Research

UCSF had a strong presence at ASPNR 2026 in Tampa, with broad faculty, alumni, and learner participation across talks, moderation, mentoring, and research presentations. The department received multiple honors, including a major research award, poster recognitions, and several UCSF alumni being named new ASPNR Fellows. UCSF contributors also delivered oral presentations and numerous posters highlighting advances in neonatal, fetal, and pediatric neuroimaging, reinforcing the department’s leadership and commitment to mentorship and research excellence.

This cutting-edge technology offers lower radiation doses for patients and sharper images for clinicians.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging is at the forefront of research to understand prostate cancer and develop treatments. These are just a few of the publications this year by our researchers.

Joseph Blecha, MS, has spent 18 years at UCSF advancing radiochemistry to improve imaging and treatment of diseases like Alzheimer’s, ALS, and prostate cancer. Inspired during his early chemistry studies, he transitioned from organic chemistry to radiochemistry, now producing short-lived isotopes with UCSF’s cyclotron group.

This year, we proudly present the 2025 Rahul Desikan and Bruce Hasegawa Awards to Dr. Elizabeth George and Dr. Anil Bidkar in recognition of their outstanding contributions to neuroimaging and cancer therapeutics.

We are proud to highlight the contributions of our postdoctoral researchers this National Postdoc Appreciation Week. Their work spans neuroscience, imaging science, musculoskeletal health, and speech research. Each brings a unique perspective and dedication to advancing knowledge and patient care.

A 2022 update to the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System for Ultrasound (O-RADS US) has made the system more accurate, reducing false positives and improving specificity.

The Neuroimaging Technology Research Center (NTRC) is pleased to announce their first pilot grantees who are leading investigations into a range of neuropsychiatric conditions.

A UCSF-led clinical trial is testing whether mind-body movement programs like Tai Chi and Moving Together can slow cognitive decline in older adults with memory issues. Early results show potential brain benefits, especially from Moving Together.