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- Cancer Neuroimaging Research Program
The Cancer Neuroimaging Research Program, part of the overarching UT MD Anderson Cancer Neuroscience Program, brings together specialists in imaging, oncology, neuroscience, cancer biology and data science to drive the discovery and clinical translation of neuroimaging technologies. Our goal is to pioneer and integrate imaging tools across the continuum of discovery and care, linking biological insight, data-driven interpretation and therapeutic development to advance precision patient care for individuals affected by cancer.
By integrating advanced imaging technologies with biological insight and computational analysis, the program addresses critical questions about tumor behavior, treatment effects and disease progression.Using state-of-the-art neuroimaging technologies combined with data-driven analytics, Cancer Neuroimaging Research Program investigators create quantitative imaging tools that improve diagnosis, guide treatment decisions, enable earlier assessment of how patients are responding to therapy and reveal the impact of cancer therapies on the nervous system. Ultimately, this work supports more precise and personalized cancer care by enabling patient-specific therapeutic strategies that optimize tumor control, preserve brain health and improve quality of life.
Research Themes
Overview
Research in the Cancer Neuroimaging Research Program spans four interconnected areas that drive discovery and translation:
- Innovation drives next generation neuroimaging technologies, including acquisition and image reconstruction techniques, molecular and metabolic imaging agents and image-based biomarkers.
- Intelligence harnesses data science and computational strategies that transform imaging data into clinically actionable decision tools.
- Intervention establishes new image-guided therapies for patients with cancer, prediction and/or detection of regional drug delivery within the brain and image-based strategies for early detection of therapeutic response.
- Insights leverages advanced neuroimaging technologies (preclinical or human) to investigate brain cancer biology, effects of cancer and therapies on the central nervous system (behavior, cognition and structure) and drug discovery.
Through these efforts, the program seeks to elevate the role of neuroimaging in cancer care — enhancing how we understand disease, improving the lives of patients and accelerating the path from scientific discovery to clinical impact.
Innovation
The Innovation theme is focused on the development of new imaging technologies and biomarkers that reveal the structure, function and biology of the nervous system in the context of cancer and its treatment. By uniting expertise in physics, chemistry and engineering, Cancer Neuroimaging Research Program investigators are designing novel molecular and metabolic imaging agents, advanced MRI acquisition and reconstruction techniques and cell imaging strategies. These innovations aim to establish a foundation for precision diagnostics and image-guided therapeutic strategies that directly inform clinical decision making.
Ongoing Projects
- Advanced Multi-contrast and Multi-scale MRI Pulse Sequences for Quantitative Neuroimaging
- Supported by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
- Investigator: Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (PI)
- Comprehensive Assessment of Cancer Theranostics Response
- Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Investigators: Paul Corn (MPI), Timothy Perk (MPI), Scott Tagawa (MPI), Osama R. Mawlawi, Ph.D. (Co-I)
- Development of a Targeted PET Tracer for Detection of Invasive Glioma Cells
- Supported by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
- Investigators: Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (PI), Ellen Ackerstaff, Ph.D. (Co-I), Charles Manning, Ph.D. (Co-I)
- Establishing 2-Hydroxyglutarate as a Biomarker in IDH-Mutant Gliomas via Multimodal Non-Invasive Method
- Supported by an Institutional Research Grant
- Investigators: Nazanin Majd, M.D., Ph.D. (PI), Brian A. Taylor, Ph.D. (Co-I)
- Establishing the Clinical Utility of a Consensus DSC-MRI Protocol
- Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Investigators: Jerrold Boxerman (MPI), Leland Hu (MPI), Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (MPI), Kathleen Schmainda (MPI)
- Establishing the Validity of Brain Tumor Perfusion Imaging
- Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Investigator: Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (PI)
- MRI of Aquaporin Activity as a Marker of Glymphatic Function in Glioma Patients Before and After Surgery
- Supported by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)
- Investigators: Ho-Ling Anthony Liu, Ph.D. (Sub MPI), Vinodh A. Kumar, M.D. (Sub Co-I)
- Multi-parametric Perfusion MRI for Therapy Response Assessment in Brain Cancer
- Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Investigators: Ashley Stokes (PI), Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (Co-I)
- One-Shot Morphologic, Hemodynamic, and Metabolic MR Imaging of Brain Tumors
- Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Investigators: Vikram Kodibagkar (MPI), Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (MPI)
- PET Imaging of Neuroinflammation and Blood Brain Barrier Dysfunction Associated With Brain Tumors and Cancer Therapies
- Supported by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
- Investigator: Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (PI)
Intelligence
The Intelligence theme harnesses data science and mathematical modeling to transform complex neuroimaging data into clinically meaningful insights. By integrating imaging biomarkers with physiological modeling, molecular data and advanced computational frameworks, Cancer Neuroimaging Research Program investigators are building predictive tools that capture tumor dynamics, treatment response and neurocognitive outcomes. These efforts are establishing a data-driven foundation for discovery, collaboration and continuous learning across the neuroimaging ecosystem.
Ongoing Projects
- A Comprehensive Clinical fMRI Software Solution To Enable Mapping of Critical Functional Networks and Cerebrovascular Reactivity in the Brain
- Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Investigators: Ho-Ling Anthony Liu, Ph.D. (PI), Vinodh A. Kumar, M.D. (Co-I)
- Advancing Connectomics-Based Prediction of Postoperative Neurocognitive Outcome in Patients With Eloquent Glioma
- Supported by an Institutional Research Grant
- Investigators: Kyle Noll (PI), Vinodh A. Kumar, M.D. (Co-I), Ho-Ling Anthony Liu, Ph.D. (Co-I)
- Connectivity-Based MRI for Early Detection of Glioma Invasion
- Supported by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
- Investigator: Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (PI)
- Deep Learning-Enabled Susceptibility Contrast Enhanced MRI for Intravoxel Vessel and Cellular Architecture Mapping
- Supported by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
- Investigator: Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (PI)
- Early Prediction of Glioblastoma and Brain Metastasis Progression Using Multi-Parametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Deep Learning
- Supported by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
- Investigator: Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (PI)
- Evaluating the Utility of 3D Machine-Learning Based Volumetric Segmentation for the Assessment of Intracranial Metastatic Disease Treatment Response
- Supported by the Andrew M. McDougall Brain Metastasis Clinic and Research Program
- Investigator: Peter Kamel, M.D. (PI)
- Imaging-Based Tumor Forecasting to Predict Brain Tumor Progression and Response to Therapy
- Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Investigators: Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (MPI), Thomas Yankeelov (MPI)
- Reproducible Neuroimaging Analytics and Knowledge Integration for Neuro-Oncology Research
- Supported by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
- Investigator: Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (PI)
- Statistical Modeling of Alzheimer’s Disease Progression Integrating Brain Imaging and -Omics Data
- Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute on Aging (NIA)
- Investigators: Suprateek Kundu, Ph.D. (MPI), Qi Long (MPI)
Intervention
The Intervention theme advances the integration of imaging and therapy to improve precision and effectiveness in the treatment of brain tumors. By leveraging cutting-edge neuroimaging tools, Cancer Neuroimaging Research Program investigators are developing strategies that enhance targeted drug delivery, refine surgical and radiotherapy planning and establish prognostic imaging biomarkers of therapeutic response. These efforts aim to advance imaging to optimize therapeutic strategies and accelerate the clinical translation of novel interventions for patients with cancer.
Ongoing Projects
- Enhancing Delivery and Efficacy of Theranostic Antibody Treatment in Glioblastomas by Image-guided Focused Ultrasound Blood-brain Barrier Disruption
- Supported by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
- Investigators: Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (PI), Ellen Ackerstaff, Ph.D. (Co-I)
- In vivo Imaging and Quantification of Oncolytic Viral Loaded mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapies
- Supported by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
- Investigator: Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (PI)
- IL13Rα2-targeted Radioimmunotherapy for Glioblastoma
- Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Investigator: Simone Krebs, M.D. (PI)
- Leveraging PET Imaging to Monitor CAR T Cell Trafficking to Glioblastoma
- Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Investigator: Simone Krebs, M.D. (PI)
- Personalized Neurostimulation for Smoking Cessation in Cancer Patients: An Image-Guided Approach
- Supported by the Cancer Neuroscience Program
- Investigators: George Kypriotakis (MPI), Brian A. Taylor, Ph.D. (MPI), Francesco Versace (MPI)
- SPI-RADS: Establishing an Imaging Reporting & Data System for Spinal Metastasis Treated with Stereotactic Body Radiation Treatment
- Supported by a UT MD Anderson Internal Research Grant
- Investigator: Rami Eldaya, M.D. (PI)
Insights
The Insights theme leverages advanced neuroimaging approaches, from preclinical models to human studies, to illuminate how cancer and its treatments influence brain structure, function and behavior. By integrating quantitative imaging, cognitive assessment and behavioral metrics, Cancer Neuroimaging Research Program investigators are uncovering the biological underpinnings of neuroinflammation, treatment-related neurotoxicity and cancer-associated cognitive and behavioral changes. These efforts aim to identify sensitive biomarkers, guide supportive care strategies and accelerate the discovery of therapies that protect or restore brain health in patients with cancer.
Ongoing Projects
- Brain Age Gap and Structural Brain Changes as Risk Factors in Young Glioma Survivors: Impact of Surgery and Radiation
- Supported by the UT MD Anderson Survivorship Seed Grant
- Investigators: Sahil Bajaj, Ph.D. (MPI), Michael Roth (MPI), Shiao-Pei Weathers (MPI), Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (Co-I)
- Brain and Biofluid Biomarkers Underlying Cognitive Decline Following Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma
- Supported by the UT MD Anderson Cancer Neuroscience Program Grant
- Investigators: Sahil Bajaj, Ph.D. (MPI), Jeffrey Scott Wefel (MPI), Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (Co-I)
- Multi-parametric MRI Assessment of Brain Connectivity and Spectroscopic Biomarkers in Patients with a Substance Use Disorder
- Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Investigator: Brian A. Taylor, Ph.D. (PI)
- Neurobehavioral Impacts of Melanoma Therapies: Insights from Advanced Neuroimaging and Predictive Modeling
- Supported by the UT MD Anderson QIAC Partnership in Research Grant Program
- Investigators: Sahil Bajaj, Ph.D. (MPI), Maria Kristine Gule-Monroe (MPI), Chad Quarles, Ph.D. (Co-I)
Contact Us
Stay connected with the Cancer Neuroimaging Research Program to receive updates on our latest discoveries, seminars, collaborative opportunities and training events. Whether you are a researcher, clinician, trainee or industry partner, we invite you to join our growing network dedicated to advancing neuroimaging technologies. Together, we can accelerate innovation, share expertise and bring image-driven solutions from the laboratory to the clinic.
Sepideh Mohammadhosseinpour, Ph.D.
Program Manager, Cancer Neuroimaging Research Program
Department of Cancer Systems Imaging
Email: smohammadhosseinpour@mdanderson.org
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