Zhi-Pei LiangView profile
Professor
Zhi-Pei Liang is the Franklin W. Woeltge Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with joint appointments in the Department of Bioengineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, and Coordinated Science Laboratory. His research spans biomedical engineering, medical imaging, and signal processing with a focus on advancing magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy technologies. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University (1989) and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from South-China University of Technology (1982), followed by postdoctoral training at UIUC (1989-1991). Professor Liang's research interests center on magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy , with particular emphasis on ultrafast imaging techniques , model-based reconstruction methods , and the integration of physics-based modeling with machine learning . His pioneering work on SPICE (SPectroscopic Imaging by exploiting spatiospectral CorrElation) has revolutionized high-resolution metabolic brain imaging by enabling label-free molecular imaging through the marriage of spin physics and machine learning. His research spans pattern recognition, parameter estimation, image formation theory, and algorithms for medical imaging applications. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on high-resolution metabolic imaging , particularly using SPICE methodology to map brain metabolism with unprecedented detail. His work bridges fundamental physics of magnetic resonance with advanced computational methods to overcome traditional limitations in imaging speed and resolution. Current research directions include J-resolved spectroscopic imaging, deuterium-based metabolic mapping, and multimodal integration of PET and MRSI for studying neurological disorders. Elected to International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering (2012) Gold Medal, International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (2022) Technical Achievement Award, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (2014) Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (2021) Author of influential book 'Principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging' (1999) President of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (2011-2012) Professor Liang has advised numerous students and postdocs in biomedical imaging research and has received multiple teaching honors including the Ronald W. Pratt Outstanding Teaching Award (2005) and multiple listings among UIUC's Excellent Teachers. His research has been supported by various grants from NIH, NSF, and other funding agencies. He leads the SPICE (Spectroscopic Imaging by exploiting spatiospectral Correlation) research group which focuses on developing novel imaging techniques that combine physics-based modeling with machine learning for ultrafast metabolic imaging. His laboratory, part of the Beckman Institute's Integrative Imaging Theme, collaborates extensively with clinical researchers at Carle Illinois College of Medicine and other institutions to translate advanced imaging techniques into clinical applications for neurological disorders, cancer, and metabolic diseases. Current projects focus on high-resolution mapping of brain metabolism in Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and brain tumors using novel MR spectroscopic imaging techniques.










