Paul Vaska

Paul Vaska is a Professor and Scientist of Biomedical Engineering at Stony Brook University's Renaissance School of Medicine. He holds academic appointments in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and has expertise in medical imaging instrumentation, particularly in PET/MRI systems and quantitative imaging techniques. His research focuses on developing novel imaging technologies, including the RatCAP conscious animal PET scanner and early PET/MRI systems for rodents. Dr. Vaska has led and contributed to multiple NIH-funded grants totaling over $14 million, studying the effects of World Trade Center exposure on cognitive aging, amyloidosis, and neuroinflammation. He also investigates sports concussions and neuroinflammatory processes using PET/MRI. His work bridges clinical and preclinical imaging, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. Dr. Vaska earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from Stony Brook University and completed postdoctoral training in medical physics. He holds patents in PET detector technology and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, including seminal papers on behavioral neuroimaging and the glymphatic system.