Franklyn Howe

Professor Franklyn Howe serves as Professor of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Director of the Neuroscience & Cell Biology Research Institute at City St George's, University of London (formed from the August 2024 merger of St George's, University of London and City University of London). With a career spanning since 1988 at St George's, he has established himself as a leading expert in multimodal MRI applications for disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring, particularly in brain tumor analysis. His work bridges physics, medical imaging, and clinical applications across multiple disease areas.

Professor Howe earned his BA in Physics from the University of Oxford, followed by a DPhil on 'Magnetisation and microwave absorption in rare earth metal alloys' from the same institution in 1984. He completed postdoctoral research evaluating MRI contrast agents at St Bartholomew's Hospital and in MR image analysis at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School (now part of Imperial College School of Medicine) before joining St George's.

Howe's research centers on developing automated analysis of multimodal MRI to aid diagnosis of brain tumors, using various MRI methods including perfusion and diffusion imaging for structural and functional information, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) for biochemical data. He applies pattern recognition techniques to optimally combine data from different MRI methods, aiming to develop biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis assessment, and treatment response monitoring. His work extends beyond brain tumors to dementia, Tourette syndrome, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lupus, lymphedema, osteoarthritis, and normal aging. In 1992, he was instrumental in developing MR Neurography at St George's, a non-invasive method for detailed nerve imaging.

Analysis of Professor Howe's recent publications (2021-2024) reveals consistent focus on advancing MRI techniques across multiple clinical applications. His work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration, with significant contributions to lymphatic imaging, brain tumor characterization, neurodegenerative disorders, and quantitative MRI methodology. The publications show progression from fundamental technical improvements in MRI acquisition and processing toward increasingly sophisticated clinical applications, particularly in neuroimaging and vascular disorders.

• Chair of ISMRM MRS Study Group
• Co-founder and Chair of Pediatric MR Study Group
• Long-standing member of International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

Professor Howe actively supervises lab-based MRes and BSc student research projects and library-based Special Study Courses on Biomedical Applications of Magnetic Resonance. He has secured substantial research funding from diverse sources including the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, Alzheimer's Research UK, and St George's Hospital Charity. His collaborative approach is evident in the wide range of clinical research studies he participates in across multiple departments.

As Director of the Neuroscience & Cell Biology Research Institute, Howe leads a research team including Ian Storey (Image Analyst) and Mike Mills (MRI physicist). He maintains extensive collaborations within St George's with Dr Thomas Barrick, Dr Atticus Hainsworth, Mr Timothy Jones (Neurosurgery), Dr Jeremy Isaacs (Neurology), Dr Pia Ostergaard, Prof Sahar Mansour (Clinical Genetics), Prof Nidhi Sofat (Rheumatology), and Mr Michael Hart (Neurosurgery), creating a robust interdisciplinary research environment focused on translating MRI advances into clinical practice.