Professor Markus Barth

Professor

School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
m.barth@uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 53970

Overview

Markus graduated from the Vienna University of Technology in Technical Physics in 1995 and was awarded his Doctorate in 1999 after which he worked as postdoctoral research associate and then Assistant Professor at the Department of Radiodiagnostics, Medical University Vienna (AT). From 2004 he worked as Senior Researcher at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (Radboud University Nijmegen, NL) and at the Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (University Essen-Duisburg, DE). In 2014 he relocated to the University of Queensland to head the Ultra-high Field Human MR Research program at the Centre for Advanced Imaging and was awarded an ARC Future Fellowship. In 2019 he joined the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering as Full Professor MR Physics and Medical Imaging and has been appointed as Director for the National Imaging Facility – Queensland Node.

Research Interests

  • Improving MRI
    Markus is investigating how MRI can be improved by using new image contrasts by mapping quantitative tissue parameters and by using increased spatial resolution. For example, very small venous vessels and small bleedings in the brain can be visualised using specific contrasts using the MR phase reflecting magnetic susceptibility (SWI and QSM). This information can be used as a very sensitive disease marker in a range of neurodegenerative diseases (traumatic brain injuries, tumours, dementia). He is also developing faster image acquisition methods such as 3D Echo-Planar-Imaging (EPI) that allows reducing the acquisition time by a factor 5-10 compared to standard techniques while keeping the high image fidelity.
  • Understanding brain activity using functional MRI
    Blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional MRI gives a good picture of neural activation and connectivity in the living human brain non-invasively. Markus is particularly interested to identify small functional units of the brain, such as cortical layers and columns, in order to better understand brain function by developing very fast functional MRI techniques with the highest spatial resolution possible. Recently, he also addressed important neuroscientific questions such as memory consolidation during sleep and decoding measured functional signals (brain reading). He also explored the possibilities of simultaneous acquisition of EEG and fMRI to examine the link between electrophysiology and BOLD task activity and large scale brain networks.

Research Impacts

Markus has made significant scientific contributions in the fields of Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuroimaging, and MR methods at (ultra-)high field and key contributions to MRI scanner software packages, which are used in MR labs worldwide. Markus’ main interest is to improve our understanding of brain function and disfunction in cognition, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer by developing new medical imaging techniques. With a focus on human neuroimaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at high and ultra-high magnetic field strength, he achieved fast, high resolution mapping of magnetic susceptibility related anatomical and functional information in vivo, including characterisation of blood oxygenation, iron storage in tissue, haemorrhage and calcifications. Recent achievements include the development of accurate detection of layer specific functional activation in the human brain, decoding of brain activity and ultra-fast MRI. His research interests are in the fields of MR method development including applications in neuroimaging and neurological diseases such as dementia and cancer, as well as cardiac MR.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy of Science (Advanced)

Publications

View all Publications

Supervision

View all Supervision

Publications

Featured Publications

Book Chapter

  • Barnes, Samuel, Barth, Markus and Koopmans, Peter (2011). Automatic vein segmentation and lesion detection: From SWI-MIPs to MR Venograms. Susceptibility Weighted Imaging in MRI: Basic Concepts and Clinical Applications. (pp. 605-618) edited by E. Mark Haacke and Jürgen R. Reichenbach. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/9780470905203.ch32

  • Barth, Markus and Rowe, Daniel B. (2011). Functional susceptibility weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Susceptibility Weighted Imaging in MRI: Basic Concepts and Clinical Applications. (pp. 561-576) edited by E. Mark Haacke and Jürgen R. Reichenbach. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/9780470905203.ch30

  • Beisteiner, Roland and Barth, Markus (2005). Probleme und Lösungsmöglichkeiten bei Patientenuntersuchungen mit funktioneller Magnetresonanztomographie (fMRT). Funktionelle Bildgebung in Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie – Methodische Grundlagen und Klinische Anwendungen. (pp. 74-88) edited by Henrik Walter. Stuttgart: Schattauer Verlag.

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Other Outputs

  • Stewart, Ashley Wilton, Goodwin, Jonathan, Richardson, Matthew, Robinson, Simon Daniel, O’Brien, Kieran, Jin, Jin, Barth, Markus and Bollmann, Steffen (2023). Deep-learning-enabled differentiation between intraprostatic gold fiducial markers and calcification in quantitative susceptibility mapping.

  • Bollmann, Steffen, Janke, Andrew, Marstaller, Lars, Reutens, David, O'Brien, Kieran and Barth, Markus (2017). GRE and QSM average 7T model. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/uql.2017.178

  • Bollmann, Steffen, Janke, Andrew, Marstaller, Lars, Reutens, David, O'Brien, Kieran and Barth, Markus (2017). MP2RAGE T1-weighted average 7T model. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/uql.2017.266

  • Bollmann, Steffen, Janke, Andrew, Marstaller, Lars, Reutens, David, O'Brien, Kieran and Barth, Markus (2017). Turbo Spin Echo average 7T model. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/uql.2017.267

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

Completed Supervision