https://mechneurolab.squarespace.com/research daily 0.75 2023-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1603847296979-PED2AU9HRD5NRT8ICP4D/mre_overview.gif Research | Mechanical Neuroimaging Lab https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1603288561477-6N7MKR3NQMPUXFWV3FVK/brainstiff.jpg Research | Mechanical Neuroimaging Lab - Aging Brain Mechanics We are using MRE to study how brain mechanical properties change with aging, how they reflect cognitive decline, and are affected by lifestyle factors like exercise. Ongoing clinical projects examine mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1603287938918-0P8FPXT5T1SODOMKNHYI/pediatric.jpg Research | Mechanical Neuroimaging Lab - Pediatric Brain MRE Our group is developing new, fast MRE methods to study pediatric populations to better understand brain maturation. We have active projects in typical and atypical development, including autism and cerebral palsy, and in characterizing pediatric brain tumors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1603288301120-BZMDWND3LDLMQY81E857/hippocampus-113hnvc.jpg Research | Mechanical Neuroimaging Lab - Traumatic Brain Injury Mechanical properties of the brain are critical for predicting, modeling, and assessing traumatic brain injuries (TBI). We are using MRE to build models of TBI, determine how the brain moves and deforms on impact, and how brain health changes due to repeated head impacts in hockey players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1603851634292-LXMZEH5T7JOMJRX8QJQX/fundingrow.png Research | Mechanical Neuroimaging Lab https://mechneurolab.squarespace.com/active-studies daily 0.75 2023-08-31 https://mechneurolab.squarespace.com/home daily 1.0 2024-02-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1603848714106-UEEYRUA7RPI0R0M75W8B/Untitled-6.png Mechanical Neuroimaging Lab https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1603848822425-TTBZOCG9P93JFLNRRUTU/IMG_1402-2-e1583348506908-768x875.jpg Mechanical Neuroimaging Lab - Active Studies Have you ever wanted to be involved in scientific research? Our lab is always looking for individuals interested in participating in research studies. If this sounds like something you or someone you know would enjoy, then follow this link and take a peak at some of our active studies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/2eada34b-d2ce-49bb-87e7-5c0e36393e84/IMG_5540.jpg Mechanical Neuroimaging Lab - Lab Members The Mechanical Neuroimaging Lab comprises highly motivated individuals from a variety of academic backgrounds. Get to know us a little better! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1597209755306-HW8N9XC5PZGECPANMFG4/research-2h3un3e-e1580323397683-768x420.png Mechanical Neuroimaging Lab - Publications Here you can find a list of our lab’s publications. You can also find a complete and updated list on Google Scholar and Research Gate https://mechneurolab.squarespace.com/publications daily 0.75 2026-03-17 https://mechneurolab.squarespace.com/team daily 0.75 2026-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/20b1b0d1-db48-448c-b54e-595445459093/IMG_2617.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/6de4b212-868c-4f79-a2da-92d42f0b25a6/IMG_4589.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1632938566543-T81KPX8BBB173MSXR6BJ/IMG_2766.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/862b9fce-9e4b-47db-93b5-97fb63b97ca3/IMG_0887.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/171cea32-5934-4ac7-a763-b061f156d10c/IMG_2818+2.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/0de10775-44e7-4c8b-8cfa-a1a571b7e265/257D88AC-1467-41FD-8675-7412B0111EE1_1_105_c.jpeg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/ff63cfce-0246-498e-8d03-53337d5f07a2/IMG_2772.JPG Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1597234384247-4YMW1IZARFP3TMDIF38W/carousel1.png Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1597234396810-68AK9FT08ZDUXA115347/carousel2.png Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1597234408094-JEEDH1X8VY0DT1BLQRSO/carousal3.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/add157bb-51b5-4593-a818-f61b94b7de43/IMG_9337.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/39ba3a34-bd41-4217-a01d-e93c5460a0ba/IMG_1530.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/cdf56988-2fea-437e-855d-bcf6bba031ee/IMG_7807.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/fad2e866-ddb9-43a7-b3dc-7aae2ecccb37/ok+not+horrible.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/c5506844-566e-4005-8460-b0508b26816c/IMG_7270.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/8989e041-519e-47dc-908d-b0a835c685b5/CHS-Cognitive_Aging_Center_Curtis_Johnson-072722-02.jpg Team - Curtis L. Johnson, PhD Principal Investigator clj@udel.edu Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering Director, Center for Biomedical and Brain Imaging Tobias Keene, D.D.S. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Tobias Keene brings a bit of unabashed Southern hospitality to all his patients. He moved to Washington, D.C. over thirty years ago as a freshman at Ivy College. Right after graduation, he attended World University’s School of Dentistry. Before opening Keene Dental in 1994, he worked for free clinics and some of the finest practices in the District. He is part of the 123 Dental Association and stays up-to-date on the latest dental discoveries. When not striving to keep his patients happy and healthy, he’s enjoys hiking with his family in Rock Creek Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/f12e14f2-bc45-46b1-80f1-5a5fb2641af3/IMG-1598-Original.jpg Team - Katrina Milbocker, PhD Post-doctoral Researcher kmilbock@udel.edu Katrina is a joint Postdoctoral Researcher in the Biomedical Engineering department at the University of Delaware and at Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children. She is currently investigating disease progression of several neurological disorders using preclinical and clinical Magnetic Resonance Elastography scanning combined with histopathological analysis of brain tissue. Her focus lies on adapting Magnetic Resonance Elastography for use on rodents to understand the biomechanics of the female brain in health and neurologic disease. She received her doctorate in Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Delaware under the co-mentorship of Drs. Anna Klintsova and Tania Roth. During her graduate studies, Katrina evaluated the capacity for aerobic exercise to enhance white matter maturation in a preclinical model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders from the ultrastructual to systems-levels. Her work merited awards from the Society for Neuroscience, Research Society on Alcohol, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Study Group, International Society for Developmental Psychobiology, and a 2018 University of Delaware Woman of Promise award. While pursuing her Ph.D., Katrina also completed her MS in Neuroscience at the University of Delaware and founded a local Scientista Foundation chapter with the mission of supporting the advancement of women in STEM. Katrina received dual degrees in Comprehensive Science and Bioethics from Villanova University in 2017. She first developed a passion for research while working as a research assistant for Dr. Scott Lorch at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia/University of Pennsylvania Research Institute where she studied the intersectionality of race, socioeconomic status, and accessibility to quality healthcare on disparities in pediatric health outcomes. She was a key contributor to the development of the CHOP Baby & Books program which supports language development in premature infants. In her free time, Katrina enjoys traveling, participating in water sports, and frequenting new restaurants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1628806877972-9R05W82GXY4YHD87IZHJ/MaryKramer_Headshot.jpg Team - Mary Kramer Biomedical Engineering mkkramer@udel.edu Mary is a PhD student in the Biomedical Engineering department and completed her BS in Biomedical Engineering at University of South Carolina in May of 2020. Mary's interest in MRE started during her REU at University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign, where she worked with the Magnetic Resonance Functional Imaging Lab to isolate the effects of vasoconstriction and vasodilation on whole brain stiffness. She is currently studying the role of cardiovascular health on brain mechanical properties with aging using Magnetic Resonance Elastography. Outside the lab, Mary enjoys traveling (especially to visit her 10!! nieces and nephews in South Carolina), going to concerts, and making tiktoks for the Johnson Lab tiktok account (@ud_mnl). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1628806945001-2NDDBPW6RZAXG7N9TVGI/Alexa_Headshot.JPG Team - Alexa Diano Biomedical Engineering adiano@udel.edu Alexa is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Delaware. She graduated from Rowan University in 2020 with her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in Mechanical Engineering. As an undergraduate, she worked on research involving the synthesis and mechanical characterization of injectable hydrogels for nucleus pulposus replacement. Currently, she is working on adapting MRE techniques to quantify relative displacement between the skull and brain for applications in traumatic brain injury. During her free time, Alexa enjoys reading, baking, and crafting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/071e855f-c52f-43ff-847a-26a6f7b2c110/DSC_0051.jpg Team - Olivia Bailey Biomedical Engineering obailey@udel.edu Olivia is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Delaware. She graduated in May 2021 from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) with a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Psychology Minor. At UMBC she was heavily involved in her Scholar’s Program CWIT (Center for Women in Technology) and in her work as an undergraduate teaching assistant for a First Year Engineering course. She has previous research experience working with the design optimization for miniature magnetic robots aimed to break down blood clots and fenestrate arachnoid cysts. She is currently working on characterizing the nonlinear properties of brain tissue for use in improving traumatic brain injury computational models. Outside of research, Olivia enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with her family, and cooking over bonfires on the beach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/6a819ceb-13ca-4313-90aa-e556e1fbc6a2/IMG_6693.jpg Team - Sabrina Vander Wiele Biomedical Engineering svanderw@udel.edu Sabrina is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Delaware. She graduated from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. Her undergraduate research focused on the effects of space radiation and microgravity on bones using CT imaging. She is currently working on preclinical projects using MRE to understand female rat brain stiffness across their estrous cycle. In her free time, she loves hiking and exploring historic places. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/5279140a-a858-4fdc-b17f-cbefa0800944/Screenshot+2024-02-01+at+1.26.58+PM.png Team - Nick Pyontek Biomedical Engineering npyontek@udel.edu Nick is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Delaware. He graduated from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Physics. His undergraduate research focused on fabricating topographical optical microstructures in azobenzene polymer film. He is currently using MRE to investigate the correlations between Alzheimer Disease risk factors and mechanical changes in the microstructure of the brain. In his free time, he enjoys reading, watching soccer, and playing with his dogs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/2442cbee-ec64-4491-8c62-f925802e4830/Kroen_Matthew+Bucknell+Senior+Picture+1+--+10-2022.png Team - Matthew Kroen Biomedical Engineering mkroen@udel.edu Matthew is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Delaware. He graduated from Bucknell University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in Mathematics. As an undergraduate, his research focused on developing a patient specific anatomical model for use in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. Currently, he is working on developing machine learning models to predict the stiffness of brain tissue for applications in computer modeling. In his free time, he enjoys reading, hiking, biking, and canoeing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/f110562d-8385-469c-abe2-d99d6520bbf2/IMG_2215+Copy.jpg Team - John Laporte Biomedical Engineering jlaporte@udel.edu John is a PhD student in the Biomedical Engineering at the University of Delaware. He graduated in May 2022 from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) with a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering. At UMBC he was heavily involved in the American Institute for Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and as a tutor at both the Math and Science Tutoring Center and the Academic Success Center. Following graduation, he worked at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) in the Magnetic Resonance Physics of Aging and Dementia Unit with the goal of developing sensitive and specific magnetic resonance neuroimaging biomarkers to study brain aging and assist with the early diagnosis of neurodegeneration. He is currently developing a framework to characterize the mechanical properties underlying brain connectivity. Outside of research, John enjoys cooking, weightlifting and playing the guitar. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/8b84c86b-da4c-4eab-b05c-875d1964a07f/IMG_8043.jpg Team - Reshma Sudhesh Biomedical Engineering rsudhesh@udel.edu Reshma is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Delaware. She graduated from Purdue University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. She worked as an application engineer in the process automation industry before returning for her Master’s in Bioengineering from Temple University in 2025. Her undergraduate research explored the fluid dynamics of unmanned aerial vehicles at high altitudes, and her Master’s research involved the application of infrared spectroscopy to study sex-specific differences in bone biomechanics. Outside the lab she enjoys painting, reading, and exploring different cities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/3a5956ec-5935-45b5-8cbd-b9e917774617/IMG_4892.jpg Team - Audrey Chiang Biomedical Engineering audyc@udel.edu Audrey is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Delaware. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2026 with her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. As an undergraduate, her research explored how AI-generated episodic future thinking visual cues impacted participants during fMRI studies. Outside of the lab she enjoys cooking, traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/29bef7e7-c2c3-40e0-92e9-8f1a3105c147/Martin+Liu_20260311_1052.jpg Team - Martin Liu Biomedical Engineering mhl@udel.edu Martin is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Delaware. He graduated from the University of Washington in 2026 with his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. As an undergraduate, he worked on research involving the synthesis and modeling of magnetically-sensitive hydrogels for musculoskeletal regeneration. Currently, he is working on using MRE to quantify relative displacement between the skull and brain for applications in traumatic brain injury. Outside the lab, Martin enjoys playing guitar, writing metal music, running and climbing. https://mechneurolab.squarespace.com/resources daily 0.75 2023-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/6c15cf0c-f599-4b42-9c46-60932cb9ac1e/Screen+Shot+2023-01-14+at+11.15.56+AM.png Resources - MRE Sequences + Reconstruction We develop sequences for performing brain MRE developed by the lab for use on Siemens scanners. We currently support: Spin-echo, echoplanar imaging (EPI) MRE 2D multishot spiral MRE 3D multishot spiral MRE with multiband excitation If you are interested in collaborating on brain MRE sequences please contact Dr. Curtis Johnson (clj@udel.edu) Documentation for sequences and reconstruction approaches: mechneurolab.github.io/sequenceDocs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/1603299127585-YPV8EJN9RPQ3J4WGIZF8/elastome.png Resources - Standard-Space Atlas of Human Brain Viscoelasticity Download the MRE134 atlas in MNI space created using MRE data from 134 healthy, young adult participants: github.com/mechneurolab/MRE134 Hiscox, et al., “Standard-space atlas of the viscoelastic properties of the human brain,” Human Brain Mapping, 2020. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f32f060a1978238a14e1c4c/8263f8c1-8697-4e8e-ae9d-ec63b2b4b508/Screen+Shot+2023-01-14+at+10.46.57+AM.png Resources - Brain Biomechanics Imaging Resources Repository of imaging data for developing and validating next generation models of traumatic brain injury (supported by U01-NS112120) www.nitrc.org/projects/bbir Bayly, et al., “MR Imaging of Human Brain Mechanics in vivo: New Measurements to Facilitate the Development of Computational Models of Brain Injury,” Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2021.