Advanced Imaging Lab (AIL)
Advanced Imaging Lab (AIL) engages basic science and clinical faculty to provide a platform for cutting edge non-invasive translational imaging research. Our specialty (although not limited to) is MRI methods and postprocessing algorithm development for translational cardiovascular imaging. Research activities have focused on noninvasive MSK and cardiovascular MRI techniques, especially those investigating macro and microvascular blood flow and muscle function. The lab and faculty are actively engaged with mentoring graduate students, medical students, fellows, and junior faculty.
Housed in Children’s Hospital Colorado, we focus on fetal and pediatric imaging; however, research activities span the lifetime of our patients. AIL faculty and staff include experts in MRI pulse sequence programming, cardiac, vascular and microvascular MRI, image reconstruction and postprocessing. Additional services include the operation of an imaging core, which supports clinical and research image acquisition and postprocessing.
Principal Investigators
Alex J Barker, PhD Director, Advanced Imaging Lab Children's Hospital Colorado Professor of Radiology and Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz | Erin Englund, PhD Director of Muscle and Microvascular Research Children's Hospital Colorado Assistant Professor of Radiology University of Colorado Anschutz |
“Your work generated immediate impact and visibility, contributing significantly to the advancement of your field.”
A quote from the announcement in Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Journal after the article Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging phantoms: A review and the need for a system phantom was published. The article by Dr. Barker and his colleagues was recognized as one of the journal’s top downloaded papers in 2017-2018.
Keenan KE, Ainslie M, Barker AJ, Boss MA, Cecil KM, Charles C, Chenevert TL, Clarke L, Evelhoch JL, Finn P, Gembris D, Gunter JL, Hill DLG, Jack CR, Jackson EF, Liu G, Russek SE, Sharma SD, Steckner M, Stupic KF, Trzasko JD, Yuan C, Zheng J. Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging phantoms: A review and the need for a system phantom. Magn Reson Med. 2018 Jan; 79(1):48-61. PMID: 29083101
Did You Know...??
- The Radiology Department in Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO) is currently leading and/or collaborating in the conduction of approximately 200 research protocols?!
- As of December 2019 the Children’s Radiology Department published 32 research articles?!
- A group of students from Lakewood High visited the Advanced Imaging Lab in November – there was great discussion during their Q&A session!
Get Involved
Check out the Courage Classic Fundraising Page for Children’s Hospital Colorado
Want to help be a part of fundraising for Children’s Hospital Colorado with the Advanced Imaging Lab?
Check Out Some of Our Work
AIL Member Publications and Links
Dr. Alex Barker
- Barker, A.J., Markl, M., Burk, J., Lorenz, R., Bock, J., Bauer, S., Schulz-Menger, J., and von. Knobelsdorff-Brenkenhoff, F., Bicuspid Aortic Valve Is Associated with Altered Wall Shear Stress in the Ascending Aorta. Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, 2012. 5(4): p. 457-66. (Circulation Editors’ “Most Read” articles on Aortic Disease and Circulation Cardiovascular Imaging Editors’ “Most Important Articles in Cardiovascular Imaging Science”)Naresh NK, Haji-Valizadeh H, Aouad PJ, Barrett MJ, Chow K, Ragin AB, Collins JD, Carr JC, Lee DC, Kim D., Accelerated, first-pass cardiac perfusion pulse sequence with radial
- Barker, A.J., van Ooij, P., Bandi, K., Garcia, J., Albaghdadi, M., McCarthy, P., Bonow, R.O.,Carr, J., Collins, J., Malaisrie, C., and Markl, M., Viscous Energy Loss in the Presence of Abnormal Aortic Flow. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 2014. 72(3): p. 620-8.
- Barker, A.J., Roldán-Alzate, A., Entezari, P., Shah, S.J., Chesler, N.C., Wieben, O., Markl,M., and François, C.J., 4D Flow Assessment of Pulmonary Artery Flow and Wall Shear Stress in Adult Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Results from Two Institutions. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 2015. 73(5): p. 1904-13.
Complete Publication Listing for Dr. Barker: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1dmVQRPTKI2kJ/bibliography/public/
Dr. Nivi Naresh
- Naresh NK, Xu Y, Klibanov AL, Vandsburger MH, Meyer CH, Leor J, Kramer CM, French BA, Epstein FH., Monocyte and/or macrophage infiltration of heart after myocardial infarction: MR imaging by using T1-shortening liposomes., Radiology. 2012 Aug;264(2):428-35. doi: 10.1148/radiol.12111863. Epub 2012 Jun 21.
- Naresh NK, Butcher JT, Lye RJ, Chen X, Isakson BE, Gan LM, Kramer CM, Annex BH, Epstein FH., Cardiovascular magnetic resonance detects the progression of impaired myocardial perfusion reserve and increased left-ventricular mass in mice fed a high-fat diet., J Cardiovasc Magn Reson. 2016 Sep 9;18(1):53.k-space sampling, compressed sensing, and k-space weighted image contrast reconstruction tailored for visual analysis and quantification of myocardial blood flow., Magn Reson Med. 2019 Apr;81(4):2632-2643.
Complete Listing for Dr. Naresh: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=G_KFpPAAAAAJ&hl=en
Current Projects in the Advanced Imaging Lab
Our lab specializes in the hemodynamics of congenital heart disease as measured by 4D flow MRI. Here are some of our ongoing projects
 | Image, Data Gathering and Analysis Protocols
|
 | Fetal MRI and Advanced Gating Strategies
|
 | MRI measurement of mechanotransduction forces in the presence of valve diseaseDr. Barker’s NIH R01 (R01HL133504) is investigating whether hemodynamic forces impact aortic aneurysm formation. This multicenter effort includes collaboration with Northwestern University and University of Calgary |
 | Big data biomedical image analysis and machine learningConvolutional neural networks are being trained to postprocess and stratify disease based on our large pediatric database of 4D flow and CMR imaging data. Efforts include database design, image annotation, and artificial intelligence algorithm design
|
MRI Pulse sequence programming of motion control algorithms to minimize artifactsWe are active in the implementation radial k-space trajectories and compressed sensing to shorten exam time and reduce motion artifact for fetal and cardiac imaging |
Learn More About CHCO Research
Funding
Current Funding in the Advanced Imaging Lab
Active
SCMR Seed Grant (PI: Naresh, N.K.)
“MRI Of anthracycline-related-Cardiotoxicity in Kids (MOCK)”
03/01/2020-02/28/2021
NIH-R01HL133504 (MPI: Barker AJ/ Fedak PWM)
“Role of Valve-Mediated Hemodynamics on Bicuspid Aortopathy”
5/1/2017-4/30/2022
CCTSI New Methods Development (PI: Bjornstad, Co-PI: Barker)
“Phase-Contrast MRI to Calculate Glomerular Filtration Rate Study“
5/1/2019-4/30/2020
Inactive
NIH-K25HL119608 (PI: Barker AJ)
“Hemodynamic Loading of the Left Ventricle and Aorta in Aortic Valve Disease”
5/1/2014-4/30/2020
NIH- R01HL115828 (PI: Markl / co-PI: Barker)
“Functional Cardiovascular 4D MRI in Congenital Heart Disease”
Role: Co-PI (Relinquished 5/31/2018 due to transfer to University of Colorado; remain involved as a collaborator)
4/1/2018-4/30/2022
CRYOLIFE (PI: Barker AJ)
“Investigation of Post-Surgical Aortic Hemodynamics After Aortic Valve Replacement”
08/14/2017-08/14/2020
ABBOTT (PI: Thomas J
“Improved Quantitation of Mitral Regurgitation Before and After MitraClip In vitro and Computational Modeling”
5/5/2016-5/4/2019
AHA-16POST27250158 (PI: Barker AJ)
“Evaluation of tissue at-risk for remodeling after aortic root or valve repair in bicuspid aortic valve”
1/1/2016-12/31/2017
Opportunities
Interested in learning more about opportunities in the Advanced Imaging Lab?
We are actively recruiting imaginative, driven and highly motivated students, postdocs, and research faculty. Please contact Emma Hulseberg-Dwyer, Program and Lab Research Manager, to inquire: [email protected].
Undergraduate Students and Interns
Students from Engineering, Physics, Comp. Sci, Biology, Neuroscience, Statistics, send us a note! We’d love to hear about your interests and how we can contribute to growing your knowledge base and research aims.
Graduate Students
The AIL encourages Masters and PhD students to reach out about potential offerings to contribute to a foundation in research and develop new projects that add expertise to the lab and to student’s career goals.
Post-Doctoral Fellows
We invite post-docs to inquire about opportunities to develop and initiate their own projects to grow the mission and vision of the lab.
Research Assistants
Professional research assistants (PRAs) please reach out to learn more about the AIL.
Research Faculty
Please inquire about current open faculty positions within the Advanced Imaging Lab.
 | Director: Associate Professor | Alex Barker, PhD |
![thumbnail_EnglundSolo[1]](/images/librariesprovider206/research/thumbnail_englundsolo-1.jpg?sfvrsn=a219f3b9_0&MaxWidth=200&MaxHeight=200&ScaleUp=true&Quality=High&Method=ResizeFitToAreaArguments&Signature=48F0217574FF2A1C90C581BB13F3F62558AD6657 "thumbnail_EnglundSolo[1]") | Assistant Research Professor | Erin Englund, PhD |
 | Research Scientist | Takashi Fujiwara, PhD |
 | Senior Clinical Research Coordinator | Kira Lanewala, MPH |
 | Postprocessing Specialist | Janet McGee |
 | Postprocessing Specialist | Kathy Jensen |
 | Postprocessing Specialist | Salina Watson |
Lab Member Alums
 | Student Research Assistant | Alex Berthusen, BS (MS Student) |
 | Clinical Research Coordinator | Emily Palmeri |
 | Lab/Program Manager | Emma Hulseberg-Dwyer |
Clinical Partners and Associates
| University of Colorado Anschutz and Children’s Hospital Colorado | ||
| Lorna Browne, MD, Clinical Director of Cardiac and Body Imaging | Nick Stence, MD, Clinical Director of Neurology | Mariana Meyers, MD |
| David Mirsky, MD | Dunbar Ivy, MD | Uyen Truong, MD |
| Brian Fonseca, MD | Kristen Nadeau, MD, MS | Jane E.B. Reusch, MD |
| Petter Bjornstad, MD | Michal Schafer, PhD | Seonghwan Yee, PhD |
Collaborators
| Northwestern University, Chicago, IL | ||
| Michael Markl, PhD | James Carr, MD | Patrick McCarthy, MD |
| S. Chris Malaisrie |
| University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada | ||
| Paul W.M. Fedak, MD, PhD | Elena S. DiMartino, PhD | James A. White, MD |
| Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ |
| Amir Arzani, PhD |