Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow
Associate Director, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN)
Co-Director, WIN Physics Group
Associate Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Medical Sciences Division
WIN Diversity & Inclusion Champion
Pronouns: she/her
Karla Miller
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
I develop novel methods for acquiring, reconstructing and analyzing MRI scans of the brain. Much of my research focuses on techniques for studying brain function and connectivity. My current work characterises tissue microstructure with MRI in conjunction with complementary technologies like microscopy. I helped to establish the UK Biobank brain imaging protocol, and am undertaking studies with this data as an external user.
My group is helping to advance the state of the art in MRI through improvements in signal sensitivity and specificity. We are developing methods to measure aspects of tissue microstructure that are central to neuronal health and disease. We are improving our understanding of MRI data in living subjects through scans of post-mortem brains in combination with light and electron microscopy in the same tissue. Finally we are developing the next generation of diffusion and functional MRI acquisition techniques for studying brain connectivity, by taking advantage of ultra-high field scanners and sophisticated signal processing.
These methods will enable neuroscientists to study the brain with greater precision. My group is actively involved in collaborations with neuroscience colleagues in Oxford and elsewhere to study neuronal health and disease.
Finally, I am passionate about diversity & inclusion in academic research and am proud to champion WIN's efforts in this space.
DPhil Projects
I have regular DPhil opportunities for candidates with a background in physics, engineering or neuroscience. Projects will usually be designed collaboratively with the candidate. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss possible projects, including an up-to-date CV.
Key publications
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Phenotypic and genetic associations of quantitative magnetic susceptibility in UK Biobank brain imaging.
Journal article
Wang C. et al, (2022), Nat Neurosci
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The Digital Brain Bank, an open access platform for post-mortem datasets.
Journal article
Tendler BC. et al, (2022), Elife, 11
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Brain aging comprises many modes of structural and functional change with distinct genetic and biophysical associations.
Journal article
Smith SM. et al, (2020), Elife, 9
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Joint modelling of diffusion MRI and microscopy
Journal article
Howard A. et al, (2019), NeuroImage
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The spatial correspondence and genetic influence of interhemispheric connectivity with white matter microstructure
Journal article
Mollink J. et al, (2019), Nature Neuroscience, 22, 809 - 819