Ruben NECHIFOR – Main Page

Ruben Emanuel NECHIFOR, Ph.D.

Dr. Ruben Emanuel NECHIFOR is currently a Researcher at the International Institute for Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health of Babeș-Bolyai University, after working as a Postdoctoral Fellow at (1) the Radiological Sciences Department from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in the USA (https://ucla.academia.edu/RubenEmanuelNechifor) and (2) the MRI Research Center from University of New Brunswick (UNB) in Canada (https://mri.ext.unb.ca/Peronnel/photo_archive.php).
He obtained the Ph.D. in Materials Engineering in 2011 at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, studying – through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance NMR – molecular dynamics of various liquids confined in novel polymeric nanocapsules used in drug release (https://utclujnmr.weebly.com/group-members.html). Part of these doctoral studies were carried out at Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany (https://www.tu-ilmenau.de/techphys2/mitarbeiter/).
His Master’s degree is in Complex Molecular Systems at the Faculty of Physics of Babeș-Bolyai University (with an Erasmus scholarship at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France). The Bachelor’s degree is in Medical Physics also at the Faculty of Physics of Babeș-Bolyai University .

Keywords: Resting & Task fMRI, Neuroimaging, Diffusion, Perfusion & Structural MRI

Subjects taught:

  • Advanced MRI and fMRI at STAR – UBB: a modular course conducted within an Advanced Fellowship Intern. The presented materials are available upon request.

Schedule for hearings:

Monday: 13:00 – 15:00

Contact address: 30 Fântânele, 400294, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Email: rubennechifor@psychology.ro

Research Interests:

  • Various fMRI and Clinical MRI studies for different psychopathologies and clinical pathologies
  • Develop and implement new pulse sequences and new protocols for improving the existing/standard techniques and protocols of fMRI and Clinical MRI in order to obtain a better and earlier image signature of tissue microstructure.
  • Perfusion and Diffusion MRI studies on cancer tumours with specific mutation status and their correlation with tissue histopathology and with different associate psychological profiles.
  • Assess the differences between relapses and pseudo-relapses tumours on the brain in correlation with the tissues histopathology and the associate psychological profile using various MRI techniques.
  • Explore various prognostics related with progression-free survival and overall survival of various tumour types in comparison with their histopathology and the observed psychological profiles.
  • Various fMRI and Clinical MRI studies for appraising the psychological and clinical features, their correlation with tissues histopathology and various psychological profiles and for assessing the outcome responses to various/new psychotherapies and clinical therapies.

Projects & Grants:

  • Technical Expert Clinical MRI Equipment within the project POC/448/1/1/127725 – High Field Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging Infrastructure – INSPIRE, 2022 – 2023
  • COST Action CA18206, Glioma MR Imaging 2.0, 2019 – 2023, www.glimr.eu

Principal Investigator in the following grants:

  • Assessing the neural correlates of highly religious christian, moderate religious christian and nonreligious belief through fMRI and structural MRI analysis, The Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion, University of OXFORD, John Templeton Foundation, 2021 – 2023 https://cee.ianramseycentre.ox.ac.uk/grants?fbclid=IwAR2tegIWrvICjHkDc1pb0d6Vra0ITrFXli3x8gxNPRSRdHkxEIhH9l59rv0
  • The importance of imaging analysis in tumour pathology in the Oro – Maxillo – Facial territory, Babeș – Bolyai University in partnership with Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj – Napoca, România, 2021 – 2022
  • Developing novel biomarkers starting from default diffusion MRI data, Babeș – Bolyai University Grant, GTC 35277/18.11.2020, 2020 – 2022
  • Advanced MRI and fMRI at STAR – UBB, Advanced Fellowship Inter UBB, Oct – Nov. 2020.
  • The neurobiological effects in terms of brain activity and network connectivity of rational versus irrational belief explored through fMRI, Babeș – Bolyai University Grant, 2019 – 2021  
  • Social jetlag, sleep deprivation and their correlates in relation with brain structure and brain activity assessed through resting – state fMRI, Babeș – Bolyai University in partnership with Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj – Napoca, România, 2019 – 2021
Google Scholar Profile

Articles

  1. Hirschler L., Sollmann N., Schmitz-Abecassis B., Pinto J., Arzanforoosh F., Barkhof F., Nechifor R.E., et al., “Advanced MR Techniques for Preoperative Glioma Characterization: Part 1”, Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.28662
  2. HangelG., Schmitz-AbecassisB., Sollmann N., Pinto J., ArzanforooshF., BarkhofF., Nechifor R.E. et al., “Advanced MR Techniques for Preoperative Glioma Characterization: Part 2”, Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.28663
  3. Predatu R., Voinescu I. B., David O. D., Maffei A., Nechifor R., Gentilli C., “Emotion regulation difficulties in the relation between stress-related insomnia symptoms and brain response to emotional faces: An fMRI study”, Sleep Medicine, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2022.11.033
  4. Henriksen O. M., Alvarez-Torres, M. del M., Figueiredo P., Hangel G., Keil V. C., Nechifor R. E., et al., “High-Grade Glioma Treatment Response Monitoring Biomarkers: A Position Statement on the Evidence Supporting the Use of Advanced MRI Techniques in the Clinic, and the Latest Bench-to-Bedside Developments. Part 1: Perfusion and Diffusion Techniques”, Front. Oncol., 03 March 2022, https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.810263  
  5. Booth T. C., Wiegers E. C., Warnert E. A. H., Schmainda K. M., Riemer F., Nechifor R. E. et al., “High-Grade Glioma Treatment Response Monitoring Biomarkers: A Position Statement on the Evidence Supporting the Use of Advanced MRI Techniques in the Clinic, and the Latest Bench-to-Bedside Developments. Part 2: Spectroscopy, Chemical Exchange Saturation, Multiparametric Imaging, and Radiomics”, Front. Oncol., 28 February 2022 https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2021.811425  
  6. Petr, J., Hogeboom, L., Nikulin, P., Wiegers, E., Schroyen, G., Kallehauge, J., Chmelík, M., Clement, P., Nechifor R. E. et al. “A systematic review on the use of quantitative imaging to detect cancer therapy adverse effects in normal-appearing brain tissue”, Magn Reson Mater Phy 2021, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-021-00985-2   
  7. Nechifor R. E., Popita C., Bala C., Vonica C., Ciobanu D., Roman G., Mocan A., Sima D., Inceu G., Craciun A., Pop R.M., Craciun C., Rusu A., “Regional homogeneity and degree of centrality in social jetlag and sleep deprivation and their correlations with appetite: a resting-state fMRI study”, Biological Rhythm Research, 2020, 1-21, https://doi.org/10.1080/09291016.2020.1854991
  8. Nechifor R. E., Ciobanu D., Vonica C.L., Popita C., Roman G., Bala C., Mocan A., Inceu G., Craciun A., Rusu A., “Social jetlag and sleep deprivation are associated with altered activity in the reward-related brain areas: an exploratory resting-state fMRI study”, Sleep Medicine, 72: 12-19, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2020.03.018
  9. Ellingson B., Nguyen H., Lai A., Nechifor R. E., Zaw O., Pope W., Yong W., Nghiemphu P., Liau L., Cloughesy T., “Contrast Enhancing Tumor Growth Dynamics of Pre-Operative, Treatment Naïve Human Glioblastoma”, Cancer 122(11): 1718-1727, 2016; https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.29957
  10. Nechifor R. E., Harris R., Ellingson B. M., “Novel magnetic resonance imaging techniques in brain tumors”, Topics in Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 24(3): 137-146, June 2015; https://doi.org/10.1097/RMR.0000000000000053
  11. Nechifor R. E., Romanenko K., Marica F., Balcom B. J., “Spatially Resolved Measurements of Mean Spin-Spin Relaxation Time Constants”, Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 239: 16-22, 2014; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmr.2013.11.012
  12. Nechifor R., Bogdan M., Ardelean I., “The Size Distribution of Core Shell Polymeric Capsules as Revealed by Low-Field NMR Diffusometry”, Appl. Magn. Reson. 40(2): 205-211, 2012; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00723-011-0197-5
  13. Simina M., Nechifor R., Ardelean I., “Saturation-dependent nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation of fluids confined inside porous media with micrometer-sized pores”, Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, 49(6):314-9, 2011; https://doi.org/10.1002/mrc.2749
  14. Nechifor R., Ardelean I., Mattea C., Stapf S., Bogdan M., “NMR relaxation dispersion of Myglol molecules confined inside polymeric micro-capsules”, Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, 49(11):703-3, 2011; https://doi.org/10.1002/mrc.2821
  15. Nechifor R. E., Ardelean I., “Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry – A tool in Monitoring the Melting Transition of Polymeric Capsules with Applications in Drug Delivery”, IFMBE Proceedings Volume 36, 344-347, 2011; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22586-4_72
  16. Nechifor R., Badea C., Ardelean I., “Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of liquids morphology inside partially saturated porous media”, Journal of Physics: Conf. Ser. 182, 012012; 2009; https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/182/1/012012

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