Wally Block

Wally Block is a full Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he has led an MRI-focused laboratory since 2000. Previously, he was a systems engineer at GE Healthcare on the first commercial MRI scanners, and he earned his PhD from Stanford University in 1998.

Education

• PhD 1998 – Stanford University
• MS 1988 – Stanford University
• BS 1986 – University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Research Focus

Professor Block’s laboratory pioneers ultra-fast MRI acquisition and reconstruction techniques that dramatically shorten scan times and simplify workflows. Central to his current agenda is image-guided, minimally invasive brain therapy, particularly leveraging intraparenchymal drug-delivery routes to bypass the blood–brain barrier. This highly interdisciplinary program integrates signal processing, machine learning, mechanical engineering, biophysics, and advanced image processing to enable transformative treatments for neurological diseases.

Scientific Recognition

• Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
• Senior Fellow, International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
• Multiple Distinguished Reviewer awards from Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Vilas Associate Professorship, UW-Madison
• Honored Instructor Award, UW Housing
• Whitaker Foundation Grantee

Teaching & Mentorship

Professor Block regularly teaches cornerstone courses such as Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design (B M E 400/402), Medical Devices Ecosystem: The Path to Product (B M E 640), and directs graduate research credits (MED PHYS 990). He also offers advanced independent study opportunities through B M E 799, fostering the next generation of engineers and physician-scientists.

Laboratory & Collaborative Environment

His lab, located in the Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research (WIMR), hosts a multidisciplinary team of graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and clinical collaborators. The group maintains active partnerships with neurosurgeons, radiologists, and industry leaders to translate novel MRI methods into first-in-human trials.