Research

DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES

Department of Diagnostic, Molecular, and Interventional Radiology

The Department of Diagnostic, Molecular, and Interventional Radiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai actively engages in imaging research and development, collaborating across disciplines to push the boundaries of what is currently possible. From partnering with experts in neuroscience, to those in cardiology and hepatology, we are dedicated to advancing scientific investigation to improve patient prevention and diagnosis.

Many of our research efforts take place within the Department’s advanced imaging facility, the Mount Sinai BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute. Directed by Zahi A. Fayad, PhD, the Institute’s primary goal is to develop unique approaches to biomedical sciences and therapeutic interventions by bridging basic and translational investigative efforts.

Our multidisciplinary approach also leads us to continually partner with our colleagues from:

Neuroscience, to improve our understanding of neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain tumors, and various psychiatric disorders.
Cardiology, to predict the risk associated with atherosclerotic plaques and assess new therapies for aortic and cerebral artery aneurysms.
Hepatology, to develop optimal therapeutic strategies for liver diseases.

As one example of this process, our department recently developed a noninvasive form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose heart disease and atherosclerosis, thereby allowing clinicians to identify patients who are at the greatest risk for heart attack and stroke. This technique, called the black-blood MRI, causes blood to appear dark, while vessel walls appear bright. This advance enables our cardiologists to identify thickening of the artery wall—an indication of otherwise undetectable plaques.

Our Research Areas

For our neuroimaging research efforts, we leverage 7-Tesla MRI scanners that offer unprecedented high-resolution visualization. This visualization enables the detection of subtle neurological abnormalities, thereby paving the way for early disease diagnosis and potential treatments for medication-resistant illnesses. Under the guidance of the Advanced Neuroimaging Research Program, led by Priti Balchandani, PhD, creative engineering solutions in imaging modalities are expanding minimally invasive treatment options.

Our researchers have also developed innovative non-invasive immuno-imaging approaches to explore immune responses and cellular functions. Utilizing animal models and advanced imaging techniques such as PET/MR, PET/CT, high-field MR, and optical imaging along with novel radiotracers, the researchers have established methods to monitor immunological processes non-invasively.

This research encompasses diverse areas such as trained immunity, myeloid cell migration in ischemic heart disease and cancer, amygdala metabolic activity as a predictor of cardiovascular events, and macrophage proliferation and monocyte production as biomarkers for atherosclerosis progression. Access to the Institute’s state-of-the-art imaging facilities also allows researchers to visualize the effects of designed nano-immunotherapeutics.

Our cancer and body imaging research is led by Bachir Taouli, MD, MS. This investigative group leverages advanced equipment and methodology for the diagnosis and prognostication of liver, kidney, and bowel cancers, among other diseases. The team’s primary focus is to develop noninvasive imaging techniques for screening, diagnosis, characterization, and response in patients. Collectively, this cancer and body imaging research has resulted in more than 200 publications.

Our Cardiovascular Imaging Research Program focuses on developing and employing non-invasive imaging techniques for the early detection, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis. This research aims to create new imaging approaches that can assess both the structure of blood vessels and the composition of vessel walls, enabling the observation of abnormalities at the cellular and molecular level. The program’s advanced research facilities include whole-body scanners, MRI/PET scanners, and CT scanners, allowing for higher-resolution images than ever before.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department additionally supported Mount Sinai Health System’s Warrior Watch Study. Led by Zahi Fayad, PhD, and Robert Hirten, MD, the Warrior Watch Study used wearable devices to explore the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Mount Sinai health care workers. Beyond providing insight on psychological impact, the study also demonstrated the success of wearable devices to identify and predict COVID-19 infections in employees prior to the onset of symptoms.