Research



The Brain Image Team (BIT) Lab focuses on studying unique properties of the brain through advanced imaging techniques. While many people associate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with high-resolution structural images that show the shape of the brain, our research goes beyond that. We use more advanced forms of MRI to explore unique aspects of the brain, such as cerebrovascular imaging to study the brain's microvascular (capillary bed) and macroscopic (larger arteries) structures, as well as diffusion and functional MRI to examine the brain's wiring and activation.

Our methods, combined with advanced data analytics, provide insights into cerebrovascular diseases (e.g., stroke, aneurysm) and aging physiology (e.g., brain aging, neurodegeneration, dementia). We take a holistic approach to research, covering everything from technology development, image acquisition, and reconstruction to data analytics and machine learning.

At UCalgary, we have access to cutting-edge infrastructure, including a soon-to-be-launched MR Engineering Technology Lab, high-field MRI systems (three 3T Human MRI systems and a 9.4T Animal MRI system), and extensive high-performance computing resources. These include over 200 TB of data storage and access to clusters with more than 100,000 cores through UCalgary and the Digital Research Alliance of Canada.

We also have access to one of the largest collections of neuroimaging data in the world, including datasets from the UK Biobank, National Institutes of Mental Health, Human Connectome Project, Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, and Open Access Series of Imaging Studies, among others. Our compute clusters are equipped with many neuroimaging tools, including custom-built software to support research analyses.

This comprehensive approach vertically integrates brain imaging research to deliver a full-spectrum research experience while leveraging our internal expertise.

Research Image

Image acquisition and reconstruction for MRI visualization

Data collection and reconstruction of new MRI images is core to our research program. In this theme, we build and program hardware to collect novel measurements of the brain. We do pulse sequence programming to manipulate the timing of MRI gradients and radiofrequency pulses to estimate unique properties of the brain. These unique acquisition schemes work in concert with advanced reconstruction algorithms to yield quantitative parameters.

Data Analytics and Machine Learning

Our group has gathered perhaps the largest amount of neuroimaging data available, and this is leveraged against the high-performance computing infrastructure available at the institution and federally to enable advanced data analytics and machine learning experiments. We are using typical neuroimaging pipelines in concert with custom algorithms developed in house. Here the aim to formulate the highest values applications and questions to answer, and then robustly demonstrate with the data we have on hand.

Data analytics and Machine learning Image
Modeling of brain circuits

Modeling of brain circuits to inspire the next generation of intelligent algorithms

Boarding on computational neuroscience applications we aim to undertake emulation of brain function based on neuroimaging data. Given our access to copious amounts of brain imaging data, in particular, diffusion weighted imaging (DTI), functional MRI (fMRI), electroencephalogram (EEG) and magnetoencephalography; we use tools such as the Virtual Brain to simulate the brain under stroke and dementia.