Image Analysis Study Group

The CBI Image Analysis Study Group is for basic and clinical scientists to meet and discuss their signal and image analysis challenges and potential solutions. The primary goal is to enable investigators to perform signal and image analyses needed to generate data for grants and publications by providing them with guidance on methodology and available software tools. Recent areas of interest have included quantification of tumor properties from diffusion-weighted images of glioma, segmentation of kidney MR images, fMRI analysis in interleaved TMS/fMRI, prostate image analysis, and EEG signal filtering.

Cancer & DKI

The CBI Cancer & DKI Study Group is comprised of imaging scientists, neuroradiologists, oncologists along with other clinicians and scientists with a common interest in advancing imaging research in cancer. The group has been meeting monthly since July 2011 and has so far submitted three applications for research, two of which have been successfully funded.

Current areas of interest include: 1) the utilization of advanced imaging techniques to predict response to cancer as well as prognosis, 2) distinguishing radiation injury from tumor progression and 3) brain metastases and advanced neuroimaging. The group would like to expand its research interest to include animal models of cancer treatment and imaging, especially in the area of radiation treatment and its effects on normal and tumor tissue.

Addiction

The CBI Addiction Study Group is a forum for discussion of neuroimaging of addictive disorders. Topics include 1) discussion of the clinical presentation of disorders including alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, heroin, and prescription opioid abuse and dependence; 2) application of a broad spectrum of neuroimaging modalities, including functional and structural MRI, diffusion tensor and kurtosis imaging, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and methods, including network connectivity analysis; and 3) opportunities for collaboration among investigators for grant submissions. Meetings have varied formats, including journal club discussion, data presentation, grant ideas forums, and practice job or conference talks. Both clinical and basic science investigators currently involved with addiction neuroimaging projects or hoping to pursue such projects are encouraged to attend.

Brain

The CBI Brain Study Group is a forum for basic and clinical scientists to meet and discuss common interests in adolescent and adult brain imaging research. Recent areas of interest have included traumatic brain injury (TBI), pediatric and adolescent brain development, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), aging, stroke, epilepsy, Autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Other areas of research interest related to brain imaging are welcome. Topics for discussion have included informal tutorials of imaging technology, descriptions of the clinical challenges in pediatric, adolescent, and adult brain diseases that are due to either a lack of knowledge or the need for technical development and the identification of individuals with common research interests and strategies for possible grant development. Although this group has diverse interests in brain research, the forum has resulted in the identification of areas of overlap and common interests and has fostered collaboration among a growing number of brain imaging researchers.

Brain Connectivity

The CBI Brain Connectivity Study Group provides a forum to discuss network- and connectivity-based analyses of functional and anatomical MRI data as well as EEG / electrophysiological data. Topics may include analysis of functional connectivity using graph-theory, seed-based connectivity or principal / independent components analyses, effective connectivity using structural equation modeling, anatomical connectivity using tractography and graph-theory and pattern classification approaches. The goal is to discuss analysis methods and strategies for investigating complex functional and anatomical brain networks. Meetings consist of discussion of journal articles, presentation of data for feedback, discussion of algorithms or analysis strategies. Investigators who conduct such analyses, or wish to conduct such analyses, are welcome to attend.