Experimental Cardiovascular Imaging (ExCaVI)
Our group is active in the research and development of dedicated techniques for in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and spectroscopy and their application to biomedical translational research including preclinical and clinical evaluation. In close collaboration with different partners within the University and the University Medical Center, tailored imaging and spectroscopy solutions are developed for a variety of preclinical and clinical applications. Activities range from basic MR technologies to application-specific optimization of the basic techniques for routine clinical evaluation. For multi-modal imaging purposes, close collaboration with the Departments of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology is established.
The group also runs the Core Facility Small Animal Imaging of the Medical Faculty of Ulm University and is part of the DFG funded Center for Translational Imaging MoMAN.
Research fields
Team
Dr. rer. nat. Alireza Abaei
Head of subgroup "Small animal MRI"
Schwerpunkte
MR Spectroscopy
Small animal Imaging
Dr. rer. nat. Tobias Speidel
Head of subgroup "Hyperpolarized MRI"
Schwerpunkte
Fast 3D Imaging
Hyperpolarized MRIDr. biol. hum. Ina Vernikouskaya
Head of subgroup "Image-Guided Interventions"
Schwerpunkte
Image-guided interventions
MRI contrast media quantification
Fluorine imaging
Myocardial tissue quantification
Dagmar Bertsche, M.Sc. (Computational Science and Engineering)
Schwerpunkte
Image-Guided Interventions
Tobias Lobmeyer, M.Sc. (Electrical Engineering)
Schwerpunkte
Hardware Design for Multi Nuclei Imaging
Jessica Löffler, M.Sc. (Molecular Biology)
Schwerpunkte
Joint PhD work with the Dept. of Nuclear Medicine
Patrick Metze, M.Sc. (Physics)
Schwerpunkte
Myocardial Tissue Characterisation
Functional 3D imaging
Bingjie Yang
Schwerpunkte
Human lung MRI
Pia Gebhard
Schwerpunkte
M.Sc. Physics: SPI Lung
Klaus Kolb
Schwerpunkte
M.Sc. Physics: Arbitrary Trajectory Framework for 11.7T
Julian Hoffmann
Schwerpunkte
M.Sc. Physics: Off-Resonance Correction Strategies
Luis
PostDocs
Dr. rer. med. Axel Bornstedt
Dr. rer. nat. Said Bouijraf
Dr. biol. hum. Jan Paul
Master's / Diploma & Bachelor's Students
M.Sc. Fabian Straubmüller
M.Sc. Micha Bischoff
M.Sc. Dominik Zeck
M.Sc. Diana Adam
M.Sc. Jannik Arbogast
M.Sc. Christoph Baldauf
M.Sc. Moritz Eberl
M.Sc. Harald Frey
M.Sc. Thomas Hüfken
M.Sc. Anja Kleemann
M.Sc. Claudia Lumpp
M.Sc. Mostafa Okasha
M.Sc. Alexander Storm
M.Sc. Jannik Arbogast
M.Sc. Dominik Notz
Dipl. Ing. Michael Eder
Dipl. Phys. Christine Köhnlein
Dipl. Phys. Miriam Kuhbach
B.Sc. Oleg Winokurow
B.Sc. Steven Roth
B.Sc. Fabian Bschorr
B.Sc. Rauf Boudenne
B.Sc. Markus Jakob
B.Eng. Nick Bielesch
B.Eng. Christoph Blank
B.Sc. Anna-Lena Bracher
B.Sc. Markus Jakob
B.Sc. Margareta Metzner
B.Sc. Sina Phister
B.Eng. Lukas Staiger
B.Eng. Martin Tschechne
B.Eng. Andreas Wager
B.Eng. Johannes Ziegler
B.Sc. Micha Bischoff
B.Eng. Tobias Baumeister
B.Sc. Helmuth-Andre Schulz-Harder
B.Sc. Christos Papadopoulos
B.Sc. Sophie Stolte
B.Sc. Julian Schüle
B.Sc. Johannes Mokosch
B.Eng. Alois Reinelt
PhD students
M.Sc. Kilian Stumpf
Dr. biol. hum. Eric Kaaru
Dr. biol. hum. Andreas Horneff
Dr. biol. hum. Anna-Katinka Bracher
Dr. biol. hum. Uwe Jandt
Dr. rer. nat. Anja Müller-Lutz
Dr. biol. hum. Sonu Sharma
Dr. biol. hum. Marta Tibiletti
Dr. biol. hum. Stefan Wundrak
Dr. biol. hum. Jan Paul
Dr. biol. hum. Anke Balasch
MD students
Dr. med. Hao Li
Dr. med. Raphael Beck
Dr. med. dent. Christian Hofmann
Dr. med. Robert Kohlschmitt
Dr. med. dent. Michael Mess
Dr. med. Yangyang Qu
Dr. med. dent. Elena Sophia Schreiber
Dr. med. Gerlinde Schmidtke-Schrezenmeier
Dr. med. Jian Zhu
Dr. med. Zho Zui
Technician
Anne Subgang
Infrastructure

Within the Cardiovascular MRI group, two whole-body MRI systems operating at
- 1.5T Philips Achieva, R5.1.7, 32 receive channels
- 3.0T Philips Achieva, R5.1.7, 32 receive channels
are available for clinical and methodological research. Both systems are fully equipped with high-performance gradient systems, dedicated cardiovascular imaging software and state-of-the-art receive coils relevant for cardiovascular imaging such as dedicated cardiac and carotid phased array coils.
A Research collaboration with Philips Medical Systems and Philips Research Europe is well established ensuring access to latest MRI technology and pulse programming software enabling the adaptation of the scanner SW to individual demands.

A dedicated small animal high-field MRI system (BioSpec 117/16, Bruker Biospin) equipped with an 8-channel receive system and prepared for 1H, 13C, 19F, 23Na, and 31P imaging and spectroscopy is available at the Core Facility Small Animal Imaging.

A dedicated high-resolution small animal CT system (GE eXplore) can be applied for in-vivo and in-vitro structural analysis. Spatial resolution limits are 28³µm³.
Publications
2022
Trainee Educational Stipend ISMRM 2022 (P. Metze, T. Speidel)
2021
Trainee Educational Stipend ISMRM 2021 (P. Metze, T. Speidel)
2020
Poster EMIM Virtual Edition 2020 (G. Winter et al., #0581)
Multi-modal PET and MR imaging in the Hen’s egg test chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) model for initial in vivo testing of target-specific radioligands.
Magna Cum Laude Poster ISMRM 2020 (P. Metze et al., #0438)
Lung Imaging and Proton Fraction Quantification for Highly Irregular Respiratory Patterns Using nonuniform Self-Gating.
Summa Cum Laude Poster ISMRM 2020 (T. Speidel et al., #1087)
Retrospective Compensation of Cardiac and Respiratory Motion in Mice using nonuniform Self-Gating.
Trainee Educational Stipend ISMRM 2020 (A. Balasch, T. Huefken, P. Metze, T. Speidel, K. Stumpf)
Towards sub-microlitre MRS in the mouse brain in vivo at ultra-high field. Work selected for the Molecular/MRS Highlight Session of ISMRM 2020 (A. Abaei et al., #0372)
Lung Imaging and Proton Fraction Quantification for Highly Irregular Respiratory Patterns Using Nonuniform Self-Gating. Work selected for the Body Highlight Session of ISMRM 2020 (P. Metze et al., #0438)
2019
Trainee Educational Stipend ISMRM 2019 (P. Metze, T. Speidel)
Hertha-Nathorff-Programm (HNP) der Medizinischen Fakultät (A. Balasch, I. Vernikouskaya)
2017
Trainee Educational Stipend ISMRM 2017 (A. Abaei)
2016
Magna Cum Laude Poster ISMRM 2016 (M. Tibiletti et al., #2912, #2921)
Trainee Educational Stipend ISMRM 2016 (A. Abaei, J. Paul, M. Tibiletti, Z. Zuo)
National Award for Outstanding Self-financed Chinese Students Abroad (Z. Zuo)
2015
Hertha-Nathorff-Programm (HNP) der Medizinischen Fakultät (I. Vernikouskaya)
Magna Cum Laude Poster ISMRM 2015 (S. Wundrak et al., #3638)
Trainee Educational Stipend ISMRM 2015 (J. Paul, M. Tibiletti, I. Vernikouskaya)
Georg-Schmorl-Award 2015 (H.-J. Wilke, A.Kienle, S. Maile, V.Rasche, N. Berger-Roscher)
Poster Award 2015 "Deutsche Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie" (H.-J. Wilke, A.Kienle, S. Maile, V.Rasche, N. Berger-Roscher)
2010
Award of the University of Ulm for collaboration between academics and industry (V. Rasche)
2008
Award of the University of Ulm for outstanding education (V. Rasche)
2022
Non-water suppressed Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Fabian Bschorr, Master's Thesis
Efficient Sampling Strategies for N-D MRI
Micha Bischoff, Master's Thesis
Evaluation of a Polar Acquisition Reconstruction Technique in MRI
Maria Concialdi, Bachelor's Thesis
Construction and Characterization of an active Phantom for simultaneous Diffusion weighted PET-MRI in Oncology
Leonard Lauber, Bachelor's Thesis
2021
Design and Spatial Encoding Field Simulations for a low-Field MRI Scanner
Christos Papadopoulos, Bachelor's Thesis
Image Reconstruction for inhomogeneous Spatial Encoding Fields in a low-Field MRI Scanner
Andre Schulz-Harder, Bachelor's Thesis
Characterization of 29Si Nanoparticles using NMR
Sophie Stolte, Bachelor's Thesis
High-Resolution MRI of the Adult Zebrafish Heart
Julian Schüle, Bachelor's Thesis
Development of a GUI for the Reconstruction of radially acquired MRI Datasets
Johannes Mokosch, Bachelor's Thesis
Fat-water quantification using multi-point Dixon methods
Steven Roth, Bachelor's Thesis
Examination of acceleration methods for diffusion weighted imaging
Rauf Hood Boudenne, Bachelor's Thesis
Deep Learning Approaches for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Oleg Winokurow, Bachelor's Thesis
2020
Towards Quantification of IMCL/EMCL in a Human Muscle with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Fabian Bschorr, Bachelor's Thesis
Lung MRI Ising a Non-Uniform Self-Gating Approach
Fabian Straubmüller, Master's Thesis
BURST MRI
Dominik Zeck, Master's Thesis
Longitudinal Evaluation of DSS-induced Murine Ulcerative Colitis In vivo
Eric Karuu, Dissertation
Simulation and Prototyping of an X-Nuclei MR Coil
Andreas Horneff, Dissertation
Real-Time Cardiovascular Flow Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Dominik Notz, Master's Thesis
Myocardial T1 mapping at 11.7T
Micha Bischoff, Bachelor's Thesis
Real-time magnetic resonance imaging of the temporomandibular joint
Johannes Ziegler, Bachelor's Thesis
2019
Optimization and characterization of a biplanar gradient system for microscopic MR-imaging at 11.7T
Lukas Staiger, Bachelor's Thesis
Real-time cardiac MRI at 11.7T
Margareta Metzner, Bachelor's Thesis
Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) Applied to Respiratory Motion Detection in Fluoroscopic Frames
Christoph Baldauf, Master's Thesis
2018
Real-time MRI of speaking: an approach on off-resonance correction
Markus Jakob, Bachelor's Thesis
Implementation of gradient Impulse Response Measurement on a 3T MRI scanner for Gradient System Characterization
Anja Kleemann, Master's Thesis
Real-time MRI for Cardiovascular Applications
Claudia Lumpp, Master's Thesis
Development and characterization of a microscopy insert for high-field MR systems
Thomas Hüfken, Master's Thesis
2017
Cardiovascular Tissue Characterization with MRI
Patrick Metze, Master's Thesis
Model-based iterative Reconstruction for Diffusion Quantification
Jannik Arbogast, Master's Thesis
Anatomical and functional lung imaging with MRI
Marta Tibiletti, Dissertation
Darstellung apikaler Parodontitis vergleichend in der Magnetresonanztomographie und in der digitalen Volumentomographie
Elena Sophia Schreiber, Dissertation
2016
Advanced SPI Methods for MR Imaging of ultrashort T2(*) Relaxation Time Spin Systems
Tobias Speidel, Master's Thesis
Tiny Golden Angles and Nonuniform Self-Gating: MRI of Nonunigorm Motion
Stefan Wundrak, Dissertation
Analysis of velocity based motion parameters in volunteers and patients with left ventriculur dyssynchrony and myocardial infarction using magnetic resonance imaging
Raphael Beck, Dissertation
Dental MRI for Identification and Quantification of Initial Caries Lesions
Anna-Katinka Bracher, Dissertation
Respiratory and Cardiac Self-Gated Radial MRI
Jan Paul, Dissertation
Entwicklung eines MRT-Phantoms mit T1/T2-Relaxationszeiten im Bereich des menschlichen Gewebes
Christoph Blank, Bachelor's Thesis
2015
High resolution MRI analysis of breast cancer xenograft on the chick chorioallantoic membrane
Zhi Zuo, Dissertation
Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of the Local Contrast Agent Aggregations using MRI
Ina Vernikouskaya, Dissertation
Optimierung der MRT-Bildrekonstruktion von radial gemessenen Echtzeitdaten in MATLAB und CUDA.
Harald Frey, Master's Thesis
2014
Die Compliance der Aorta nach endovaskulärer Versorgung bei akuter traumatischer Aortenraptur
Robert Kohlschmitt, Dissertation
Applikation der Magnetresonanztomographie für zahnmedizinische Fragestellungen
Michael Mess, Dissertation
Applicability of three-dimensional ultra-short echo time magnetic resonance imaging for in vivo assessment of caries lesions and early demineralization.
Christian Hofmann, Dissertation
2013
Volumetric left ventricular tissue phase mapping at 3T - Sequence optimization and motion quantification
Anja Müller-Lutz, Dissertation
2012
Gradientenfeldmessung eines 3Tesla Magnetresonanztomographen
Michael Eder, Dipl. Ing.
Berechnung und Analyse von Parametern zur Quantifizierung der Asynchronität des Herzschlages aus geschwindigkeitscodierten MRT-Aufnahmen
Jan Paul, Dipl. Inf.
2011
T2-Prepared Segmented 3D Gradient Echo for Fast T2-Weighted High Resolution Three-Dimensional Imaging of the Carotid Artery Wall
Jian Zhu, Dr. med.
2010
Automatische Verfolgung von Ablationskathetern in 3D
Diana Adam, M. Sc.
in Zusammenarbeit mit der Hoschschule Ulm, Fakultät Informtik, Prof. Harald Groß
Rekonstruktion von unterabgetasteten MRI Datensätzen, akquiriert auf beliebigen Abtastgittern
Christine Köhnlein, Dipl. Phys.
Projektionsrekonstruktionsmethoden für die fluoroskopische MRT unter Verwendung der "Goldenen Schnitt" Geometrie
Anna-Lena Bracher, Phsik B.Sc.
in Zusammenarbeit mit AG Materialwissenchaftliche Elektronenmikroskopie, Uni Ulm, Prof. Ute Kaiser
Integration eines low-cost Ultraschallsystems im MRT zur Detektion der atmungsabhängigen Herzlage
Sina Phister, B.Sc.
in Zusammenarbeit mit der Fakultät für Mechatronik und Medizintechnik, Hoschule Ulm, Prof. Ronald Blechschmidt-Trapp
Computer-aided detection of vessel wall thickening in MRI images
Moritz Eberl, M. Sc.
in Zusammenarbeit mit der Fakultät für Informatik, Hochschule Augsburg, Prof. Roesch
2009
MRI Studies of Gadolinium based contrast agents loaded nanocapsules and iron loaded nanocapsules in chemical and biological environment
Sonu Sharma, Dr. biol.hum.
Iron Labelling of Mesenchymal Stem / Stroma Cells for MRI: Studies on Poly-L-Lactid Acid - Iron Nanoparticles
Gerlinde Schmidtke-Schrezenmeier, Dr. med.
in Zusammenarbeit mit der Klinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie der Universitätsklinik Ulm
Prof. Karin Scharffetter-Kochanek
Automatic modeling methods for 3D cardiac X-ray
Uwe Jandt, Dr. biol. hum.
Diagnostik der Aorten- und Mitralklappeninsuffizienz MRT versus Echokardiographie
Pierre Youtcheua Njindeu, Dr. med
2008
Vierdimensionale Minimierung von patienteninduzierten Magnetfeldinhomogenitäten für die kardiale Magnetresonanztomographie
Miriam Rabea Kubach, Dipl. phys.
in Zusammenarbeit mit der Fakultät für Physik, Prof. Dr. G. Nienhaus
2006
Integration von Magnetresonanztomographiedaten und Roentgenfluoroskopiedaten zur Unterstützung interventioneller Verfahren in der Kardiologie
Alois Goeth, Master of Science
in Zusammenarbeit mit der Fachhochschule Augsburg, Prof. Dr. Peter Roesch
Dreidimensionale Registrierung in der Koronardiagnostik
Danial Magg, Dipl. inf (FH)
in Zusammenarbeit mit der Hochschule Ulm, Prof. Dr. Guenter Gramlich
Lectures
SS 2022 | Application NMR/MRIGrundlagen und Technik bildgebender VerfahrenSeminar Magnetic Resonance |
WS 2021/2022 | Theoretical Aspects of NMR Spectroscopy |
SS 2021 | Application NMR/MRIGrundlagen und Technik bildgebender Verfahren |
WS 2020/2021 | NMR Spectroscopy and Imaging Methods |
SS 2020 | Grundlagen und Technik bildgebender Verfahren |
WS 2019/2020 | NMR Spectroscopy and Imaging Methods |
SS 2019 | Bildgebende Verfahren in der MedizintechnikGrundlagen und Technik bildgebender Verfahren |
WS 2018/2019 | NMR Spectroscopy and Imaging Methods |
Job Offers
We are continuously accepting Bachelor, Master and PhD students. For more infomation, please directly contact one of the PostDocs or the head of the workgroup.