John S. Leigh

Current Research Topics:

To develop innovative magnetic resonance (MR) and optical technologies for biomedical research. Many of these technologies are driven by both basic and clinical research collaborators in the biomedical field to address specific clinical problems and to further fundamental understanding of biophysical, physiological, structural, and functional properties of biological systems in vivo.

To investigate the use of multinuclear MR techniques to study the structural and metabolic properties of cartilage, brain, and muscle, with direct application to osteoarthritis, cognitive funtion, and muscular dystrophy.

To investigate the use of multinuclear MR to monitor, the efficacy of gene therapy and gene expression in general.

To develop and improve quantitative perfusion and diffusion imaging, in comparison to PET.

To develop innovative techniques for quantitative structural imaging of multiple organ systems. These techniques include MR of hyperpolarized gases, novel contrast generation using zero-quantum coherences, and imaging of tissue microstructure.

To focus on combining optical and MR imaging techniques for the study of neurophysiology, peripheral vascular disease, and breast cancer.