Jae Mo Park, Ph.D. - Faculty Profile

Biography

Dr. Park received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Electrical Engineering. His doctoral work at Stanford University was focused on technical developments of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) with application to preclinical glioma brain tumor metabolism. Following completion of his Ph.D. in 2012, he broadened his research into advanced biomedical imaging as a postdoctoral research fellow and a research associate in the Department of Radiology at Stanford School of Medicine. He joined the UT Southwestern as an Assistant Professor in 2016 and became an Associate Professor (with tenure) in 2022.

Dr. Park's lab has been focused on methodological developments and clinical translation of metabolic imaging, particularly of mitochondria, enabling in vivo assessment of metabolic fluxes in individual enzyme-catalyzed reactions. As metabolic processes and their regulation are complex, numerous transient physiological conditions, including nutritional states and exercise, impact metabolism. Chronic diseases such as cancer and type 2 diabetes may also have profound effects. For accurate and selective imaging of metabolism and function of interests, his lab develops imaging concepts and schemes by developing a network of ideas in MR pulse sequence, physiology, chemistry, and clinical translation.

Education

Graduate School: Stanford University (2009), Electrical Engineering
Graduate School: Stanford University (2012), Electrical Engineering

Research Interest

Cancer metabolism
Development of hyperpolarized MR spectroscopic imaging methods
Metabolic imaging agents
Metabolic imaging of cardiomyopathy
Neurological disorders and neuroinflammation
Quantitative neuroimaging techniques

Publications

Featured Publications

Differential activation of TCA cycle activity and PDH flux by dichloroacetate in skeletal muscle measured by hyperpolarized [2-¹³C,3-²H₃]pyruvate.: Lin SH, Cho A, Huynh MT, Erfani Z, Kucejova B, Dewage SW, Jue T, Fu X, Kovács Z, Burgess SC, Park JM, iScience 2026 Sep 29 9 117325
Hyperpolarized NMR study of the impact of alzheimer's disease on diabetes using a novel rat model.: Rehman U, Datta K, Liu SC, Park JM, Sriram R, Hong D, Chen Q, Mori H, Trinh V, Berman R, Hurd R, Spielman D, Jue T, J Physiol Biochem 2026 Sep 82 1
Dimethyl [1,4-¹³C₂]Fumarate as a Molecular Sensor for Gluconeogenesis in Renal versus Hepatic Tissues.: Huynh MT, Lin SH, Wen X, Erfani Z, Park JM, Kovacs Z, Malloy C, ACS Sens 2026 Jul
Hyperpolarized ¹⁵N₂-Diazirine-Tagged MRI Probe for Monitoring γ-Glutamyl Transferase Activity.: Minerali E, Huynh MT, Park H, Chen J, Dewege SW, Park J, Erfani Z, Chirgwin ME, Derbyshire ER, Park JM, Wang Q, ACS Sens 2026 Feb XXX
In vivo assessment of the recovery of myocardial pyruvate dehydrogenase activity following a ketogenic diet.: Chen J, Erfani Z, Elnwasany A, Al Nemri S, Park J, Huynh MT, Zaidi M, Harrison CE, Wen X, Szweda LI, Park JM, Cardiovasc Res 2026 Feb
Comparative Evaluation of Hyperpolarized [¹³C]pyruvate and [¹³C]lactate for Imaging Neuronal and Glioma Metabolism.: Chen J, Zaidi M, Chaudhary J, Erfani Z, Al Nemri S, Plautz EJ, Wen X, Seeley EH, Bartnik-Olson BL, Corbin IR, Park JM, ACS Sens 2025 Nov
Consensus recommendations for hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]pyruvate MRI multi-center human studies.: Punwani S, Larson PEZ, Laustsen C, VanderMeulen J, Ardenkjær-Larsen JH, Autry AW, Bankson JA, Bernard J, Bok R, Bertelsen LB, Che J, Chen AP, Chowdhury R, Comment A, Cunningham CH, Dang D, Gallagher FA, Gaunt A, Gong Y, Gordon JW, Grimmer A, Grist J, Hansen ESS, Lerche MH, Hesketh RL, Hoevener JB, Hsieh CY, Keshari KR, Kozerke S, Lanz T, Mayer D, McLean M, Park JM, Slater J, Tyler D, Vanderheyden JL, von Morze C, Zaccagna F, Zaha V, Xu D, Vigneron D, Magn Reson Med 2025 Jun
Temperature dependent chemical shifts of pyruvate and lactate enable in vivo hyperpolarized ¹³C MRSI thermometry.: Gottwald W, Nagel L, Skinner JG, Grashei M, Sühnel S, Setzer N, Eisenreich W, McLean MA, Gallagher FA, Park JM, Ahmadova Z, Gierse M, Karaali S, Knecht S, Schwartz I, Heid I, Topping GJ, van Heijster FHA, Schilling F, Npj Imaging 2025 May 3 1 19
Disrupted metabolic flux balance between pyruvate dehydrogenase and pyruvate carboxylase in human fatty liver.: Park JM, Lin SH, Baxter JD, Harrison CE, Leary J, Mozingo C, Liticker J, Malloy CR, Jin ES, Metabolism 2025 Jan 156151
Functional activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase in human brain using hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate: Zaidi M, Ma J, Thomas BP, Pena S, Harrison CE, Chen J, Lin SH, Derner K, Baxter JD, Liticker J, Malloy CR, Bartnik-Olson B, Park JM Magn Reson Med 2024 May 91 5 1822-1833

Books

Insights on lactate metabolism in skeletal muscle based on 13C dynamic nuclear polarization studies. In Dynamic Hyperpolarized Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Handbook of Modern Biophysics

Park JM, Jue T (2021). Springer, Cham

Kinetic modeling of enzymatic reactions in analyzing hyperpolarized NMR data. In Dynamic Hyperpolarized Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Handbook of Modern Biophysics

Spielman DM, Park JM (2021). Springer, Cham

Assessing pyruvate carboxylase flux as a mechanistic biological marker in fasting. In Biomarkers in Nutrition

Chen J, Park JM (2022). Springer Nature

Technical considerations of MRI methods for validating DNP probes in small animals. In The Chemistry of Hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance Probes

Harrison CE, Chen J, Lin SH, Park JM (2024). Elsevier

Honors & Awards

Gambhir-RSL Grant
Stanford University (2015-2016)
Junior Fellow
International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (2014-2014)
Radiology Department Research Funding Award
Stanford University (2013-2014)
Cambridge Foundation Fellowship
Graduate Scholarship (2007-2009)

Professional Associations/Affiliations

American Heart Association
IEEE
International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
National Neurotrauma Society