Multiscale Imaging and Integrative Biophysics (MiiB) Unit

Dan Benjamini, Ph.D., Chief

The Multiscale Imaging and Integrative Biophysics (MiiB) Unit strives to understand cellular processes that relate to function, microstructure, and chemical composition in neuronal tissue. Specifically, we are interested in imaging microscopic and mesoscopic neuropathology, with a focus on neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. The MiiB Unit combines diffusion-relaxation multidimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with complementary histological methods, and uses knowledge of physics, engineering, neuroscience, and computer sciences to discover novel imaging biomarkers that can sensitively and specifically map astrogliosis, axonal damage, and degeneration. This research program aims to develop new MRI acquisition strategies and integrate them with machine learning approaches and with complementary imaging modalities. An important goal of our program is to achieve quantitative, noninvasive, in vivo “histology” of the human brain that will advance the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment guidance of neurodegenerative diseases.

Research Areas

• Tissue Microstructure
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Biophysics
• Diffusion
• Relaxation
• Neurodegeneration
• Neuroinflammation
• Image Registration
• Data Visualization
• Multidimensional MRI