Vanderbilt University Medical Center
We develop and test MRI methods for measuring tissue organization and tracing white matter pathways in the brain and spinal cord.
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Nature · 2026-05-13
White matter growth charts built from 35,120 brain scans provide reference trajectories from birth to 100 years. The study measures tissue properties and pathway shape across 72 tracts, enabling age- and sex-adjusted comparisons. Public models, processing tools, and shareable derived data support independent use of the charts.
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Research
What can an MRI measurement tell us about tissue? Which pathways can tractography recover reliably? How does white matter change across the lifespan? These questions guide our work in acquisition, modeling, and validation.
Research areas →Publications
Same-session brain and spinal cord imaging compares standard diffusion tensor measurements with Standard Model Imaging in 34 people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and 36 controls. Neurite density estimates show sensitivity to pathology in both regions, while the usefulness of other measurements depends on the anatomical setting.
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White matter asymmetry changes with age and depends on which tissue or pathway feature is measured. Using 35,120 individuals from 50 studies, this work charts 30 paired pathways from birth to 100 years. It provides a reference for interpreting lateralization across development and aging.
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At 0.9 mm resolution on a NexGen 7T scanner, this study compares 11 time-matched diffusion acquisition and correction strategies. Four-direction phase encoding provides the strongest geometric fidelity and repeatability in five adults scanned twice. The findings inform high-resolution protocols for both fine superficial connections and long-range pathways.
Summary & resources →Work in progress
This preprint extends BundleParc to segment and divide 97 brainstem and subcortical white matter pathways along their trajectories. Trained from anatomically curated Human Connectome Project tractography, the method operates on native-space fiber orientation distributions. External datasets test its performance across development, aging, disease cohorts, and acquisition differences.
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This preprint develops cervical spinal cord reference charts using 78,269 scans from 41,042 individuals across 30 datasets. Measurements from C1 to C7 capture size and shape from birth to age 100. The charts reveal regional and sex differences and support age-adjusted comparison of individual cord measurements.
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This preprint compares sex-related white matter findings from two different tractography pipelines. Microstructural results were highly consistent, while volumetric effects showed more disagreement and depended more on reconstruction sensitivity.
Summary & resources →Reference charts for tissue properties and pathway shape across the lifespan, with models, processing tools, and shareable derived data.
Susceptibility distortion correction when reverse phase-encoded scans are unavailable.
Integrated diffusion MRI preprocessing and quality assurance.
· Vanderbilt University News
Coverage of the Nature study mapping growth and aging across 72 white matter pathways, with reference charts spanning birth to age 100.
· Vanderbilt School of Engineering
An international group of 58 scientists developed a three-part guide to preclinical diffusion MRI, covering acquisition, processing, microscopy comparisons, and tractography.
Tractography
Examine the arcuate, corticospinal, and callosal pathways. Compare their trajectories, isolate a bundle, or follow its central course.
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