Biographical Sketch

Dr. van Zijl graduated cum laude with a Masters in Inorganic Chemistry and continued to obtain a Ph.D. in Mathematics and Physics from the Free University in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. His thesis focused on the description of molecular alignment in magnetic fields and the changes in the Nuclear Magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra related to this. After completing fellowships in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh) and MRI (National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute), he became a Research Assistant Professor at Georgetown University in 1990. In 1992 he was invited to join the Department of Radiology at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, where he was promoted to Associate Professor (1992) and Professor (1997). In 1999 he became the founding director of the F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. This Center has since been awarded status as a National Center for Biomedical Technology Research funded by the National Center for Research Resources. Dr. van Zijl is a fellow of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) and has received the Society's gold medal award for his neuroscience contributions in MRI and MRS, fMRI techniques, diffusion imaging and spectroscopy. He also received the Günther Laukien Award of the experimental NMR Conference for development of the field of Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI. He is also a Fellow of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance (ISMAR) and a Distinguished Investigator of the Academy of Radiology Research. He resides on the editorial boards of the journals: Journal of Magnetic Resonance, Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, NMR in Biomedicine, and BME Frontiers. He is an ad hoc member of several NIH review panels.

Research Summary

Dr. van Zijl's present research focuses on developing new methodologies for using MRI and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) to study brain function and physiology. In addition, he is working on understanding the basic mechanisms of the MRI signal changes measured during functional MRI (fMRI) tests of the brain. Other interests are in mapping the wiring of the brain (axonal connections between the brains functional regions) and the design of new technologies for MRI to follow where cells are migrating, and when genes are expressed. A more recent interest is the development of bioorganic biodegradable MRI contrast agents. The ultimate goal is to transform these technologies into fast biomarker methods that are compatible with the time available for multi-modal clinical diagnosis using MRI. He is especially dedicated to providing a comfortable scanning environment for children, where they can enjoy the experience in the MRI scanner. Dr. van Zijl's research is funded by several grants from the National Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering.

Contact Information

Office Address 
The F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging 
707 N. Broadway, Room G-25 
Baltimore, MD 21205 

Contact:  443-923-9500

Curriculum Vitae

  • Current Appointments
    • Founding Director, F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging 
      1999 - Present 
      Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD
    • Professor, Chief, Section of Neuroscience, Division of MRI Research, Department of Radiology 
      1997 - Present 
      Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
    • Professor, Department of Oncology 
      Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
    • Professor, Department of Biophysics & Biophysical Chemistry 
      Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
  • Awards and Achievements
    • Distinguished Investigator, Academy of Radiology Research 
      2012
    • Gold Medal for Scientific Achievement, ISMRM 
      2007, International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
    • Chair, Experimental NMR conference (ENC) 
      2003
    • Established Investigator Award, American Heart Association 
      1995
    • Fellow, ISMRM 
      International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
  • Education and Training
    • Fellowship, Magnetic Resonance Imaging 
      National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 
    • Fellowship, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance 
      Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
    • PhD, Mathematics and Physics 
      1985 
      Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • Masters, Inorganic Chemistry 
      1980 
      Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • BS, Chemistry 
      1977 
      Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Professional Experience
    • Research Assistant Professor 
      1990 - 1992 
      Georgetown University, Washington, DC
  • Previous Appointments
    • Board Member, ISMRM 
      International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM)
    • Chairman, Executive Committee, ENC 
      Experimental NMR Conference (ENC)
  • Affiliations
    • International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
    • International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism

Publications

For a list of Peter van Zijl's most recent publications searched from the NIH's PubMed Database, please use this Search Link.