Dr. Diego Hernando is the PI on a new NIH R01 on MRI-based Quantification of Perfusion and Microstructure. The grant will develop and integrate a series of technical solutions that improve precision of current quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams and builds on the IVIM work of Dr. Gregory Simchick.

• Simchick G and Hernando D. Optimized acquisition for simultaneous intravoxel incoherent motion and R (2)quantification in the liver. Magnetic resonance in medicine. 2025 July DOI PMID
• Simchick G, Allen TJ and Hernando D. Reproducibility of intravoxel incoherent motion quantification in the liver across field strengths and gradient hardware. Magnetic resonance in medicine. 2024 August DOI PMID
• Simchick G and Hernando D. Precision of region of interest-based tri-exponential intravoxel incoherent motion quantification and the role of the Intervoxel spatial distribution of flow velocities. Magnetic resonance in medicine. 2022 August DOI PMID
• Simchick G, Geng R, Zhang Y and Hernando D. b value and first-order motion moment optimized data acquisition for repeatable quantitative intravoxel incoherent motion DWI. Magnetic resonance in medicine. 2022 January DOI PMID

Specifically, we will develop MRI methods to quantify blood perfusion and tissue microstructure, without the need for exogenous contrast agents and with multiple applications in diffuse and focal disease. We will evaluate these methods in healthy volunteers, highly controlled test objects (“phantoms”), ex vivo livers with controlled perfusion, and a highly relevant population of patients with chronic liver disease. The proposed perfusion and microstructure measures may provide biomarkers for fibrosis, cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and response to treatment.