Medical imaging at Indiana University School of Medicine is entering a new era of research and development with the expansion of services and resources provided by the Research Imaging Core under the Medical Imaging Research Institute (MIRI).
With its extensive scientific and technical expertise, the Research Imaging Core is designed to support research needs ranging from biomedical imaging in preclinical research to clinical trials to bring new diagnostic tools, therapeutics and interventions to patients — and provide a destination for industry to collaborate.
Imaging technologies and expertise to support research and training are located at four sites across the IU School of Medicine in Indianapolis, including Research II, Goodman Hall, the Neurosciences Research Building and the Biomedical Research and Training Center.
“MIRI’ s Research Imaging Core is a resource for both internal investigators and external partners," said Rohan Dharmakumar, PhD, vice chair for research for the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences and executive director of MIRI at IU School of Medicine. “We are on the brink of making great progress in medical imaging research that translates into new diagnostic tools and interventions for patients — and it’s all happening here in Central Indiana.”
The expansion comes in conjunction with investigators from the Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center (CIRC) conducting research as part of MIRI — and MIRI expanding cardiovascular imaging research capacity within the Research II building. Among the technology acquisitions is a Siemens MAGNETOM Free.Max, a 0.55-Tesla MRI scanner that can accommodate patients who are claustrophobic or need additional space and allow for development of cutting-edge MRI-guided interventions. The space will also house a fully activated cardiac catheterization lab to further advance interventional studies as well as a FUJIFILM V2 VisualSonics Ultrasound System.
A Center of Excellence and a Theranostics Center emerge
In March 2026, Cook Medical joined IU to establish their first interventional MRI Center of Excellence, where they will work with MIRI investigators to accelerate the advancement, validation and clinical integration of MRI-guided technologies and provide a Cook national training center. Through a partnership between Cook Medical, IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences (IU Lab) and IU MIRI, the center will combine device engineering, imaging science and clinical research infrastructure to expedite the development and adoption of MRI-guided technologies in real-world clinical workflows.
“We are using imaging as a powerful tool to advance healthcare,” Dharmakumar said. “Our goal is to develop and use cutting-edge imaging approaches to probe pathophysiology of disease and develop strategies to prevent, diagnose and treat disease. We have the capability to image target organs and to assess the inter-organ crosstalk to generate a comprehensive understanding into how the human body functions in health and disease.”
The Research Imaging Core currently comprises three areas: the Cardiovascular Imaging Research Core; the Neuroimaging Research Core; and the Radiochemistry Research Core. These imaging cores utilize imaging physics and engineering, molecular investigations, artificial intelligence, hardware development and combined use of diagnostics and therapeutics in a single setting to move preclinical and translational research to address unmet needs in clinical care of patients. New and existing imaging technologies continue to enhance scientific study, including the 9.4-Tesla MR/PET system, which is part of the Neuroimaging Research Core and the V2 Visual Sonics Ultrasound systems that enable ultrasound imaging across various spatial scales to support preclinical research and the use of theranostics.
Theranostics integrates diagnostics and therapy to facilitate more personalized medicine by identifying disease targets at the molecular level and then treating them using targeted radiopharmaceuticals — often referred to as radiotracers. Rather than treat disease via chemotherapy, a radioactive isotope administers radiation only to targeted cells, thereby reducing impact on healthy cells and side effects. Theranostics is not a new intervention, but its application continues to evolve — and is an area of growth in research and development in Central Indiana as well as within Indiana University Health and IU School of Medicine, with the establishment of the IU Health Theranostics Center of Excellence. Theranostics was first applied in cancer interventions, and now scientists want to learn how theranostics can be used elsewhere.
“One of the exciting things about theranostics research is that we can use chemistry to interrogate disease at the molecular level and then potentially use that same biology to delivery therapy,” said Michale L. Schulte, PhD, director of radiochemistry for MIRI’s Radiochemistry Research Core. By having radiochemistry, preclinical imaging and clinical imaging expertise all within the Research Imaging Core, we can help investigators move new ideas across that entire translational spectrum.”
Who should harness image-guided research?
Studies led by investigators that could benefit from precision medicine, real-time visualization, minimally invasive interventions and longitudinal observation are ideal for image-guided research.
“Image-guided research is appropriate for testing novel imaging agents, assessing the delivery of therapeutics and interventions ranging from cancer, neurological disease, heart disease and physiological changes and disease at the molecular level,” said Yu-Chien Wu, MD, PhD, scientific director of the Research Imaging Core, associate director of the Center for Neuroimaging and professor of radiology and imaging sciences at IU School of Medicine. “I match investigators with the best imaging modality to answer their research questions. Through a combined understanding of physics, medicine and our technologies, we can help investigators gather important insights that are not always possible with invasive approaches.”
When faculty reach out to MIRI’s Office for Research Imaging (ORI), their journey begins at the JANUS portal — the official entry point for all research imaging studies. The name “JANUS” is the gateway accessing the Research Imaging Core and the full range of radiology resources available across IU School of Medicine.
After a study is registered, the ORI team moves quickly to review its requirements. Based on the study’s complexity, ORI connects key MIRI experts with the research team to map out every detail. These collaborative discussions cover everything needed for success — participant population, imaging protocols, post-processing workflows, data analysis plans, contrast or tracer needs and strategies for data storage and transfer.
With a clear plan in place, ORI develops a comprehensive and transparent budget tailored to the study. The team can also support critical regulatory steps, including radiation safety applications and dosimetry estimates, helping investigators navigate complex requirements with confidence.
Once all final documents are submitted — such as the study protocol, lab manuals, regulatory approvals and billing information — the study is cleared for scheduling. From first contact to study launch, ORI provides a streamlined, expert-guided process that turns concepts into fully operational research studies with speed, clarity and precision.
“It’s never too early — or too late — to reach out to ORI with questions about your study,” said Jason Shine, director of the Research Imaging Core. “Developing a complex imaging project takes thoughtful planning and engaging early ensures the right pieces are in place. It’s always better to start the conversation ahead of time than to find yourself scrambling at the last minute.”
