3/5/2026 Bridget Melton
Written by Bridget Melton
The Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance is pleased to introduce the latest recipient of the Graduate Fellowship for Technology-Based Healthcare.
Jiachen Tu is a doctoral student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Tu is working with Illinois advisor Professor Fan Lam and Mayo Clinic advisor Professor Kiaran McGee on developing deep learning methods to synthesize amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) data from quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) measurements (such as MR fingerprinting data), with the goal of enabling earlier and more accessible detection of Alzheimer's Disease using widely available MRI technologies. This work will build upon the foundational efforts of Mayo Clinic and Illinois (Umberto Ravaioli Ph.D., and Nahil Sobh, Ph.D.) further advancing the frontiers of medical imaging and artificial intelligence research.
The Project
Tu's project focuses on a novel approach to detecting Alzheimer’s Disease, predicted to affect 13.8 million people in the U.S. alone by 2060. The team aims to develop and validate a deep learning system that can quickly provide evidence of an onset of Alzheimer’s Disease using MRI data alone. Cost reductions, time savings, and increased access arising from deployment of new powerful diagnostic techniques have great potential for better quality and more accessible and equitable health care services.
Fellowship Opportunities
The Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance Technology-Based Healthcare Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for Illinois graduate students to work collaboratively with Mayo Clinic researchers and clinicians on a translational research project aimed at developing new technologies and clinical tools. To get the most from the experience, fellows are encouraged to spend one year at Illinois and one year at Mayo Clinic, creating a pathway for current Illinois graduate students to investigate post-graduation employment opportunities at Mayo Clinic.
Tu is the eighteenth fellow to participate in the program since its launch in 2016. To learn more about the fellowship and other educational programs offered by the Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance, visit the website or reach out to LeaAnn Carson, clinical partnerships manager, at lcarson@illinois.edu.