For example, PET can capture glucose metabolism in the brain as fMRI simultaneously captures blood flow. With shorter imaging times, the scanner can work simultaneously with functional MRI (fMRI) to take quick snapshots of dynamic biological processes. Doing so will also open doors for neuroscience research. In the next-generation PET scanner, Allen aims to make scans much quicker, down to just a couple of minutes. By seeing two synchronized perspectives, scientists have valuable data for studying brain tumors and neurological diseases, such as AlzheimerвЂ™s.Д«ut, PET scans currently take a long time - usually 30 to 90 minutes - and patients must hold still for the entire duration to get clear images. While MRI captures anatomical images, PET captures biochemical processes, such as metabolism. The PET scanner will be a cylindrical insert that fits directly inside an MRI machine.Д®ach imaging technology provides a different perspective of the brain.

Today, Allen and her collaborators are developing a next-generation brain positron emission tomography (PET) scanner that can be used simultaneously with 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and MIT Professor Or Hen at the Laboratory for Nuclear Science. She now works at the intersection of physics and medical research, co-advised by Harvard University Professor Ciprian Catana at the Integrated MR-PET Laboratory at the Massachusetts General Hospital A. In January 2021, she joined a new research project to build brain imaging hardware, which uses technology similar to some fundamental physics experiments. While she loved her research in fundamental physics, she wanted to have a more direct impact on people.ДЄllen began looking for research groups working on biomedical devices. вЂњI had my existential crisis during that period - as we all did,вЂќ she says with a laugh. And that got her thinking about her long-term career goals. Spending so much time in patient care spurred her interest in patient outcomes. вЂњI wound up putting over a thousand hours into the serviceвЂќ this academic year alone, she says. She helped keep the ambulance in service 24/7, serving MIT as well as the broader Cambridge and Boston community.

When the pandemic hit in spring 2020 and the MIT community scrambled to disperse from campus, Allen was one of the few MIT EMTs who stayed behind. вЂњIt started out as what I thought would be a few hours a week and quickly took over my life in the best way possible,вЂќ she says. She spent her time analyzing data from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a cosmic ray detector that sits on the International Space Station.ДЄround that time, Allen also joined the MIT Emergency Medical Services (EMS), after hearing about it from a friend who was involved a couple years prior. In the fall of 2019, Allen started her PhD in the Nuclear and Particle Experiment Division of MITвЂ™s physics department, studying cosmic rays with Professor Samuel C. She then spent a year interning at physics research labs around the country, including the Fermi National Accelerator Lab, the Brookhaven National Lab, and the Marshall Space Flight Center at NASA. вЂњBut the thing I always kept coming back to was science,вЂќ she says.ДЄn astrophysicist by training, Allen completed her undergraduate degree at the University of California at Berkeley. Her parents, who homeschooled her and her sister until high school, were extremely supportive of her various interests. She loved stargazing and the physical sciences, but she was also interested in law and writing. Growing up in Portland, Oregon, Allen wanted to learn about everything. Magdelena Allen is developing a highly sensitive brain PET scanner that can help answer fundamental questions in neuroscience and particle physics.ДЇor many of us, the pandemic sparked pivotal changes. Pappalardo Fellowships show submenu for вЂњPappalardo FellowshipsвЂќ.Astrophysics Observation, Instrumentation, and Experiment.Research Areas show submenu for вЂњResearch AreasвЂќ.PhD in Physics, Statistics, and Data Science.For Graduate Students show submenu for вЂњFor Graduate StudentsвЂќ.For Undergraduate Students show submenu for вЂњFor Undergraduate StudentsвЂќ.Academic Programs show submenu for вЂњAcademic ProgramsвЂќ.

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