Biography

My research at UT has culminated in the establishment of the Diffusion Tensor Imaging Lab (MSB 6.532, (713-500-7683) which currently provides help to more than 10 different research active groups. The DTI lab is part of the MRI research wing of the department and its major role is promote and support the department MRI main research. The DTI lab provides computational support, training, processing and consultation on data acquisition, management, detailed and professional quality control measures for researchers, clinical center trials and complete processing of data acquired from many scanners, at different scales that span the mouse, rat and the human CNS.

My main research focuses on developing specialized acquisition and computational techniques to enhance contrast and increase specificity of DTI. The fusion of DTI and MEG, fMRI, perfusion, conventional MRI and MRSI will be important to identify noninvasive markers for quantifying and localizing human neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (collaborative work with Drs Jerry Wolinsky, Ponnada A. Narayana and Flavia Nelson), neurodevelopmental disorders such as Spina Bifida and Dyslexia (collaborative work with Drs Jack Fletcher, Maureen Dennis, Andrew Papanicolaou, Larry Kramer, Susan Blaser), pediatric traumatic brain injury (collaborative work with Dr Linda Ewing-Cobbs), neurotoxins such as cocaine and MDM (collaborative work with Drs Gerry Moeller and Joel L Steinberg).

Many other applications of DTI such as fetal brain maturation and development and clinical applications (stroke, tumors, epilepsy, Hypoxic injury) are also ongoing (collaborative work with Dr Rakesh K Gupta, Andrew Papanicolaou, Corwin Boake), modeling of spinal cord injury recovery and therapy (collaborative work with Dr Ponnada A. Narayana) and modeling of animal disease such as Parkinson’s, ALS, HIV (collaborative work with Drs Michael Boska and Howard Gillerman).

Other collaborative DTI and quantitative MRI applications to human CNS conditions such as Stroke (Sean Savitz), Stem Cell Therapy post Trauma (Charles Cox), Schizophrenia (Joel Steinberg), ADHD (Manzar Ashtari), Epilepsy (Eduardo Castillo) and Autism (Richard E. Frye).

Education

Graduate School
Physics, University of Birzeit, Palestine, 1989
Graduate School
Medical Physics, University of Utah, 2000

Areas of Interest

Research Interests

**Faculty profiles will only highlight current information (the last three years). Please see the faculty’s CV for more information.

Current Grant Support

Studying the Physiological and Anatomical Cerebral Effects of Artificial Gravity (SPACE- CENT). NASA #NNX17AE0G through NASA 05/01/14-09/30/20. Subcontract, University of Texas at Houston. This project is the first to study the combined effects of head down tilt and 0.5% CO2 in a ground-based analog of space flight.
PI: Eric Bershad, MD
Role Larry A. Kramer, M.D. – Co- Investigator/Site PI ($37,500).

Support Crew Health and Performance and Space Exploration Missions. 03/01/13-09/30/20. NASA #NNJ#115HK11B Subcontract, University of Texas at Houston. This proposal will initiate the first study to evaluate brain structure in astronauts and CSF dynamics, and may offer much improved understanding of the mechanism of ICP elevation and vision changes in a subset of space crewmembers.
PI: Macias, MD
Role Larry A. Kramer, M.D. – Co-Investigator/Site PI. ($133,025).

Past Grant Support
Venous Congestion Countermeasure Study. 12/05/2018-3/05/2020 NASA Subcontract, University of Texas at Houston via subcontract with UCSD. #80NSSC19K1668.
PI: Alan Hargens, MD
Role: Larry A. Kramer M.D. – Co-Investigator/Site PI. ($62,132).

Image Analysis Center (PI: Narayana/Savitz) 11/9/15 – 11/8/19 calendar
Sunovion/SanBio, Inc.
Major Goals: Provide MRI analysis on the Stroke patients treated with stem cells as a part of phase 2 clinical trials.
Role: Investigator

Image Analysis Center (PI: Narayana/Savitz) 9/1/15 – 9/1/18 calendar
SanBio, Inc.
Major Goals: Provide MRI analysis on the traumatic brain injured patients treated with stem cells as a part of phase 2 clinical trials.
Role: Investigator

Dunn Foundation (PI: Soares) 9/1/14 – 8/31/17 1.8 calendar
Dunn-Genomics of Bipolar Disorder Research Fund
Major Goals: Research on the genomics of bipolar disorder.

Publications

**Faculty profiles will only highlight current information (the last three years). Please see the faculty’s CV for more information.

 

ABSTRACTS:

  1. Nelson, F., Steinberg J, Keser Z, Wilken J, Hasan, K.M.. Does white matter tract damage affect task related fMRI activation in MS related cognitive impairment? ACTRIMS. Orlando Feb. 22-24, 2017
  2. JA Lincoln, L Freeman, L Staine, Hasan, K.M., R Gabr, PA Narayana, JS Wolinsky. Enhanced Regional Cerebral Perfusion Following Acetazolamide: Preliminary Results. ECTRIMS, Paris, France, 2017
  3. Haque, M.E., Gabr, R.E., Zhao, X., Hasan, K.M., Narayana, P.A., Savitz, S.I., Aronowski, J. Quantitative Serial Neuroimaging of Iron in the Intracerebral Hemorrhage Pig Model. 17th International Stroke Conference, Houston Texas., 2017
  4. Haque, M.E., Gabr, R.E., Hasan, K.M., Jeevarajan, Izygon, J., Nghiem, D.M., Sitton, C.W., Narayana, P.A., Savitz, S.I.: Serial MRI of Lateral Ventricular Enlargement to Measure Rate of Brain Atrophy in Patients with Ischemic Stroke. 25th International Society of Magnetic Resonance Imaging conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2017
  5. Riascos, R.F, Hasan, K.M., Mwangi, B., Behzad, B.B., Hakimilahi, R., Kramer, L.A.: Longitudinal Quantitative MRI Measurements in Astronauts Microgravity Exposure. Presented at The 2017 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop (HRP IWS 2017; https://www.nasa.gov/hrp) at the Galveston Island Convention Center (GICC) in Galveston, TX., Jan 23, 2017
  6. Cao, B., Mwangi, B., Cavalcante Passos, I., Wu, M.J, Keser, Z., Zunta-Soares, G.B., Xu, D., Hasan, K.M., and Soares, J.C.: Lifespan Gyrification Trajectory of Human Brain and Accelerated Aging of Major Psychiatric Disorders. Society for Human Brain Mapping Meeting, 2017
  7. Gabr, R.E., Pednekar, A.S., Govindarajan, K.A., Sun, X., Riascos, R.F., Ramírez, M.G., Hasan, K.M., Lincoln, J.A., Nelson, F., Wolinsky, J.S., Narayana, P.A.: Patient-specific 3D FLAIR for enhanced visualization of brain white matter lesions in multiple sclerosis. Presented at the International Society for Magnetic Resonance In Medicine (ISMRM), Honolulu, HI, USA., 2017
  8. Lincoln, J.A., Freeman, L., Gabr, R., Hasan, K.M., Narayana, P., Wolinsky, J.S.: Can Improving Cerebral Perfusion Impact the Evolution of Multiple Sclerosis Lesions? Presented at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS), Orlando, FL, USA, 2017
  9. Hasan, K.M., Gabr, R.E., Lincoln, J.A., Narayana, P.A.: Toward Real Time Estimation and Quality Assurance for Myelin Water Mapping in the Human CNS. Presented at the International Society for Magnetic Resonance In Medicine (ISMRM), Honolulu, HI, USA., 2017
  10. Hasan, K.M., Gabr, R.E., Lincoln, J.A., Narayana, P.A.: Real Time Estimation and Quality Assurance for Myelin Water Mapping in the Human CNS. Introduction to Quantitative MRI and Clinical applications. Gulf Coast Consortia MR Radiogeneomics Conference, March 31, 2017
  11. Hasan, K.M.: Overview of MRI-based tissue contrast and ongoing clinical applications to map human brain microstructure and physiology in health and disease. Invited Talk. UTHealth Center for Precision Health. Precision Medicine Day. https://www.uth.edu/cph/pmd/, April 13, 2017
  12. Hasan, K.M.: Introduction to Quantitative MRI and Clinical applications. Invited Talk Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Grand Rounds Distinguished Lectureship Series, July 21, 2017
  13. Hasan, K.M., Gabr, R.E., Lincoln, J.A., and Narayana, P.A.: Novel Multi-band accelerated, Reference-less, Multifaceted Icosahedral and Multishell Diffusion MRI Protocol for human whole brain clinical applications. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine ISMRM2018. Joint Annual Meeting ISMRM-ESMRMB, Paris, France. June 16-21, 2018
  14. Rabiei, P., Behzad, B., Hasan, K.M., Kamali, A., Kramer, L., Riascos R. Pre- and Post-Flight Size Comparison of the Major Dural Venous Sinuses in Astronauts. Accepted for oral presentation at 2018 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop / Galveston Island Convention Center, Galveston, TX January 22-24, 2018
  15. Rabiei, P., Behzad, B., Hasan, K.M., Kamali, A., Kramer, L., Riascos R. Pre- and Post-Flight Size Comparison of the Major Dural Venous Sinuses in Astronauts. Accepted for oral presentation at 2018 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop / Galveston Island Convention Center, Galveston, TX January 22-24, 2018
  16. Riascos, R., Hasan, K.M., Mwangi, B., Behzad, B., B., Kamali, A., Hakimelahi, R., Rabiei, P., Sargsyan, A., Kramer, L.: Longitudinal Analysis of Quantitative Brain MRI in Astronauts Following Microgravity Exposure. Accepted for oral presentation at NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop / Galveston Island Convention Center, Galveston, TX January 22-24, 2018
  17. Zaza, R., Hakimelahi, R., Rabiei, P., Kamali, A., Hasan, K.M., Kramer, L., Riascos, R: Comparison of the use of volumetry vs linear height measurements to detect changes in the pituitary gland using 3D-T1W non-contrast MRI. Accepted for oral presentation at 2018 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop Galveston Island Convention Center, Galveston, TX, January 22-24, 2018
  18. Zaza, R., Hakimelahi, R., Rabiei, P., Kamali, A., Hasan, K., Kramer, L., Riascos, R.: Comparison of the pituitary gland volume pre- and post-flight in astronauts. Accepted for oral presentation at 2018 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop Galveston Island Convention Center, Galveston, TX, January 22-24, 2018
  19. Kramer, L.A, Hirzallah, M. I., Hasan, K. Younes, U. Menon, U. Macias, B, Stenger, M. and Narayana, P.: QUANTITATIVE MAGNETIC RESONANCE OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW HEMODYNAMICS IN ACUTE HEAD DOWN TILT. NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop Galveston Island Convention Center, Galveston, TX, January 22-24, 2018
  20. Younes, K., Hasan, K.M., Mcgough, C.E., Kamali, A., Keser, Z., Melicher, T., Kramer, L.A., Schulz P.E.: Quantitative diffusion tensor tractography of the superior thalamic radiation and the corticospinal tract in relation to ventricular and sulcal CSF Volumes in patients with ventriculomegaly diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus. American Academy of Neurology 70th Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA. April 21-27, 2018
  21. Keser, Z., Hasan, K.M., Mwangi, B., Younes, K., Lincoln, J.A., Nelson, F.M. Micro and Macrostructural Limbic System Correlates of Comprehensive Cognitive Symptomatology in Multiple Sclerosis using Quantitative MRI and DTI. AAN 70th Annual Meeting. Los Angeles, CA. Apr 21-27, 2018

 

REFEREED ORIGINAL ARTICLES IN JOURNALS:

  1. Gabr, R.E., Pednekar, A.S., Govindarajan, K.A., Sun, X., Riascos, R.F., Ramírez, M.G., Hasan, K.M., Lincoln, J.A., Nelson, F., Wolinsky, J.S., Narayana, P.A.: Patient-specific 3D FLAIR for enhanced visualization of brain white matter lesions in multiple sclerosis. J Magn Reson Imaging 46(2):557-564, 2017
  2. Keser, Z., Hasan, K.M., Mwangi, B., Gabr, R.E., Steinberg, J.L., Wilken, J., Wolinsky, J.S., and Nelson, F.N.: Limbic Pathway Correlates of Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis. Journal of Neuroimaging 27(1):37-42, 2017
  3. Keser, Z., Hasan, K.M., Mwangi, B., Gabr, R.E., Nelson, F.M.: Diffusion Tensor Imaging-Defined Sulcal Enlargement Is Related to Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis. J Neuroimaging. 27(3):312-317, 2017
  4. Nelson, F., Akhtar, M. A., Zúñiga, E., Perez, C.A., Hasan, K.M., Wilken, J., Wolinsky, Narayana P.A., Steinberg J.L.: Novel fMRI working memory paradigm accurately detects cognitive impairment in Multiple Sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis Journal 23(6):836-847, 2017
  5. Cao, B., Mwangi, B., Passos, I.C., Wu, M.J., Keser, Z., Zunta-Soares, G.B., Xu, D., Hasan, K.M., Soares, J.C.: Lifespan Gyrification Trajectories of Human Brain in Healthy Individuals and Patients with Major Psychiatric Disorders. Sci Rep. 7(1):511, 2017
  6. Schmitz, J.M., Green, C.E., Hasan, K.M., Vincent, J., Suchting, R., Weaver, M.F., Moeller, F.G., Narayana, P.A., Cunningham, K.A., Dineley, K.T., Lane, S.D.: PPAR-gamma agonist pioglitazone modifies craving intensity and brain white matter integrity in patients with primary cocaine use disorder: a double-blind randomized controlled pilot trial. Addiction. Addiction. 112(10):1861-1868, 2017
  7. Kramer, L.A., Hasan, K.M., Sargsyan, A.E., Marshall-Goebel, K., Rittweger, J., Donoviel, D., Higashi, S., Mwangi, B., Gerlach, D.A., Bershad, E.M.; SPACECOT Investigators Group: Quantitative MRI volumetry, diffusivity, cerebrovascular flow, and cranial hydrodynamics during head-down tilt and hypercapnia: the SPACECOT study. J Appl Physiol (1985). 122(5):1155-1166, 2017
  8. Gerlach, D.A., Marshall-Goebel, K., Hasan, K.M., Kramer, L.A., Alperin, N., Rittweger, J.: MRI-derived diffusion parameters in the human optic nerve and its surrounding sheath during head-down tilt. NPJ Microgravity. 3:18, doi: 10.1038/s41526-017-0023-y. eCollection, 2017.
  9. Yozbatiran, N., Keser, Z., Hasan, K., Stampas, A., Korupolu, R., Kim, S., O’Malley, K., Fregni, F., Francisco, G.E.: White matter changes in corticospinal tract associated with improvement in arm and hand functions in incomplete cervical spinal cord injury: Pilot Case Series. Spinal Cord Series and Cases 3:17028. doi: 10.1038/scsandc.2017.28. eCollection, 2017.
  10. Hasan, K.M., Keser, Z., Schulz, P., Wilde, E.: Multimodal Advanced Imaging for Concussion Neuroimaging Clinics of North America 28(1):31-42, 2018
  11. Hasan, K.M., Mwangi, B., Keser, Z., Riascos, R.F., Sargsyan, A.E. Kramer, L.A. Brain Quantitative MRI Metrics in Astronauts as a Unique Professional Group. J Neuroimaging (DOI: 10.1111/jon.12501), 2018
  12. Haque, M.E., Gabr, R.E., Zhao, X., Hasan, K.M., Valenzuela, A., Narayana, P.A., Ting, S.M., Sun, G., Savitz, S.I., Aronowski, J: Serial quantitative neuroimaging of iron in the intracerebral hemorrhage pig model. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 38(3):375-381, 2018
  13. Kamali, A., Riascos, R.F., Pillai, J.J., Sair, H.I., Patel, R., Nelson, F.M., Lincoln, J.A., Tandon, N., Mirbagheri, S., Rabiei, P., Keser, Z., Hasan, K.M.: Mapping the trajectory of the amygdalothalamic tract in the human brain. Journal of Neuroscience Research. DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24235, 2018
  14. Keser, Z., Hasan, K.M., Mwangi, B., Younes, K., Khayat-Khoei, M., Kamali, A., Lincoln, J.A., and Nelson, F.M.: Limbic System Quantitative MRI Correlates of Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis. Frontiers in Neurology (Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology; doi: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00132), 2018
  15. Kamali, A., Zhang, C.C., Riascos R.F., Tandon, N., Bonafante-Mejia, E.E., Patel, R., Lincoln, J.A., Rabiei, P., Ocasio, L., Younes, K., and Hasan, K.M.: Diffusion tensor tractography of the mammillothalamic tract in the human brain using a high spatial resolution DTI technique. Scientific Reports 8(1):5229. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-23452-w., 2018
  16. Kamali, A., Karbasian, N., Rabiei, P., Cano, A., Riascos, R.F., Tandon, N., Arevalo, O., Ocasio, L., Younes, K., Khayat-Khoei, M., Mirbagheri, S., and Hasan, K.M.: Revealing the cerebello-ponto-hypothalamic pathway in the human brain. Neurosci Lett. 677:1-5, 2018
  17. Keser, Z., Kamali, A., Younes, K., Schulz, PE, Nelson, FM., and Hasan, KM.: Yakovlev’s Basolateral Limbic Circuit in Multiple Sclerosis Related Cognitive Impairment. J Neuroimaging. 28(6):596-600, 2018
  18. Younes, K., Hasan, K.M., Kamali, A., McGough, C.E., Keser, Z., Hasan, O., Melicher, T., Kramer, L.A., Schulz, P.E.; Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Researchers: Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the Superior Thalamic Radiation and Cerebrospinal Fluid Distribution in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. J Neuroimaging. 29(2):242-251, 2019
  19. Lee, J.K., Koppelmans, V., Riascos, R.F., Hasan, K.M., Pasternak, O., Mulavara, A.P., Bloomberg, J.J., Seidler, R.D.: Spaceflight-Associated Brain White Matter Microstructural Changes and Intracranial Fluid Redistribution. JAMA Neurol. 76(4):412-419. 2019
  20. Tannous, J., Mwangi, B., Hasan, K.M., Narayana, P.A., Steinberg, J.L., Walss-Bass, C., Moeller, F.G., Schmitz, J.M., Lane, S.D.: Measures of possible allostatic load in comorbid cocaine and alcohol use disorder: Brain white matter integrity, telomere length, and anti-saccade performance. PLoS One. 14(1): e0199729. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199729. eCollection, 2019.
  21. Haque, M.E., Gabr, R.E., George, S.D., Boren, S.B., Arevalo, O.D., Alderman S, Narayana P.A., Hasan K.M., Friedman, E.R., Sitton C.W., Savitz S.I. Serial Cerebral Metabolic Changes in Patients with Ischemic Stroke Treated with Autologous Bone Marrow Derived Mononuclear Cells. Frontiers Neurology (Stroke), 10:141. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00141. eCollection 2019.2019
  22. Haque, M.E., Gabr, R.E., Hasan, K.M., George, S.D., Arevalo, O.D, Zha, A. M., Alderman, S., Jeevarajan, J., Mas, M.F, Zhang, X., Satani, N., Friedman, E.R., Sitton, C.W., Savitz, S.I: Ongoing Secondary Degeneration of the Limbic System in Patients with Ischemic Stroke: A Longitudinal MRI Study. 10:154. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00154. eCollection 2019.2019, 2019
  23. Riascos, R.F, Kamali, A., Hakimelahi, R., Mwangi, B., Rabiei, P., Seidler, R.S., Behzad, B.B., Keser, Z., Kramer, L.A., and Hasan, K.M.: Longitudinal Analysis of Quantitative Brain MRI in Astronauts Following Microgravity Exposure. J Neuroimaging 29(3):323-330, 2019
  24. Beard, C.L., Schmitz, J.M., Soder, H.E., Suchting, R., Yoon, J.H., Hasan, K.M., Narayana, P.A., Moeller, F.G., and Lane, S.D.: Regional differences in white matter integrity in stimulant use disorders: A meta-analysis of diffusion tensor imaging studies. Drug Alcohol Depend. 201:29-37, 2019
  25. Vahidy, F.S., Haque, M.E., Rahbar, M.H, Zhu, H., Rowan, P., Aisiku, I.P., Lee, D.A., Juneja, H.S., Alderman, S., Barreto AB, Suarez, J.I., Bambhroliya, A., Hasan, K.M., Kassam, M.R., Aronowski, J., Gee, A., Cox Jr, C.S., Grotta, J.C., and Savitz, S.I.: Intravenous Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells for Acute Ischemic Stroke: Safety, Feasibility, and Effect Size from a Phase I Clinical Trial Stem Cells 37(11):1481-1491, 2019
  26. Keser, Z., Sebastian, R., Hasan, K.M., and Hillis, A.E.: Right Hemispheric Homologous Language Pathways Negatively Predicts Poststroke Naming Recovery. Stroke. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.119.028293, 2020
  27. Kamali, A., Rabieie P., Riascos-Castaneda, Roy F, and Hasan, K.M.: Uncovering the dorsal thalamo-hypothalamic tract of the human limbic system. Neuroscience, 2020 (in press)
  28. Kramer L.A., Hasan K.M., Riascos-Castaneda, Roy F… Intracranial Effects of Microgravity: A Prospective Longitudinal MRI Study, Radiology, 2020 (in press)