Health Sciences Facility III
670 W. Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Co-directed by Thomas Ernst, PhD and Linda Chang, MD, MS and housed in the new HSF-III facility at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the Center for Advanced Imaging Research (CAIR) was created in 2018 to consolidate major research resources in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.
CAIR focuses on developing and using cutting edge imaging modalities such as advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hyperpolarized imaging, positron-emission tomography (PET), and focused ultrasound. These techniques are used in groundbreaking ways to help scientists understand disease processes and advance diagnostic imaging, with the ultimate goal of improving treatment to patients in the clinical setting.
CAIR is supported by the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal and foundation funding.
Events
EVENT: Mini Symposium
Marking the installation of wide-bore PET insert Si198 for small animal simultaneous PET/MRI at 9.4T
SPEAKERS:
Tarek Hanna: Welcome Address
Session I
Andrew Goertzen: A Brief History of Simultaneous PET/MR System Development
Todd Sasser: How PET/MR Enables Experiments That Are Difficult with PET/CT or MR Alone
Miroslaw Janowski: Toward Interventional PET/MR Applications
Nalinikanth Kotagiri: Exploring Image-Guided Therapy with Radiation and Engineered Microbiome
Session II
Dean Wong: Four Decades of Human PET Neurochemistry Mapping: Prelude to Imaging Neuromodulation with Millisecond
Pawel Moskal: Advancing Positronium and Quantum Entanglement Imaging, and Proton Beam Therapy Monitoring with the Low-Cost, Lightweight, Portable, and MR-Compatible J-PET Scanner
Ewa Stepien: Positronium as a Novel Biomarker of Tissue Pathology
Cameron Clark: Scalable Streaming Readout for Dynamic Medical Imaging
Faculty Host: Miroslaw Janowski, MD, PhD
News
Mezrich Prize Awarded on Research Day 2026
June 2026
Congratulations to Yajie (Kevin) Liang, PhD who was the recipient of the 2026 Reuben S. Mezrich Research Prize.
The prize was awarded by Tarek Hanna, MD (left in photo) during the Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine's Research Day, which was held on June 5th.
More News
Laboratories
Core Facilities
Radiology Research Update
Newsletter published by the Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Current Issue:
Radiology Research Update August 2026.pdf
Archives
The PDF newsletters below are archived and many not meet current accessibility standards. If you need accessible content from past issues of Radiology Research Update, please email Brigitte Pocta at bpocta@som.umaryland.edu
Volunteer for a Study
Studies Seeking Volunteers
MarkVCID study – Biomarkers for Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Study volunteers are needed for a confidential clinical research study to help determine whether a special MRI scans or blood tests can detect abnormalities that tell us about brain function and risk of memory loss in people with vascular risk factors (e.g., high blood pressure or diabetes). This is a multi-center study, involving 15 sites across the country, with participants ages 60-90 years; they will be followed up annually with brain MRI scans, cognitive tests and blood tests. If interested, please call 410-706-8975 / x 1029 or email: ldonaldson@som.umaryland.edu
Cerebrovascular Reactivity and Brain Function in Older Persons with HIV
Study volunteers are needed for a confidential clinical research study to help determine whether a special MRI scan can detect blood vessel abnormalities that tell us about brain function in older people with HIV. We are seeking participants ages 50-85 years. Each participant will be evaluated with brain MRI scans, cognitive tests and blood tests. If interested, please call 410-706-8975 / x 1029 or by e-mail: mmayeli@som.umaryland.edu or ldonaldson@som.umaryland.edu
Adaptive Working Memory and Physical Exercise Training to Improve Brain and Mitochondrial Function in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Study
Volunteers are needed for a confidential clinical research study to help determine whether a coached 12-week physical exercise program and/or a 5-week computerized brain exercise program will improve memory and brain function in people with mild cognitive problems. We will also perform brain MRI scans, cognitive tests and blood tests, before and after the exercise programs. We are seeking participants ages 50-80. If interested, please call or text 443-252-2579 for more information. You can also e-mail mmayeli@som.umaryland.edu or SElOmeiri@som.umaryland.edu.
Brain Imaging Using Positron Emission Tomography-magnetic Resonance Imaging (PET-MRI)
Volunteers are needed for an imaging study that will image the vessels in the brain using positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI). Participants may be eligible if they are between ages 18 to 88 years, have a history of narrowing blood vessels in the brain, and are able to have an MRI exam. Participants will receive $400 compensation and a parking voucher for participating in this study. If interested, please contact Wenjie (Jenny) Yang Email: wenjie.yang@som.umaryland.edu; Phone: 609-285-7976. Learn More: Imaging Research Study
General Information about Volunteering
For general information about volunteering for a study, visit: