Illuminating Early Brain Development: AI-Enhanced Neuroimaging for Transforming Fetal and Infant Brain Research

Studying early brain development is crucial for understanding the foundations of cognitive and emotional functioning, and for identifying potential interventions to promote mental health.  The primary research objective is to unravel the complexities of early neurodevelopment and identify key factors contributing to risk and resilience for mental illness. The laboratory harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance medical imaging analysis in fetuses and infants and employs a multi-omics approach to investigate intricate relationships between maternal factors, multi-omics data, brain development, and behavioral outcomes, such as social deficits, emotional dysregulation, and other developmental or psychiatric disorders. To address the shortcomings of traditional neuroimaging techniques, the lab is developing an advanced, accurate, and scalable AI-driven analysis platform specifically designed for fetal and infant brain imaging. Utilizing AI's capabilities in multi-omics, the interconnected factors influencing multi-omics data and their subsequent effects on brain development and behavior are explored. This pioneering approach will lay the foundation for novel treatments and interventions, fostering healthy development and reducing the prevalence of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. In essence, the lab's work focuses on revolutionizing fetal and infant neuroimaging through AI integration and in-depth multi-omics data analysis, providing a comprehensive understanding of early brain development, the dynamic interplay of key determinants, and their implications for behavioral outcomes and disorders.

Dr. Yun Wang holds an Assistant Professor position in Departments of Biomedical Informatics and Gynecology and Obstetrics at Emory University, leading a research group that extensively employs neuroimaging, artificial intelligence, and multi-omics in studying both typical and atypical brain development. She earned her PhD in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Auburn University and continued her research as a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University. Dr. Wang's accolades include the BBRF Young Investigator Award, NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00), Duke DST Launch Seed Grant, and ACNP Young Investigator Travel Award.