radiology and imaging sciences

Research

Since the first X-ray in 1895, radiology has become essential to health care. For over 75 years, the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at Indiana University School of Medicine has been at the forefront, empathizing with patients, refining diagnoses and advancing preventative treatments. But before life-saving diagnoses are made, research innovations are crucial to elevate standards of care and enhance imaging technology. From breakthroughs in interventional radiology to pioneering discoveries in PSMA PET imaging, radiology remains a cornerstone of modern medicine. 

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1 of only 33
nationally recognized Alzheimer's disease centers
$25M+
research funding for 2024
#1
radiology department among Big Ten schools, according to the Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research
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Medical Imaging Research Institute

Under the leadership of Rohan Dharmakumar, MD, PhD, vice chair of research for the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, we are introducing the next generation of imaging science research and innovation at IU School of Medicine through the establishment of the Medical Imaging Research Institute and its interdisciplinary research centers: the Center for Neuroimaging and the Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center.

The institute also has expanded the Research Imaging Core across its three locations to provide researchers, learners and industry partners access to the latest imaging research technologies.

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Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

The Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center is a multidisciplinary research program deeply committed to the goals of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD) by 2035. The center supports innovative research on the causes, risk factors, and biological underpinnings of AD/ADRD, with particular emphasis on early detection, precision medicine, and biomarker discovery. Major activities include advanced neuroimaging, genetics, and fluid biomarker research, as well as educational programs for researchers and outreach to broadly represented communities.

Research stories
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Rapid blood test can detect heart attack patients at highest risk of in-hospital death

A rapid blood test can help detect a dangerous heart condition. 

Professional headshots of Rohan Dharmakumar, PhD and Keyur Vora, MD
Cardiovascular Medicine

Not all heart attacks are the same, more customized treatments needed to prevent heart failure

What happens to the heart muscle after a heart attack is just as critical as how clinicians treat heart attacks when they happen. Nearly a third of heart attack patients may be diagnosed with heart failure after one year. Researchers are looking at myocardial tissue damage for answers — and potential therapies.