
Rene Michael Botnar
Full Professor
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago de Chile, Chile
Cardiac MRI, Coronary MRI, Atherosclerosis, Molecular Imaging, Contrast Agent Development
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Electrical Engineering, SWISS FEDERAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY-ZURICH. Suiza, 1997
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Physics, UNIVERSITAT FRIDERICIANA KARLSRUHE. Alemania, 1992
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Physics, UNIVERSITAT FRIDERICIANA KARLSRUHE. Alemania, 1989
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Research Associate Full Time
UNIVERSITY OF ZURICH
Zurich, Suiza
1996 - 1997
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Clinical Scientist Full Time
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Boston, Estados Unidos
1997 - 2003
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Instructor Full Time
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Boston, Estados Unidos
2003 - 2004
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Assistant Professor Full Time
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Boston, Estados Unidos
2004 - 2004
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Full Professor Full Time
UNIVERSITAT MUNICH
Munich, Alemania
2004 - 2007
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Full Professor and Chair Full Time
KING'S COLLEGE LONDON
Life Sciences and Medicine
London, Reino Unido
2007 - A la fecha
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Head of Department Full Time
KING'S COLLEGE LONDON
Life Sciences and Medicine
London, Reino Unido
2015 - A la fecha
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Scientific Director Cardiac MR Center Full Time
BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER
Boston, Estados Unidos
2003 - 2004
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Full Professor Full Time
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE
Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering
Santiago de Chile, Chile
2014 - A la fecha
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Clinical Scientist Full Time
Philips Medical Systems
Boston, Estados Unidos
1997 - 2003
Teaching
1989-92 Physics for Engineers
1992-96 Statistical Methods in Biomedical Engineering
1997-04 Cardiovascular MR physics
2004-04 Non-invasive Cardiac Imaging
2006-07 Cardiovascular Imaging Seminar
2009-16 SSC in clinical and preclinical MRI, module lead (15 credits)
2014- 7MIGEP43 Medical Imaging Acquisition, module lead (15 credits)
2009- 7MIGEP14 Introduction to Medical Imaging Sciences, lecturer (15 credits)
2015- 7MIGEP09 Medical Imaging with Non-Ionising Radiation, lecturer (15 credits)
2015- 7MIGEP27 Further Medical Imaging with Non-Ionising Radiation, lecturer (15 credits)
Postdocs
2020- Shubhajid Paul, PhD
2018- Haikun Qi, PhD
2018- Thomas Küstner, PhD
2017-19 Aurélien Bustin, PhD
2016-18 Giulia Ginami, PhD
2015-18 Arna van Engelen, PhD
2013-15 Sara Lacerda, PhD
2012- Begoña, Lavin-Plaza, PhD
2012-13 Sarah Peel, PhD
2012-15 Markus Henningsson, PhD
2012-16 Silvia, Lorrio, PhD
2010-15 Alkystis Phinikaridou, PhD
2010-13 André Salomon, PhD
2008-15 Andrea Protti, PhD
PhD students
2020- Ioannis Valasakis, BS
2019- Nadia Chaher, BS
2019- Reza Hajhosseiny, MD
2019- Alina Psenicny, BS
2018- Mueez Aizaz, MSc
2018- Hannah, Perry, MRes
2017- Ryan McNally, MRes
2017- Giorgia Milotta, MRes
2016-20 Marta Dazzi, MRes
2016-20 Rhiannon Evans, MRes
2016- Karina Lopez, MRes
2015-19 Giovanna Nordio, MRes
2014-17 Isabel Ramos, MSc
2013-17 Maryam Nezafat, MSc
2011-16 Pierre Gebhardt, MSc
2011-15 Dirk Kruger, MSc
2009-12 Tarique Hussain, MD
2009-12 Sarah Peel, BS
2008-13 Eirini Karamariti, MS
2008-12 Marcelo Andia, MS MD
2008-12 Gabriella Passacquale, MD
2008-15 Markus Henningsson, BS
2007-10 Marcus Makowski, MD
Master students
2019-19 Ivna Branquinho, BS
2017-18 Margo van Gent, BS
2017-17 Jean Cupe Chacalcaje, BS
2017-17 Jasmin Breitenstein, BS
2016-16 Filipa Silva, BS
2016-16 Suzanne Franklin, BS
2016-16 Mateusz Florkow, BS
2016-16 Aurelien Robbe, BS
2015-15 Tom Bruijnen, BS
2015-15 Rob Holtackers, BS
2016-16 Almut Glitzer, BS
2014-14 Melissa van de Steeg, BS
2014-15 Joao Tourais, BS
2013-13 Frank Eschbach, BS
2012-12 Jules, Nelissen, BS
2010-10 Tom van Rooij, BS
2009-09 Rene Verhaart, BS
2008-08 Miriam Lagemaat, BS
2004-05 Roger Fischer, BS
2005-06 Sinan Uygur, BS
2002-02 Christoph Barmet, BS
2000-01 Michael Schär, BS
2000-01 Alex Etienne, BS
1998-99 David Hengesbach, BS
1999-00 Florian Wiesinger, BS
1998-99 Michael Huber, BS
1996-97 Harald Quick, BS
1995-96 Sebastian Kozerke, BS
1994-95 Daniel Frey, BS
1993-94 Oliver Weber, BS
Clinical fellows
2020- Alina, Hua, MD
2019- Reza Hajhosseiny, MD
2016-19 Imran Rashid, MD
2010-12 Britta Butzbach, MD
2010-12 Boris Bigalke, MD
2009-12 Andreas Indermuehle, MD
2009-12 Tarique Hussain, MD
2007-09 Christian Jansen, MD
2004-04 Marcus Katoh, MD
2002-03 Tim Leiner, MD
2001-02 David Maintz, MD
2000-01 Won Y Kim, MD
1999-00 Elmar Spüntrup, MD
1996-97 Benjamin Dubno, MD
Selected invited and keynote lectures (last 5 years)
2016 Academic Vascular Surgery, KCL
Invited Lecture
Molecular Imaging of Atherosclerosis
London, UK
2016 CMR Techniques for the Assessment of Coronary Plaques and Stenosis
Invited Lecture
Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR)
Los Angeles, CA
2016 MRI of Coronary Plaque: Are We There Yet?
Invited Lecture
Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR)
Los Angeles, CA
2017 CVMR Retreat
Keynote Lecture
MR in Bed with PET
Annecy, France
2017 Siemens Customer Event
Invited Lecture
3D quantitative and multiparametric whole heart MRI
Barcelona, Spain
2017 Edinburgh Cardiovascular Imaging Seminar
Invited Lecture
3D quantitative and multiparametric whole heart MRI
Edinburgh, UK
2017 Motion Compensation: Pulse Sequence & Reconstruction Strategies
Invited Lecture
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM)
Honolulu, HI
2018 Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Invited Lecture
3D multiparametric whole heart MRI: get all in one
Barcelona, Spain
2018 Universidad de Los Andes
Invited Lecture
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Technical developments and clinical applications
Santiago de Chile, Chile
2018 European Society for Molecular Imaging
Invited Lecture
Cardiovascular Molecular Imaging with PET and MRI
San Sebastian, Spain
2018 British Cardiovascular Imaging Meeting
Invited Lecture
Coronary MR Angiography: are we there yet?
Edinburgh, UK
2018 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Invited Lecture
Clinical Translation and Applications of Molecular MRI in Cardiovascular Diseases
Paris, France
2018 Vulnerable Patient Meeting (VPM)
Invited Lecture
Coronary MRA: how far are we from its use in assessing coronary artery anatomy
Stresa, Italy
2018 CVMR Retreat
Keynote Lecture
Multi Spectral MRI of the Heart
Annecy, France
2018 Society for Magnetic Resonance Angiography
Invited Lecture
Vessel Wall and Plaque Imaging
Glasgow, UK
2019 International Symposium on Biomechanics and Vascular Biology
Invited Lecture
Molecular MR Imaging of Advanced Plaques
London, UK
2019 British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence Annual Symposium
Invited Lecture
Comprehensive diagnosis of heart disease with multi-parametric MRI
London, UK
2019 Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC)
Invited Lecture
Comprehensive diagnosis of heart disease with multi-parametric MRI
Madrid, Spain
2019 Synergistic Reconstruction Symposium
Invited Lecture
Multiparametric Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Chester, UK
2019 Vascular Inflammation: Novel Approaches
Invited Lecture
Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR)
Seattle, WA
2019 Comprehensive diagnosis of heart disease with multi-parametric MRI
Invited Lecture
Department of Radiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, TX
2020 Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
Invited Lecture
Multiparametric Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Berlin, Germany
2020 Free-breathing Relaxometry: Is 3D Worth It?
Invited Lecture
Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR)
Orlando, FL
2020 Robust Myocardial T1, T2, T2*, and ECV Mapping: the Good, the Bad and the Future
Invited Lecture
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM)
Paris, France
Patents
1. Stuber M, Botnar RM. Magnetic resonance imaging method and system with adaptively selected flip angles (US Patent 6,230,039).
2. Manning WJ, Botnar RM, Stuber M. Combined use of ECG and PPU signals for triggering medical imaging (US Patent 6,501,979).
3. Wiethoff AJ, Parsons EC, Botnar RM, Spuentrup E. Methods of cardiothoracic imaging. (Serial Number 10/888,833)
4. Wiethoff AJ, Parsons EC, Botnar RM, Spuentrup E. Stationary target imaging. (Provisional Serial Number 60/543,875; Provisional Serial Number 60/486,833)
5. Botnar RM. Phinikaridou A. Materials and methods relating to cardiovascular imaging. (WO/2012/107725 / PCT/GB2012/000133)
6. Prieto C, Ginami G, Neji R, Botnar RM. BOOST: A Method of Performing Magnetic Resonance Imaging and a Magnetic Resonance Apparatus. Application number: GB1713442.0
7. Prieto C, Bustin A, Neji R, Botnar RM. PROST: Method of Reconstructing Magnetic Resonance Image Data. Application number GB1807623.2
8. Prieto C, Correia T, Neji R, Botnar RM. ORCCA: Method of Reconstructing Magnetic Resonance Image Data. Application number GB1806025.1
9. Prieto C, Correia T, Neji R, Botnar RM. HD-PROST: High-Dimensionality Undersampled Patch-Based Reconstruction (HD-PROST) for Accelerated Multi-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Application number. Joint patent with Siemens Healthineers.
Clinical translation
Developed pre-product software (WIP1111) for coronary MR angiography on Siemens MR scanner (2020)
Developed pre-product software (WIP1427) for multi-contrast whole heart cardiac MRI on Siemens MR scanner (2020)
Performed multicentre study for clinical evaluation of coronary MR angiography, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2001)
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James E. Muller Vulnerable Plaque New Investigator Prize For Clinical Research
Association for Eradication of Heart Attack
Estados Unidos, 2002
For the development of magnetic resonance coronary plaque imaging
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Fellow Award
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Australia, 2012
For achievements in MRI research
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Outstanding Teacher Award
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Australia, 2012
For outstanding teaching
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Fellow Award
Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Estados Unidos, 2019
For achievements in cardiovascular magnetic resonance research
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Associate Editor
Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Estados Unidos, 2017
Assigns manuscripts to reviewers and discusses those manuscripts at editorial board meeting
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Council Member
European Society for Molecular Imaging
Reino Unido, 2020
Member of the European Society for Molecular Imaging council that manages the society and organises the annual meetings
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Board Member
Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Estados Unidos, 2008
Member of the board of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, which manages the societies activities and organises the annual scientific meeting
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Senior Editor
Journal of Molecular Imaging and Biology
Reino Unido, 2020
Senior editor assigns reviewers and makes decisions on acceptance or rejection of peer reviewed manuscripts
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Gold Medal Committee member
Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Estados Unidos, 2012
Committee of senior accomplished members of the society selects the winner of the annual Gold Medal
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Young Investigator Award committee
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Estados Unidos, 2012
Member of the Young Investigator Award committee of the ISMRM that selects the candidates for the annual Rabi and Moore award
Coronary Magnetic Resonance Angiography in Heterotopic Heart Transplant Recipient |
3D SASHA myocardial T1 mapping with high accuracy and improved precision (vol 32, pg 281, 2019) |
Detection of High-Risk Plaque with tropoelastin-specific and multicontrast coronary MRI |
Multi-parametric tissue characterisation of myocardial inflammation in autoimmune rheumatic diseases using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging |
Quantification and modulation of vascular inflammatory activity for the detection and treatment of high-risk atherosclerotic plaque |
King's College London BHF Centre of Research Excellence |
Wellcome EPSRC Centre for Medical Engineering |
Comprehensive Assessment of Coronary and Myocardial Disease with Self-gated 3D Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
Self-Navigated Multi-Contrast And Quantitative Whole Heart 3D Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
SmartHeart - Next-generation cardiovascular healthcare via integrated image acquisition, reconstruction, analysis and learning |
3.0T Magnetic Resonance Delayed Enhancement Vessel Wall Imaging in Patients with Type 1 and 2 Diabetes |
BHF Centre of Research Excellence |
Atherosclerosis stratification using advanced imaging and computer- based models |
Firmware-based design for a PET detector data acquisition and processing chain and RF interference reduction techniques for simultaneous PET/MR imaging |
Molecular imaging of inflammation and extracellular matrix remodelling after MI |
A study using elastin-specific MRI contrast agent to quantify renal fibrosis |
High resolution three dimensional MRI of the heart and intrathoracic vessels in patients with congenital heart disease |
Molecular imaging of dysfunctional matrix remodelling in arterial disease |
Defining the mechanism by which vasodilator drugs selectively reduce central pulse pressure through a reduction in pressure augmentation |
Detection and grading of coronary allograft vasculopathy in children using Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
Magnetic resonance imaging for follow up of Paediatric Heart Transplant |
MultiFunctional Nanotechnology for Selective Detection and Treatment of Cancer |
MRI of intraplaque albumin as marker for plaque neovascularisation |
Monocyte-platelet aggregates in the circulation=> a novel biomarker for atherosclerosis |
MRI of inflammation and extracellular matrix formation in atherosclerosis and vascular injury |
Pretargeting nanoparticle strategies for multimodal imaging of tumours |
Project 3=> Simultaneous PET/MR imaging of atherosclerosis using novel molecular and cellular contrast agents |
Three-dimensional whole heart perfusion MR imaging |
ARTerial Inflammation, STIffening and Calification ARTISTIC |
BHF research excellence clinical fellowship |
Dose finding study for CP1174 in a pig model of coronary injury |
MR perfusion imaging to guide management of patients with stable coronary artery disease |
Non-invasive assessment of arterial integrity using an elastin specific MRI contrast agent |
Small Animal MRI |
Fluid structure interaction in hemodynamics |
Coronary plaque imaging in a swine model of in- stent stenosis using a plaque specific MR contrast agent |
MAGIC=> Magnetic Particle Imaging for Cardiovascular Applications |
A phase II feasibility study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EP-2104R for magnetic resonance imaging of thrombi in the arterial vasculature and cardiac chambers |
Cardiac MRI with 3D Undersampled Radial Imaging |
Delayed enhancement coronary vessel wall imaging in patients with unstable coronary artery disease using Gadovist |
Development of target specific contrast agents for image guided diagnosis and therapy of cancer |
Coronary MRA and myocardial perfusion using an intravascular MR contrast agent |

Rene Botnar
Full Professor
Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago de Chile, Chile

Claudia Prieto
Associate Professor
Electrical Engineering
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Santiago, Chile

Marcelo Andia
Associate Professor
Radiology
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Santiago, Chile

Pablo Irarrazaval
Professor
Electrical Engineering
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago, Chile

Cristian Tejos
Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Santiago, Chile