Paula Trujillo, PhD

Dr. Paula Trujillo is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology’s Cognitive Division at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her research focuses on the development of novel quantitative brain MRI and PET biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the development of methods that combine multi-modal imaging, cognitive, and clinical data.

A recent emphasis of Dr. Trujillo’s work has been on the multi-site implementation of MRI protocols for utilization in clinical trials. During the last ten years, she has been involved in multiple research studies, in which she has led the design of the experimental protocols, MRI acquisition, data processing, and analysis. Dr. Trujillo frequently supervises and mentors undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. students in their research. 

She has authored more than 20 manuscripts that span technical and clinical topics and have appeared in high impact journals which specialize in methodology (e.g., Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and IEEE), physiology and neuroscience (e.g., Journal of Neuroscience, Neuroimaging, and Human Brain Mapping), and clinical research (e.g., Neurology, Brain, and Neuroradiology). She is also an invited reviewer for such journals as Neurology, Human Brain Mapping, and the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, among others.

Prior to her current appointment, Dr. Trujillo completed postdoctoral research fellowships at VUMC and at the National Research Council of Italy. She earned her Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Politecnico di Milano in Milan, Italy, and her M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Politecnico di Torino in Turin, Italy. She completed her undergraduate coursework at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia.