Wei Shen

Dr. Wei Shen is an Assistant Professor of Nutrition at Columbia University Medical Center, affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics and the Institute of Human Nutrition. She serves as Director of the Image Analysis Lab and Associate Director of the Body Composition Unit at the New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center, where she has spent over 12 years advancing body composition and metabolic research through MRI/MRS technologies.

• Bone Pathology
• Data Analysis
• Obesity Research
• Pediatric Health
• Medical Imaging (MRI/MRS)
• Body Composition Analysis
• Biostatistical Modeling

Dr. Shen pioneered adipose tissue classification systems and developed standardized protocols for bone marrow, intraperitoneal, extraperitoneal, perimuscular, and intramuscular fat measurement. Her NIH-funded work connects visceral fat accumulation and bone loss with health risks in children, and she is currently exploring regional marrow fat measurement, bone health in pregnant women, and lean tissue dynamics during weight loss. Collaborations span diverse clinical applications including insulin resistance, Acromegaly, Cushing’s disease, and Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

At the Image Analysis Lab, she leads technical innovation in 3D tissue volume modeling, slice location optimization for MRI quantification, and fat fraction MRI methodologies. Her research bridges advanced imaging techniques with clinical outcomes across pediatric and adult populations.