The research lab of Yu-Chien Wu, MD, PhD, is actively investigating a wide range of radiology and imaging topics. Wu is particularly focused on studying diffusion physics in biologic system using diffusion MRI.
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Expertise
The Wu Lab is a national leader in neuroscience expertise. From working on studies like the CARE Consortium, the world's most comprehensive concussion study, to uncovering early diagnosis treatments for Alzheimer's disease, the Wu Lab is a pioneering hub for research excellence at IU School of Medicine and across the country.
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Stay up to date on the latest research by the Wu Lab and reach out to current team members.
12
countries represented
$11 million
in grant funding
213
publications
Research Topics
Alzheimer's disease
With current treatments only managing symptoms, research is needed to address early diagnosis and intervention.
Animal Imaging
In vivo assessments on a mouse model find disruptions in microstructural integrity and neurite organization.
Sport-Related Concussion
The relationship between blood-based neural biomarkers and white matter neuroimaging in collegiate athletes.
Human Imaging
The lab highlights the growing impact of computational methods, combined imaging techniques, and animal models in advancing neuroscience research.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
The lab addresses the sensitivity issues of conventional medical imaging techniques in detecting mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) by utilizing hybrid diffusion imaging (HYDI).
Research Funding
Research collaborations are pivotal in advancing research within the Wu Lab. These partnerships help foster synergy, pooling diverse expertise and resources to tackle complex challenges. From access to specialized equipment, funding, and data, to amplifying research capabilities — shared knowledge accelerates innovation, refining diagnostic techniques and potential treatment strategies.
Ultimately, partnerships amplify a lab's impact, driving transformative progress in neuroscience.
Wu Lab
R01 AGAG083951, NIH-NIA, Wu (PI), 2023-2028
Assessing Diffusion MRI Metrics for Detecting Changes of Synaptic Density in Alzheimer's Disease
R01 NS112303-01, NIH-NINDS, Wu (PI), 2020-2025
Comprehensive White-Matter Microstructure-Informed Analytical Methods to Elucidate Neurobiological Mechanisms of Sports-Related Concussion
R01 NS112303-03S1, NIH-NINDS-NIA, Wu (PI), 2022-2025
Elucidating Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease Using White-Matter Microstructure-Informed Subject-Specific Analytical Methods
R01 AG053993, NIH-NIA, Wu (PI), 2016-2024
Modeling Axonal Density and Inflammation-Associated Cellularity in Alzheimer's Disease Using Hybrid Diffusion Imaging
R21AG068962, NIH-R21 (PI: Tong, Purdue University), Wu (Site-PI), 2021-2024
Image-Based Modeling of Biomechanical Factors for Risk Assessment of Developing Periventricular White Matter Hyperintensities
2R44AG060861-02, NINDS-ADM Diagnostics, Inc. (PI: Matthews at ADM Diagnostics, Inc.), 2022-2024
Multi-modal Machine Learning Detection and Tracking of Traumatic Brain Injury Neurodegeneration and Its Differentiation from Alzheimer's Disease
Collaborative
U54AG054345, NIH-NIA, Bruce Lamb (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2022-2027
IU/JAX/PITT MODEL-AD Center
R01AG022304-15S1, NIH-NIA Rao, Cleveland Clinic (PI), Lamb, IUSM (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2021-2023
Immune Mechanisms Underlying the Neuroprotective Effects of Physical Activity in Human and Mouse Models of Genetic Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease
P30 AG072976, NIH, Saykin (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2021-2026
Indiana Alzheimer Disease Research Center
RF1, NIH, Radhakrishnan (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2023-2026
Multimodal Fetal and Placental Imaging and Biomarkers of Clinical Outcomes in Opioid Use Disorder
W81XWH1820047 and HU001-18-2008, U.S. Army MTEC & NCAA, McAllister, IUSM (PI), Broglio, University of Michigan (PI), McCrea, Medical College of Wisconsin (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2021-2026
Characterizing Potential Chronic Brain Health Effects of Concussion and Repetitive Head Impact Exposure: The CARE-SALTOS Integrated (CSI) Study
R01 RF1NS128961, NIH, Dams-O’Connor, Mount Saini (PI) Hammond (Site-PI), Wu (Co-I), 2022-2027
Clinical & biological signatures of post-traumatic neurodegeneration: Leveraging the TBI Model Systems of Care to accelerate in vivo diagnosis of the late effects of TBI (LETBI)
R01AG061788, NIH, Risacher (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2019-2024
Multi-Domain Sensory Measures as Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease in Preclinical and Prodromal Stages
R03, NIH,Radhakrishnan (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2023-2024
Neuroimaging in Pregnancy to Assess Effects of Opioid Use Disorder
R01, NIH-NIA, Lasagna-Reeves (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2023-2028
CAA, Tau and Neurodegeneration
R01, NIH, Kim, University of Alabama (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2024-2029
DCE-MRI guided Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer.
R01, NIH-NIDS, Meier, Medical College Wisconsin (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2023-2027
The role of cytomegalovirus in the physiological and clinical effects of concussion.
R01, NIH, Tong, Purdue University (PI), Wu (Site-PI), 2024-2027
Cloud-based Analytical Tools to Extract Physiological Information from HCP Data.
R21, NIH, Tong, Purdue University (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2024-2026
Assessing Neurofluid Coupling in Spinal Cord in Healthy Subjects and Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries
Wu Lab
Identifying Microstructural Imaging Biomarkers that Predict Post-Traumatic Headache, Indiana State Department of Health, Wu (PI), 2021-2023
Tau propagation and white matter degeneration in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, IADC, Pilot Project, Wu (PI), 2020-2021
Research Contract, Siemens, Wu (PI), 2018-2021
Diffusion MRI
Combing the perfusion, function and structure matrices of the brain to assess the spectrum of Alzheimer’s disease, CTSI-IADC Pilot, Tong (PI), Wu (Site-PI), 2020-2022
R01HD096800, NIH, Sadhasivam (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2018-2020
Effects of opioid use disorder in pregnancy on long-term maternal and child outcomes
CTR, CTSI, Wu (PI), 2016-2018
Microstructure Modulated White Matter Connectivity for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
R21 NS075791, NIH/NINDS-Dartmouth, McAllister & Wu (MPI), 2011-2015
HYBRID Diffusion Imaging to Detect Acute White Matter Injury After Mild TBI
High Angular Resolution Diffusion Imaging(HARDI) with novel HYPR image reconstruction, Dartmouth SYNERGY, Wu (PI), 2012-2015
Hybrid Diffusion Imaging (HYDI) of the Kidney, IUPUI-RITDP, Wu (PI), 2015-2016
Microstructure Imaging of the Human Brain with TBI, IUPUI-ITDP, Wu (PI), 2015-2016
Measuring Axonal Diameters and Density with a Novel ActiveAx and Fast RSA-EPI Sequence, IADC, Pilot Project, Wu (PI), 2014-2016
R01 AG053993-01, NIA, Wu (PI), 2016 – 2021
Modeling Axonal Density and Inflammation-Associated Cellularity in Alzheimer’s Disease Using Hybrid Diffusion Imaging
Collaborative
R01 AG019771, NIH, Saykin (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2017-2023
Memory Circuitry in MCI and Early Alzheimer’s Disease Prodrome: Molecular Drivers
R56 AG047992-07A1, NIH, Newhouse, Vanderbilt University (PI), Saykin (Site-PI), Wu (Co-I), 2022-2023
Long-Term Nicotine Treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment
U01 AG072177, NIH-NIA, Saykin (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2021-2022
Korean Brain Aging Study, Longitudinal Endophenotypes and Systems Biology
R01 AG047992, NIH, Newhouse (PI), Saykin (Site-PI), Wu (Co-I), 2015-2022
Long-Term Nicotine Treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment
R01 AG052439, NIH, Clark (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2017-2022
MIND Food and Speed of Processing Training in Older Adults with Low Education, The MINDSpeed Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Pilot Trail
R21AG066135, NIH-NIA, Yan (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2019-2022
Gene Co-expression Underlying the Connectomic Alterations in Alzheimer’s Disease
U01 MH109977, NIH, Shenton, Harvard Medical School (PI), Breier (Site-PI), Wu (Co-I), 2016-2021
Human Connectome Project for Early Psychosis
W81XWH-14-2-0151, DoD+NCAA, McAllister (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2018-2021
Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium for sport-related concussion and military personnel
R01 EB022574, NIH, Shen (PI), Saykin (Site-PI), Wu (Co-I), 2016-2021
Integrative Bioinformatics Approaches to Human Brain Genomics and Connectomics
P30 AG010133, NIH, Saykin (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2011-2021
Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center
ARRS Scholarship, ARRS, Radhakrishnan (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2018-2020
Predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonatal abstinence syndrome
Improving functional ability in chronic TBI with intensive rehabilitation robotic gait training (PI: Massie), Indiana Spinal Cord & Traumatic Brain Injury Research Fund, Wu (Co-I), 2017-2019
Data Research/Pilot Study Project, IU-Health, Sadhasivam (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2018-2019
Effects of an 8-day advanced meditation, Samyama on physical, psychological and spiritual wellbeing, and associated neural mechanisms
UH3TR000955-S1, NIH, Breier (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2016-2018
The Efficacy and Safety of a Selective Estrogen Receptor Beta agonist (LY500307) for Negative Symptoms and Cognitive Impairment Associated with Schizophrenia
R21 AG051932, NIH, Callahan (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2016-2018
Angiogenesis and Alzheimer’s Disease
W81XWH-14-2-0151, NCAA-DoD, McAllister (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2014-2018
Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium (CARE)
R01 MH080716-04S1, NIH, Whalen (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2010-2011
Prefrontal-Amygdala Interactions in Social Learning
Advancing the Understanding of Biomechanical Parameters Associated with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, NOCSAE, McAllister (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2011-2013
R01 MH091100-A1, NIH, Holzheimer (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2011-2013
Investigating Biomarkers of TRD Using Neuroimaging
R01 MH080716, NIH, Whalen (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2012-2013
Prefrontal-Amygdala Interactions in Social Learning
Advanced MRI Evaluation of Cerebral Blood Flow and Brain Connectivity Biomarkers in Adolescent Subacute Sports-related Concussion, Ninesigma, Inc., McDonald (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2014-2015
UH3TR000955, NIH, Breier (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2014-2015
The Efficacy and Safety of a Selective Estrogen Receptor Beta agonist (LY500307) for Negative Symptoms and Cognitive Impairment Associated with Schizophrenia
Improved accuracy for anatomical mapping and network structure of the Alzheimer’s brain, CTSI-GLUE, Pestilli (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2015-2017
Dissection of Cholestatic Itch in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Chalasani (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2015-2017
Evaluation of Resting State fMRI in Neonates with Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury, radPDT, Kralik (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2016-2017
news & publications
