Multimodal Metabolic Brain Imaging Lab (Li Lab)
The Multimodal Metabolic Brain Imaging Lab (Li Lab) focuses on developing methods for obtaining reliable metabolic information from the brain to characterize spatial and temporal heterogeneity and the biological behavior during disease time for brain tumors, psychiatric and neurologic diseases. This includes the development of new methods for obtaining whole-brain metabolites and tools for generating metrics of brain neurotransmitters using 3T and 7T MR scanners, implementation of statistical methods to relate metabolic metrics to clinical outcomes or measures, and integrating steady-state 1H metabolic imaging with PET, hyperpolarized 13C and advanced MR imaging parameters to elucidate the underlying normal and abnormal biological process.
People
Adam Autry
Specialist
Email: [email protected]
After obtaining his PhD in Bioengineering from the Joint Graduate Program at UC Berkeley/UCSF, under the mentorship of Sarah J Nelson, Dr. Autry joined the Li Lab to continue research characterizing molecular markers of malignant brain tumors. His current work focuses on real-time imaging of in vivo metabolism in adults with infiltrating gliomas using the technique of hyperpolarized carbon-13 (HP-13C) MRI, which probes glycolytic and oxidative phosphorylation pathways by means of injectable tracers whose magnetization has been transiently enhanced via specialized instrumentation. As part of this effort, he has pursued the optimization of HP-13C data acquisition methods involving atlas-based prescription for serial imaging studies, and investigated features of aberrant metabolism in progressive glioma based on the modeling of [1-13C]pyruvate kinetics.
Maria Baida
Staff Research Assistant
Email: [email protected]
Maria Baida completed her MS in Biomedical Imaging at UCSF and then joined Dr. Li’s lab. Her current research is focused on processing and analyzing MR data from individuals with ASD to understand.
Marisa Lafontaine
Clinical Research Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
Marisa works on consenting patients, acquiring advanced imaging data for research studies and clinical trials, data transfer, post-processing, and analyzing MR data.Marisa works on consenting patients, acquiring advanced imaging data for research studies and clinical trials, data transfer, post-processing, and analyzing MR data.
Wendy Ma
Clinical Research Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
Wendy prepares and organizes documentation and files pertaining to the research projects, consents patients, and coordinates patient scans in Dr. Li’s lab.
Xin Mu
Staff Research Assistant
Email: xin.mu[email protected]
Xin Mu focuses on using multiparametric MRI to study pediatric diseases.
Sana Vaziri
Post-doctoral Fellow
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Vaziri is interested in developing advanced processing methods for metabolic imaging (proton MR spectroscopy and hyperpolarized carbon-13) and analyzing multimodal imaging data to improve the evaluation of patients with glioma.
Liana Tran
Administrative Contact
Email: [email protected]
Alumni
- Huawei Liu, Former post-doctoral fellow: Dr. Liu worked on developing novel methods for acquiring and processing 1-H MR spectroscopy for evaluating patients with neurologic diseases.
- Artan Kaso, Former Post-doctoral fellow: Dr. Kaso worked on developing novel methods for acquiring 1-H MR spectroscopic imaging at 7T.
Opportunities
Summer Students
We have a student research assistant position available for the summer. In particular, we are looking for a highly motivated person with programming experience to help with data processing.
SRA 1
Post-doctoral Fellow
Post-doctoral Fellow Position in Neuro-imaging Research (pdf)
Research Projects
Multimodal Neuroimaging For Evaluating Astrocytoma
Gliomas are the most common malignant primary brain tumors in adults. Although survival outcomes for lower-grade gliomas improve as diagnosis evolves, these patients eventually undergo resistance to treatment and often experience impaired cognitive function. Our group is interested in characterizing spatial heterogeneity and developing biomarkers of response to therapy and outcomes using a multi-modality MR protocol in order to improve the management of patients with astrocytoma.
Hyperpolarized (HP) Carbon-13 (13C) Metabolic Imaging - a new molecular imaging modality providing information about real-time metabolism
- HP [1-13C]pyruvate
- HP [2-13C]pyruvate
1H 2-hydroxyglutarte (2HG)-specific MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) – Noninvasive detection of oncometabolite 2-HG
Multiparametric MRI in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Speech deficits are prevalent in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Our group works on understanding the heterogeneity in speech production in individuals with ASD by evaluating functional brain connectivity and neurotransmitters using a multiparameter MR protocol.
GABA-edited MR Spectroscopy – Unobstructed and noninvasive measurement of neurotransmitters (glutamate, excitatory; GABA, inhibitory)
Clinical Translation of Metabolic Imaging
Our group has created the workflow for obtaining 3D proton-1 (1H) MR spectroscopic imaging datasets by using an atlas-based automatic prescription, scanner reconstruction, and DICOM output at the research scanners. One of my research interests is translating these tools and results to the broader neuro-oncology community and integrating them into the standard clinical workflow.
Our group has created the workflow for obtaining 3D proton-1 (1H) MR spectroscopic imaging datasets by using an atlas-based automatic prescription, scanner reconstruction, and DICOM output at the research scanners. One of my research interests is translating these tools and results to the broader neuro-oncology community and integrating them into the standard clinical workflow.
SKY Breath Intervention For Depressed Adolescents
Clinical Trial ID: NCT05388110
Study Description: Adolescent-onset depression is associated with long, severe, and recurrent episodes that are often not responsive to treatment. There is a dire need to develop novel treatments that are efficient, cost-effective, and tolerant for this population. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is a breath-based meditative practice that entails a sequence of specific breathing techniques to help practitioners achieve a state of calm alertness. The goal of this study is to determine the efficacy of SKY breath intervention in treating depressed adolescents and to understand its mechanisms. This will be the first study to evaluate the potential benefits of SKY breath intervention as a treatment option for depressed adolescents.
Current Status: Accepting New Subjects
- Research Directory
- Abdominal Imaging Research
- Abdominal and Pelvic MRI
- Arthritis Imaging Lab (Li Lab)
- Baby Brain Research Group
- Biomagnetic Imaging Laboratory
- Biomechanics & Musculoskeletal Imaging Lab
- Bone Quality Research Lab
- Brain Arteriovenous Malformations
- BrainChange Study
- Breast Imaging Research Group
- Breast and Bone Density Group
- Cardiac and Pulmonary Imaging Research
- Center for Molecular and Functional Imaging (CMFI)
- Contrast Material and CT Translational Research Lab
- Daniel B. Vigneron Lab
- Evans Lab
- Focused Ultrasound Lab
- High Field MRI Center
- Imaging Research for Neurodevelopment
- Interventional Radiology Research Lab
- Larson Group
- Lupo Lab
- Majumdar/Link Lab
- Medical Imaging Informatics and AI
- Molecular Imaging Lab (Flavell Lab)
- Multimodal Metabolic Brain Imaging
- Musculoskeletal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Lab (Krug Lab)
- Musculoskeletal Quantitative Imaging Research
- Neural Connectivity Lab
- Neuroradiology Research
- Osteoid Osteomas HIFU Clinical Trial
- PET/SPECT Radiochemistry
- PSMA PET Scan
- Pediatric Research
- Physics Research Laboratory
- Program for Molecular Imaging and Targeted Therapy
- Prostate Cancer Imaging Lab (Kurhanewicz)
- Research
- Sarah J. Nelson Lab
- Surbeck Laboratory
- Translational Metabolic Imaging Lab
- UCSF Nuclear and Clinical Molecular Imaging Research
- Vascular Imaging Research Center
- Viswanath Ronen Lab
- Wilson Lab
- Research Groups
- Specialized Resource Groups
- Imaging Research Symposium
- Research Retreat
- UCSF Radiology at RSNA
- Core Services
Li Lab Contact
Yan Li, PhD
Assistant Professor
Email: [email protected]
UCSF Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
China Basin Landing
185 Berry Street, Suite 350, Box 0946
San Francisco, CA 94107-5705
Administrative Contact:
Liana Tran
Email: [email protected]