Nikolaus Weiskopf

Professor Nikolaus Weiskopf serves as Managing Director of the Department of Neurophysics at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI-CBS) in Leipzig, Germany. With over 230 journal articles and numerous conference presentations, he is a leading authority in quantitative MRI techniques for studying brain microstructure in vivo.

Dr. Weiskopf specializes in developing advanced MRI methods that provide non-invasive histological information about brain tissue. His research focuses on:

• Quantitative multi-parameter mapping (MPM) for in vivo histology
• High-resolution imaging of cortical layers and columns
• Spinal cord microstructure imaging
• Applications of ultra-high field (7T) MRI
• Neurodegenerative disease biomarkers

His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on pushing MRI technology to achieve microscopic-level insights about brain organization. His work bridges basic neuroscience with clinical applications, particularly in spinal cord injury and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease. Through correlative MRI-histology studies, his team establishes the biological basis of MRI signals, transforming quantitative MRI into a powerful tool for in vivo histology.

Dr. Weiskopf leads the ERC-funded hMRI project focused on non-invasive in vivo histology of the brain and contributes significantly to the NISCI clinical trial investigating Nogo-A antibodies for spinal cord injury recovery. His laboratory develops and shares important neuroimaging tools including the hMRI toolbox for quantitative MRI analysis, which has been widely adopted by the research community.