The overarching goal of the Neuroimaging EWG is to identify the requirements and expectations necessary for validation of an imaging method for utilization as a diagnostic, prognostic or predictive modality for traumatic brain injury. A secondary objective is to review current imaging methods as they pertain to TBI and make recommendations regarding what, if any, further validation is required and/or if new imaging modalities are needed.

Lead: Pratik Mukherjee, MD PhD | Dr. Mukherjee is Professor in Residence in the Department Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Bioengineering, and he is an attending neuroradiologist at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He is the Director of the Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Disease (CIND) based at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. He also directs the Neural Connectivity Laboratory (NCL) at UCSF. Pratik’s primary clinical research is the study of neurodevelopmental disorders and traumatic brain injury using advanced MRI. His research has been focused on technical development, neuroscience and clinical applications of advanced imaging methods for mapping structure and function of the human brain, especially diffusion MRI. He is responsible for leading the Neuroimaging Core of the TED Initiative.

Co-Lead: Art Toga, PhD | Dr. Toga is Provost Professor at the University of Southern California, the Director of the Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics (INI), and Director of the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI). His research focuses on neuroimaging, informatics, mapping brain structure and function, and brain atlasing. Dr. Toga has developed multimodal imaging and data aggregation strategies and applied them in a variety of neurological diseases and psychiatric disorders. He directs several national and international collaborative studies that involve multi-site acquisition of data, coordination of analysis, and dissemination of data and results. Dr. Toga has experience and expertise in local and wide area computer networks, data transmission, storage and archiving as well as data compression and scientific visualization.

Co-Lead: Christine Mac Donald, PhD |Dr. Mac Donald is an Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington. She is a clinical research scientist and neuroimaging specialist with particular expertise in advanced MRI methods and the application of these imaging methods to traumatic brain injury (TBI). Her current research focus includes advanced neuroimaging evaluation of mild traumatic brain injury in the US military, severe civilian brain injury, and pediatric sports concussion. She has over 10 years of experience conducting both preclinical and clinical advanced MRI research 7 of which have been managing and directing large scale international clinical research studies in the United States, Italy, Germany, and Afghanistan.