VIL and friends hiking the Elbow River, June 2023

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

Sibgrapi 2025

Richard Presents at SIBGRAPI in Salvador, Brazil

Richard Frayne presented Kaue Duarte's work on Longitudinal White Matter Hyperintensity Segmentation with LSTM-Enhanced U-Nets at the 2025 Conference on Graphics, Patterns and Images (SIBGRAPI) held in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Photo is with Alexandre Falcão from UNICAMP. (September 2025)

Abhi at CCNA 2025

Abhi Presents on Sex and Gender Analysis at CCNA

Abhi Sidhu presented his work and participated in a panel discussion at the 2025 Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging  (CCNA) meeting held in Calgary. Here former VIL member Kauê Duarte listens intently. (October 2025)

Uday at BME

Uday Speaks at Alberta BME

Udayveer Harikay presented a poster and delivered at poster pitch talk at the 2025 Alberta Biomedical Engineering Meeting in Canmore, Alberta. Congratulations to Uday on a job well done. (October 2025)

Richard at SIPAIM 2025 in Colombia

Richard Presents VIL work at SIPAIM

Richard Frayne presented work from post-doctoral fellow, Kauê Duarte, and undergraduate research student, Julia Chu, at the 2025 International Symposium on Medical Information Processing and Analysis (SIPAIM) Conference held in Pasto, Colombia. (November 2025)

Abhi at Comp Neuro Conference

Abhi and Jaya Present Recent Research

Abhi Sidhu presented his recent work on structural connectivity in aging and by sex at HBI Computational Neuroscience workshop. Also presenting their research at the workshop was Jaya Bansal. (December 2025)

Lab Photo 2025

Postdoctoral Scholar Position Available at VIL

Come work with us! We are currently recruiting a Postdoctoral Scholar in Quantitative Medical Imaging in Aging and Neurodegeneration. Sorry, position is now closed and review of candidates underway. (March 2026)

Riding in 2026

Richard Rides 2026 for Heart and Stroke

Thanks to many generous friends and family, Richard Frayne raised over $2,500 for the Heart and Stroke Ride for Heart Campaign in 2025. This year he is again delighted to support this worthy cause. Researchers in the VIL are proud to have been supported by Heart and Stroke over the last 25+ years. See link for more information and to support this worthy cause. (April 2026)

Summer Students 2025

Welcome Aboard to 2026 Summer Students

Welcome to Uday Harikay and Ronik Sharma. Both have joined the VIL as undergraduate research students for summer 2026! Congratulations to both for winning competitive summer student awards. Uday returns to the VIL and was awarded funding through the Faculty of Kinesiology. Ronik joins us from the University of British Columbia. He received funding from the Calgary BME program. (April 2026)

Abhi at 2026 ISMRM

Abhi Presents in Cape Town

Abhi Sidhu presented his work in Cape Town, South Africa at the 2026 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine meeting. His presentation described changes in structural and functional connectivity measures over age and by sex. (May 2026)

VIL Group 2025

Research Coordinator Position Available at VIL

We are currently recruiting a Research Assistant to coordinate patient recruitment and support data analysis for the Calgary Normative Study. If you are interested in working as part of a dynamic and fun research team? Apply at University of Calgary job web site - Research Assistant, Radiology (Job ID: 37585). Position closes on 5 June 2026. (May 2026)

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.