Doctoral student develops algorithm to improve clarity of partial MRI scans

Having an MRI scan can be an unpleasant experience. The procedure often involves a patient lying down inside a large tube for at least 30 minutes and being instructed to remain motionless as magnetic and radio waves create detailed pictures of their organs. Many find the machine's loud, clanging noises unnerving and are left feeling panicky and claustrophobic. An approach created by Puyang Wang, a doctoral degree candidate in electrical and computer engineering at Johns Hopkins University's Whiting School of Engineering, could help provide some relief. The solution, an algorithm that speeds up MRI data acquisition and results in clearer images, was among the projects recognized at the fastMRI competition held earlier this month by Facebook AI and New York University's Langone Health.