Leading the way in pediatric neuroimaging
The Pediatric Imaging Research Center (PIRC) is an interdisciplinary research center operated by the Department of Pediatric Radiology at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. The PIRC is staffed by pediatric radiologists, research technologists, research engineers, research nurses, research coordinators, systems administrators, research assistants, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and medical students.
Mission:
The Pediatric Imaging Research Center is dedicated to conducting research and providing the highest level of care in an environment where safety, dignity and respect are our ultimate goals.
And of course to:
To BOLDly scan where no research team has scanned before.
Vision:
To contribute to the clinical care of patients by developing state-of-the art imaging and diagnostic techniques related to basic research.
Values:
To always put our study participants and their well-being first
To treat study participants, families, and our co-workers with respect
To foster an environment of inclusion
To continually look for ways to improve ourselves, our environment, and our methods
To lead by example
The neuroimaging branch of the PIRC uses innovative, effective research protocols that are not available anywhere else, and the center’s strong research collaboration with adult imaging at UPMC Presbyterian allows both organizations to share knowledge and findings. Currently, pediatric neuroimaging research is active in the areas of:
- Advanced imaging related to pediatric brain tumors
- Original research in new methods and applications of diagnostic imaging
- Optimization of neonatal head coils
- Brain injury in premature neonates
- Brain injury in neonates with congenital heart disease
- Targeted molecular imaging
- Radiation dose reduction with (ASIR) – Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction
