Neuroradiology Research Group

Scientific Interests of the Laboratory

Brain tumors

Our research focuses on tumor diagnosis, characterization, and monitoring. Our aim is to provide the Neurosurgery, Radiotherapy and Neuro-oncology Units (with which we collaborate in a multi-disciplinary approach) with novel imaging biomarkers to achieve a precise and personalized treatment and improve the patient’s clinical outcome.

We are currently studying brain tumors with new high-field MRI techniques aiming to identify tumor infiltration beyond the macroscopic margins of the lesion and to digitally reconstruct the major white matter fascicles infiltrated or displaced by the tumor to guide supra-total tumor resection.

We are also investigating advanced imaging techniques for the differentiation of treatment-induced changes and actual tumor progression to improve the treatment decision process.

Functional MRI in pain and stroke

We use 3T MRI to study functional changes of the brain induced by pathology, treatment, and rehabilitation. We are currently studying functional changes of the brain induced by high-precision thalamotomy achieved with gamma-knife stereotactic radiosurgery in patients affected by chronic pain in collaboration with the Neurosurgery and Radiotherapy Units. We also investigate the brain structure and function in stroke patients, and the effects of innovative rehabilitation techniques involving the use of virtual reality in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Unit and the Institute of Neuroscience of the Italian National Research Council (CNR).

Artificial intelligence methods in surgery neuro-navigation of the spine

We apply state of the art advanced imaging techniques and deep learning methods in developing software for spine surgery. We are investigating these approaches applied both to CT and high-field MRI scans to reduce radiation dose and complications during spine surgery of degenerative spine disease (spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis), osteoporotic-related vertebral fractures and oncologic vertebral fractures.

Artificial Intelligence methods in trabecular bone evaluation for identification of osteoporotic fractures

We use Radiomics and Deep Learning methods to investigate the vertebral trabecular bone structure. We are investigating the trabecular structure of vertebrae to identify bone frailty and predict osteoporotic-related fractures, in collaboration with the Endocrinology, Diabetology and Medical Andrology Unit.

Group Members

Dr. Marco Grimaldi is Chief of Diagnostic Neuroradiology Unit at IRCCS-Humanitas Research Hospital and Adjunct Professor of “Neuro Imaging” module in the course of “Neurology” for physiotherapists at Humanitas University (since 2017). He is also member of the Indipendent Ethical Committee at Humanitas Research Hospital (since 2016).

His research mainly focuses on functional neuroradiology, in particular cerebral perfusion and CT perfusion in acute care, functional MRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) MRI in stroke. Moreover, he studies the advanced diagnosis of spine, with focus on spinal dimorphisms and to the diagnosis and clinical management of rare diseases, craniospinal junction issues and lysosomal storage diseases.

Dr. Giovanni Savini is a MR physicist who deals with the optimization of MRI research protocols, image acquisition and processing and data analysis. During his PhD he studied the cerebellar microstructure and connectivity in health and pathology. He worked in the UK at the UCL Institute of Neurology, London, and at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre­­­­. Currently, his research focuses on the development and application of quantitative MRI methods to study the brain and spinal cord in neurological diseases.

Dr. Riccardo Levi graduated in Biomedical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano (Italy) and he is currently enrolled in the PhD program in Data Science in Medicine and Nutrition at Humanitas University. His PhD project is involved applying advanced imaging analysis algorithms in spine imaging. He collaborates also in providing statistical analysis for clinical studies.

Dr. Federico Garoli graduated in Medicine and Surgery in 2019 at University of Milan. Currently, he is enrolled in the Resident program in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology. His research interest is in degenerative spine disease, in particular application of radiomics in detecting trabecular bone frailty. Research interest in primary brain tumors.

Dr. Dario Rizzo graduated in Medicine and Surgery in 2018 at University of Catania. Currently, he is enrolled in the Resident program in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology. His research interest is in vascular malformations and aneurysm in brain, from diagnosis to neurointerventional treatments. Research interest in degenerative spine disorders.