Samuel R. Barnes

Samuel R. Barnes, PhD is an Assistant Professor in both the Radiology Department and Biomed Engineering Science Division at the University of Southern California's School of Medicine. He serves as Co-Director of Research in Radiology and maintains active research programs across multiple domains of medical imaging and neuroscience.

Dr. Barnes earned his Doctor of Philosophy from Wayne State University in 2010, following a Master of Science from the same institution in 2007. His undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Walla Walla University (2000).

His research focuses on advanced MRI techniques for studying neurological conditions, with particular emphasis on vascular contributions to dementia, blood-brain barrier integrity, and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Barnes has developed expertise in susceptibility-weighted imaging, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, and computational analysis of brain imaging data. His work bridges engineering, physics, and clinical neuroscience to develop novel imaging biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases.

Analysis of his recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a strong trajectory from fundamental MRI methodology development toward clinical applications in neurodegenerative diseases. His work increasingly focuses on the intersection of vascular health, brain imaging, and cognitive decline, with significant contributions to understanding how blood-brain barrier dysfunction contributes to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. He has also expanded into computational approaches including deep learning for medical image analysis.

Dr. Barnes is Principal Investigator or key investigator on numerous active research projects funded by major institutions including the National Institutes of Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, and various private organizations. His research portfolio includes studies on vascular contributions to dementia, pediatric traumatic brain injury, visceral adiposity measurement, and advanced MRI techniques.

His laboratory appears to focus on advanced MRI techniques development and application to neurological disorders, with particular expertise in blood-brain barrier imaging, susceptibility-weighted imaging, and computational analysis of brain imaging data. The research group likely includes collaborators across radiology, neurology, biomedical engineering, and computational science disciplines.