Breakthrough. Impactful. Game-changing. It all adds up to something B.I.G.
The B.i.G. Stroke Imaging Group investigates how the brain changes with aging and as a result of strokes, and studies how to improve brain function after stroke. In partnership with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Atlanta Medical Center (the Atlanta VA) and the Emory Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences as well as the Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, we are advancing the science of brain recovery.
Meet the Team
Led by Venkatagiri Krishnamurthy and Lisa Krishnamurthy, B.I.G team members are trained in biomedical engineering, medicine, neuroscience, and biology. The lab draws on the expertise of seasoned scientists while nurturning the next generation of scientists and physicians.
Advancing the Science of Brain Recovery
Our research program integrates cutting‑edge MRI physics, neurovascular imaging, and rehabilitation neuroscience to understand how the brain heals after stroke, adapts with aging, and responds to targeted therapies. Working across Emory University and the Atlanta VA, we develop next‑generation imaging biomarkers that reveal the mechanisms of neuroplasticity, vascular health, and treatment response.
Building Tools to Help Clinicians See the Brain Differently
Using advanced MRI techniques—including ASL perfusion imaging, cerebrovascular reactivity mapping, MR spectroscopy, ultra‑high‑field imaging, and multimodal fMRI—we create quantitative measures of brain physiology that go beyond traditional structural scans. These tools help identify
- Which regions of the brain retain functional potential after stroke,
- How vascular modeling supports recovery,
- How neurochemistry (e.g. GABA) relates to motor and cognitivie performance, and
- Which patients are most likely to benefit from specific rehabilitation therapies.
Studying How Behavior, Exercise, and Brain Stimulation Shape Recovery
Our work uncovers the physiological mechanisms behind exercise interventions, language therapy, motor rehabilitation, and non‑invasive brain stimulation (tDCS). By pairing these therapies with advanced imaging, we can visualize real‑time changes in neural networks and understand why some individuals respond more strongly than others.
Building Predictive Models to Personalize Rehabilitation
Through federally funded projects—including a VA RR&D Merit Award, an AHA Early Faculty Award, and a Department of Defense ELECTRIG project—we develop data‑driven models that integrate:
- Physiology (blood flow, neurochemistry, vascular reactivity)
- Brain connectivity
- Behavioral performance
- Individual demographics and clinical factors
Our long‑term goal is to help clinicians predict treatment response, tailor interventions, and ultimately improve outcomes for veterans and civilians living with stroke, chronic pain, and neurodegenerative conditions.
Fostering Interdisciplinary Training and Collaboration
As active mentors in radiology, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and clinical rehabilitation, we train the next generation of scientists who can bridge the gap between MR physics, data science, and clinical neuroscience. Our lab partners closely with neurologists, psychologists, rehabilitation clinicians, biomedical engineers, and neuroscientists across Emory, Georgia Tech, the VA, and the TReNDS Center.
