Prof. Deborah Burstein

HST Affiliated Faculty / Lecturer
Associate Professor of Radiology and Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School (HMS)/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston (BIDMC)
Research Associate in Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC)

Primary DLC

Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology

MIT Room: BETHISRAEL-HIM148

Areas of Interest and Expertise

Use of MRI in Measuring Composition and Functional Integrity of Cartilage
Arthritis
Imaging
Radiopharmacy

Research Summary

The overall goal of Professor Burstein’s research is to extend the capabilities of MRI to directly evaluate the biophysical and biomechanical properties of the joint tissues, with particular emphasis on cartilage. To that end, she and her colleagues have developed a new MRI method to provide an index of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentration in cartilage. GAG is one of the main constituents of cartilage lost in early arthritic disease, and thought to be important to replace as part of therapeutic interventions. This imaging technique has been validated in vitro and in vivo, and should permit regular monitoring of cartilage to evaluate disease progression and therapeutic efficacy in a way not previously possible.

Recent Work