Benjamin M. Ellingson

Benjamin M. Ellingson, PhD, is Professor in the Departments of Radiological Sciences, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, and Neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, where he directs the Brain Tumor Imaging Laboratory (BTIL). A physicist-turned-neuro-imager, he has published >200 peer-reviewed articles since 2018 that translate advanced multi-parametric MRI (diffusion, perfusion, sodium, CEST) into practical biomarkers for adult gliomas and brain metastases, and co-leads international adoption of RANO 2.0 response criteria.

Education & Training

• Fellowship (2010) – Radiology / MRI Physics, Medical College of Wisconsin
• PhD (2008) – Functional Imaging-Biomedical Engineering, Marquette Univ. & MCW
• MS (2005) – Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University
• BS (2003) – Biomedical Engineering, Milwaukee School of Engineering

Research Interests

Ellingson’s group develops and validates quantitative MRI techniques that probe tumor acidosis, hypoxia, vascularity, and metabolism. His team introduced pH-weighted amine CEST-EPI, simultaneous ²³Na/¹H metabolic imaging, super-resolution sodium MRI with generative AI, and diffusion-phenotype stratification tools that predict benefit from anti-VEGF or IDH inhibitors. These biomarkers are embedded in global adaptive trials (GBM AGILE, INDIGO) and FDA-registered imaging protocols.

Scientific Awards

• 2019 SNO Award for Excellence in Neuroimaging
• 2013 Art of the Brain – Johnny Mercer Foundation Research Award
• 2012 ACRIN Young Investigator Award
• 2010 W.S. Moore Young Investigator Award in Clinical Research (ISMRM)

Grants & Clinical Trials

He continuously leads multi-PI NIH, industry, and philanthropy-funded trials investigating imaging endpoints for IDH-mutant gliomas, immune-checkpoint blockade, convection-enhanced delivery, laser ablation, and blood-brain-barrier modulation, serving as central imaging PI for studies of vorasidenib, osimertinib, VAL-083, MDNA55, PT2385, and ONC201.

Laboratory & Team

As Director of BTIL he mentors graduate students, clinical fellows, and post-docs across radiology, neurosurgery, and biomedical engineering, and coordinates a multinational imaging core lab that supports RANO consensus working groups and more than two dozen active clinical trials.