Tobias Schaeffter studied electrical engineering in Berlin and did his PhD in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at University Bremen (Prof. Leibfritz). From 1996-2006, he worked as a Principal Scientist at the Philips Research Laboratories in Hamburg (Germany), where he created an internationally recognized research team. He was responsible for the development of new MR-methods and hardware, their clinical evaluation and product integration. During this time he worked also as a part-time lecturer in Biomedical Engineering at the Technical University Hamburg-Harburg.

In April 2006, Professor Schaeffter took up the post as the Philip Harris Professor of Imaging Sciences at King’s College London. A major aim of his current research is the investigation of novel MR-techniques for cardiac, interventional and quantitative MRI. One aspect of his work is the investigation of novel MR-techniques for 4D-acquisitions and motion modelling. In particular, whole-heart MR-acquisitions are investigated to simplify cardiac MRI by reducing the required user interaction during scanning. This technique is also important for creating roadmaps used in image-guided interventions. An important topic is the creation of motion models to correct for respiratory motion. These models have also been applied for motion compensated PET reconstruction using simultaneously acquired PET and MR-data. Another important topic is the development of quantitative MR techniques for diagnosis and for characterisation of treatment effects. Tobias Schaeffter’s research focuses on rapid translation of new methodology into the clinic practice to evaluate benefit for the patient.

Prof. Schaeffter has attracted over £4M in grants over the last 8 years. He teaches in the MSc programme of Biomedical Engineering at King’s College London and has supervised more than 15 PhD students. The results of his work have been published in 123 peer-reviewed papers, 6 book chapters, over 200 conference abstracts and 25 international patents.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) particularly new sequences and reconstruction techniques for

• Rapid MRI
• Interventional MRI and Devices
• Motion Modeling and Motion Compensation in MRI
• Simultaneously PET/MRI
• Quantitative MRI
• Cancer MRI
• Cardiac MRI