Dr. Dimo Ivanov

Main Research Area

  • High-resolution structural, perfusion and functional mapping of the human cortex and subcortical regions

  • Quantitative MRI techniques to assess tissue vascularization, microstructure, myelination, and iron content

  • Resting-state and task-based fMRI to probe neural connectivity and brain dynamics

  • Development of advanced MRI sequences and analysis pipelines for both 7T and 3T systems

  • Translational applications in neurodegenerative disorders, psychiatric conditions, and neurodevelopmental studies
     

Vita

Education

2012

PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) in Physics at University of Leipzig / Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany

2007M.Sc. at International Physics Studies Program at University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
2002Foreign Language High School, Pleven, Bulgaria

Career

Since 2025

Head of the 7 Tesla MR Core structure, Cooperative Brain Imaging Center, Frankfurt, Germany

Since 2025Independent Research Group Leader, Max Planck Institute for empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt, Germany
Since 09/2017

Assistant Professor at the Department of Cognitive Neuroscience at Maastricht University, Netherlands

09/2012–08/2017

Postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Cognitive Neuroscience at Maastricht University, Netherlands

Publications

Peer-reviewed Publications

Schneider, C., Priovoulos, N., Prokopiou, P.C., Verhey, F.R., Poser, B.A., Ivanov, D., Sclocco, R., Napadow, V., & Jacobs, H.I. (2025). Locus coeruleus fMRI response to transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation is coupled to changes in salivary alpha amylase. Brain Stimulation, 18:1205-1207.

Sylvester, A.L., Hensenne, E., Ivanov, D., Poser, B.A., Linden, D.E.J., van Amelsvoort, T., & Vingerhoets, C. (2025). Neural excitation/inhibition imbalance and neurodevelopmental pathology in human copy number variant syndromes: a systematic review. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 17:31.

van Lanen, R.H.G.J., Uher, D., Tse, D.H.Y., Steijvers, E., Colon, A.J., Jansen, J.F.A., Drenthen, G.S., Ivanov, D., Hoogland, G., Rijkers, K., Hoeberigs, C.M., Hofman, P.A.M., Backes, W.H., & Schijns, O.E.M.G. (2025). In vivo 9.4 Tesla MRI of a patient with drug-resistant epilepsy: Technical report., Acta Neurochirurgica, 167: 18.

Nijssen, K.M., Mensink, R.P., Plat, J., Ivanov, D., Preissl, H., & Joris, P.J. (2024). Mixed nut consumption improves brain insulin sensitivity: a randomized, single-blinded, controlled, crossover trial in older adults with overweight or obesity. American Journal for Clininical Nutrition, 119: 314-323.

Haast, R.A.M., Kashyap, S., Ivanov, D., Yousif, M.D., DeKraker, J., Poser, B.A., & Khan, A.R. (2024). Novel insights into hippocampal perfusion using high-resolution, multi-modal 7T MRI. PNAS; 121(11): e2310044121.

Ivanov, D., De Martino, F., Formisano, E., Goebel, R., Fritz, F.J., Huber, R., Kashyap, S., Kemper, V.G., Kurban, D., Roebroeck, A., Sengupta, S., Sorger, B., Tse, D.H.Y., Uludag, K., Wiggins, C., & Poser, B.A. (2023). Magnetic resonance imaging at 9.4T: the Maastricht journey. Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine, 36: 159–173

Gulban, O.F., Bollmann, S., Huber, L.R., Wagstyl, K., Goebel, R., Poser, B.A., Kay, K., & Ivanov, D. (2022). Mesoscopic in vivo human T2* dataset acquired using quantitative MRI at 7 Tesla. Neuroimage, 264:119733.

Kleinloog, J.P.D., Mensink, R.P., Smeets, E.T.H.C., Ivanov, D., & Joris, P.J. (2022). Acute inorganic nitrate intake increases regional insulin action in the brain: Results of a double-blind, randomized, controlled cross-over trial with abdominally obese men. Neuroimage: Clinical, 35:103115.

Kurban, D., Ivanov, D., Kashyap, S., Huber, L., Liberman, G., & Poser, B.A. (2022). Concurrent CBF and BOLD FMRI with dual-echo spiral simultaneous multi-slice acquisitions at 7T. Neuroimage, 247, [118820].

Haast, R.A.M., De Coo, I.F.M., Ivanov, D., Khan, A.R., Jansen, J.F.A., Smeets, H.J.M., & Uludağ, K. (2022). Neurodegenerative and functional signatures of the cerebellar cortex in m.3243A > G patients. Brain Communications, 4, [fcac024].

Beckers, A.B., van Oudenhove, L., Weerts, ZZ.R.M., Jacobs, H.I.L., Priovoulos, N., Poser, B.A., Ivanov, D., Gholamrezaei, A., Aziz, Q., Elsenbruch, S., Masclee, A.A.M., & Keszthelyi, D. (2022). Evidence for engagement of the nucleus of the solitary tract in processing intestinal chemonociceptive input irrespective of conscious pain response in healthy humans. Pain, 163, [1520].

Benitez-Andonegui, A., Lührs, M., Nagels-Coune, L., Ivanov, D., Goebel, R., Sorger, B. (2021). Guiding functional near-infrared spectroscopy optode-layout design using individual (f)MRI data: effects on signal strength. Neurophotonics, 8, [025012].

Kashyap, S., Ivanov, D., Havlicek, M., Huber, L., Poser, B.A., & Uludağ, K. (2021). Sub-millimetre resolution laminar fMRI using Arterial Spin Labelling in humans at 7 T. PLoS One, 16, [e0250504).

Priovoulos, N., van Boxel, S. C. J., Jacobs, H. I. L., Poser, B. A., Uludağ, K., Verhey, F. R. J., & Ivanov, D. (2020). Unravelling the contributions to the neuromelanin-MRI contrast. Brain Structure and Function, 225, [2757].

Haast, R.A.M., Lau, J.C., Ivanov, D., Menon, R.S., Uludağ, K., & Khan, A.R. (2021). Effects of MP2RAGE B1+ sensitivity on inter-site T1 reproducibility and hippocampal morphometry at 7T. Neuroimage, 224, [117373].

Jacobs, H.I., Priovoulos, N., Poser, B.A., Pagen, L.H., Ivanov, D., Verhey, F.R., & Uludağ, K. (2020). Dynamic behavior of the locus coeruleus during arousal-related memory processing in a multi-modal 7T fMRI paradigm. Elife, 9, [52059].

Marquardt, I., De Weerd, P., Schneider, M., Gulban, O.F., Ivanov, D., Wang, Y., & Uludağ, K. (2020). Feedback contribution to surface motion perception in the human early visual cortex. Elife, 9, [e50933].

Huber, L., Finn, E.S., Handwerker, D.A., Bönstrup, M., Glen, D.R., Kashyap, S., Ivanov, D., Petridou, N., Marrett, S., Goense, J., Poser, B.A., & Bandettini, P.A. (2020). Sub-millimeter fMRI reveals multiple topographical digit representations that form action maps in human motor cortex. Neuroimage, 208, [116463].

Wolters, A.F., Heijmans, M., Michielse, S., Leentjens, A.F.G., Postma, A.A., Jansen, J.F.A., Ivanov, D., Duits, A.A., Temel, Y., & Kuijf, M.L. (2020). The TRACK-PD study: protocol of a longitudinal ultra-high field imaging study in Parkinson's disease. BMC Neurology, 20(1), [292].

Kleinloog, J.P.D., Mensink, R.P., Ivanov, D., Adam, J.J., Uludag, K., & Joris, P.J. (2019). Aerobic Exercise Training Improves Cerebral Blood Flow and Executive Function: A Randomized, Controlled Cross-Over Trial in Sedentary Older Men. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 11, [333].

Betts, M.J., Kirilina, E., Otaduy, M.C.G., Ivanov, D., Acosta-Cabronero, J., Callaghan, M.F., Lambert, C., Cardenas-Blanco, A., Pine, K., Passamonti, L., Loane, C., Keuken, M.C., Trujillo, P., Lüsebrink, F., Mattern, H., Liu, K. Y., Priovoulos, N., Fliessbach, K., Dahl, M. J., ... Hämmerer, D. (2019). Locus coeruleus imaging as a biomarker for noradrenergic dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. Brain, 142(9), 2558–2571.

Priovoulos, N., Poser, B.A., Ivanov, D., Verhey, F.R.J., & Jacobs, H.I.L. (2019). In vivo imaging of the nucleus of the solitary tract with Magnetization Transfer at 7 Tesla. Neuroimage, 201, [116071].

Kashyap, S., Ivanov, D., Havlicek, M., Sengupta, S., Poser, B.A., & Uludağ, K. (2018). Resolving laminar activation in human V1 using ultra-high spatial resolution fMRI at 7T. Scientific Reports, 8, [17063].

Haast, R.A.M., Ivanov, D., IJsselstein, R.J.T., Sallevelt, S.C.E.H., Jansen, J.F.A., Smeets, H.J.M., de Coo, I.F.M., Formisano, E. & Uludağ, K. (2018). Anatomic & metabolic brain markers of the m.3243A>G mutation: A multi-parametric 7T MRI study. NeuroImage: Clinical. 18, 231-244.

Huber, L., Tse, D.H.Y., Wiggins, C.J., Uludağ, K., Kashyap, S., Jangraw, D.C., Bandettini, P.A., Poser, B.A., & Ivanov, D. (2018). Ultra-high-resolution blood volume fMRI and BOLD fMRI in humans at 9.4 T: Capabilities and challenges. Neuroimage, 178, 769-779.

Priovoulos, N., Jacobs, H.I.L., Ivanov, D., Uludag, K., Verhey, F.R.J. & Poser, B.A. (2018). High-resolution in vivo imaging of human locus coeruleus by Magnetization Transfer MRI at 3T and 7T. Neuroimage, 168, 427-436.

Marquardt, I., Schneider, M., Gulban, O.F., Ivanov, D. & Uludağ, K. (2018). Cortical depth profiles of luminance contrast responses in human V1 and V2 using 7 T fMRI. Human Brain Mapping, 39, 7, 2812-2827.

Riphagen, J.M., Gronenschild, E.H.B.M., Salat, D.H., Freeze, W.M., Ivanov, D., Clerx, L., Verhey, F.R.J., Aalten, P., & Jacobs, H.I.L. (2018). Shades of white: diffusion properties of T1- and FLAIR-defined white matter signal abnormalities differ in stages from cognitively normal to dementia. Neurobiology of Aging, 68, 48-58.

Kashyap, S., Ivanov, D., Havlicek, M., Poser, B.A., & Uludağ, K. (2018). Impact of acquisition and analysis strategies on cortical depth-dependent fMRI. Neuroimage, 168, 332-344.

Huber, L., Ivanov, D., Handwerker, D.A., Marrett, S., Guidi, M., Uludağ, K., Bandettini, P.A. & Poser, B.A. (2018). Techniques for blood volume fMRI with VASO: From low-resolution mapping towards sub-millimeter layer-dependent applications. Neuroimage, 164, 131-143.

Haast, R.A.M., Ivanov, D. & Uludağ, K. (2018). The impact of B1+ correction on MP2RAGE cortical T1 and apparent cortical thickness at 7T. Human Brain Mapping, 39, 6, 2412-2425.

Ivanov, D., Gardumi, A., Haast, R.A.M., Pfeuffer, J., Poser, B.A. & Uludağ, K. (2017). Comparison of 3T and 7T ASL techniques for concurrent functional perfusion and BOLD studies. Neuroimage. 156, 363-376.

Havlicek, M., Ivanov, D., Roebroeck, A., & Uludag, K. (2017). Determining Excitatory and Inhibitory Neuronal Activity from Multimodal fMRI Data Using a Generative Hemodynamic Model. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 11, [616].

Havlicek, M., Ivanov, D., Poser, B.A., & Uludag, K. (2017). Echo-time dependence of the BOLD response transients: A window into brain functional physiology. Neuroimage, 159:355-370.

Huber, L., Handwerker, D.A., Jangraw, D.C., Chen, G., Hall, A., Stüber, C., Gonzalez-Castillo, J., Ivanov, D., Marrett, S., Guidi, M., Goense, J., Poser, B.A. & Bandettini, P.A. (2017). High-Resolution CBV-fMRI Allows Mapping of Laminar Activity and Connectivity of Cortical Input and Output in Human M1. Neuron, 96:1253–1263

Havlicek, M., Roebroeck, A., Friston, K.J., Gardumi, A., Ivanov, D., & Uludag, K. (2017). On the importance of modeling fMRI transients when estimating effective connectivity: a dynamic causal modeling study using ASL data. Neuroimage, 155:217-233.

Ivanov, D., Poser, B.A., Huber, L., Pfeuffer, J. & Uludag, K. (2017). Optimization of simultaneous multislice EPI for concurrent functional perfusion and BOLD signal measurements at 7T. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 78: 121–129

Gardumi, A., Ivanov, D., Havlicek, M., Formisano, E., & Uludağ, K. (2017). Tonotopic maps in human auditory cortex using arterial spin labeling. Human Brain Mapping, 38: 1140-1154.

Kazan, S.M., Huber, L., Flandin, G., Ivanov, D., Bandettini, P., & Weiskopf, N. (2017). Physiological basis of vascular autocalibration (VasA): Comparison to hypercapnia calibration methods. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 78:1168-1173.

Haast, R.A., Ivanov, D., Formisano, E., & Uludaǧ K. (2016). Reproducibility and Reliability of Quantitative and Weighted T1 and T2∗ Mapping for Myelin-Based Cortical Parcellation at 7 Tesla. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, 10:112.

Compter, I., Peerlings, J., Eekers, D.B., Postma, A.A., Ivanov, D., Wiggins, C.J., Kubben, P., Küsters, B., Wesseling, P., Ackermans, L., Schijns, O.E., Lambin, P., & Hoffmann, A.L. (2016). Technical feasibility of integrating 7 T anatomical MRI in image-guided radiotherapy of glioblastoma: a preparatory study. Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine, 29:591-603.

Tse, D.H., Wiggins, C.J., Ivanov, D., Brenner, D., Hoffmann, J., Mirkes, C., Shajan, G., Scheffler, K., Uludağ, K., & Poser, B.A. (2016). Volumetric imaging with homogenised excitation and static field at 9.4 T. Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine, 29:333-45.

Gardumi, A., Ivanov, D., Hausfeld, L., Valente, G., Formisano, E., & Uludağ K. (2016). The effect of spatial resolution on decoding accuracy in fMRI multivariate pattern analysis. Neuroimage, 132:32-42.

Huber, L., Ivanov, D., Guidi, M., Turner, R., Uludağ, K., Möller, H.E., & Poser, B,A. (2016). Functional cerebral blood volume mapping with simultaneous multi-slice acquisition. Neuroimage, 125:1159-1168.

Havlicek, M., Roebroeck, A., Friston, K., Gardumi, A., Ivanov, D., & Uludag, K. (2015). Physiologically informed dynamic causal modeling of fMRI data. Neuroimage, 122:355-72.

Huber, L., Goense, J., Kennerley, A.J., Trampel, R., Guidi, M., Reimer, E., Ivanov, D., Neef, N., Gauthier, C.J., Turner, R., Möller, H.E. (2015). Cortical lamina-dependent blood volume changes in human brain at 7 T. Neuroimage, 107:23-33.

Plantinga, B.R., Temel, Y., Roebroeck, A., Uludağ, K., Ivanov, D., Kuijf, M.L., & Ter Haar Romenij, B.M. (2014). Ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging of the basal ganglia and related structures. Frontiers in Human Neurosciences, 8:876.

Krieger, S.N., Gauthier, C.J., Ivanov, D., Huber, L., Roggenhofer, E., Sehm, B., Turner, R., & Egan, G.F. (2014). Regional reproducibility of calibrated BOLD functional MRI: implications for the study of cognition and plasticity. Neuroimage, 101:8-20.

Huber, L., Goense, J., Kennerley, A.J., Ivanov, D., Krieger, S.N., Lepsien, J., Trampel, R., Turner, R., & Möller, H.E. (2014). Investigation of the neurovascular coupling in positive and negative BOLD responses in human brain at 7 T. Neuroimage, 97:349-62.

Trampel, R., Reimer, E., Huber, L., Ivanov, D., Heidemann, R.M., Schäfer, A., & Turner, R. (2014). Anatomical brain imaging at 7T using two-dimensional GRASE. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 72:1291-301.

Krieger, S.N., Ivanov, D., Huber, L., Roggenhofer, E., Sehm, B., Turner, R., Egan, G.F., & Gauthier, C.J. (2014). Using carbogen for calibrated fMRI at 7Tesla: comparison of direct and modelled estimation of the M parameter. Neuroimage, 84:605-14.

Huber, L., Ivanov, D., Krieger, S.N., Streicher, M.N., Mildner, T., Poser, B.A., Möller, H.E., & Turner, R. (2014). Slab-selective, BOLD-corrected VASO at 7 Tesla provides measures of cerebral blood volume reactivity with high signal-to-noise ratio. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 72:137-48.

Streicher, M.N., Schäfer, A., Ivanov, D., Müller, D.K., Amadon, A., Reimer, E., Huber, L., Dhital, B., Rivera, D., Kögler, C., Trampel, R., Pampel, A., & Turner, R. (2014). Fast accurate MR thermometry using phase referenced asymmetric spin-echo EPI at high field. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 71:524-33.

Heidemann, R.M., Ivanov, D., Trampel, R., Fasano, F., Meyer, H., Pfeuffer, J., & Turner, R. (2012). Isotropic submillimeter fMRI in the human brain at 7 T: combining reduced field-of-view imaging and partially parallel acquisitions. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 68:1506-16.

Streicher, M.N., Schäfer, A., Reimer, E., Dhital, B., Trampel, R., Ivanov, D., & Turner, R. (2012). Effects of air susceptibility on proton resonance frequency MR thermometry. Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine, 25:41-7.

Ivanov, D., Schäfer, A., Streicher, M.N., Heidemann, R.M., Trampel, R., & Turner, R. (2010). A simple low-SAR technique for chemical-shift selection with high-field spin-echo imaging. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 64:319-26.

Jochimsen, T.H., Ivanov, D., Ott, D.V., Heinke, W., Turner, R., Möller, H.E., & Reichenbach, J.R. (2010). Whole-brain mapping of venous vessel size in humans using the hypercapnia-induced BOLD effect. Neuroimage, 51:765-74.

Book Chapters

Ivanov, D. & Kozovska Y. (2020). Acquisition Aspects of Functional and Clinical Arterial Spin Labeling. In: Ulmer S., Jansen O. (eds) fMRI. Springer, Cham.

Awards & Grants

Awards & Grants

2023

ERC Marie Curie Program: Application with Stefano Moia and Benedikt Poser 2 year Postdoc postition for Dr. Stefano Moia

2022Maastricht University-Chinese Science Council PhD Program: Application with Benedikt Poser - 4 year PhD position for Kai Liu
2022Maastricht University Center for Integrative Neuroscience PhD Program: Application with Thérèse van Amelsvoort, Claudia Vingerhoets, Benedikt Poser and David Linden - 4 year PhD position for Amy Sylvester
2017Magnetic Resonance in Medicine issue cover with Ivanov et al. 2017
2013

ISMRM merit award magna cum laude 

International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

2011Trainee abstract travel award of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping
2009/2010/2011

Educational Stipend for the annual meeting

International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine