Wu Lab

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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Active Research

Novel MRI Pulse Sequence: RoSA

RoSA, Rotating Single Shot Acquisition, is a novel diffusion sequence developed in this lab for high-quality and high-resolution diffusion imaging. It can achieve spatial resolution of 1x1x1 mm3 at imaging acquisition for diffusion while maintaining high signal-to-noise ratio and minimal image distortion.

White Matter Tractography

In the Wu Lab, whole brain white matter tractography is performed using either CAMINO or MRTrix3 open source software. Hybrid Diffusion Imaging technique is used to acquire high angular resolution samples at high b-value diffusion weighting. Crossing fibers are resolved using q-ball reconstruction for fiber orientation distribution function (ODF).

Super resolution track density map

From tractography, investigators in this lab are able to produce submillimeter super resolution map of tack density using MRTrix3 software.

Research Funding

  • Alzheimers Disease
    R01 AG053993-01, NIA, Wu (PI), 2016 – 2021
    Modeling Axonal Density and Inflammation-Associated Cellularity in Alzheimer’s Disease Using Hybrid Diffusion Imaging
  • Cirrhosis
    Clinical Trial, Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Chalasani (PI), 2015 – 2017
    Dissection of Cholestatic Itch in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
  • Concussion
    W81XWH-14-2-0151, The NCAA-DoD Grand Alliance, McAllister (PI), 2014 – 2017
    Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium (CARE)
  • Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury
    RadPDT, IU Radiology Project Development Team, Kralik (PI), 2017 – 2018
    Evaluation of Resting State fMRI in Neonates with Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury
  • Imaging
    (Completed) Pilot Project, Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Wu (PI), 2014 – 2015
    Measuring Axonal Diameters and Density with a Novel ActiveAx and Fast RSA-EPI Sequence

    (Completed) MITRA, Dartmouth Synergy, Wu and Holtzheimer (PI), 2012 – 2015
    High Angular Resolution Diffusion Imaging (HARDI) with novel HYPR image reconstruction

    (Completed) Research Project, IUPUI/RITDP, Wu (PI), 2015 – 2016
    Hybrid Diffusion Imaging (HYDI) of the Kidney

  • Traumatic Brain Injury
    CTR, CTSI, Wu (PI), 2016 – 2018
    Microstructure Modulated White Matter Connectivity for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

    Indiana Spinal Cord and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Fund, Massie (PI), 2017 – 2019
    Improving functional ability in chronic TBI with intensive rehabilitation robotic gait training.

    (Completed) R21 NS075791-01, NINDS, Wu and McAllister (PI), 2011 – 2015
    HYBRID Diffusion Imaging to Detect Acute White Matter Injury After Mild TBI

    (Completed) Research Project, IUPUI/ITDP, Wu (PI), 2015 – 2016
    Microstructure Imaging of the Human Brain with TBI

Research Team

7079-Wu, Yu-Chien

Yu-Chien Wu, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Radiology & Imaging Sciences

6622-Wen, Qiuting

Qiuting Wen, PhD

Assistant Professor of Radiology & Imaging Sciences

Additional Research Team Members

Other research team members in the Wu Lab include Junjie Li (principal system analyst at Research Technologies, Indiana University) and Nahla M H Elsaid.

Previous Lab Members

Previous lab members include Chandana K. Nambukara, PhD (Dartmouth Brain Imaging Center at Dartmouth College) and Brian Stirling, PT (University of Southern California, Los Angeles).