Ping Hou, Ph.D., DABR
Department of Imaging Physics, Division of Diagnostic Imaging
About Dr. Ping Hou
Ping Hou, Ph.D., DABR, is currently a Professor of Imaging Physics. After obtaining her Ph.D. in physics, focused on MR angiography in 1993 from University of Utah, she joined the MR pulse sequence development group at General Electric Medical Systems. This industrial experience granted her an in-depth understanding MR system, MR physics, pulse sequence implementation and its applications. Prior to joining MD Anderson Cancer Center, she bridged through industrial experience and academic research at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston as an Assistant Professor. There she participated in MR research on multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases using fMRI and perfusion imaging on 3T systems. She is passionate about clinic challenges of MR imaging, and plays a key role in fMRI pre-surgical planning. Her research interests include advanced neuroimaging, such as fMRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) imaging, dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) imaging and MR spectroscopy (MRS) imaging. Currently, she is a collaborator of two grants (R01s) for fMRI study, as well as a pediatric brain tumor study. In addition to neuroimaging, she also actively collaborated with body radiologists, initiated quantitative liver iron study in MD Anderson.
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Dr. Hou is a committee member of American Association of Medical Physics (AAPM) and also actively teaching graduate student in Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) and medical physics resident.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, HOUSTON, TX
Associate Member, Medical Physics Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | MRI Pulse Sequence Design and Implementation | Perfusion Imaging | Functional MRI | MRI Quality Assurance
Clinical Interests
Conventional neuro MR imaging | Pre-surgical planning – fMRI, DTI | Advanced MR imaging – DTI, DSC, DCE, MRS | Pediatric MR imaging – MRS, DTI | Body MR imaging – live iron measurement
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1993 | University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, US, Physics, Ph.D |
| 1989 | University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, US, Physics, M.S |
| 1985 | Institute of Metallurgy, Academic Sinica, Shanghai, CN, Physics, M.S |
| 1982 | Nanjing University, Nanjing, CN, Physics, BS |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2008 | Medical Physicist - Diagnostic Radiological Physics |
| 2006 | American Board of Radiology - Diagnostic Radiological Physics |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2012 - 2022
Assistant Professor, Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2008 - 2012
Assistant Professor, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 2003 - 2008
Other Professional Positions
System Engineer, GE Medical Systems - MRI Section, Waukesha, WI, 2000 - 2003
Application Engineer, GE Medical Systems - MRI Section, Waukesha, WI, 1995 - 2000
Research Associate, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 1994 - 1995
Clinical Application Scientist, OTSUKA ELECTRONICS (USA), Inc, St. Louis, MO, 1992 - 1994
Honors & Awards
| 2021 | FY21 DI Outstanding Clinician Award, Non-Patient Care |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
National Presentations
- 2021. Brain MRI Protocols. Invited. AAPM, US.
- 2010. Physics Case of the Day. Invited. RSNA. Chicago, Il, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2024 - 2025 |
| Title: | Establishing Daily Applicable Parameters using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Spinal Cord |
| Funding Source: | American Society of Spine Radiology |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2019 - 2024 |
| Title: | Percutaneous cordotomy for pain palliation in patients with advanced cancer: A randomized controlled study |
| Funding Source: | Baylor College of Medicine/NIH |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 5R01NR018481-03 |
| Date: | 2012 - 2018 |
| Title: | Multimodal MRI Biomarker of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 5R01NR014195-05 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Muir MT, Noll K, Traylor JI, Patel R, Kumar VA, Prabhu SS, Hou P, Liu HL, Stafford RJ, Taylor BA. Resectability of White Matter Tracts in Patients with Language-Critical Gliomas. Neurosurgery, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41090910.
- Gule-Monroe, MK, Chasen, NN, Long, JP, Kumar, VA, Shah, K, Chen, MM, Stafford, J, Chung, C, Wintermark, M, Hou, P, Sura, E, Wang, C, Weinberg, J, Liu, HL. Diagnostic Confidence of Contrast-Enhanced T1-Weighted MRI for the Detection of Brain Metastases. American Journal of Neuroradiology 46(6):1231-1237, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39572196.
- Zhang, J, Brunnquell, CL, Andrews, T, Behrman, RH, Brown, KL, Greenspan, BS, Hou, P, Kanal, KM, Khosravi, HR, Liang, Y, Lipford, ME, Musall, BC, Mustafa, AA, Rubinstein, AE, Russell, BJ, Sanchez, A, Tipnis, S, Sensakovic, W. Updating the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Diagnostic Radiology Resident Physics Curriculum. Academic radiology 32(4):2364-2370, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40055055.
- Teo JM, Kumar VA, Lee J, Eldaya RW, Hou P, Jen ML, Noll KR, Wei P, Ferguson SD, Prabhu SS, Wintermark M, Liu HL. Probabilistic Presurgical Language fMRI Atlas of Patients with Brain Tumors. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 45(11):1798-1804, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38889968.
- Lee, J, Kumar, VA, Teo, JM, Eldaya, R, Hou, P, Noll, KR, Ferguson, SD, Prabhu, SS, Liu, HL. Comparative analysis of brain language templates with primary language areas detected from presurgical fMRI of brain tumor patients. Brain and Behavior 14(6), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38898620.
- Young AL, Kundu S, Tappa KK, Hou P, Liu HL, Kumar VA. Incidence of Resting-State Functional Connectivity to Secondary Language Areas and Contralateral Language Areas in Patients with Brain Tumors. Neuroradiology 0(0) 1-8, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Yeh MY, Chen HS, Hou P, Kumar VA, Johnson JM, Noll KR, Prabhu SS, Ferguson SD, Schomer DF, Peng HH, Liu HL. Cerebrovascular Reactivity Mapping Using Resting-State Functional MRI in Patients With Gliomas. J Magn Reson Imaging 56(6):1863-1871, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35396789.
- Bronk, JK, Hou, P, Amsbaugh, MJ, Khatua, S, Mahajan, A, Ketonen, L, McGovern, SL. Sequential Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Patients Undergoing Reirradiation for Progressive Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. Advances in Radiation Oncology 7(2), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35071836.
- Chen HS, Jen ML, Hou P, Stafford RJ, Liu HL. A dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI digital reference object for testing software with leakage correction: Effect of background simulation. Med Phys 48(10):6051-6059, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34293208.
- McCullum L, Wood J, Gule-Monroe M, Liu HL, Chen M, Shah K, Chasen NN, Kumar VA, Hou P, Stafford J, Chung C, Ahmad M, Walker C, Yung J. The Use of Quantitative Metrics and Machine Learning to Predict Radiologist Interpretations of MRI Image Quality and Artifacts. Medical Physics.
- Elsewafy MM, Liu H, Johnson JM, Colen R, Hou P, Chen M, Basset R, Prabhu SS, Schomer D, Kumar VA. The Dorsal Arcuate Fasciculus Can Serve as a Marker of the Visual Word Form Area for Preoperative Planning of Brain Tumors. BioMed Central Medical Imaging.
Abstracts
- Hou P, Wang Cm Zlateva Y, Liu H, Kraft S, Gule-Monroe M, Chasen N, Stafford J, Li J, Wintermark M, Briere T, Mackin. Investigation of MR Cube/Space Imaging for Defining Brain Lesion Contours for Gamma Knife Treatment Planning. AAPM, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Lee J, Kumar VA, Teo JM, Hou P, Tran K, Noll KR, Prabhu SS, Liu HL. Assessing spatial similarity between primary language areas of brain templates with those detected from presurgical fMRI of brain tumor patients. ASNR, 2023.
- Chasen N, Gule-Monroe M, Hou P, Wintermark M, Liu HL. Validation of a low flip angle and no preload DSC-MRI protocol for brain tumor evaluation on 1.5T. ANDR, 2023.
- Teo JM, Johnson JM, Halyna P, Lano K, Hou P, Wang X, Liu HL. Benefit of Vessel Size/Architecture Imaging with DSC-MRI for Differentiation of Tumor Recurrence versus Pseudoprogression in Glioma Patients. ISMRM, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Sanders J, Liu HL, Krafft S, Machin D, Stafford J, Walker C, Briere T, Hou P. Improving image quality of framed Gamma Knife treatment planning MRI with flexible array coils. AAPM, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Liu H, Hou P, Lano KR, Krayyem A, Kumar VA Prabhu S, Ferguson SD, Johnson JM. High-resolution Clinical Functional MRI at 7T in Patients with Brain Tumors: Initial Assessment. RSNA, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Walker C, Taylor B, Stafford J, Briere T, Yung J, Krafft S, Wood J, Mackin D, Hou P. MRI Protocol Analysis Tool for Stereotactic Brain Radiotherapy Quality Assurance. SIIM, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Gule-Monroe M, Chasen N, Long J Kumar V, Shah K, Chen M, Stafford J, Chung C, Wintermark W, Hou P, Wang C, Weinberg J, Liu HL. How confident are You; Contrast-Enhanced T1-weighted SPACE Versus 3D FLASH sequences for the Detection of Brain Metastases. RSNA, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Chen H, Jen M, Hou P, Stafford R, Liu AH. A dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI digital reference object for testing software with leakage correction. AAPM, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Taylor BA, Chen HS, Liu HL, Yung JP, Hou P, Brock K, Stafford RJ. Commissioning of Commercial Quantitative R2* Mapping Software for Clinical Use. AAPM, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Hou P, Liu HL, Chen HS, Stafford JR. T2* Measurement Accuracy from Different MR Scanners. AAPM, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Chen H, Yeh M, Hou P, Stafford R, Liu HL. Weisskoff Analysis Can Infer False Correlations in Functional Connectivity Analysis with Resting-State fMRI. AAPM, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Heiba IM, Liu H, Young A, Chen M, Hou P, Ferguson S, Prabhu S, Kumar VA. The Role of Clinical Resting-State fMRI for Pre-operative Language Mapping When Task-based fMRI is Limited. ENSA, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Hou P, Liu HL, Salzillo T, Johnson JM, Choi C, Stafford JR. A 2-Hydroxyglutarate (2HG) MRS Phantom for Periodic Quality Control Testing. AAPM, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Bronk JK, Hou P, Amsbaugh MJ, Khatua S, Mahajan A, Ketonen L, McGovern SL. Diffusion tensor imaging in patients undergoing reirradiation for progressive diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. ASTRO 105(1):623-624, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Wang B, Hou P, Ketonen L. Pediatric Brain and Whole Spine CSF Flow Imaging using Phase Contrast Cine for New Clinical Application. ANSR, 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- Hsu AL, Hou P, Prabhu SS, Colen RR, Kumar AJ, Johnson JM, Schomer DF, Chen JH, Liu HL. Effect of Lesion Contaminated Nuisance Regressors on Resting-state fMRI Connectivity in Patients with Brain Tumors. ISMRM, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Johnson JM, Jen ML, Shin DD, Hou P, Chung C, Schomer DF, Liu HL. Effect of Lesion-related Signal Variation in Proton Density Reference Image on Blood Flow Quantification with Arterial Spin Labeling MRI for Differentiating Pseudo-progression from True Progression in Gliomas. ISMRM, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Jen M, Hou P, Johnson JM, Schomer DF, Liu H. Impact of Reference Time Curve Determination on the Correction of Contrast Agent Extravasation in Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast MRI. ISMRM, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Hsu AL, Wang PN, Hou P, Colen RR, Kumar AJ, Prabhu SS, Chen JH, Liu HL. Independent Component-based Denoising for Mapping Cerebrovascular Reactivity with Resting-State Fluctuation of BOLD Signal Amplitude in Patients with Gliomas. ISMRM, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Hwang KP, Ma J, Hou P, Liu HL, Wang K, Chi TL. T1 weighted 3D Cube with Dixon water-fat separation for imaging of the orbits. ISMRM, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Sandberg DI, Patel RP, Kerr M, Sitton CW, Ketonen LM, Hou P, Jason M Johnson JM, Shah MN, Fletcher S, Zaky W, Rytting ME, Khatua S. Phase-Contrast Cine Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Flow Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in Evaluating Distribution of Infused Agents from the Fourth Ventricle to the Total Spine. PNS, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Jen ML, Hassan IS, Hou P, Li G, Kumar AJ, Colen R, Liu AH. Accuracy of Functional Localization in Pre-surgical Function MRI. ISMRM, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Kesler SR, Tortarolo C, Giodano S, Hou P, Kumar AJ, Jones JR, Jackson EF, Wefel JS. Longitudinal Changes in Brain Network Local Efficiency and Verbal Memory Performance Following Breast Cancer Chemotherapy. ICCTF, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Hou P, Park P, Li H, Zhu XR, Mahajan A, Grosshans DR. MR Diffusion Tensor Imaging for Assessment of Tumor and Normal Brain Tissue Responses of Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma Treated By Proton Therapy. AAPM 42(6), 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Hamilton JD, Jackson EF, Leeds NE, Ketonen L, Schellingerhout D, Jones J, Tatum LS, Hou P, Evans DT, Underwood ML, Jones JR, Reed BJ, Hash S, Steele J, Albright HW, Kumar AJ. Predicting Recurrent Glioma versus Treatment-Related Necrosis Using Multiparameter Advanced MR Imaging: Accurate and Cost-Effective Clinical Decision-Making. AAN, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Hamilton JD, Hayman LA, Kumar VA, Prabhu SS, Hou P, Jackson EF, Groneman M, Kumar AJ. Deformable Anatomic Templates (DAT) Validation Using fMRI of the Motor Cortex of the Hand as a Complementary Technique for Pre-Surgical Motor Tract Localization. ASNR, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Chi TL, Al Ibraheemi AKB, Hou P, Schiffman JS. Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR Imaging of Orbital and Anterior Visual Pathway Lesions. ANSR, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Hamilton JD, Levin VA, Hou P, Prabhu S, Loghin ME, Gilbert MR, Bassett RL, Wang J, Yung WKA, Jackson EF, Kumar AJ. Bevacizumab Therapy for Radiation Induced Necrosis of the Brain: Advanced MRI Demonstrates Decreased Vessel Leakage/ Edema & Predicts Complications. SNO, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
- Bodiwala R, Ketonen L, Hou P, Wolff J. Diffusion Tensor Imaging Data Confirm Efficacy of Reradiation Treatment in Pediatric Patients with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. AAPM, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
- Sedrak P, Ketonen L, Hou P, Guha-Thakurta N, Williams MD, Kurzrock R, Debnam JM. Erdheim-Chester Disease of the Central Nervous System. ASN, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
- Jensen CT, Ernst R, Chang G, You N, Hou P, Choi H, Rauch GM, Kaur H. Preoperative MRI Staging of Rectal Cancer. ARRS, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
- Hou P, Popat UR, Lindsay RJ, Jackson EF, Choi H. A practical approach for liver iron measurement in a clinical setting. AAPM, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
- Hamilton JD, Hayman L, Kumar VA, Prabhu SS, Hou P, Jackson EF, Groneman M, Pagani J, Vabulas M, J Kumar AA. Deformable Anatomic Template Validation Using fMRI for Motor Cortex of the Hand. ISMRM, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
- Hamilton JD, Wang J, Levin VA, Hou P, Loghin ME, Gilbert MR, Leeds NE, deGroot JF, Puduvalli V, Jackson EF, Yung WKA, Kumar AJ. Normalized baseline ADC values predict problems associated with Bevacizumab treatment for glioblastoma multiforme or brain radiation induced necrosis. SNO, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
- Boonsirikamchai P, Kaur H, Hou P, Underwood ML, Kuban DA, Choi H. A Practical Approach in Detection of Local Recurrence of Prostate Cancer in The Prostatectomy Bed: Use of Slope Images. ARRS, 2010. e-Pub 2010.
- Jackson EF, Levin VA, Hou P, Bidaut LM, Bekele BN, Kumar AJ. MR-Based Imaging Biomarkers in the Assessment of Bevacizumab Efficacy in Symptomatic Radiation Necrosis of the Brain. ASN, 2010. e-Pub 2010.
- Kaur H, Ernst R, Sagebiel TL, You YN, Hou P, Choi H. Preoperative Staging of Primary Rectal Tumors - Role of Thin Section Multiplanar 2D T2 FSE Imaging, 3D Cube, and Diffusion-Weighted Imaging. RSNA, 2010. e-Pub 2010.
- Liu R, Hou P, Bockhorst KH, He R, Narayana PA. Automatic Analysis of Quantitative Cerebral Perfusion in Rodents. ISMRM 16:1881, 2008. e-Pub 2008.
- Nelson FM, Poonawalla AH, Hou P, Wolinsky JS, Narayana PA. 3D MPRAGE (magnetization prepared rapid acquisition with gradient echo) Improves Classification of Cortical Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis. TRMS, 2007. e-Pub 2007.
- Hou P, Steinberg JL, Liu R, Moeller FG, Narayana PA. Investigation of Quantitative Cerebral Blood Flow Measurement from Dynamic-Susceptibility Contrast Perfusion MR Imaging on 3T system. AAPM, 2007. e-Pub 2007.
- Poonawalla AH, Hou P, Nelson FM, Mohebbi MR, Wolinsky JS, Narayana PA. MRI of Cervical Spinal Cord Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis with Phase-sensitive T1-weighted Inversion Recovery. RSNA, 2006. e-Pub 2006.
- Nelson FM, Poonawalla AH, Hou P, Huang F, Wolinsky JS, Narayana PA. Improved visualization of Intracortical Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis by Phase-Sensitive Inversion Recovery in Combination with Fast Double Inversion Recovery Magnetic Resonance Imaging. TRMS(639), 2006. e-Pub 2006.
- Hou P, Steinberg JL, Chen DX, Moeller FG, Narayana PA. Asymmetric Spin Echo in fMRI at 3T: A Quantitative Evaluation of BOLD response and Signal Drop Off. AAPM, 2006. e-Pub 2006.
- De E, Hou P, Azadzoi K, Siroky B, Estrera AL, Sdringola S, Hairston JC, Kramer LA, Graves DE, Wes. Novel Application of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Pelvic Perfusion any Symptoms Differ in Cardiac Patients Versus Controls. AUA, 2006. e-Pub 2006.
- Chen D, Zhou W, Hou P, Burton PC, Netsiri. Brain activation to chemical signals. ACS, 2006. e-Pub 2006.
- Hou P, De EJB, Kramer LA, Westney OL. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI study of male pelvic perfusion at 3T: Comparison in cardiac and non-cardiac patients. ISMRM, 2006. e-Pub 2006.
- De E, Hou P, Kramer L, Patel C, DeSouza R, Siroky M, Azadzoi K, Estrera A, Stringola S, Hairston J, Westney L. Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Pelvic Blood Flow Correlates with Erectile Dysfunction and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. ICS, 2005. e-Pub 2005.
- Chen D, Zhou W, Meusburger T, Hou P, Burton PC, Netsiri C. fMRI Study of Human Brain Activations to Social and Nonsocial Chemical Stimuli. SNS, 2005. e-Pub 2005.
- De E, Hou P, Azadzoi K, Siroky MB, Estrera AL, Sdringola S, Hairston JC, Kramer LA, Graves DE, Westney OL. A Novel Application of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Pelvic Perfusion and Symptom Scores Differ in Cardiac and Non-Cardiac Patients. SMSNA, 2005. e-Pub 2005.
- Hou P, Hasan KM, Sitten CW, Wolinsky JS, Narayana PA. Quantitative Analysis of Contrast Efficiency of Phase Sensitive T1IR and its Primary Applications to Neuroimaging. ISMRM 13:2811, 2005. e-Pub 2005.
- Parker DL, Hou P, Robison RO, Blatter DD. Fourier Velocity in Imaging in the Presence of Pulsatile Flow. ISMRM:802, 1991. e-Pub 1991.
- Hou P, Parker DL, Blatter DD. Accuracy of Absolute Flow Measurement Using Hybrid MOTSA. ISMRM:1155, 1991. e-Pub 1991.
- Hong J, Kumar VA, Hou P, Khalaf AM, Taylor BA, Wintermark M, Liu HL. Effects of Deep Learning Reconstruction on Clinical Tractography in Patients with Brain Tumors. RSNA 2025.
- Zickus JR, Sullaway C, Cobb A, Noll K, Bajaj S, Quarles CC, Kumar VA, Hou P, Kundu S, et al. Longitudinal brain MRSI evaluation of breast cancer patients. ISMRM 2026.
- Teo JM, Kumar VA, Hou P, Noll KR, Ferguson SD, Ene CI, Prabhu SS, Wintermark M, Liu HL. Developing Patient-Specific Functional Atlas with Inverse Distance Weighting of MR Images. AAPM.
- Bajaj S, Quarles CC, Mohamed RM, Giordano S, Kumar VA, Hou P, et al. Accelerated Brain Aging in Breast Cancer Survivors: Grey Matter Alterations Post-Chemotherapy. ICCTF 2025.
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CV information above last modified July 22, 2026