Ralph Suarez

Ralph Suarez is a Research Associate in Radiology at Boston Children's Hospital and an Instructor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on developing noninvasive imaging techniques to evaluate cognitive processes such as language, memory, and visual-motor coordination in pediatric patients with neurological disorders. He combines MRI modalities like structural imaging, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and functional MRI (fMRI) to create comprehensive assessments of brain function.

Education: Ralph holds degrees in physical anthropology, mathematics, and physics. He earned an MSc in Medical Physics and a PhD in Neuroimaging from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to his current role, he was a postdoctoral research fellow at the National Center for Image-Guided Therapy (NCIGT), focusing on functional brain mapping in pre-surgical planning.

Research interests include developing image-based biomarkers to detect atypical neurocognitive function, particularly in pediatric epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and tuberous sclerosis complex. His work aims to improve clinical outcomes by preserving cognitive functions in young patients.

Publications highlight advancements in fMRI techniques for language lateralization, corticospinal tract visualization, and clinical applications in epilepsy surgery planning. His studies bridge neuroimaging innovation with practical clinical tools.

Labs and teams: He is affiliated with the Computational Radiology Laboratory (CRL) at Boston Children's Hospital and previously with the NCIGT.