Temel Tirkes, MD

My primary interest has been advanced MR imaging techniques of pancreatic diseases, specifically exploring new imaging techniques of chronic pancreatitis. I published the first paper about the T1 mapping of chronic pancreatitis. T1 mapping opens a new era in abdominal MR imaging since it provides quantitative data. Another significant contribution to the MR imaging of chronic pancreatitis was demonstrating the T1 signal of the pancreatic parenchyma to be a non-invasive technique to estimate the exocrine dysfunction of the pancreas. 

I am currently a co-investigator at Indiana University for two studies receiving grant support from NIH/NIDDK as part of the Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer (CPDPC) (UO1).  In this consortium, investigators from nine institutions propose to conduct well-powered studies of risk factors, environmental influences, and proof-of-concept studies to move the field forward, particularly those factors that increase the risk of diabetes and malignancy.  

While my academic interests are mostly focused on advanced MR imaging of pancreatic diseases, my primary clinical interests have focused on advanced multi-modality MR imaging of the prostate.  

As the director of Genitourinary Radiology, I am primarily responsible for multi-parametric MR imaging of the prostate, which has been doubling in volume over the past 5 years.  In collaboration with the Urology department, we became a site for offering MRI-guided transurethral ultrasound therapy device for prostate ablation in patients with localized prostate cancer.  This is a phase II FDA clinical trial including 10 institutions around the World.