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Marco Palombo

Dr Marco Palombo

Senior Lecturer

School of Psychology

Email
PalomboM@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 29208 70358
Campuses
Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Room 1.003, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

    Biography

    I am currently UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in microstructure imaging at Cardiff University, with a joint appointment between the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) in the School of Psychology and the School of Computer Science and Informatics, where I co-lead the MicroTeam group. 

    I am also member of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Human-Machine Systems (IROHMS) at Cardiff University and co-chair of the "Human-centric AI for Medical Imaging" Working Group.

    I am a physicist with expertise in biophysical modelling, machine learning, computational modelling, medical imaging, and data analysis.

    Research

    My research interest is in combining Physics, Computer Science and Neuroscience to develop non-invasive imaging technologies for early diagnosis and prognosis of neurological and psychiatric conditions.

    In particular, my research programme combines computational modelling, MRI and modern machine learning to pioneer next generation healthcare technology for in vivo imaging of brain tissue. Towards this goal, I have made a few key innovations in microstructure imaging and non-invasive histology of the brain (with particular focus on grey matter): the first demonstration of non-invasive quantification of complex brain cell morphology, using diffusion-weighted MR spectroscopy and computational modelling (Palombo et al., PNAS 2016); mapping of cell body size and density, using SANDI (Palombo et al. Neuroimage 2020); mapping of water exchange, using NEXI (Jelescu et al. Neuroimage 2022); imaging restriction and exchange effects using diffusion temporal ratio, TDR (Warner et al. Neuroimage 2023), as well as first-of-its-kind generative models of complex brain cell morphologies (Palombo et al., Neuroimage 2019) and axonal bundles (Callaghan et al. Neuroimage 2020) for the controlled and flexible generation of ultra-realistic computational models of the brain microstructure, essential for more realistic numerical simulations (e.g. Monte Carlo).

    Recent work focuses on combining such computational models, Monte Carlo simulations and machine learning for next generation microstructure imaging, e.g. maps of axonal permeability as new imaging marker of demyelination (Hill et al. Neuroimage 2021); in vivo quantification of glial reactivity (Ligneul et al., Neuroimage 2019, Genovese et al., NMR Biomed 2021); cancer-specific microstructure imaging to assess brain tumor’s response to radio/proton therapy (Buizza et al., Medical Physics 2020, Morelli et al. Medical Physics 2023); joint estimation of diffusion and relaxation properties of prostate cancer (Palombo et al. Nature Sci. Rep. 2023).

    Publication

    2023

    2022

    2021

    2020

    2019

    2018

    2017

    2016

    2015

    2014

    2013

    2012

    2011

    Articles

    Book sections

    Conferences

    Websites

    Biography

    Education

    • 2014: PhD in Biophysics. Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Anomalous diffusion to probe brain microstructure by means of new NMR parameters: from theoretical modelling to NMR in vivo experiments. 
    • 2010: MSc in Physics. Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
    • 2007: BSc in Physics. Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Employment

    • 2021 – present: Senior Lecturer joint School of Psychology and School of Computer Science and Informatics. Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
    • 2018 – 2021: Senior Research Associate. University College London, London, UK.
    • 2016 – 2018: Research Associate. University College London, London, UK.
    • 2014 – 2016: Research Associate. Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.

    Honours and awards

    11/2019

    2019 ISMRM Outstanding Teacher Award

    05/2019

    3rd place at the EPSRC's Science Photography Competition 2019, in the Weird & Wonderful category.

    05/2019

    Magna Laude Merit Award at International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) annual meeting.

    11/2018

    Best research image at the UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering Autumn Research Symposium

    06/2018

    Finalist at the public engagement competition during the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) annual meeting

    04/2018

    Certificates of Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing by Neuroimage, Elsevier.

    01/2018

    UCL representative at the Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS), Singapore

    06/2017

    Magna Laude Merit Award at International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) annual meeting.

    05/2016

    Best work at the Diffusion Study Group at the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) annual meeting

    04/2016

    Certificates of Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing by Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Wiley.

    2011 – 2014

    Educational Stipend awarded by the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM)

    Committees and reviewing

    Peer reviewer for grant schemes both nationally and internationally:

    • UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship scheme
    • Personalized Health and Related Technologies (PHRT) strategic focus area of the ETH Domain
    • Swiss Cancer Research foundation & Swiss Cancer League

    Regular reviewer for research-focused journals:

    • NeuroImage
    • Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
    • Journal of Magnetic Resonance
    • Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging
    • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
    • Neurobiology of Aging
    • Frontiers in Physics