Gerd Brunner

Gerd Brunner serves as Associate Professor in both the Department of Medicine (Division of Cardiology) and Department of Cell and Biological Systems, focusing on advanced cardiovascular imaging research. His work bridges clinical cardiology with biomedical engineering through innovative MRI applications.

His primary research interests include:

• Peripheral arterial disease pathophysiology and diagnostics
• Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) techniques
• Skeletal muscle perfusion quantification in vascular disease
• Machine learning integration for medical image analysis
• Diabetic ulcer microvascular assessment
• Cardiovascular biomarker development

Recent publications demonstrate a clear evolution toward AI-enhanced imaging, with 2023-2025 works heavily featuring convolutional neural networks, texture analysis, and quantitative mapping techniques. This shift reflects strategic adaptation to computational advances in vascular diagnostics, particularly for peripheral artery disease assessment where traditional metrics show limitations.

Dr. Brunner has secured significant NIH funding through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute:

• Microvascular Perfusion Assessment of Ischemic Diabetic Ulcers Using MRI (2015-2020): Developed MRI protocols for perfusion quantification in diabetic foot complications
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging Based Calf Muscle Perfusion Assessment (2017-2018): Established DCE-MRI methodologies for symptomatic peripheral artery disease evaluation

His collaborative network spans vascular surgery, endocrinology, and biomedical engineering, with research directly contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through improved cardiovascular diagnostics.