Curtis Johnson seeks to advance imaging capabilities and expand interdisciplinary collaborations
Curtis Johnson has been named director of the University of Delaware’s Center for Biomedical and Brain Imaging (CBBI), a state-of-the-art facility that houses the state’s first research-dedicated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Johnson is an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, where he also serves as graduate program director.
“Curtis’ leadership in our department has been key to the amazing growth of our graduate programs over the past five years,” said department chair Ryan Zurakowski. “I am excited to see how CBBI will grow under his direction.”
Johnson brings deep scientific expertise and hands-on experience to his new role. His team uses MRI to study how tissue mechanics reveal the structure, function and health of organs, with a particular focus on the brain.
“I’m eager to grow our research capabilities and deepen collaborations across disciplines so that together we can advance what’s possible with magnetic resonance imaging,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s lab develops MRI-based technologies that map the mechanical properties of brain tissue, pinpointing areas of stiffness or softness. These measurements offer insight into brain health and help detect degeneration from aging or disease, with applications across neuroscience, neurology and neurosurgery.
“Curtis’ innovative research on Alzheimer’s and other diseases is advancing our knowledge of the early stages of neurodegeneration,” added Zurakowski. “The imaging facilities at CBBI are key to this interdisciplinary research, which spans engineering and medicine.”
Under Johnson’s leadership, CBBI is poised to accelerate cutting-edge imaging research and foster new collaborations across disciplines.