Radiology Research Labs
The Advanced Imaging Lab (AIL) - Alex Barker, PhD
The Advanced Imaging Lab (AIL) engages basic science and clinical faculty to provide a platform for cutting edge non-invasive translational imaging research. Housed in Children’s Hospital Colorado, we focus on pediatric imaging; however, research activities often span the lifetime of the patient. AIL faculty and staff include experts in MRI pulse sequence programming, cardiac and vascular MRI, image reconstruction and postprocessing. Additional services include the operation of an imaging core, which supports clinical and research image acquisition and postprocessing.
Brain Alcohol Research Laboratory - Joshua Gowin, PhD
We are interested in better understanding how brain function relates to an individual’s likelihood for engaging in risky patterns of substance use. We are currently studying adolescents in the transition period after high school to determine whether brain imaging metrics can help predict an individual’s likelihood of developing problematic patterns of use in the future. Future interests include examining the endogenous cannabinoid system to better understand how its function relates to substance use. We are also interested in acute drug administration methods to examine how neurotransmitter systems like dopamine and serotonin impact behavior and overall brain function.
iQ Lab - Julio Carballido-Gamio, PhD
The iQ Lab is dedicated to the development and implementation of novel image analysis algorithms for the identification and quantification of relevant features in medical images for musculoskeletal assessments in osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and HIV.
We work with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), quantitative computed tomography (QCT), high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) and dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
Animal Imaging - Natalie Serkova, PhD
Oncologic imaging is one of the fastest developing areas in cancer research because it answers multiple mechanistic and translational questions by noninvasive means and often in real time. The Animal Imaging Shared Resource (AISR) provides CU Cancer Center investigators access to state-of-the-art imaging instrument to facilitate non-invasive animal imaging studies. We offer MRI, PET, CT, bioluminescence, and fluorescence imaging. In addition, NMR-based metabolomics and irradiation services are available. We provide our investigators with the established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all imaging-related animal handling and help in submitting to the IACUC.
AI Medical Imaging Lab - Harrison Bai, MD, MS
The AI
Medical Imaging Lab at the University of Colorado Anschutz is a
multidisciplinary group at the intersection of radiology, biomedical
engineering, and machine learning. Our mission is to create reliable AI systems
that make imaging interpretation faster, more consistent, and more
predictive—and to deliver those systems safely into real clinical use.
Methodologically, we focus on foundation and vision-language models that align
images with radiology reports and clinical data, enabling automated structured
reporting, robust lesion detection/segmentation, longitudinal response
assessment, and survival/risk prediction.
We
emphasize scale and generalization through multi-institutional datasets, data
harmonization, rigorous benchmarks, and external validation. Clinically, our
programs span FDG and PSMA PET/CT in oncology, CT for pulmonary embolism risk
stratification, and multimodal pipelines that combine imaging with EHR signals.
Translationally, we collaborate with Brown University and Johns Hopkins and
partner with Siemens Healthineers to integrate models into syngo.via and
teamplay for evaluation, QA, and eventual deployment.
Our
culture is hands-on and collaborative: physicians, engineers, and data
scientists co-design studies, annotate data, ship code, and iterate with
clinicians. We mentor trainees across levels and share practical tools whenever
possible. Ultimately, our goal is simple: AI that is accurate, reliable, and
useful—improving reports, decisions, and outcomes for patients.