Contact
Biography
Dr Yang Gao is a Mansfield Fellow in Ultra-High Field MRI at the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, 糖心原创. In 2019, He received his PhD from Zhejiang University, China. Since 2022, He has been working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering and Hangzhou Institute of Technology, Xidian University, China. His current research focuses on developing advanced RF transmission and excitation strategies for ultra-high-field MRI, with particular emphasis on beam-controlled and wave-aware RF propagation.
His work bridges electromagnetic engineering, MRI physics, and neuroscience, and includes pioneering studies on travelling-wave MRI using engineered dielectric structures. Dr Gao's research contributes to high-resolution brain imaging and has broader impact across neuroscience, materials science, and electromagnetic device engineering.
Research Summary
My current research focuses on developing new radiofrequency (RF) transmission and excitation strategies for ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). At magnetic field strengths of 7 tesla… read more
Selected Publications
YANG GAO, TONG LIU, TAO HONG, YOUTONG FANG, WEN JIANG and XIAOTONG ZHANG, 2024. Nature Communications. 15(1), 2298
YANG GAO and XIAOTONG ZHANG, 2022. IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging. 41(11), 3432-3444
YANG GAO, AZMA MAREYAM, YUN SUN, THOMAS WITZEL, NICOLAS ARANGO, IRENE KUANG, JACOB WHITE, ANNA WANG ROE, LARRY WALD, JASON STOCKMANN and XIAOTONG ZHANG, 2020. NeuroImage. 207,
YANG GAO, PINYI WANG, MEIZHEN QIAN, JIE ZHAO, HANGZHE XU and XIAOTONG ZHANG, 2019. Physics in Medicine and Biology. 64(3),
Current Research
My current research focuses on developing new radiofrequency (RF) transmission and excitation strategies for ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). At magnetic field strengths of 7 tesla and above, RF wavelengths become comparable to human anatomy, meaning that electromagnetic wave behaviour plays a dominant role in image quality, efficiency, and safety. Conventional MRI hardware and pulse design methods often treat these wave effects as artefacts to be corrected rather than physical phenomena that can be deliberately controlled.
I am developing a beam-controlled and wave-aware RF transmission framework that explicitly engineers how RF energy propagates within the human body. This work aims to control propagation direction, coherence, and polarisation to create a more uniform and predictable baseline RF transmission environment. By improving the underlying RF transmission, this approach can reduce unwanted interference, simplify RF pulse optimisation, and enhance robustness to subject variation and system imperfections.
My research combines electromagnetic theory, RF hardware development, and experimental validation on ultra-high-field MRI systems. I explore engineered wave-carrying structures, antenna and coil designs, and both single-channel and multi-channel transmission strategies. A key goal is to provide RF excitation solutions that are compatible with existing MRI systems and suitable for safe and reliable use in research and clinical settings.
In the longer term, this work aims to translate advanced RF transmission concepts into broader neuroscience and clinical applications, supporting high-resolution brain imaging and more robust MRI at ultra-high field.