Biomedical Imaging

One of the strengths of the program is the 15-month thesis project, where students directly apply knowledge gained in their first-year courses through one of two tracks:

• Laboratory Track: Students in the Laboratory Track complete an imaging research thesis project in one of the imaging research laboratories at Weill Cornell or Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
• Clinical Track: Students in the Clinical Track complete a thesis project designed around innovations in the practice of radiology with a faculty member devoted to clinical service and innovation.

Together, Weill Cornell Medicine and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center manage one of the world's most comprehensive inventories of imaging hardware and software, through the Citigroup Biomedical Imaging Center and Microscopy and Image Analysis Research Core facilities (WCM) and the Animal Imaging Core (MSKCC), providing training and research experience with MRI, PET, SPECT, CT, ultrasound and optical imaging, and image analysis services.

Our faculty have been at the forefront of many advances in biomedical imaging research and clinical applications, including positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), artificial intelligence and machine learning, and ultrasound localization microscopy:  

• Doug Ballon (WCM) developed a new PET method to track the distribution of AAV gene transfer vectors, critical for assessing gene therapy  
• Ricardo Otazo (MSKCC) used deep learning to develop faster motion-resistant 3D and motion-resolved 4D acquisition of MRI images
• Jonathan Dyke and Sadek Nehmeh, working with the Women’s Brain Initiative (WCM), used PET to discover that estrogen receptor density in certain brain regions increases over the course of the menopause transition in correlation with menopausal symptoms.
• Mark Burgess (MSKCC) and Jeff Ketterling (WCM) characterized a nanoscale phase-change contrast agent for use in ultrasound localization microscopy to map microbubbles traveling through even the smallest, low-flow microvessels. 

This program prepares students to pursue:

• Additional academic training in PhD programs. Past students have gone on to doctoral programs including Northwestern University and Washington University St. Louis. Options also exist to earn a PhD at one of several programs at Cornell (Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics), and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (Cancer Biology, Cancer Engineering).
• Professional roles in the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and imaging equipment  industries and in healthcare systems. Past students have gone on to research associate, medical technologist, and radiochemist positions.