Research Overview

His main research interests include MR physics, fast MRI acquisition and reconstruction, MRI motion and distortion artifacts correction, non-cartesian trajectories and functional MRI.

 

Research Background

Dr. Afacan is an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School and also work in the Computational Radiology Laboratory at Children's Hospital Boston. I received my B.Sc degree from Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey in 2003, M.Sc degree from Bilkent University,Ankara, Turkey in 2006 and PhD degree from Northeastern University, Boston, USA in 2011, all in electrical and computer engineering.

 

Publications

  1. Rapid, High-resolution and Distortion-free R2* Mapping of Fetal Brain using Multi-echo Radial FLASH and Model-based Reconstruction. ArXiv. 2025 Jan 07. View Abstract
  2. IVIM-Morph: Motion-compensated quantitative Intra-voxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) analysis for functional fetal lung maturity assessment from diffusion-weighted MRI data. ArXiv. 2025 Jan 02. View Abstract
  3. IVIM-Morph: Motion-compensated quantitative Intra-voxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) analysis for functional fetal lung maturity assessment from diffusion-weighted MRI data. Med Image Anal. 2024 Dec 31; 101:103445. View Abstract
  4. HAITCH: A Framework for Distortion and Motion Correction in Fetal Multi-Shell Diffusion-Weighted MRI. ArXiv. 2024 Jun 28. View Abstract
  5. Free-Breathing High-Resolution, Swap-Free, and Motion-Corrected Water/Fat Separation in Pediatric Abdominal MRI. Invest Radiol. 2024 Dec 01; 59(12):805-812. View Abstract
  6. Motion-compensated image reconstruction for improved kidney function assessment using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. NMR Biomed. 2024 Jun; 37(6):e5116. View Abstract
  7. Characterizing microstructural development in the fetal brain using diffusion MRI from 23 to 36 weeks of gestation. Cereb Cortex. 2024 01 14; 34(1). View Abstract
  8. Glymphatic dysfunction coincides with lower GABA levels and sleep disturbances in succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency. J Sleep Res. 2024 Aug; 33(4):e14105. View Abstract
  9. Rapid motion estimation and correction using self-encoded FID navigators in 3D radial MRI. Magn Reson Med. 2024 Mar; 91(3):1057-1066. View Abstract
  10. Reduced evoked cortical beta and gamma activity and neuronal synchronization in succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, a disorder of ?-aminobutyric acid metabolism. Brain Commun. 2023; 5(6):fcad291. View Abstract
  11. Population Atlas Analysis of Emerging Brain Structural Connections in the Human Fetus. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2024 Jul; 60(1):152-160. View Abstract
  12. Self Supervised Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models for Abdominal DW-MRI. Comput Diffus MRI. 2023 Oct; 14328:80-91. View Abstract
  13. Improved myelin water fraction mapping with deep neural networks using synthetically generated 3D data. Med Image Anal. 2024 Jan; 91:102966. View Abstract
  14. Fetal MRI at 3 T: Principles to Optimize Success. Radiographics. 2023 04; 43(4):e220141. View Abstract
  15. Body size and brain volumetry in the rat following prolonged morphine administration in infancy and adulthood. Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2023; 4:962783. View Abstract
  16. Brain growth in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. J Neuroimaging. 2023 Jul-Aug; 33(4):617-624. View Abstract
  17. Moderators, Mediators, and Prognostic Indicators of Treatment With Hip Arthroscopy or Physical Therapy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: Secondary Analyses From the Australian FASHIoN Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2023 01; 51(1):141-154. View Abstract
  18. Detailed anatomic segmentations of a fetal brain diffusion tensor imaging atlas between 23 and 30?weeks of gestation. Hum Brain Mapp. 2023 03; 44(4):1593-1602. View Abstract
  19. External Hardware and Sensors, for Improved MRI. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2023 03; 57(3):690-705. View Abstract
  20. Real-time shimming with FID navigators. Magn Reson Med. 2022 12; 88(6):2548-2563. View Abstract
  21. Prospective motion correction in kidney MRI using FID navigators. Magn Reson Med. 2023 01; 89(1):276-285. View Abstract
  22. Evaluation of white matter microstructure in pediatric onset multiple sclerosis with diffusion compartment imaging. J Neuroimaging. 2022 11; 32(6):1098-1108. View Abstract
  23. Scan-Specific Generative Neural Network for MRI Super-Resolution Reconstruction. IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 2022 06; 41(6):1383-1399. View Abstract
  24. Reducing the Effects of Motion Artifacts in fMRI: A Structured Matrix Completion Approach. IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 2022 01; 41(1):172-185. View Abstract
  25. Learning the Regularization in DCE-MR Image Reconstruction for Functional Imaging of Kidneys. IEEE Access. 2022; 10:4102-4111. View Abstract
  26. Normal Growth, Sexual Dimorphism, and Lateral Asymmetries at Fetal Brain MRI. Radiology. 2022 04; 303(1):162-170. View Abstract
  27. Improving Automatic Renal Segmentation in Clinically Normal and Abnormal Paediatric DCE-MRI via Contrast Maximisation and Convolutional Networks for Computing Markers of Kidney Function. Sensors (Basel). 2021 Nov 28; 21(23). View Abstract
  28. Gradient-Guided Isotropic MRI Reconstruction from Anisotropic Acquisitions. IEEE Trans Comput Imaging. 2021; 7:1240-1253. View Abstract
  29. Self-supervised IVIM DWI parameter estimation with a physics based forward model. Magn Reson Med. 2022 02; 87(2):904-914. View Abstract
  30. MRI Super-Resolution Through Generative Degradation Learning. Med Image Comput Comput Assist Interv. 2021 Sep-Oct; 12906:430-440. View Abstract
  31. Super-resolution reconstruction of T2-weighted thick-slice neonatal brain MRI scans. J Neuroimaging. 2022 01; 32(1):68-79. View Abstract
  32. Spatiotemporal changes in diffusivity and anisotropy in fetal brain tractography. Hum Brain Mapp. 2021 12 01; 42(17):5771-5784. View Abstract
  33. 3D Deep Learning for Anatomical Structure Segmentation in Multiple Imaging Modalities. Proc IEEE Int Symp Comput Based Med Syst. 2021 Jun; 2021:166-171. View Abstract
  34. Fast and High-Resolution Neonatal Brain MRI Through Super-Resolution Reconstruction From Acquisitions With Variable Slice Selection Direction. Front Neurosci. 2021; 15:636268. View Abstract
  35. Matched neurofeedback during fMRI differentially activates reward-related circuits in active and sham groups. J Neuroimaging. 2021 09; 31(5):947-955. View Abstract
  36. Magnetization-prepared 2 Rapid Gradient-Echo MRI for B1 Insensitive 3D T1 Mapping of Hip Cartilage: An Experimental and Clinical Validation. Radiology. 2021 04; 299(1):150-158. View Abstract
  37. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Spectroscopy in Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency. J Child Neurol. 2021 11; 36(13-14):1162-1168. View Abstract
  38. Free induction decay navigator motion metrics for prediction of diagnostic image quality in pediatric MRI. Magn Reson Med. 2021 06; 85(6):3169-3181. View Abstract
  39. Tractography of the Cerebellar Peduncles in Second- and Third-Trimester Fetuses. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2021 01; 42(1):194-200. View Abstract
  40. Retrospective Distortion and Motion Correction for Free-Breathing DW-MRI of the Kidneys Using Dual-Echo EPI and Slice-to-Volume Registration. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2021 05; 53(5):1432-1443. View Abstract
  41. Regional Brain Growth Trajectories in Fetuses with Congenital Heart Disease. Ann Neurol. 2021 01; 89(1):143-157. View Abstract
  42. Modeling dynamic radial contrast enhanced MRI with linear time invariant systems for motion correction in quantitative assessment of kidney function. Med Image Anal. 2021 01; 67:101880. View Abstract
  43. Learning a Gradient Guidance for Spatially Isotropic MRI Super-Resolution Reconstruction. Med Image Comput Comput Assist Interv. 2020 Oct; 12262:136-146. View Abstract
  44. Dynamic distortion correction for functional MRI using FID navigators. Magn Reson Med. 2021 03; 85(3):1294-1307. View Abstract
  45. SLIMM: Slice localization integrated MRI monitoring. Neuroimage. 2020 12; 223:117280. View Abstract
  46. Identification of neuronal structures and pathways corresponding to clinical functioning in galactosemia. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2020 11; 43(6):1205-1218. View Abstract
  47. Myofiber organization in the failing systemic right ventricle. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson. 2020 06 29; 22(1):49. View Abstract
  48. In vivo characterization of emerging white matter microstructure in the fetal brain in the third trimester. Hum Brain Mapp. 2020 08 15; 41(12):3177-3185. View Abstract
  49. Simultaneous Motion and Distortion Correction Using Dual-Echo Diffusion-Weighted MRI. J Neuroimaging. 2020 05; 30(3):276-285. View Abstract
  50. Correction to: Prospective pediatric study comparing glomerular filtration rate estimates based on motion-robust dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and serum creatinine (eGFR) to 99mTc DTPA. Pediatr Radiol. 2020 May; 50(5):755-756. View Abstract
  51. Prospective pediatric study comparing glomerular filtration rate estimates based on motion-robust dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and serum creatinine (eGFR) to 99mTc DTPA. Pediatr Radiol. 2020 05; 50(5):698-705. View Abstract
  52. Bulk motion-compensated DCE-MRI for functional imaging of kidneys in newborns. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2020 07; 52(1):207-216. View Abstract
  53. Feed and wrap magnetic resonance urography provides anatomic and functional imaging in infants without anesthesia. J Pediatr Urol. 2020 Feb; 16(1):116-120. View Abstract
  54. Linear Time Invariant Model based Motion Correction (LiMo-MoCo) of Dynamic Radial Contrast Enhanced MRI. Med Image Comput Comput Assist Interv. 2019 Oct; 11765:430-437. View Abstract
  55. Isotropic MRI Super-Resolution Reconstruction with Multi-scale Gradient Field Prior. Med Image Comput Comput Assist Interv. 2019 Oct; 11766:3-11. View Abstract
  56. Fetal Echoplanar Imaging: Promises and Challenges. Top Magn Reson Imaging. 2019 Oct; 28(5):245-254. View Abstract
  57. Rapid measurement and correction of spatiotemporal B0 field changes using FID navigators and a multi-channel reference image. Magn Reson Med. 2020 02; 83(2):575-589. View Abstract
  58. Retrospective correction of head motion using measurements from an electromagnetic tracker. Magn Reson Med. 2020 02; 83(2):427-437. View Abstract
  59. Early-Emerging Sulcal Patterns Are Atypical in Fetuses with Congenital Heart Disease. Cereb Cortex. 2019 07 22; 29(8):3605-3616. View Abstract
  60. White matter mean diffusivity correlates with myelination in tuberous sclerosis complex. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2019 07; 6(7):1178-1190. View Abstract
  61. Perioperatively Inhaled Hydrogen Gas Diminishes Neurologic Injury Following Experimental Circulatory Arrest in Swine. JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2019 Apr; 4(2):176-187. View Abstract
  62. Motion-robust diffusion compartment imaging using simultaneous multi-slice acquisition. Magn Reson Med. 2019 05; 81(5):3314-3329. View Abstract
  63. Tract-Specific Group Analysis in Fetal Cohorts Using in utero Diffusion Tensor Imaging. Med Image Comput Comput Assist Interv. 2018 Sep; 11072:28-35. View Abstract
  64. Fetal brain growth portrayed by a spatiotemporal diffusion tensor MRI atlas computed from in utero images. Neuroimage. 2019 01 15; 185:593-608. View Abstract
  65. Head motion measurement and correction using FID navigators. Magn Reson Med. 2019 01; 81(1):258-274. View Abstract
  66. Fetal Neuropathology in Zika Virus-Infected Pregnant Female Rhesus Monkeys. Cell. 2018 05 17; 173(5):1111-1122.e10. View Abstract
  67. Motion-Robust Spatially Constrained Parameter Estimation in Renal Diffusion-Weighted MRI by 3D Motion Tracking and Correction of Sequential Slices. Mol Imaging Reconstr Anal Mov Body Organs Stroke Imaging Treat (2017). 2017; 10555:75-85. View Abstract
  68. Motion-robust parameter estimation in abdominal diffusion-weighted MRI by simultaneous image registration and model estimation. Med Image Anal. 2017 Jul; 39:124-132. View Abstract
  69. Temporal slice registration and robust diffusion-tensor reconstruction for improved fetal brain structural connectivity analysis. Neuroimage. 2017 08 01; 156:475-488. View Abstract
  70. Both 3-T dGEMRIC and Acetabular-Femoral T2 Difference May Detect Cartilage Damage at the Chondrolabral Junction. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2017 Apr; 475(4):1058-1065. View Abstract
  71. A normative spatiotemporal MRI atlas of the fetal brain for automatic segmentation and analysis of early brain growth. Sci Rep. 2017 03 28; 7(1):476. View Abstract
  72. Motion-Robust Reconstruction based on Simultaneous Multi-Slice Registration for Diffusion-Weighted MRI of Moving Subjects. Med Image Comput Comput Assist Interv. 2016 Oct; 9902:544-552. View Abstract
  73. Motion-Robust Diffusion-Weighted Brain MRI Reconstruction Through Slice-Level Registration-Based Motion Tracking. IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 2016 10; 35(10):2258-2269. View Abstract
  74. Evaluation of motion and its effect on brain magnetic resonance image quality in children. Pediatr Radiol. 2016 Nov; 46(12):1728-1735. View Abstract
  75. Fetal lung apparent diffusion coefficient measurement using diffusion-weighted MRI at 3 Tesla: Correlation with gestational age. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2016 12; 44(6):1650-1655. View Abstract
  76. Motion-robust diffusion-weighted brain MRI reconstruction through slice-level registration-based motion tracking. IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 2016 Apr 20. View Abstract
  77. Spatially-constrained probability distribution model of incoherent motion (SPIM) for abdominal diffusion-weighted MRI. Med Image Anal. 2016 08; 32:173-83. View Abstract
  78. 3D Super-Resolution Motion-Corrected MRI: Validation of Fetal Posterior Fossa Measurements. J Neuroimaging. 2016 09; 26(5):539-44. View Abstract
  79. Super-resolution reconstruction in frequency, image, and wavelet domains to reduce through-plane partial voluming in MRI. Med Phys. 2015 Dec; 42(12):6919-32. View Abstract
  80. Analytic quantification of bias and variance of coil sensitivity profile estimators for improved image reconstruction in MRI. Med Image Comput Comput Assist Interv. 2015 Oct; 9350:684-691. View Abstract
  81. Fast myelin water fraction estimation using 2D multislice CPMG. Magn Reson Med. 2016 10; 76(4):1301-13. View Abstract
  82. Spatially constrained incoherent motion method improves diffusion-weighted MRI signal decay analysis in the liver and spleen. Med Phys. 2015 Apr; 42(4):1895-903. View Abstract
  83. Normative biometrics for fetal ocular growth using volumetric MRI reconstruction. Prenat Diagn. 2015 Apr; 35(4):400-8. View Abstract
  84. Accelerated High Spatial Resolution Diffusion-Weighted Imaging. Inf Process Med Imaging. 2015; 24:69-81. View Abstract
  85. Motion Compensated Abdominal Diffusion Weighted MRI by Simultaneous Image Registration and Model Estimation (SIR-ME). Med Image Comput Comput Assist Interv. 2015; 9351:501-9. View Abstract
  86. Fetal MRI: A Technical Update with Educational Aspirations. Concepts Magn Reson Part A Bridg Educ Res. 2014 Nov; 43(6):237-266. View Abstract
  87. T(2)-relaxometry for myelin water fraction extraction using wald distribution and extended phase graph. Med Image Comput Comput Assist Interv. 2014; 17(Pt 3):145-52. View Abstract
  88. Improved multi B-value diffusion-weighted MRI of the body by simultaneous model estimation and image reconstruction (SMEIR). Med Image Comput Comput Assist Interv. 2013; 16(Pt 3):1-8. View Abstract
  89. Functional magnetic resonance imaging in awake animals. Rev Neurosci. 2011; 22(6):665-74. View Abstract
  90. Rapid full-brain fMRI with an accelerated multi shot 3D EPI sequence using both UNFOLD and GRAPPA. Magn Reson Med. 2012 May; 67(5):1266-74. View Abstract
  91. Basis function cross-correlations for robust k-space sample density compensation, with application to the design of radiofrequency excitations. Magn Reson Med. 2007 Feb; 57(2):338-52. View Abstract

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