Arthritis Imaging Lab's research aims to develop advanced magnetic resonance (MR) techniques with musculoskeletal applications. Our mission is to improve diagnosis, treatment monitoring and understanding of disease physiopathology of musculoskeletal disorders using quantitative imaging. Current applications include osteoarthritis, acute knee injuries, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. As part of the Musculoskeletal Quantitative Imaging Research (MQIR) group, our group is focused on developing new pulse sequences and image/data processing methodologies for detecting early cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis and acutely injured knees, linking MRI and NMR measures with molecular activities in cartilage and bone, quantifying bone marrow adiposity using MR spectroscopy and exploring their relationship with bone quantity and quality as well as cartilage degeneration. We collaborate closely with researchers and clinicians in multidisciplinary fields. We are also committed to provide education and training for postdoctoral fellows, residents, students (medical students, graduate, undergraduate and high school students) and other researchers who are interested musculoskeletal medical imaging. We appreciate the support to our research from NIH (R01, R21, K25), private foundations (the Aircast Foundation) and intramural UCSF funding (REAC, Academic Senate, Radiology Seed and Pilot grants).
A) High-resolution MRI evaluating morphological and biochemical changes of cartilage in osteoarthritis. The figure shows cartilage T1rho mapping.
B) Bone marrow fat quantification using MR spectroscopy in vertebral bodies.
C) High-resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) NMR spectroscopy is applied to characterize biochemical profile of cartilage, synovial fluid, and to examine composition of fatty acid in marrow and other fat depots.
D) Multi-modality images evaluating inflammation and structural damages using MRI.
E) High-resolution peripheral QCT (HR-pQCT).
F) Subject specific finite element analysis using high resolution MRI for tissue morphology and properties.
