocardium, cartilage and engineered tissues. Direct histological validation studies have revealed a strong correlation between the local tissue fiber orientation and the direction of fastest water diffusion detected by MR-DTI. Despite the challenges of low signal and long scan time, methodological advances have pushed the practical spatial resolution of MR-DTI to 100 µm isotropically or better. Biomedical applications of the technique include “morphologically-accurate” computational studies of tissue functions, quantitative monitoring of tissue remodeling induced by injury and surgical repair, and image-based structural and functional “phenotyping” of genetically engineered small animals. Together, these studies demonstrate an emerging role of MR-DTI in elucidating the structure-function relationships of tissues.

Dr. Edward Hsu received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1996, and joined the Center for In Vivo Microscopy (CIVM) at Duke University for postdoctoral training. While maintaining a research core director position at CIVM, he received a primary faculty appointment from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Duke in 1999. His research interests include high-resolution and quantitative magnetic resonance imaging and biophysical modeling, and their applications in characterizing the anatomy and physiology of cells, tissues, and small animals. In addition to supervising graduate and undergraduate student research, Dr. Hsu has offered courses in Biomedical Electronics and Measurements, Modern Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Principles and Applications of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Radiology in Practice.