Dafna Sussman

Dafna Sussman serves as Assistant Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, directing the Maternal Fetal Imaging (MFI) Laboratory at the iBEST institute—a collaborative venture between St. Michael’s Hospital and the university. Her research integrates engineering and clinical expertise through partnerships with The Hospital for Sick Children, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Sunnybrook Hospital to advance MRI-based understanding of fetal development and maternal-fetal physiology.

Her primary research domains encompass Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST), automatic image segmentation, machine/deep learning, and image registration. These methodologies drive innovations in fetal monitoring, maternal physiology assessment, and clinical translation of imaging technologies.

Publication analysis reveals consistent application of advanced MRI techniques to critical perinatal questions: fetal movement responses to maternal activity (2016), neuroanatomical patterns in autism (2015), and developmental programming via maternal diet (2014). This trajectory demonstrates interdisciplinary convergence of biomedical engineering, obstetrics, and neuroscience.

Recognition includes:

• NSERC CGS-D3 (2010-2013)
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (2010)
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2008-2009)
• President's Graduate Scholarship (2008-2009)
• MSc Graduate Scholarship (2007)

While specific advisees aren't documented, her laboratory environment and BME632 teaching indicate active graduate mentorship. The MFI Laboratory operates through externally funded projects acknowledged in institutional materials, supporting translational research infrastructure.

The MFI Laboratory functions as a multidisciplinary hub where engineering innovation intersects with clinical practice across Toronto's major hospitals, enabling real-time investigation of maternal-fetal physiology through cutting-edge imaging platforms.