My research interests are focused on the development of innovative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) methods for characterizing vascular structure and function and novel molecular imaging contrast agents. The tools being developed in my lab are being applied to studies of a wide range of diseases, including  cancer, fibrosis, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and stroke. Our recent molecular imaging efforts have been focused on the development of RNA aptamer contrast agents targeted against amyloid-beta, chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI reporter genes for imaging oncolytic virotherapy, and collagen targeted MRI contrast agents for imaging liver fibrosis. Our vascular imaging efforts have focused on developing MRI methods for measuring average vessel caliber, vascular reactivity, and transendothelial water exchange and their application to studies of novel brain tumor therapies and stroke.