Ken-Pin Hwang, Ph.D.
Department of Imaging Physics, Division of Diagnostic Imaging
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Member, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX
Associate Professor, Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Member, The University of Texas School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX
Associate Professor, Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2002 | Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, US, Biomedical Engineering, PhD |
| 2000 | Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, US, Biomedical Engineering, MS |
| 1996 | University of California, Berkeley, California, US, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, BS |
Board Certifications
| 2017 | American Board of Medical Physics, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Physics |
Experience & Service
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Scientist, GE Healthcare, Houston, TX, 2003 - 2015
Research Intern, Siemens Medical Systems, Chicago, IL, 2000 - 2001
Teaching Assistant, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 1998 - 1999
Graduate Research Assistant, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, 1998 - 2002
Development Engineer, Harris Corporation, Redwood Shores, CA, 1997
Research Assistant, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories, Berkeley, CA, 1996
Institutional Committee Activities
Senator, Faculty Senate, 2024 - 2027
Reviewer, Radiation Oncology Strategic Initiatives (ROSI) Advanced Imaging Scientific Review Committee, 2021 - Present
Member, Imaging Physics Clinical Effort Value Committee, 2020 - Present
Reviewer, Diagnostic Imaging Peer Review Committee, 2017 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2014 | Innovation Competition Award, GE Healthcare |
| 1997 | Graduate Fellowship Award, Case Western Reserve University |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Valenzuela Perez, RF, Duran Sierra, EJ, Antony, M, Amini, B, Lo, S, Torres, KE, Benjamin, RS, Ma, J, Hwang, K, Stafford, RJ, Araujo, DM, Bishop, AJ, Ratan, R, Wang, W, Espinoza, J, Valenzuela, PV, Wu, C, Madewell, JE, Murphy Jr, WA, Costelloe, C. Building a pre-surgical multiparametric-MRI-based morphologic, qualitative, semiquantitative, first and high-order radiomic predictive treatment response model for undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma to replace RECIST. Cancer Imaging 25(1), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40281609.
- Nguyen D, Palmquist S, Hwang KP, Ma J, Salem U, Sun J, Wang X, Son JB, Ernst R, Wei P, Kaur H, Stanietzky N. T2-weighted imaging of rectal cancer using a 3D fast spin echo sequence with and without deep learning reconstruction: A reader study. J Appl Clin Med Phys:e70031, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39976552.
- Valenzuela RF, Duran Sierra EJ, Canjirathinkal MA, Amini B, Hwang KP, Ma J, Torres KE, Stafford RJ, Wang WL, Benjamin RS, Bishop AJ, Madewell JE, Murphy WA, Costelloe CM. Novel Use and Value of Contrast-Enhanced Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging Morphologic and Radiomic Features in Predicting Extremity Soft Tissue Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma Treatment Response. JCO Clin Cancer Inform 9:e2400042, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39841956.
- Bokhari R, Bisson DG, Fortin M, Vigouroux M, Cata JP, Hwang KP, Chen MM, Ceniza-Bordallo G, Ouellet JA, Ingelmo PM. Detrimental Effects of Space Flight on the Lumbar Spine May Be Correlated to Baseline Degeneration: Insights From an Advanced MR Imaging Study. J Pain Res 18:1375-1385, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40124538.
- Valenzuela RF, Duran-Sierra E, Canjirathinkal M, Amini B, Torres KE, Benjamin RS, Ma J, Wang WL, Hwang KP, Stafford RJ, Wu C, Zarzour AM, Bishop AJ, Lo S, Madewell JE, Kumar R, Murphy WA Jr, Costelloe CM. Perfusion-weighted imaging with dynamic contrast enhancement (PWI/DCE) morphologic, qualitative, semiquantitative, and radiomics features predicting undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) treatment response. Sci Rep 14(1):21681, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39289469.
- Mohamed RM, Panthi B, Adrada BE, Boge M, Candelaria RP, Chen H, Guirguis MS, Hunt KK, Huo L, Hwang K, Korkut A, Litton JK, Moseley TW, Pashapoor S, Patel MM, Reed B, Scoggins ME, Son JB, Thompson A, Tripathy D, Valero V, Wei P, White J, Whitman GJ, Xu Z, Yang W, Yam C, Ma J, Rauch GM. Multiparametric MRI-based radiomic models for early prediction of response to neoadjuvant systemic therapy in triple-negative breast cancer. Sci Rep, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38992094.
- Fujita S, Gagoski B, Hwang KP, Hagiwara A, Warntjes M, Fukunaga I, Uchida W, Saito Y, Sekine T, Tachibana R, Muroi T, Akatsu T, Kasahara A, Sato R, Ueyama T, Andica C, Kamagata K, Amemiya S, Takao H, Hoshino Y, Tomizawa Y, Yokoyama K, Bilgic B, Hattori N, Abe O, Aoki S. Cross-vendor multiparametric mapping of the human brain using 3D-QALAS: A multicenter and multivendor study. Magn Reson Med, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38192263.
- Sudha Surasi DS, Kalva P, Hwang KP, Bathala TK. Pitfalls in Prostate MR Imaging Interpretation. Radiol Clin North Am 62(1):53-67, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37973245.
- Musall BC, Rauch DE, Mohamed RMM, Panthi B, Boge M, Candelaria RP, Chen H, Guirguis MS, Hunt KK, Huo L, Hwang KP, Korkut A, Litton JK, Moseley TW, Pashapoor S, Patel MM, Reed BJ, Scoggins ME, Son JB, Tripathy D, Valero V, Wei P, White JB, Whitman GJ, Xu Z, Yang WT, Yam C, Adrada BE, Ma J. Diffusion Tensor Imaging for Characterizing Changes in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer During Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy. J Magn Reson Imaging, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38294179.
- Panthi B, Mohamed RM, Adrada BE, Boge M, Candelaria RP, Chen H, Hunt KK, Huo L, Hwang KP, Korkut A, Lane DL, Le-Petross HC, Leung JWT, Litton JK, Pashapoor S, Perez F, Son JB, Sun J, Thompson A, Tripathy D, Valero V, Wei P, White J, Xu Z, Yang W, Zhou Z, Yam C, Rauch GM, Ma J. Longitudinal dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI radiomic models for early prediction of response to neoadjuvant systemic therapy in triple-negative breast cancer. Front Oncol 13:1264259, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37941561.
- Xu Z, Rauch DE, Mohamed RM, Pashapoor S, Zhou Z, Panthi B, Son JB, Hwang K, Musall BC, Adrada BE, Candelaria RP, Leung JWT, Le-Petross HTC, Lane DL, Perez F, White J, Clayborn A, Reed B, Chen H, Sun J, Wei P, Thompson A, Korkut A, Huo L, Hunt KK, Litton JK, Valero V, Tripathy D, Yang W, Yam C, Ma J. Deep Learning for Fully Automatic Tumor Segmentation on Serially Acquired Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI Images of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 15(19), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37835523.
- Hwang KP, Elshafeey NA, Kotrotsou A, Chen H, Son JB, Boge M, Mohamed RM, Abdelhafez AH, Adrada BE, Panthi B, Sun J, Musall BC, Zhang S, Candelaria RP, White JB, Ravenberg EE, Tripathy D, Yam C, Litton JK, Huo L, Thompson AM, Wei P, Yang WT, Pagel MD, Ma J, Rauch GM. A Radiomics Model Based on Synthetic MRI Acquisition for Predicting Neoadjuvant Systemic Treatment Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Radiol Imaging Cancer 5(4):e230009, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37505106.
- Prisciandaro J, Zoberi JE, Cohen G, Kim Y, Johnson P, Paulson E, Song W, Hwang KP, Erickson B, Beriwal S, Kirisits C, Mourtada F. Erratum: "AAPM task group report 303 endorsed by the ABS: MRI implementation in HDR brachytherapy-Considerations from simulation to treatment" https://doi.org/10.1002/mp.15713. Med Phys 50(2):1258, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36316956.
- Panthi B, Adrada BE, Candelaria RP, Guirguis MS, Yam C, Boge M, Chen H, Hunt KK, Huo L, Hwang K, Korkut A, Lane DL, Le-Petross HC, Leung JWT, Litton JK, Mohamed RM, Musall BC, Pashapoor S, Patel MM, Perez F, Son JB, Thompson A, Valero V, Wei P, White J, Xu Z, Pinsky L, Tripathy D, Yang W, Ma J, Rauch GM. Assessment of Response to Neoadjuvant Systemic Treatment in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Using Functional Tumor Volumes from Longitudinal Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI. Cancers (Basel) 15(4), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36831368.
- Musall BC, Adrada BE, Candelaria RP, Mohamed RMM, Abdelhafez AH, Son JB, Sun J, Santiago L, Whitman GJ, Moseley TW, Scoggins ME, Mahmoud HS, White JB, Hwang KP, Elshafeey NA, Boge M, Zhang S, Litton JK, Valero V, Tripathy D, Thompson AM, Yam C, Wei P, Moulder SL, Pagel MD, Yang WT, Ma J, Rauch GM. Quantitative Apparent Diffusion Coefficients From Peritumoral Regions as Early Predictors of Response to Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. J Magn Reson Imaging 56(6):1901-1909, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35499264.
- Maheshwari E, Nougaret S, Stein EB, Rauch GM, Hwang K, Stafford RJ, Klopp AH, Soliman PT, Maturen KE, Rockall AG, Lee SI, Sadowski EA, Venkatesan AM. Update on MRI in Evaluation and Treatment of Endometrial Cancer. Radiographics 42(7):2112-2130, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36018785.
- Prisciandaro J, Zoberi JE, Cohen G, Kim Y, Johnson P, Paulson E, Song W, Hwang KP, Erickson B, Beriwal S, Kirisits C, Mourtada F. AAPM task group report 303 endorsed by the ABS: MRI implementation in HDR brachytherapy-Considerations from simulation to treatment. Med Phys 49(8):e983-e1023, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35662032.
- Fujita S, Hagiwara A, Takei N, Fukunaga I, Hagiwara Y, Ogawa T, Hatano T, Rettmann D, Banerjee S, Hwang KP, Amemiya S, Kamagata K, Hattori N, Abe O, Aoki S. Rigid real-time prospective motion-corrected three-dimensional multiparametric mapping of the human brain. Neuroimage 255:119176, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35390461.
- Hwang KP, Fujita S. Synthetic MR: Physical principles, clinical implementation, and new developments. Med Phys 49(7):4861-4874, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35535442.
- Sen A, Fowlkes NW, Kingsley CV, Kulp AM, Huynh T, Willis BJ, Brewer Savannah KJ, Bordes MCA, Hwang KP, McCulloch MM, Stafford RJ, Contreras A, Reece G, Brock KK. Technical Note: Histological validation of anatomical imaging for breast modeling using a novel cryo-microtome. Med Phys 48(11):7323-7332, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34559413.
- Zhang, S, Rauch, GM, Adrada, BE, Boge, M, Mohamed, RM, Abdelhafez, AH, Son, JB, Sun, J, Elshafeey, N, White, JB, Musall, BC, Miyoshi, M, Wang, X, Kotrotsou, A, Wei, P, Hwang, K, Ma, J, Pagel, MD. Assessment of early response to neoadjuvant systemic therapy in triple-negative breast cancer using amide proton transfer–weighted chemical exchange saturation transfer mri. Radiology: Imaging Cancer 3(5), 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34477453.
- Zhang S, Rauch GM, Adrada BE, Boge M, Mohamed RMM, Abdelhafez AH, Bum Son JB, Sun J, Elshafeey NA, White JB, Musall BC, Miyoshi M, Wang X, Kotrotsou A, Wei P, Hwang KP, Ma J, Pagel. Assessment of Early Response to Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy in Triple-negative Breast Cancer using APT-weighted CEST MRI: A Pilot Study. Radiol Imaging Cancer 3(5), 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Musall BC, Abdelhafez AH, Adrada BE, Candelaria RP, Mohamed RMM, Boge M, Le-Petross H, Arribas E, Lane DL, Spak DA, Leung JWT, Hwang KP, Son JB, Elshafeey NA, Mahmoud HS, Wei P, Sun J, Zhang S, White JB, Ravenberg EE, Litton JK, Damodaran S, Thompson AM, Moulder SL, Yang WT, Pagel MD, Rauch GM, Ma J. Functional Tumor Volume by Fast Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI for Predicting Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. J Magn Reson Imaging 54(1):251-260, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33586845.
- Schellingerhout D, Jacobsen M, Le Roux L, Johnson J, Baladandayuthapani V, Hwang KP, Hazle J, Schomer D, Cody D. The Calcium Versus Hemorrhage Trial: Developing Diagnostic Criteria for Chronic Intracranial Susceptibility Lesions Using Single-Energy Computed Tomography, Dual-Energy Computed Tomography, and Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping. Invest Radiol 56(6):385-393, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33534507.
- Fujita S, Hagiwara A, Takei N, Hwang KP, Fukunaga I, Kato S, Andica C, Kamagata K, Yokoyama K, Hattori N, Abe O, Aoki S. Accelerated Isotropic Multiparametric Imaging by High Spatial Resolution 3D-QALAS With Compressed Sensing: A Phantom, Volunteer, and Patient Study. Invest Radiol 56(5):292-300, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33273376.
- McGee KP, Hwang KP, Sullivan DC, Kurhanewicz J, Hu Y, Wang J, Li W, Debbins J, Paulson E, Olsen JR, Hua CH, Warner L, Ma D, Moros E, Tyagi N, Chung C. Magnetic resonance biomarkers in radiation oncology: The report of AAPM Task Group 294. Med Phys 48(7), 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33864283.
- Abdelhafez AH, Musall BC, Adrada BE, Hess K, Son JB, Hwang KP, Candelaria RP, Santiago L, Whitman GJ, Le-Petross HT, Moseley TW, Arribas E, Lane DL, Scoggins ME, Leung JWT, Mahmoud HS, White JB, Ravenberg EE, Litton JK, Valero V, Wei P, Thompson AM, Moulder SL, Pagel MD, Ma J, Yang WT, Rauch GM. Tumor necrosis by pretreatment breast MRI: association with neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST) response in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Breast Cancer Res Treat 185(1):1-12, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 32920733.
- Mitchell DP, Hwang KP, Bankson JA, Stafford RJ, Banerjee S, Takei N, Fuentes DT. An Information Theory Model for Optimizing Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Acquisitions. Phys Med Biol 66(22), 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32947269.
- Slagowski JM, Ding Y, Aima M, Wen Z, Fuller CD, Chung C, Debnam JM, Hwang KP, Kadbi M, Szklaruk J, Wang J. A modular phantom and software to characterize 3D geometric distortion in MRI. Phys Med Biol 65(19):195008, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32531763.
- Fujita S, Hagiwara A, Otsuka Y, Hori M, Takei N, Hwang KP, Irie R, Andica C, Kamagata K, Akashi T, Kunishima Kumamaru K, Suzuki M, Wada A, Abe O, Aoki S. Deep Learning Approach for Generating MRA Images From 3D Quantitative Synthetic MRI Without Additional Scans. Invest Radiol 55(4):249-256, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31977603.
Selected Presentations & Talks
National Presentations
- 2021. Comparison of T2W Contrast for Clinical Prostate Protocols. Conference. Comparison of T2W Contrast for Clinical Prostate Protocols, US.
- 2021. Quality Improvement and Troubleshooting in Rectal MRI - How We Do It. Invited. Quality Improvement and Troubleshooting in Rectal MRI - How We Do It, US.
- 2018. Physics of Diffusion Weighted Imaging. Invited. Physics of Diffusion Weighted Imaging. Nashville, TN, US.
- 2014. Spatial Accuracy QA of an MR System. Conference. Spatial Accuracy QA of an MR System. St. Louis, MO, US.
- 2012. Spatial Accuracy Quantification of an MR System. Conference. Spatial Accuracy Quantification of an MR System, US.
- 2012. Increased MR Spatial Accuracy with Improved Gradient Nonlinearity and Magnet Inhomogeneity Correction. Conference. Increased MR Spatial Accuracy with Improved Gradient Nonlinearity and Magnet Inhomogeneity Correction, US.
International Presentations
- 2024. Prediction of Neoadjuvant Systemic Treatment Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Using a 3D Neural Network on Synthetic MR Images. Invited. ISMRM. Singapore, SG.
- 2024. SPAMM Tagged EPI Acquisition for Assessment of Geometric Distortion Caused by an Endorectal Coil. Poster. ISMRM, SG.
- 2024. Deep learning based image reconstruction for improved 3D multiparameter mapping and synthetic MR imaging. Poster. ISMRM, SG.
- 2018. Emerging Developments and Applications of Synthetic MR. Invited. Emerging Developments and Applications of Synthetic MR. Seattle, US.
- 2010. SSFSE Sequence For Fast Elastography in the Presence of Susceptibility. Conference. SSFSE Sequence For Fast Elastography in the Presence of Susceptibility, US.
- 2009. Accelerated acquisition and reconstruction of non-CPMG fast spin echo sequences. Conference. Accelerated acquisition and reconstruction of non-CPMG fast spin echo sequences, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2026 - 2028 |
| Title: | Using MR Relaxometry to Halt the Aging of Diagnostic AI |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - 2028 |
| Title: | Identification of SyntheticMR Derived Biomarkers for Monitoring Xerostomia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated on the 1.5T MR-Linac |
| Funding Source: | NRSA |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - 2030 |
| Title: | Advancing Precision Medicine in Cancer-Related Depression through Computational Approaches |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - 2030 |
| Title: | Interpretable machine learning predictions for prognosis in glioma patients |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R01CA302929-01 |
| Date: | 2025 - 2027 |
| Title: | MR relaxometry for robust deployment of machine learning algorithms |
| Funding Source: | MD Anderson |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - 2027 |
| Title: | Assessing response of esophageal cancer to chemoradiation with quantitative PET/MRI |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R01CA266104-01A1 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2025 |
| Title: | The Linear Reference Region Model Improves Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI for Assessing Breast Cancer Response to Treatment |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R01CA269355-01 |
| Date: | 2021 - 2026 |
| Title: | Assessing response of esophageal cancer to chemoradiation with quantitative PET/MRI |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | FP12160 |
| Date: | 2021 - 2023 |
| Title: | Project 3: Virtual Operating Center (VoC) at MDACC |
| Funding Source: | Siemens Healthcare |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Date: | 2021 - 2022 |
| Title: | Improving artificial intelligence with MR relaxometry |
| Funding Source: | MDACC - IRG |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | No Assigned # |
| Date: | 2020 - 2024 |
| Title: | Rapid, motion-robust MRI for fast and affordable prostate cancer screening and surveillance |
| Funding Source: | MDACC - Oden |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2020 - 2023 |
| Title: | Project 1: Co-Development of Standardized MR Protocol Set |
| Funding Source: | Siemens Healthcare |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2019 - 2024 |
| Title: | Image-Guided Interventional Biology: Overwhelming Cytoprotective Stress Responses Using a New Ablation Technique |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NIBIB |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R01CA244221-01 |
| Date: | 2019 - 2024 |
| Title: | Convergent thermal, osmotic, and metabolic stress through image-guided chemistry: a new strategy in cancer therapy |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R01CA239035-01 |
| Date: | 2018 - 2023 |
| Title: | Mutliplexed Ablation through Metabolic Modulation |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R01CA209831-01A1 |
| Date: | 2016 - 2021 |
| Title: | Advanced Applications of Synthetic MR and MAGiC |
| Funding Source: | GE Healthcare |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | WS#21 |
| Date: | 2016 - 2022 |
| Title: | WS#21: Advanced Applications of Synthetic MR and MAGIC |
| Funding Source: | GE/CABI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 116853 |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified June 25, 2025