VIL and friends conquering Fullerton Loop, July 2022.

Welcome to the Vascular Imaging Laboratory

Our focus is on using magnetic resonance imaging to advance the detection and management of vascular diseases, particularly those of the brain and neck. We strive to develop, apply and evaluate new imaging tools for the characterization of neurovascular disease. The Vascular Imaging Lab (VIL) is proud to be a component of the University of Calgary and to be part of the Seaman Family Magnetic Resonance Research Centre at the Foothills Medical Center, Alberta Health Services. We work closely with the Calgary Image Processing and Analysis Centre.

Currently, the VIL is active in imaging research that encompasses the neurovascular components of aging, stroke, vascular dementia, as well as brain tumours. These include projects that vary in scope and methodology, from development of new imaging technologies, to advanced post-processing and analysis strategies, to pilot human imaging studies. Outcomes of these and past studies can be seen through our collection of peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and research presentations at multiple national and international workshops and conferences. This effort occurs in an inclusive, supportive learning environment.

Priorities at the VIL include establishing and sustaining constructive partnerships and collaborations with other researchers, networks, and institutions; sustaining support from funding agencies and foundations; as well as the advanced training through research of our students, fellows and staff. Our collaborators, funders and trainees are key to the success of the program.

The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).

News

3DMSL paper

Kauê Publishes Work on Multistage Supervised Learning

Congratulations to Kauê Duarte who together with his co-authors has published "Multi-Stage Semi-Supervised Learning Enhances White Matter Hyperintensity Segmentation" in Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience. His work is part of a special issue on "Deep Learning and Neuroimage Processing in Understanding Neurological Diseases". (October 2024)

Talal in BME

Presentation from Talal at Alberta BME Meeting in Banff

Talal Shahid presented his work entitled, "Longitudinal Diffusion Imaging of Major White Matter Tracts Across the Adult Lifespan" at the 25th Annual Alberta Biomedical Engineering Meeting in Banff, Alberta. Great job Talal. (October 2024)

Rachel's Brain Paper

Rachel Publishes in Brain

It is finally out! Congrats on a publication in a top journal! Rachel Sharkey published her work in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the journal Brain. This interesting study was completed in collaboration with Gerald Pfeffer, Minh Dang Nguyen and colleagues. (November 2024)

Campinas Visit 2024-11

Collaborative Visit to Campinas

Richard Frayne visited the University of Campinas, Brazil and met with researchers and trainees including friends of and visitors to the VIL, Marco Antonio Carvalho and Letícia Rittner. (December 2024)

Natalia Defence 2024

Congrats to Natalia - New MSc!

Natalia Dubljevic successfully defended her MSc in Biomedical Engineering with a thesis entitled "Assessing Multi-Coil Deep-learning-based MR Image Reconstruction" supervised by Richard Frayne and Roberto Souza of the Advanced Imaging And Artificial Intelligence Lab (A2ILab).(December 2024)

Holiday party

Fun at the Group Holiday Party

Caio Santana, other VIL members and friends from other laboratories had a wonderful Holiday Party complete with lots of good food and drink, some cookie decorating and jig-saw puzzling. Event concluded with a fun-filled gift exchange around the theme of "Keeping Warm". (December 2024)

Rittner 2025

Visiting Professor from Brazil

Welcome to Letícia Rittner from the University of Campinas. She will be in Calgary visiting the AI2Lab and Vascular Imaging Laboratories for four months. (January 2025)

ISBI 2025

VIL Research Accepted at ISBI 2025

Natalia Dubljevic and Susanne Schmid have had their research accepted for presentation at the 2025 International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging (ISBI). Congratulations to Natalia, Susanne and their coauthors. (January 2025)

hbm

Age- and Sex-Specific Patterns in Adult Brain Network Segregation Paper

Congratulations to Abhi Sidhu and others in the group on publication of an important paper looking at age and sex effects in brain function. Expected to see it soon in Human Brain Mapping (10.1002/hbm.70169). (February 2025)

Kyoto 2025

Presentation at ISMRM Diffusion Study Group Workshop

Abhi Sidhu presented his work on diffusion imaging versus age and sex at the 2025 ISMRM Diffusion Study Group Workshop in Kyoto, Japan. Congratulations Abhi. (February 2025)

People

Meet the people currently working in the laboratory and our alumni

Projects

Find out more about our research activities and infrastructure.

Partners

Learn more about our training program and the funding partner that support our research activities.