Peiying Liu

Dr. Peiying Liu is a Professor in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where she serves as a Principal Investigator at the Center for Advanced Imaging Research (CAIR). She is recognized as a leader in physiological MRI of the brain, with expertise spanning neonatal neuroimaging and cerebrovascular reactivity measurement techniques.

Dr. Liu's educational background includes:

• B.S. in Telecommunication Engineering from University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (2003)
• M.S. in Electrical Engineering from St. Cloud State University (2004)
• Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2008)

Her research focuses on two primary areas: developing MRI techniques for assessing brain perfusion and metabolism in neonates, and creating methods to measure vascular reserve in the brain. She has made significant contributions to the field of cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) MRI, including developing gas-free techniques that eliminate the need for pharmacological agents or CO2 inhalation. Her work has particular relevance for vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), the second leading cause of dementia after Alzheimer's disease.

Analysis of Dr. Liu's recent publications reveals a strong trend toward multi-site validation studies and biomarker development, particularly in cerebrovascular reactivity as an indicator of vascular cognitive impairment. Her work bridges neonatal brain injury research with aging and dementia studies, demonstrating how vascular function impacts brain health across the lifespan. The publications show increasing focus on translational applications, including post-COVID neurological conditions and vascular contributions to cognitive decline.

Dr. Liu has received numerous prestigious awards throughout her career:

• Young Investigator Award from the Gordon Research Conference on In Vivo Magnetic Resonance (2010)
• Junior Fellow of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (2013)
• Outstanding Radiology Junior Faculty Research Award from Johns Hopkins University (2018)
• Multiple ISMRM awards including Best Presentation Award (2019) and Young Investigator Award finalist (2021)

Dr. Liu maintains an active research program with two major NIH-funded grants: 'Assessment of brain oxygen consumption in neonates using MRI' (NINDS R01 NS109029) and 'Gas-free cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) MRI in vascular cognitive impairment' (NIA R01 NS115771). She collaborates extensively within the MarkVCID Consortium for multi-site validation of cerebrovascular biomarkers. Her laboratory develops innovative MRI techniques that have become standard methodologies in the field, particularly for measuring cerebral venous oxygenation and vascular reserve without requiring gas challenges.