Phillip Sun, PhD
Professor of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine
Director of Non-Human-Primate Imaging Center at Emory National Primate Research Center
Location: Atlanta, GA
United States
Dr. Sun has dedicated his career to advancing MRI techniques for biomedical imaging research, spanning experimental MRI to clinical systems. His recent development of quasi-steady-state (QUASS) chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI analysis presents a breakthrough in CEST MRI standardization, introducing a novel post-processing approach to standardizing and quantifying CEST MRI measurement. This method is supported by robust data from numerical simulations, phantom studies, animal models of acute stroke and tumors, and preliminary results in brain tumor patients. Together, these findings provide compelling evidence of its potential impact. Building on this foundation, the current project focuses on translating quantitative CEST (QCEST) into clinical practice, conducting test/retest scans and evaluating the utility of QCEST MRI in Parkinson’s disease (PD) research. The goal is to develop new imaging biomarkers that shed light on the development and progression of PD, paving the way for advancements in treatment discovery.