Yi-Fen Yen, Ph.D.
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Investigator, Asst Prof (M) Radiology, Mass General Research Institute |
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Assistant Professor of Radiology Harvard Medical School |
Research Interests
Research Narrative
I am an MRI physicist and principal investigator with over two decades of experience developing advanced MRI techniques for perfusion and metabolic imaging in clinical and preclinical research. My work has significantly advanced the understanding of altered perfusion in neurodegenerative diseases, though I am best known for my research in hyperpolarized metabolic imaging. My pioneering contributions in this field began during my tenure as a Senior Scientist at GE Healthcare, leading to key discoveries in cancer metabolism with important implications for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring. I was recruited to the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at MGH to spearhead the development of a hyperpolarized metabolic imaging program.
As Director of Hyperpolarized Imaging, my lab develops novel hyperpolarized MRI probes and investigates metabolic alterations in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), heart failure, and cancer. While much of the global effort in hyperpolarized MRI focuses on ¹³C-labeled substrates, I have broadened the field by exploring other hyperpolarized x-nuclei agents, such as ¹⁵N-metronidazole, an FDA-approved antibiotic for GI infections. My research involves strong interdisciplinary collaborations using hyperpolarized imaging techniques to study metabolism in animal models. Current projects include investigating the metabolic effects of exercise on the brain and heart in AD models, developing Hyper-PET (a simultaneous PET and hyperpolarized metabolic imaging technique), assessing the effects of diabetes treatments on heart failure and AD, and monitoring early responses to novel cancer therapies.
Earlier in my career, I established a functional MRI (fMRI) program in clinical settings, conducting pioneering research on brain responses to pain, as well as brain perfusion and plasticity during stroke rehabilitation. At MGH, I expanded my functional neuroimaging research to study brain tumors and AD, integrating quantitative multimodal imaging—combining perfusion MRI, diffusion MRI, and PET—to assess treatment effects in brain tumors and cerebrovascular changes in AD.
Through my work, I aim to bridge the gap between imaging technology and clinical applications, driving innovations that will transform disease detection, treatment monitoring, and personalized medicine.
As Director of Hyperpolarized Imaging, my lab develops novel hyperpolarized MRI probes and investigates metabolic alterations in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), heart failure, and cancer. While much of the global effort in hyperpolarized MRI focuses on ¹³C-labeled substrates, I have broadened the field by exploring other hyperpolarized x-nuclei agents, such as ¹⁵N-metronidazole, an FDA-approved antibiotic for GI infections. My research involves strong interdisciplinary collaborations using hyperpolarized imaging techniques to study metabolism in animal models. Current projects include investigating the metabolic effects of exercise on the brain and heart in AD models, developing Hyper-PET (a simultaneous PET and hyperpolarized metabolic imaging technique), assessing the effects of diabetes treatments on heart failure and AD, and monitoring early responses to novel cancer therapies.
Earlier in my career, I established a functional MRI (fMRI) program in clinical settings, conducting pioneering research on brain responses to pain, as well as brain perfusion and plasticity during stroke rehabilitation. At MGH, I expanded my functional neuroimaging research to study brain tumors and AD, integrating quantitative multimodal imaging—combining perfusion MRI, diffusion MRI, and PET—to assess treatment effects in brain tumors and cerebrovascular changes in AD.
Through my work, I aim to bridge the gap between imaging technology and clinical applications, driving innovations that will transform disease detection, treatment monitoring, and personalized medicine.
Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging
Publications
| yyen1@mgh.harvard.edu |
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Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging CNY-Building #149 149 13th Street Charlestown, MA 02129-2000 |