Professor Evans' principal areas of research activity are described below. These programs are mainly funded by Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), Canada's Advanced Network (CANARIE), U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) and European Commission. Dr. Evans is the principal investigator for a large CFI grant for high-field MRI, PET, animal MRI/PET, MEG and SuperComputing which is now operational at the Brain Imaging Center.

Structural Brain Mapping Methodology

Our group has developed numerous fully-automated brain image processing tools over the past decade, in the areas of inhomogeneity correction (N3), tissue classification (INSECT), 3D regional parcellation and nonlinear image deformation (ANIMAL), cortical thickness (CLASP) and sulcal analysis (SEAL). In addition, we have developed a powerful data format (MINC) specifically for brain research which has many features unavailable in other formats (e.g. stereotaxic space, tensor variables).

Structural Brain Mapping Applications

The tools above are being used in a large number of projects to study brain development and disorders, e.g. normal maturation and aging, Alzheimer’s Disease, schizophrenia. The pipeline approach allows us to handle the largest databases of ~1000 volumes or more. This has been used for the only fully-automated phase III clinical trial analysis ever completed (Oral Myelin for multiple sclerosis).

Image Simulation (MRI, PET)

In order to fully characterize scanner performance, we have developed a Monte-Carlo PET simulator which can simulate all stages of data acquisition in a 3D PET system.
A similar first-principles strategy has been employed to build an MRI simulator. We are presently engaged with Dr. Pike and collaborators in Oxford and Pittsburgh in development of an fMRI simulator and database.

MRI Ligand Development

Dr. Barry Bedell in our lab has made major progress in the development of novel MRI tracers to image the distribution of neuroreceptors and enzymes in vivo. Animal MRI experiments have demonstrated excellent signal-to-noise in visualizing angiogenesis in a longitudinal rat tumor model.

Web-based Brain Imaging and Databasing Network

As the data coordinating center for two large NIH multi-center MRI studies of normal pediatric brain development and research of Autism in infants, we implemented a unique web-based network for encrypted communication of MRI volumetric data. This has widespread application for studies of aging and disease, incorporating genetic and behavioral information as well as imaging.

In 2008 and 2009 our group was awarded the CBRAIN and GBRAIN projects by CANARIE Inc. The main goal of these projects is to develop a platform for distributed processing and exchange of 3D/4D brain imaging data. The expected result is a middleware platform that will render the processing environment (hardware, operating system etc.) transparent to a remote user such that it will be possible to apply complex algorithm “pipelines” to large databases stored at remote locations and visualize the results as 3D maps in real time. The platform will be generalizable to different imaging domains (radiology, surgical planning) and organs (brain, heart) with profound consequences for Canadian and international medical research.