Wu Lab

The research lab of Yu-Chien Wu, MD, PhD, is actively investigating a wide range of radiology and imaging topics. Dr. Wu is particularly focused on studying diffusion physics in biologic system using diffusion MRI.

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Expertise

The Wu Lab is a national leader in neuroscience expertise. From working on studies like the CARE Consortium, the world's most comprehensive concussion study, to uncovering early diagnosis treatments for Alzheimer's disease, the Wu Lab is a pioneering hub for research excellence at IU School of Medicine and across the country.

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Stay up to date on the latest research by the Wu Lab and reach out to current team members.

Wu Lab Team

14+

countries represented

200+

publications

Research Topics

Alzheimer's Disease

With current treatments only managing symptoms, research is needed to address early diagnosis and intervention.

Animal Imaging

In vivo assessments on a mouse model find disruptions in microstructural integrity and neurite organization.

Sport-Related Concussion

The relationship between blood-based neural biomarkers and white matter neuroimaging in collegiate athletes.

Human Imaging

The lab highlights the growing impact of computational methods, combined imaging techniques, and animal models in advancing neuroscience research.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

The lab addresses the sensitivity issues of conventional medical imaging techniques in detecting mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) by utilizing hybrid diffusion imaging (HYDI).

Research Funding

Research collaborations are pivotal in advancing research within the Wu Lab. These partnerships help foster synergy, pooling diverse expertise and resources to tackle complex challenges. From access to specialized equipment, funding, and data, to amplifying research capabilities — shared knowledge accelerates innovation, refining diagnostic techniques and potential treatment strategies.

Ultimately, partnerships amplify a lab's impact, driving transformative progress in neuroscience.

Salman Shahid (left) and Yu-Chien Wu (right) sitting on a bench smiling at the camera. A small tree is in the background.

Wu Lab

R01 AGAG083951, NIH-NIA, Wu (PI), 2023-2028
- Assessing Diffusion MRI Metrics for Detecting Changes of Synaptic Density in Alzheimer's Disease
R01 NS112303-01, NIH-NINDS, Wu (PI), 2020-2026
- Comprehensive White-Matter Microstructure-Informed Analytical Methods to Elucidate Neurobiological Mechanisms of Sports-Related Concussion

Collaborative

U54AG054345, NIH-NIA, Bruce Lamb (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2022-2027
- IU/JAX/PITT MODEL-AD Center
P30 AG072976, NIH, Saykin (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2021-2026
- Indiana Alzheimer Disease Research Center
R01 DA059321, NIH, Radhakrishnan (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2023-2026
- Multimodal Fetal and Placental Imaging and Biomarkers of Clinical Outcomes in Opioid Use Disorder
W81XWH1820047 and HU001-18-2008, U.S. Army MTEC & NCAA, McAllister, IUSM (PI), Broglio, University of Michigan (PI), McCrea, Medical College of Wisconsin (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2021-2026
- Characterizing Potential Chronic Brain Health Effects of Concussion and Repetitive Head Impact Exposure: The CARE-SALTOS Integrated (CSI) Study
R01 NS128961, NIH, Dams-O’Connor, Mount Saini (PI) Hammond (Site-PI), Wu (Co-I), 2022-2027
- Clinical & biological signatures of post-traumatic neurodegeneration: Leveraging the TBI Model Systems of Care to accelerate in vivo diagnosis of the late effects of TBI (LETBI)
R01 CA290435, NIH, Kim, University of Alabama (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2024-2029
- DCE-MRI guided Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer.
R01 NS135776, NIH-NIDS, Meier, Medical College Wisconsin (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2024-2027
- The role of cytomegalovirus in the physiological and clinical effects of concussion.

Wu Lab

R01 NS112303-03S1, NIH-NINDS-NIA, Wu (PI), 2022-2025
- Elucidating Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease Using White-Matter Microstructure-Informed Subject-Specific Analytical Methods
S10 OD036259, NIH-OD, Wu (PI) 2025-2026
- High Performance Gradient System for Advanced MRI Neuroimaging
R01 AG053993, NIH-NIA, Wu (PI), 2016-2024
- Modeling Axonal Density and Inflammation-Associated Cellularity in Alzheimer's Disease Using Hybrid Diffusion Imaging
R21AG068962, NIH-R21 (PI: Tong, Purdue University), Wu (Site-PI), 2021-2024
- Image-Based Modeling of Biomechanical Factors for Risk Assessment of Developing Periventricular White Matter Hyperintensities
2R44AG060861-02, NINDS-ADM Diagnostics, Inc. (PI: Matthews at ADM Diagnostics, Inc.), 2022-2024
- Multi-modal Machine Learning Detection and Tracking of Traumatic Brain Injury Neurodegeneration and Its Differentiation from Alzheimer's Disease
Identifying Microstructural Imaging Biomarkers that Predict Post-Traumatic Headache, Indiana State Department of Health, Wu (PI), 2021-2023
Tau propagation and white matter degeneration in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, IADC, Pilot Project, Wu (PI), 2020-2021
Research Contract, Siemens, Wu (PI), 2018-2021
- Diffusion MRI
Combing the perfusion, function and structure matrices of the brain to assess the spectrum of Alzheimer’s disease, CTSI-IADC Pilot, Tong (PI), Wu (Site-PI), 2020-2022
R01HD096800, NIH, Sadhasivam (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2018-2020
- Effects of opioid use disorder in pregnancy on long-term maternal and child outcomes
CTR, CTSI, Wu (PI), 2016-2018
- Microstructure Modulated White Matter Connectivity for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
R21 NS075791, NIH/NINDS-Dartmouth, McAllister & Wu (MPI), 2011-2015
- HYBRID Diffusion Imaging to Detect Acute White Matter Injury After Mild TBI
High Angular Resolution Diffusion Imaging(HARDI) with novel HYPR image reconstruction, Dartmouth SYNERGY, Wu (PI), 2012-2015
Hybrid Diffusion Imaging (HYDI) of the Kidney, IUPUI-RITDP, Wu (PI), 2015-2016
Microstructure Imaging of the Human Brain with TBI, IUPUI-ITDP, Wu (PI), 2015-2016
Measuring Axonal Diameters and Density with a Novel ActiveAx and Fast RSA-EPI Sequence, IADC, Pilot Project, Wu (PI), 2014-2016
R01 AG053993-01, NIA, Wu (PI), 2016 – 2021
- Modeling Axonal Density and Inflammation-Associated Cellularity in Alzheimer’s Disease Using Hybrid Diffusion Imaging

Collaborative

R01, NIH-NIA, Lasagna-Reeves (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2023-2025
- CAA, Tau and Neurodegeneration
R01AG061788, NIH, Risacher (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2019-2024
- Multi-Domain Sensory Measures as Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease in Preclinical and Prodromal Stages
R03, NIH,Radhakrishnan (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2023-2024
- Neuroimaging in Pregnancy to Assess Effects of Opioid Use Disorder
R01AG022304-15S1, NIH-NIA Rao, Cleveland Clinic (PI), Lamb, IUSM (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2021-2023
- Immune Mechanisms Underlying the Neuroprotective Effects of Physical Activity in Human and Mouse Models of Genetic Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease
R01 AG019771, NIH, Saykin (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2017-2023
- Memory Circuitry in MCI and Early Alzheimer’s Disease Prodrome: Molecular Drivers
R56 AG047992-07A1, NIH, Newhouse, Vanderbilt University (PI), Saykin (Site-PI), Wu (Co-I), 2022-2023
- Long-Term Nicotine Treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment
U01 AG072177, NIH-NIA, Saykin (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2021-2022
- Korean Brain Aging Study, Longitudinal Endophenotypes and Systems Biology
R01 AG047992, NIH, Newhouse (PI), Saykin (Site-PI), Wu (Co-I), 2015-2022
- Long-Term Nicotine Treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment
R01 AG052439, NIH, Clark (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2017-2022
- MIND Food and Speed of Processing Training in Older Adults with Low Education, The MINDSpeed Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Pilot Trail
R21AG066135, NIH-NIA, Yan (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2019-2022
- Gene Co-expression Underlying the Connectomic Alterations in Alzheimer’s Disease
U01 MH109977, NIH, Shenton, Harvard Medical School (PI), Breier (Site-PI), Wu (Co-I), 2016-2021
- Human Connectome Project for Early Psychosis
W81XWH-14-2-0151, DoD+NCAA, McAllister (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2018-2021
- Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium for sport-related concussion and military personnel
R01 EB022574, NIH, Shen (PI), Saykin (Site-PI), Wu (Co-I), 2016-2021
- Integrative Bioinformatics Approaches to Human Brain Genomics and Connectomics
P30 AG010133, NIH, Saykin (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2011-2021
- Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center
ARRS Scholarship, ARRS, Radhakrishnan (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2018-2020
- Predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonatal abstinence syndrome
Improving functional ability in chronic TBI with intensive rehabilitation robotic gait training (PI: Massie), Indiana Spinal Cord & Traumatic Brain Injury Research Fund, Wu (Co-I), 2017-2019
Data Research/Pilot Study Project, IU-Health, Sadhasivam (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2018-2019
- Effects of an 8-day advanced meditation, Samyama on physical, psychological and spiritual wellbeing, and associated neural mechanisms
UH3TR000955-S1, NIH, Breier (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2016-2018
- The Efficacy and Safety of a Selective Estrogen Receptor Beta agonist (LY500307) for Negative Symptoms and Cognitive Impairment Associated with Schizophrenia
R21 AG051932, NIH, Callahan (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2016-2018
- Angiogenesis and Alzheimer’s Disease
W81XWH-14-2-0151, NCAA-DoD, McAllister (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2014-2018
- Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium (CARE)
Advancing the Understanding of Biomechanical Parameters Associated with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, NOCSAE, McAllister (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2011-2013
R01 MH091100-A1, NIH, Holzheimer (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2011-2013
- Investigating Biomarkers of TRD Using Neuroimaging
Advanced MRI Evaluation of Cerebral Blood Flow and Brain Connectivity Biomarkers in Adolescent Subacute Sports-related Concussion, Ninesigma, Inc., McDonald (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2014-2015
UH3TR000955, NIH, Breier (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2014-2015
- The Efficacy and Safety of a Selective Estrogen Receptor Beta agonist (LY500307) for Negative Symptoms and Cognitive Impairment Associated with Schizophrenia
Dissection of Cholestatic Itch in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Chalasani (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2015-2017
Evaluation of Resting State fMRI in Neonates with Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury, radPDT, Kralik (PI), Wu (Co-I), 2016-2017

Discover

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In-Vivo Imaging Core

Advanced Imaging Research

Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

Stark Neurosciences Research Institute

Need help getting that S10 grant? Talk to Dr. Wu!

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news & publications

Dr. Wu receives Indiana Dept of Health Grant

Indiana Traumatic Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Fund’s (ISCBIRF) Award: Microstructure-Informed Individualized Analyses to Elucidate Neurological Mechanisms of Pain in Sport-related Concussion and Repetitive Head Impact.

Dr. Wu receives S10 high-end instrumentation (HEI) award from NIH

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Salman Shahid receives 2025 Indiana CTSI Ralph W. and Grace M. Showalter research award for "Mapping spatial distribution of in vivo neurometabolites in Alzheimer’s disease using enhanced multi-contrast CEST MRI”

Yomna Takieldeen awarded $50,000 for projects from the IADRC Developmental Project Program

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Recent Manuscripts Published:

Yang, H.C., Nguyen, T., White, F. A., Naugle, K. M., & Wu, Y.C. (2025). Pain-Related White-Matter Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging Pilot Study. Diagnostics, 15(5), 642. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15050642

Mac Donald, C. L., Yuh, E. L., Vande Vyvere, T., Edlow, B. L., Li, L. M., Mayer, A. R., Mukherjee, P., Newcombe, V. F. J., Wilde, E. A., Koerte, I. K., Yurgelun-Todd, D., Wu, Y. C., Duhaime, A. C., Awwad, H. O., Dams-O'Connor, K., Doperalski, A., Maas, A. I. R., McCrea, M. A., Umoh, N., & Manley, G. T. (2025). Neuroimaging Characterization of Acute Traumatic Brain Injury with Focus on Frontline Clinicians: Recommendations from the 2024 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Traumatic Brain Injury Classification and Nomenclature Initiative Imaging Working Group. Journal of neurotrauma, 42(13-14), 1056–1064. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2025.0079

Zia, G., Shahid, S. S., Yang, H. C., Gao, S., Risacher, S. L., Saykin, A. J., & Wu, Y. C. (2025). Longitudinal non-linear changes in the microstructure of the hippocampal subfields in older adults. Neurobiology of aging, 155, 113–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2025.07.008

Shahid, S. S., Li, X., Dzemidzic, M., Jarvis, E. E., Takieldeen, Y., Wang, A., Wilcock, D., & Wu, Y. C. (2026). Multimodal MRI Reveals Cerebral and Vascular Amyloid-Driven Myeloarchitectural Disorganization in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. NMR in biomedicine, 39(4), e70262. https://doi.org/10.1002/nbm.70262

Pain-Related White-Matter Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging Pilot Study

Cerebral white-matter tract regions of interest (ROIs). A common white-matter skeleton was first generated by the tract-based spatial statics (TBSS) toolbox in the FMRIB Software Library (FSL) using normalized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) factional anisotropy maps from all the subjects. The white-matter skeleton was intercepted with Johns Hopkins University (JHU) white-matter tract atlas, and eighteen ROIs were used in this study.

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