Roland Krug, PhD

Roland Krug, PhD, has been at UCSF since 2003. Dr. Krug’s research interests include applying novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy tools to advance diagnosis of several musculoskeletal conditions with the ultimate goal to improve the quality of life of patients. He has a strong focus on identifying mechanisms that are responsible for low back pain as well as using novel tools such as MR guided high intensity focused ultrasound to treat this condition. As a principal investigator, Dr. Krug has received substantial support from NIH including two R01, and a UH2/UH3. He is also a director of an U19 grant from the HEAL initiative to fight opioid addiction with a volume of 30 Million USD. Dr. Krug has more than 70 peer-reviewed articles published in the highest ranking journals in the field and serves as a reviewer for more than 15 scientific journals. He reviews grants for NIH as well as the German, Austrian, Dutch, and British National Institutes. He also teaches a class on MR pulse programming in the departmental master program. Expertise: Musculoskeletal Imaging Specialty: Advanced pulse sequence development for high field MR imaging, MR spectroscopy and MRgFUS temperature assessment. Professional Interests: MRI of spine. High-resolution MRI of trabecular and cortical bone, MR fat quantification based on Dixon techniques, image analysis techniques of trabecular bone microstructure. ultra-short-TE (UTE) MRI of cartilage, bone, tendons and ligaments. High-intensity focused ultra-sound (HIFU) applications for bone ablation (temperature mapping of bone using UTE).