Bio-X Affiliated Faculty

Dr. Spielman's interests are in the field of magnetic resonance imaging and in vivo spectroscopy. Current projects include optimized mapping of metabolite distributions in the brain and acquisition and analyis of dynamic MRI for the assessment of kidney function. In Dr. Spielman's laboratory, they have focussed on an array of novel techniques for producing clinically valuable images of important metabolic chemicals (e.g., NAA, creatine, choline, and lactate). These techniques, which include improved spectroscopic imaging and shimming methods as well as the application of estimation theory for optimal data quantification, address the inherent difficulties of low concentrations of the desired components, overlapping resonances, and field inhomogeneities caused by imperfect magnets and magnetic susceptibility variations with the body. Applications of this work include cerebral stoke evaluation as well as cancer diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and prediction of response to therapy. In addition, they are conducting basic research into a variety of neurologic disorders including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and epilepsy.