The Nguyen lab focuses on the development and clinical application of novel imaging techniques to characterize the cardiovascular system including MRI, optical, and PET. Our primary research interests fall into four general areas: (1) bio- inspired design for heart assisted devices (Science Robotics 2020), (2) developing novel cardiovascular imaging techniques leveraging advanced physics and engineering (Nature BME 2018), (3) validating imaging techniques in preclinical models (JACC BTS 2018), and (4) rapid clinical translation of imaging techniques to patients (Radiology 2020). The ultimate goal of our research is to empower scientists and clinicians with novel imaging technologies to answer fundamental questions in cardiovascular biology and pathophysiology.
In the MGH/HST Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, our lab designs and implements in-house imaging technologies on cutting-edge MRI scanners. We study both large animal models and patients on human clinical systems for immediate clinical translation
Dr. Nguyen received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California Los Angeles in 2015 as a NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA pre-doctoral fellow. This led to his postdoctoral training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and affiliated postdoctoral fellowship at MGH. Subsequently in early 2017, he was promoted to faculty at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Imaging Research Institute. In October 2017, Dr. Nguyen joined the Martinos Center and Cardiovascular Research Center faculty after receiving the early career NIH NIBIB Trailblazer Award.
Education
PhD in Biomedical Engineering, UCLA
Select Publication
Nguyen CT, Dawkins J, Bi X, Marbán E, and Li D. Diffusion Tensor Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Reveals Exosomes From Cardiosphere-Derived Cells Preserve Myocardial Fiber Architecture After Myocardial Infarction. JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2018 Feb;3(1):97-109. PMID: 29600288.
Akerberg AA, Burns CE, Burns CG, Nguyen C. Deep learning enables automated volumetric assessments of cardiac function in zebrafish. Dis Model Mech. 2019 Oct 25;12(10):dmm040188. doi: 10.1242/dmm.040188. PMID: 31548281; PMCID: PMC6826023.
Park C, Fan Y, Gregor H, Yuk H, Singh M, Rojas A, Hameed A, Saeed M, Vasilyev N, Steele T, Zhao X, Nguyen CT**, and Roche ET**. “An Organosynthetic Dynamic Heart Model with Enhanced Biomimicry Guided by Cardiac Diffusion Tensor Imaging.” Science Robotics 5, no. 38 (January 29, 2020). https://doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.aay9106.
Highlights
2017 NIH NIBIB Trailblazer Award
2019 SCMR / NIBIB Plenary Lecturer
2020 Organosynethic heart development highlighted in BBC https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/robotic-hybrid-heart-beats-like-a-real-organ/