Melanie Morrison, PhD

Melanie Morrison
Assistant Professor
[email protected]
https://profiles.ucsf.edu/melanie.morrison

Melanie Morrison, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in residence in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at UCSF, and a core member of the UCSF-UC Berkeley Joint PhD Program in Bioengineering. She received her BSc in Integrated Sciences at Carleton University in Ontario, Canada, before completing her PhD at the University of Toronto. In 2016 she joined UCSF's Radiology Department as a postdoc, working under Dr. Janine Lupo primarily on brain tumor projects until summer 2022.

Since 2019, Dr. Morrison's independent research has been focused on the clinical translation and integration of advanced MRI techniques to improve neurosurgical interventions and neuromodulation therapies for neurologic and neuropsychiatric conditions. Her research group leverages multimodal 3T and 7T MRI data to: (1) develop and test new strategies for precise brain targeting in neuromodulation, (2) derive predictive imaging markers of treatment efficacy for patients' motor, cognitive and behavioral symptoms, and (3) evaluate brain function in real-time during brain neuromodulation to further our understanding of underlying therapeutic mechanisms. Both image processing and statistical modeling techniques are implemented at the core of this translational research, with a strong emphasis on method transparency, reproducibility, and accessibility. Currently, these exciting projects are supported by three UCSF seed grants, an NIMH R21 grant, and an NINDS R01 grant.

As a first-generation academic, Dr. Morrison is very passionate about mentorship, outreach, and providing equal opportunities in academia for underrepresented minority trainees and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Honors and Awards
Chancellor's Conference Grant, University of California San Francisco, 2023
NCFDD Faculty Success Program Tuition Scholarship, University of California San Francisco, 2023
Weill Institute Women in Neurosciences Research Support for Female Learners Impacted by COVID-19, University of California San Francisco, 2021
Best Poster Presentation (Radiology Retreat), University of California San Francisco, 2021
Magna cum Laude (abstract), International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Conference, 2020
Bruce Hasegawa, PhD Award for Early-Scientist Excellence in Research, University of California San Francisco, 2020
PBBR (Program for Breakthrough Biomedical Research) Postdoc Independent Research Grant, University of California San Francisco, 2020
Radiology Seed Grant, University of California San Francisco, 2020
UC Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, University of California San Francisco, 2020
UCSF Regeneron Prize Finalist, University of California San Francisco, 2020
Office of Education and Training Travel Grant, University of California San Francisco, 2019
Best Oral Presentation, British Neuro-Oncology Society, 2018
Introduction to Academic Radiology for Scientist Training and Travel Award, Radiological Society of North America, 2017
Best Oral Presentation (Radiology Symposium), University of California San Francisco, 2017
Postdoc Slam Finalist, University of California San Francisco, 2017
Walker-Marshall Award for Academic Excellence, University of Toronto, 2016
Summa cum Laude (abstract), International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Conference, 2015
James Lepock Memorial Award, University of Toronto, 2015
Ontario Graduate Scholarship, University of Toronto, 2015
School of Graduate Studies Conference Grant, University of Toronto, 2015
Department of Medical Biophysics Excellence Award, University of Toronto, 2014
Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology, University of Toronto, 2013-2015
Ontario International Education Opportunity Scholarship, Carleton University, 2011
Entrance Scholarship, Carleton University, 2009

Publications

Neuro-Oncology

NI-59 * TABLET TECHNOLOGY FOR IMPROVED PREOPERATIVE SPEECH MAPPING USING FUNCTIONAL MRI IN PATIENTS WITH LOW-GRADE GLIOMA

Morrison M, Golestanirad L, Schweizer T, Graham S, Das S