Dr . Yuanyuan QIN | Medical Image Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Associate Chief Physician, Associate Professor at  Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology , China

Dr. Yuanyuan Qin is a distinguished Associate Chief Physician and Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology at Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. With a strong foundation in clinical radiology and advanced neuroimaging, she has dedicated her career to investigating brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and post-COVID neurological changes. Her research integrates multimodal imaging techniques with cognitive neuroscience and machine learning, emphasizing non-invasive diagnostic innovations. A recipient of national research funding and provincial awards, Dr. Qin has published extensively in leading international journals, with several high-impact and highly cited articles. She has also demonstrated leadership in academic teaching through the adoption of blended learning methodologies. Her interdisciplinary expertise, clinical insights, and research productivity make her a recognized contributor to the fields of radiology and neuroscience, with ongoing work focused on understanding neural mechanisms underlying cognitive decline and aging-related diseases.

Professional Profile 

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Education🎓

Dr. Yuanyuan Qin pursued her advanced medical education at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, completing a prestigious Combined Master-PhD program between 2008 and 2013. Her doctoral training emphasized advanced neuroimaging techniques, with research exploring structural and functional brain alterations in neurodegenerative conditions. During her PhD, she was selected for a one-year joint PhD training program at the esteemed Johns Hopkins University in the United States (2011–2012), where she gained international exposure to state-of-the-art imaging methodologies and collaborative research environments. Her interdisciplinary education integrated clinical radiology, neuroscience, and data-driven analysis, laying a strong foundation for her later research on cognitive disorders and aging. This cross-institutional and cross-national academic background not only enriched her scientific expertise but also cultivated her capacity to approach radiological challenges from both a clinical and research perspective. Her academic training continues to inform her innovative work in diagnostic imaging and cognitive neurodegeneration.

Professional Experience📝

Dr. Yuanyuan Qin has built a progressive and impactful professional career in radiology at Tongji Hospital. Starting in 2013 as a Resident Physician, she rapidly advanced through roles as an Attending Physician (2014–2019), Associate Chief Physician (2019–2020), and ultimately to Associate Professor (2020–present). Throughout her career, she has been deeply engaged in clinical diagnostics, medical imaging interpretation, and mentoring medical students and interns. Her dual roles in academic and clinical settings have allowed her to integrate patient-centered care with research-led innovation. Dr. Qin’s experience spans routine radiological evaluations to complex imaging studies in patients with neurological and neurodegenerative conditions. She has actively contributed to improving radiology internship training programs through digital platforms and 3D simulation tools. Her leadership within the department is recognized not only in her clinical acumen but also in fostering collaborative research projects and guiding junior physicians and researchers in translational imaging studies.

Research Interest🔎

Dr. Yuanyuan Qin’s research interests lie at the intersection of neuroimaging, cognitive neuroscience, and clinical radiology. Her primary focus is on understanding the neural mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, through advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and functional connectivity analysis. She is also deeply interested in the application of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with cognitive training as a therapeutic and diagnostic tool. Recently, her research has extended into the neurological impacts of COVID-19, exploring long-term cerebral microstructure changes in asymptomatic patients. Her work frequently integrates artificial intelligence, deep learning, and image quantification methods to improve diagnostic precision. Dr. Qin is committed to developing non-invasive imaging biomarkers that can track disease progression and predict cognitive decline. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges clinical needs with technological advancement, contributing valuable insights into early detection and intervention strategies for aging-related cognitive disorders.

Award and Honor🏆

Dr. Yuanyuan Qin has been widely recognized for her academic excellence and scientific contributions. Notably, she received the First Prize in the 2019 Hubei Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award for her innovative work on the integration of structural and functional MRI in brain development and aging-related diseases. In teaching, she earned the Second Prize in the 2020 Young Teacher Teaching Competition at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, highlighting her commitment to educational innovation. As a principal investigator, she has secured multiple competitive grants, including a General Program and a Youth Project from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). Her work has garnered national attention and peer acknowledgment, with multiple publications cited widely in top-tier journals. Her research article in the Journal of Clinical Investigation is listed as a Highly Cited Article, further validating her impact in the fields of radiology and neuroscience.

Research Skill🔬

Dr. Yuanyuan Qin possesses a robust portfolio of research skills, especially in neuroimaging analysis, multimodal MRI, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). She has extensive expertise in image processing platforms such as 3D-Slicer, FSL, and SPM, along with experience in deep learning algorithms for radiological quantification. Her technical strengths extend to designing and conducting longitudinal studies, particularly in evaluating cognitive interventions like rTMS paired with cognitive training in Alzheimer’s patients. She demonstrates proficiency in integrating clinical data with imaging outcomes to derive meaningful correlations for disease diagnosis and prognosis. Additionally, she has contributed to the development of automated MRI quantification pipelines, including those for Parkinsonism index assessment. Her interdisciplinary methods often incorporate statistical modeling, functional connectivity analysis, and AI-based imaging biomarker discovery. These research capabilities position her as a key contributor in translating complex neuroimaging insights into real-world clinical applications.

Conclusion💡

Dr. Yuanyuan Qin is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award based on her exceptional track record in neuroimaging research, consistent national-level funding, scientific leadership in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s research, and significant contributions to radiological education and practice. Her trajectory exemplifies a balance between academic rigor, innovation, and clinical relevance.

Publications Top Noted✍

1. Title: Surface-Based Vertexwise Analysis of Morphometry and Microstructural Integrity for White Matter Tracts in Diffusion Tensor Imaging: With Application to the Corpus Callosum in Alzheimer’s Disease
   Authors: Tang, Xiaoying; Qin, Yuanyuan; Zhu, Wenzhen; Miller, Michael I.
   Year: 2017
   Citation: Human Brain Mapping, DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23491

2. Title: Atlas-based deep gray matter and white matter analysis in Alzheimer’s disease: diffusion abnormality and correlation with cognitive function
   Authors: Qin Yuanyuan; Zhang Shun; Guo Linying; Zhang Min; Zhu Wenzhen
   Year: 2016
   Citation: Chinese Journal of Radiology, WOSUID: CSCD:5699935

3. Title: Shape and diffusion tensor imaging based integrative analysis of the hippocampus and the amygdala in Alzheimer’s disease
   Authors: Tang, Xiaoying; Qin, Yuanyuan; Wu, Jiong; Zhang, Min; Zhu, Wenzhen; Miller, Michael I.
   Year: 2016
   Citation: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2016.05.001

4. Title: Simulating the Evolution of Functional Brain Networks in Alzheimer’s Disease: Exploring Disease Dynamics from the Perspective of Global Activity
   Authors: Li, Wei; Wang, Miao; Zhu, Wenzhen; Qin, Yuanyuan; Huang, Yue; Chen, Xi
   Year: 2016
   Citation: Scientific Reports, DOI: 10.1038/srep34156

5. Title: Frequency-specific Alterations of Large-scale Functional Brain Networks in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease
   Authors: Qin, Yuan-Yuan; Li, Ya-Peng; Zhang, Shun; Xiong, Ying; Guo, Lin-Ying; Yang, Shi-Qi; Yao, Yi-Hao; Li, Wei; Zhu, Wen-Zhen
   Year: 2015
   Citation: Chinese Medical Journal, DOI: 10.4103/0366-6999.151654

6. Title: Frequency-specific Alterations of Large-scale Functional Brain Networks in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (Correction)
   Authors: Qin, Y. Y.; Li, Y. P.; Zhang, S.; Xiong, Y.; Guo, L. Y.; Yang, S. Q.
   Year: 2015
   Citation: Chinese Medical Journal, DOI: 10.4103/0366-6999.156150

7. Title: An Efficient Approach for Differentiating Alzheimer’s Disease from Normal Elderly Based on Multicenter MRI Using Gray-Level Invariant Features
   Authors: Li, Muwei; Oishi, Kenichi; He, Xiaohai; Qin, Yuanyuan; Gao, Fei; Mori, Susumu
   Year: 2014
   Citation: PLOS ONE, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105563

8. Title: Discriminative Analysis of Multivariate Features from Structural MRI and Diffusion Tensor Images
   Authors: Li, Muwei; Qin, Yuanyuan; Gao, Fei; Zhu, Wenzhen; He, Xiaohai
   Year: 2014
   Citation: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2014.05.008

9. Title: Exploring the Functional Brain Network of Alzheimer’s Disease: Based on the Computational Experiment
   Authors: Li, YaPeng; Qin, Yuanyuan; Chen, Xi; Li, Wei
   Year: 2013
   Citation: PLOS ONE, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073186

10. Title: Gross Feature Recognition of Anatomical Images Based on Atlas Grid (GAIA)
    Authors: Qin, Yuan-Yuan; Hsu, Johnny T.; Yoshida, Shoko; Faria, Andreia V.; Oishi, Kumiko; et al.
    Year: 2013
    Citation: NeuroImage: Clinical, DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2013.08.006

11. Title: In vivo Quantitative Whole-brain Diffusion Tensor Imaging Analysis of APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice
    Authors: Qin, Yuan-Yuan; Li, Mu-Wei; Zhang, Shun; Zhang, Yan; Zhao, Ling-Yun; et al.
    Year: 2013
    Citation: Neuroradiology, DOI: 10.1007/s00234-013-1195-0

12. Title: The Functional Brain Network Changes of Alzheimer’s Disease
    Authors: Li YaPeng; Qin YuanYuan; Li Wei
    Year: 2013
    Citation: Chinese Journal of Medical Physics, WOSUID: CSCD:5004621

13. Title: Voxel-Based Diffusion Tensor Imaging of an APP/PS1 Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
    Authors: Shu, Xiaogang; Qin, Yuan-Yuan; Zhang, Shun; Jiang, Jing-Jing; Zhang, Yan; et al.
    Year: 2013
    Citation: Molecular Neurobiology, DOI: 10.1007/s12035-013-8418-6

14. Title: Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1 Alpha Decreases Beta-Amyloid Deposition in Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model
    Authors: Wang, Qi; Xu, Yi; Chen, Jin-Cao; Qin, Yuan-Yuan; Liu, Mao; et al.
    Year: 2012
    Citation: Brain Research, DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.04.011