Dr. Weiss’s research interests include, virtual autopsy, rapid MRI osteoporosis and cancer screening, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and diffusion tensor-fMRI, as well as increasing standards of practice through computer automated CT and MRI prescriptions and digital imaging processing with an emphasis on patent development. As a principal investigator for GE, Dr. Weiss’s research includes state-of-the-art, pre-release, MRI beta software for the neuroaxis in both the pediatric and adult populations. Dr. Weiss is an International UC faculty member for the Institutional Collaboration Agreement between Beijing Jiaotong University and University of Cincinnati. For more information on this research collaboration visit: https://www.uc.edu/international/cosmic/Default.aspx
No-Cost Automated Neuroaxis MRI Screen in Children: Dr. Weiss has been awarded $100,000 by the State of Ohio, to provide Hamilton County’s at-risk children with no-cost brain and spine MRI studies. This latest technology developed by Dr. Weiss and Judd Storrs, Department of Biomedical Engineering, rapidly screens the brain and spine using MRI and computer automation. In combination with GE’s pre-clinical release software “Pedi Pack” rapid state of the art imaging of pediatric neurologic disorders is now available at UC. The mission is to reduce the need for sedation, x-radiation and the high imaging cost associated with diagnosis and surveillance of children with chronic neurological conditions as well as to further UC’s Intellectual Property holdings. This research is a collaborative effort between UC and research scholars in Beijing, China. For physician referrals contact Dr. Weiss at 584-1584. To obtain more information about our no-cost, free MRI neuro screen exams for school-aged children please visit our websites:
http://healthnews.uc.edu/experts/?/4593/
Bone Metastases: Rapid Automated Surveillance Technique: The American Cancer Society has award Dr. Weiss $30,000 to investigate to improve detection and risk assessment of spine metastasis in breast cancer patients. Specific aims of this study include adapting and combining MRI Automated Spine Survey Iterative Scan Technique (ASSIST) with a recently developed GE IDEAL MR sequence to provide quantitative and qualitative assessment of fatty bone marrow replacement for early detection of metastatic disease to the spine and differentiation of pathologic from osteoporosis-related fractures. Sensitivity and specificity will be compared to state-of-the art PET/CT scanning. ASSIST-IDEAL will help stratify risk for developing vertebral metastasis or fracture, whether pathologic or osteoporosis-related. Patients at high risk may then be appropriately treated with IV or oral bisphosphonate prophylaxis, while others spared the inherent risks and cost.
View the preliminary data presented at the 2008 ISMRM <click here>
Automated Spine MRI Detection of Breast Metastases: UC Cancer Center has generously awarded Dr. Weiss $20,000 to further supplement the American Cancer Society grant work described above.
Virtual Bone Biopsy: Transfer to the Clinical Area: MicroMRI Inc. has developed a high resolution MRI wrist coil and associated software for the assessment of bone microarchitecture. The purpose of his technology is to serve as a biomarker for early detection and surveillance of osteoporosis. Several clinical trials are now underway. MicroMRI is funded by the NIH.
Hybrid Reconstruction Kernel: Optimized Head, Neck, Spine and Chest CT: Over the last several years, cross sectional imaging modalities have significantly increased both the conspicuity of anatomy/pathology and the number of images in a study. Radiologists have a limited amount of time to view and interpret radiologic studies, especially ER studies. Of additional importance, radiologists are documenting occupational injuries as a result of increased workload relative to the high number of images per study. This research aims to develop and test a hybrid CT algorithm to simultaneously optimize bone and soft tissue characterization for the purpose of determining radiologist preference for single hybrid image or acquired conventional images and to potentially halve the number of images that need to be stored, transmitted, and reviewed.
View this technology click on < Head> <Spine> <Chest>
Multiparametric Virtual Autopsy: The use of multiple diagnostic imaging modalities pre-autopsy for the purpose of complementing or replacing traditional autopsy. This research is conducted in conjunction with the NIH supported The University of Cincinnati Medical School Summer Research Program, the Departments of Radiology and Pathology.
Neuroscience Made Memorable: The goal of this study is to test the effectiveness of mnemonic strategies in medical education and identify brain structures that are activated during successful encoding and recall. Funding for this research is shared by The University of Cincinnati Dean’s Office and the Department of Radiology. Read more:
Did mnemonics help the medical students? What did the fMRI show?
Automated Spine Survey Iterative Scan Technique (ASSIST): This purpose of this research to assess our new automated clinical MRI spine survey protocol’s ability to accurately identify and number all spinal vertebrae and inter vertebral spaces C2-S1 and to evaluate the software’s ability to assess morphology by 3D measurement as well as non-morphologic abnormalities based on inter subject comparative variance of MR signal profiles. Preliminary results from this ongoing research have yielded, a GE material transfer agreement, international scientific presentation, US Patent application and several grant applications. This research is funded by The College of Medicine and The University of Cincinnati, Department of Radiology.
Automated Spine MRI for Rapid Osteoporosis Screening: The goal of this research is to apply a novel MRI technique, which will provide efficient screening and iterative assessment of patients at risk for osteoporotic spine fractures in post-menopausal women. Preliminary results have yielded State and NIH grant applications as well as industry interest. This research is funded by The University of Cincinnati, Department of Radiology.
Virtual Bone Biopsy (VBB): The University of Cincinnati Osteoporosis Center has joined together with GE Healthcare, Proctor & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, MicroMRI Inc and the Universities of Pennsylvania and Hadassah to develop and refine state-of-the-art technologies for the purpose of identifying osteoporosis and predicting the risk of incurring a spine fracture over the course of the disease. The technology visualizes the microarchitecture of bone which has been found to be a better predictor of future fractures in osteoporotic patients. UC has developed a low-cost, rapid, non-invasive method for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, osteoporotic fracture and evaluation of treatment, using MRI. Specialized software is used to count and number the vertebrae and identify any fractures in the spine. The presence of increased fat in vertebrae combined with the measurement of bone architecture will serve to better screen, assess and monitor patients with osteoporosis leading to a better quality of life. This investigative work is sponsored by P&GP and MicroMRI Inc. Clinical trials are now underway with UC serving as a beta site for this state-of-the-art technology.
Click here for to see Virtual Bone Biopsy <VBB>
Automated Brain Image Prescriptions and Multiparametric Analysis: The goal of this research is to standardize and improve the diagnostic evaluation of the neuro-axis. Preliminary results include 2 peer reviewed publications and a pending US patent. The NIH T-35 MSSRP, The College of Medicine and the University of Cincinnati, Department of Radiology funds this research.
Integrated Diffusion Tensor fMRI: To improve the surgical and radiation therapy treatment of brain lesions. Preliminary results include the incorporation with Neurosurgical planning and one peer reviewed publication. The Mayfield Institute, The College of Medicine and the University of Cincinnati, Department of Radiology support and fund this research.