Kyra Twohy, Ph.D. Research Postdoctoral Fellow
Kyra Twohy, Ph.D., joined the Developing Brain Institute (DBI) in August 2025 as a Research Postdoctoral Fellow. Kyra’s research focuses on advancing fetal and neonatal diffusion imaging through the incorporation of motion correction and novel analyses techniques. Prior to joining DBI, she obtained her doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware in Newark. Kyra’s dissertation work was centered on the application of magnetic resonance elastography to assess how the microstructure of brain changes during pubertal development and the impact of structural change on functional outcomes.
Address: 111 Michigan Ave. NW; Washington, D.C., 20010
Email: fetalbrain@childrensnational.org
Department: MRI Lab
Recent publications & presentations
2026 | May
Elsaid NM, Twohy K, Surapaneni K, Ngwa JS, Kapse K, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. "Brain Microstructural Maturation in Preterm Infants Follows Distinct Trajectories Based on Brain Injury Severity." Digital Poster. 2026 ISMRM & ISMRT Annual Meeting & Exhibition. Cape Town, South Africa. May 2026.
Elsaid NM, Zhuo J, Kapse K, Twohy K, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. "Robust Acquisition and Processing for Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the Moving Fetus." PowerPitch Oral Presentation. 2026 ISMRM & ISMRT Annual Meeting & Exhibition. Cape Town, South Africa. May 2026.
2026 | April
Twohy K, Elsaid NMH, Limperopoulos C, Andescavage N. “Structural Assessment of the ex Vivo Placenta Using Magnetic Resonance Elastography.” Poster. Research, Education & Innovation Week 2026. Washington, D.C. April 2026.
2026 | March
Twohy K, Elsaid NMH, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. “Mapping Mechanical Properties of the ex Vivo Human Placenta Using Magnetic Resonance Elastography.” Oral Presentation. ISMRM Workshop on Unlocking the Potential of Prenatal MRI: Advances in Fetal Brain, Heart & Placenta Imaging. Washington, D.C. March 2026.
2025
Twohy KE, Kramer MK, Diano AM, Bailey OM, Delgorio PL, McIlvain G, McGarry MDJ, Martens CR, Schwarb H, Hiscox LV, Johnson CL. “Mechanical Properties of the Cortex in Older Adults and Relationships With Personality Traits.” Human Brain Mapping. 2025 Feb 1;46(2):e70147. doi: 10.1002/hbm.70147. PMID: 39916406; PMCID: PMC11803078
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39916406
2024 | June
Twohy KE, Diano AM, Bailey OM, Kramer MK, Johnson CL. “Mechanical Covariance Networks of the Cortex Regions as Identified by Magnetic Resonance Elastography.” Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference. Lake Geneva, WI. June 2024.
2024 | May
Twohy KE, Merker J, Church LD, McIlvain G, Spielberg JM, Johnson CL. “Longitudinal MR Elastography of Brain Mechanical Property Maturation During Adolescence.” Poster Presentation. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Singapore. May 2024.