Dr Richard Watts
Position: Co-Director of the University of Vermont MRI Center for Biomedical Imaging and Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology.
Formerly: Lecturer and Director of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Organisation: University of Canterbury, Van der Veer Institute for Parkinson's & Brain Research (now the New Zealand Brain Research Institute), until 2011.
Field: Medical physics and medical imaging.
Dr Richard Watts
Richard’s research involves the use of medical resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to make images of the brain.
Below covers Ricahrd's work at the Van der Veer Institute for Parkinson's & Brain Research (now the New Zealand Brain Research Institute).
Richard divides his time between being a lecturer in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Canterbury and being the Director of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Research at the Van der Veer Institute for Parkinson’s & Brain Research in Christchurch.
It is a rapidly developing field and we go from research to real patients in a short span of time.
Richard’s research involves the use of medical resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to make images of the brain. By developing new techniques and technologies for analysing the huge amount of data collected from MRI scanners, Richard hopes to make even better pictures of brain structures and the brain in action. His work has broad applications and aims to help earlier diagnosis of people with brain injuries and diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s disease, slow the progress of such diseases, and use the new techniques to see if current and new treatments are effective.
Dr Richard Watts working with MRI
Dr Richard Watts working with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner.
Richard Watts is a lecturer in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Canterbury and the Director of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Research at the Van der Veer Institute for Parkinson’s & Brain Research in Christchurch.
Richard even sees a time in the not so distant future when these imaging techniques will play a part in the personalisation of treatment for each person, rather than treating everyone with the same disease in the same way, as doctors do at the moment. Along with scientists and doctors around the world, Richard believes this will be the next big thing in medical science, so watch this space!
Richard completed his undergraduate degree and PhD at the University of York in the United Kingdom. Initially he studied solid state physics, which took him across the English Channel to Grenoble in France and later to Cornell University in New York, USA where he was first introduced to the use of MRI techniques to study humans. To begin with, he studied blood vessels and then went on study the brain, where he discovered the great potential the techniques offered for treating disease.
Becoming an MRI researcher
Dr Richard Watts from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Canterbury talks about how he came to carry out MRI research looking at the brain.
The use of cutting-edge technologies such as computers and superconductors appeals to Richard, and the applied nature of his work is a great source of motivation.
What do scientists enjoy about their work?
Dr Richard Watts from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Canterbury talks about his work in a very exciting area of applied physics.
He is able to start from basic science and very rapidly work towards new methods of disease diagnosis and treatment.
When he isn’t subjecting himself, research volunteers or patients to scans, Richard enjoys walking and running – he has even completed four New York Marathons! His other interests include photography, electronics, computers and reading.
This article is based on information current in 2007 and updated in 2019.
