Center for Functional MRI In the Department of Radiology

Faculty Research

Divya Bolar, Ph.D., M.D.

Assistant Professor In Residence-Radiology and Director of Clinical Translational Imaging Research


Email: dbolar@health.ucsd.edu

Divya S. Bolar MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Radiology at the University of California San Diego and Director of Clinical Translational Imaging Research at the UCSD Center for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Dr. Bolar’s research includes developing and applying novel MRI techniques to noninvasively image cerebral physiology.


Dr. Bolar’s research includes developing and applying novel MRI techniques to noninvasively image cerebral physiology. He is specifically interested in advancing velocity-based spin labeling methodology to measure cerebral perfusion, oxygen metabolism, and blood brain barrier permeability, ultimately for use in stroke, steno-occlusive disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. He holds a US patent for QUIXOTIC MRI, a novel approach to quantitatively map cerebral oxygen extraction and metabolism, and has recently introduced VESPA ASL, a new method to simultaneously image cerebral blood flow and arterial transit times.

Education and Prior Experience:

Dr. Bolar received his MD degree from Harvard Medical School and PhD in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering from MIT. He completed Radiology Residency and Neuroradiology Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.