UCSF Imaging

10/28/2025

In breast imaging, accuracy is essential, but so is making sure every patient feels supported along the way.

Katie Kinson brings that balance to every exam. Her expertise in ultrasound gives radiologists the information they need to make confident decisions, and her empathy helps patients feel calm and informed.

It's not just about the image. It's about the person. https://radiology.ucsf.edu/blog/ucsfs-katie-kinson-brings-comfort-and-clarity-breast-imaging

10/21/2025

It's World Osteoporosis Day, and our bones support everything we do: walking, lifting, and living fully. Yet osteoporosis can quietly weaken them over time.

That's why the DXA bone density scan at UCSF Imaging is so important. In just 10 minutes, it measures bone strength and helps physicians assess fracture risk. UCSF experts helped make DXA the gold standard for evaluating bone health. Knowing your bone density empowers you to take steps that can prevent fractures and protect your mobility.

DXA scanner Image of spine DXA Technologist Lori Chan Thomas Link, MD, PhD Jan: Osteoporosis Patient Story Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA) is a scan that is used to determine the density of bone to assess its strength. It is a standard method for diagnosing osteoporosis; used in combi...

10/10/2025

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, UCSF's Center for Intelligent Imaging is highlighting how Dr. Maggie Chung and her team are utilizing AI to enhance breast cancer screening and minimize delays in care. Her study at -San-Francisco-General shows how AI can help deliver faster results, easing anxiety for patients and helping clinicians act sooner.

Discover how AI is changing the pace of breast imaging and patient care: https://intelligentimaging.ucsf.edu/news/intersection-breast-cancer-and-ai

10/08/2025

Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Week is a time to recognize the people whose work brings clarity and hope to patients. Our technologists do more than perform studies; they guide treatment, support patients, and apply science with compassion.

Read our blog featuring Amgad, Jessica, Zach, Shadia, Erika, and Kimberly as they share their journeys and reflections. https://radiology.ucsf.edu/blog/celebrating-experience-and-impact-ucsfs-nuclear-medicine-and-molecular-imaging-staff

10/06/2025

The 2024–25 Master of Science in Biomedical Imaging (MSBI) Symposium marked a year of significant student achievements. Nine students presented thesis projects spanning dementia, prostate cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and advances in MRI and PET. Their work reflects the strength of the program and the commitment of its students.

Read more: https://radiology.ucsf.edu/blog/congratulations-2024-25-msbi-students

10/02/2025

Two extraordinary researchers are being recognized at UCSF Imaging with the 2025 Rahul Desikan Award and Bruce Hasegawa Award. Dr. Elizabeth George is leading innovative studies in fetal brain imaging, expanding our understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Anil Bidkar is developing targeted radiotherapies with the potential to transform prostate cancer treatment. Their work exemplifies the spirit of discovery and dedication these awards honor.

Learn more about their accomplishments: https://radiology.ucsf.edu/blog/elizabeth-george-md-and-anil-bidkar-phd-receive-2025-radiology-research-awards-0

09/30/2025

Alzheimer's disease causes most dementias, but how it progresses has remained unclear. Dr. Ashish Raj and Robin Sandell developed NexIS, a model that combines brain connectivity and genetics to explain why certain regions are more susceptible. Their predictive tools can also forecast progression from a single brain scan.

Their work is advancing understanding of Alzheimer's as a network-driven process. Learn more during Alzheimer's Awareness Month:

Ashish Raj, PhD, and Robin Sandell use Network Diffusion Models to understand how pathology spreads in Alzheimer's disease. Their lab developed NexIS, or Nex...

09/29/2025

Our team is working to answer an important question: Why do some brain regions resist Alzheimer's disease while others are highly vulnerable?

Using brain scans, genetics, and mathematical modeling, the team created a kind of "Google Maps" for tau, the misfolded protein that spreads through the brain in Alzheimer's. This work reveals that genes play different roles in either promoting vulnerability or offering resilience, shaping how tau accumulates across brain regions.

Learn more about the team's research during Alzheimer's Awareness Month: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2025/07/430326/why-do-some-brain-regions-resist-alzheimers

09/26/2025

Dr. Srikantan Nagarajan and colleagues discovered that patients with Alzheimer's disease exhibit early functional changes in neural circuits long before symptoms arise. Magnetic imaging revealed activity resembling epilepsy in 40% of patients, linked to faster cognitive decline. This approach may enable earlier diagnosis, guide new therapeutic strategies, and track how patients respond to treatment.

Learn more during Alzheimer's Awareness Month:

Using magnetic imaging, a UCSF team including Srikantan Nagarajan, PhD, discovered functional changes resembling epilepsy in patients with Alzheimer’s diseas...

09/24/2025

The Neuroimaging Technology Research Center (NTRC) has awarded its very first pilot grants! Six investigators from psychiatry, radiology, and neurology received a combined $65,000 to launch projects using our advanced Cima.X scanners. These studies explore new imaging methods and applications for conditions including alcohol use disorder, epilepsy, and anorexia nervosa.

https://radiology.ucsf.edu/blog/six-ntrc-pilot-grants-awarded-neuropsychiatry-investigators

09/22/2025

The MRI suite can be intimidating. Patients often arrive feeling anxious, even claustrophobic. That's where MR Technologist Malia Martinez makes a difference. "Sometimes just being able to empathize and put yourself in the patients' shoes… can make all the difference in making a connection with them," she shared.

At Mission Bay, she remembers parents visibly relaxing as she and her colleagues distracted and comforted their children during scans. Small details, like tying back a patient's hair or offering aromatherapy, are part of her everyday care.

During Women in Medicine Month, we celebrate Malia for reminding us that attentive, empathetic care is what truly transforms patient experiences.

Read her story: https://radiology.ucsf.edu/blog/power-representation-during-women-medicine-month-ucsfs-malia-martinez

09/19/2025

The updated O-RADS US 2022 guidelines are helping radiologists identify ovarian and adnexal lesions more accurately. With fewer false positives, patients may avoid unnecessary surgery and extra imaging. UCSF Imaging's Dr. Lori Strachowski and UChicago Medicine's Dr. Ryan Longman contributed key insights to these changes.

See highlights from RSNA News in our blog: https://radiology.ucsf.edu/blog/improved-accuracy-updated-o-rads-us-guidelines