Michael L. Lipton, M.D., Ph.D.

I straddle the practice of clinical medicine, research and education toward improving human brain health through the effective use of modern brain imaging technology. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is my central tool, I define brain imaging broadly, to include all methods that facilitate accurate depiction of brain structure and function as well as their interface. As a neuroradiologist, I advocate looking beyond the visual percept in making an assessment of diagnostic images, using quantitative approaches to maximize diagnostic yield, improve accuracy and minimize risk, including the risk of misdiagnosis. These approaches are developed and validated in the laboratory, then applied in clinical research populations and, ultimately, real patients. I push students at all levels to understand the technology they wield and use it intelligently for the ultimate betterment of patients.

Specific focus areas include:

• Diagnosis of subtle brain injury to predict cognitive outcome
• Brain substrates of mental illness
• Integrated multi-modal imaging for surgical management of brain tumors
• The aging brain
• Real-time physiologic plasticity in the somatosensory system
• Proactive approaches to maximize safe use of MRI