Principal Investigator
Michael Lipton, MD, PhD
Professor of Radiology and Affiliate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
I straddle the practice of clinical medicine, research and education toward improving human brain health through the effective use of modern brain imaging technology. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is my central tool, I define brain imaging broadly, to include all methods that facilitate accurate depiction of brain structure and function as well as their interface. As a neuroradiologist, I advocate looking beyond the visual percept in making an assessment of diagnostic images, using quantitative approaches to maximize diagnostic yield, improve accuracy and minimize risk, including the risk of misdiagnosis. These approaches are developed and validated in the laboratory, then applied in clinical research populations and, ultimately, real patients. I push students at all levels to understand the technology they wield and use it intelligently for the ultimate betterment of patients.
Current Members
Roman Fleysher, PhD
Associate Professor of Radiology (Physics)
In clinical MRI time is at premium. My research focuses on development and implementation of data acquisition strategies for efficient measurements in MRI.
Shalika Saluja, PhD
Clinical Research Coordinator
Shalika is a Ph.D. with nine years of clinical research experience. She is working with us as a Senior Research Coordinator on the COVID-BRAIN study focusing on neuroimaging and antibody response. She is leading the study visits at Einstein.
Shira Siegel, BA
Clinical Research Coordinator
Shira is a recent graduate from Stern College where she received her BA in Biology. She is currently a Clinical Research Coordinator for Dr. Lipton, assisting in all aspects of his various research projects Dr. Michael Lipton with the collection, organization, and analysis of MRI/DTI data from his various studies in Einstein’s Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center.
Ariana Olivares, MS
Clinical Research Coordinator
Ariana is currently a Clinical Research Coordinator for the Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, assisting with data collection and analysis. She earned her MS in Neuroscience and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2023. During her graduate work, she worked with Dr. Peter Gordon, investigating the neural mechanisms behind language and numerical cognition. Ariana graduated from Rowan University in 2021 with a BS in Chemistry, where she worked with Dr. Gustavo Moura-Letts, synthesizing therapeutic organic molecules.
Joan Song, MSc
MD-PhD Candidate
Joan is a current MD-PhD candidate at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She graduated from Cornell University in 2019 with a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. As an undergraduate researcher, she worked in the Douglas Lab and helped implement metabolic modelling of bacteria in the fly gut. She is interested in both clinical research and biomedical image processing related to the brain. In the Lipton Lab, she is now studying the effect of soccer heading on brain microstructure and functional connectivity.
Bluyé Demessie, M, Sc
MD-PhD Candidate
Bluyé is a current MD-PhD candidate at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He graduated from Harvard University in 2019 with a BA in Molecular and Cellular Biology. As an undergraduate researcher, he worked in the Hensch Lab and studied the critical period of the mouse auditory cortex. He is interested in advanced MRI techniques to improve our understanding of brain trauma and neuroplasticity.
Molly Charney, MD
Neurology Resident
Molly is a Neurology Resident at New York Presbyterian-CUIMC. She earned her MD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2023. Molly began working with the Lipton Lab while at Einstein as a medical student. Prior to medical school, Molly graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2018. She previously studied concussion and repetitive head injury in athletes and military veterans using MR Spectroscopy as a Research Assistant at the Center for Clinical Spectroscopy at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Molly is interested in the use of advanced neuroimaging to study repetitive and mild head injury.
Mason Gonzalez
Medical Student
Mason is a current medical student at Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He earned his B.S in Human Biology from Stanford University in 2022. At Stanford, Mason worked with the Stanford Pain Management Center in studying complex regional pain syndrome and TMS treatment, as well as with the Division of Clinical Anatomy as an anatomy scholar.
Katherine Ho
Medical Student
Katherine is a medical student at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. She graduated from Harvard College in 2020 with an AB in Chemistry and Physics. As an undergraduate researcher, she worked in the Szostak Lab and studied non-enzymatic RNA self-replication.
Jenasis Ortega
Medical Student
Jenasis is a current medical student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She graduated from Brown University in 2021 with a degree in Biology. As an undergraduate, Jenasis was previously involved in research on the use of stem cells to repair fibrocartilage injuries.
Simone Liv Glajchen
Undergraduate Student
Simone is a current undergraduate student at Columbia University. Simone began working with Dr. Lipton while in high school. Prior to interning at the Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, Simone researched health disparities.
Leigh Rudberg
Undergraduate Student
Leigh is a current undergraduate student at Yeshiva University completing her final year as a Biology major. Prior to joining the Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, Leigh studied imaging classification systems used for chronic subdural hematomas in both clinical and research settings as part of the injury prevention research team at St. Michael’s hospital. In addition, she developed research elucidating the role of novel small proteins known as SUMO (small ubiquitin related modifiers) in testicular cells, sperm and the development of testicular cancer, as a Research Assistant in Dr. Vigodner’s Laboratory. Leigh is excited to explore innovative brain technology and study the effects of traumatic brain injury.
Ava Tsapataris
Undergraduate Student
Ava Tsapatsaris is an undergraduate student at New York University creating her own major focusing on the biological sciences, humanities, and communications. Ava has published research on the impact of breast cancer screening disparities on New York City patients. She is interested in the neurobehavioral effects of COVID-19 and the improvement of human brain health among urban patients in addition to a broad range of patient populations. Ava is excited to join the translational neuroimaging laboratory!