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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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Wu Lab Team

10 countries represented
$117M in grant funding
213 publications
Images of brain scans for Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's disease

With current treatments only managing symptoms, research is needed to address early diagnosis and intervention.
Learn more Alzheimer's disease
Imagings of brain scans for animials.

Animal Imaging

In vivo assessments on a mouse model find disruptions in microstructural integrity and neurite organization.
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Images of brain scans for concussion.

Concussion

The relationship between blood-based neural biomarkers and white matter neuroimaging in collegiate athletes.
Learn more Concussion
Images of brain scans.

Imaging

The lab highlights the growing impact of computational methods, combined imaging techniques, and animal models in advancing neuroscience research.

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Images of brain scans for TBI.

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).

Learn more TBI

Research Collaborations

Research collaborations are pivotal in advancing research Salman Shahid (left) and Yu-Chien Wu (right) sitting on a bench smiling at the camera. A small tree is in the background.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.




  • Active Collaborations

    Alzheimer’s Disease
    R01 AG053993-01, NIA, Wu (PI), 2016 – 2021
    Modeling Axonal Density and Inflammation-Associated Cellularity in Alzheimer’s Disease Using Hybrid Diffusion Imaging

  • Previous Collaborations

    Alzheimer’s 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

    TBI
    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

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.


Previous Lab 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.
news & publications

Alterations of brain microstructures in mouse model

Images of six brain scans over black background.

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Understanding the role of amyloid to cerebral microvasculature in AD

Images of brain scans in grays, blues and greens over black background.

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Differential vulnerability of hippocampal microstructure

Two images of brain scans.

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Role of neurochemistry in amyloid pathology

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View Abstract