Jingwen Yao

Dr. Jingwen Yao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiological Sciences at UCLA and a faculty member of the Physics & Biology in Medicine graduate program. She earned her M.B.B.S. in China and completed her Ph.D. in Bioengineering at UCLA, followed by postdoctoral training at UCSF. Dr. Yao's research is centered on developing advanced MRI techniques for applications in brain tumors and other neurological diseases.

• Postdoc, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco (2022)
• Ph.D., Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles (2021)
• M.S., Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles (2017)
• M.B.B.S., Clinical Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2015)

Dr. Yao's research focuses on developing and validating MRI biomarkers that reflect physiological and pathological tissue properties for disease progression monitoring and treatment effect assessment. Her current work includes developing imaging biomarkers sensitive to the brain tumor microenvironment (tissue acidity, immune infiltration, and tumor vasculature) and applying advanced imaging for pathophysiological characterization in movement disorders like Huntington's Disease. She works on various aspects of biomarker development including sequence development, image acquisition and reconstruction, post-processing, quantitative image analysis, and clinical translation.

Dr. Yao's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on advanced MRI techniques for brain tumor characterization and neurological disorders. Her work spans pH-weighted imaging, chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST), diffusion MRI, and perfusion imaging to assess tumor microenvironment, cellular kinetics, and functional connectivity. A notable trend is the integration of AI and physics-based modeling to improve image quality and quantitative analysis, with applications in glioma subtyping, treatment response monitoring, and Huntington's Disease progression.

• CTSI KL2 Translational Science Scholar, University of California, Los Angeles (2025)
• SPORE in Brain Cancer Career Enhancement Program Award, University of California, Los Angeles (2023)
• UC Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of California (2022)

Dr. Yao serves as a faculty mentor in the Physics & Biology in Medicine graduate program at UCLA. Her research is supported by prestigious awards including the CTSI KL2 Translational Science Scholar program and the SPORE in Brain Cancer Career Enhancement Program, indicating strong institutional support for her translational research in neuro-oncology and neurological disorders.

Dr. Yao collaborates extensively with the Ellingson Lab at UCLA, which focuses on advanced quantitative neuroimaging for brain tumor characterization and treatment monitoring. She is part of multidisciplinary teams involving radiologists, neuro-oncologists, and basic scientists working on integrating advanced MRI techniques into clinical practice for improved diagnosis and treatment assessment in brain tumors and neurological disorders.