María G. Mora Álvarez, Ph.D. Staff Scientist II
María G. Mora Álvarez, Ph.D., joined the Developing Brain Institute (DBI) at Children’s National as a Staff Scientist II in June 2024. María specializes in preprocessing and analyzing diffusion tensor imaging data to explore neurodevelopmental markers in neonates. Additionally, she is implementing an arterial spin labeling sequence to investigate perfusion changes in the placenta. Prior to joining DBI, María completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Radiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. She holds a Ph.D. in Medical Life Sciences and Technology from the Technical University of Munich in Germany. Her research primarily focuses on prenatal and neonatal perfusion and diffusion imaging. With her strong
background in magnetic resonance imaging, María is dedicated to advancing DBI's mission of unraveling the complexities of the developing brain.
Address: 111 Michigan Ave. NW; Washington, D.C., 20010
Email: [email protected]
Department: MRI Lab
Recent publications & presentations
2025 | May
Alvarez MM, et al. "Diffusion Tensor Imaging for Evaluating Glymphatic System Function in Neonates With Complex Congenital Heart Disease." Digital Poster. 2025 ISMRM & ISMRT Annual Meeting & Exhibition. Honolulu, Hawaii. May 2025.
2025 | April
Alvarez MM, et al. "Disrupted White Matter Microstructure in Newborns With Antenatal Opioid Exposure." Oral Abstract presentation. Pediatric Academic Societies 2025. Honolulu, Hawaii. April 2025.
Alvarez MM, et al. "White Matter Microstructural Disruptions in Zika Virus-Exposed Children Without Congenital Zika Syndrome." Poster presentation. Pediatric Academic Societies 2025. Honolulu, Hawaii. April 2025.
Mora Álvarez M, et al. “Diffusion Tensor Imaging for Evaluating Glymphatic System Function in Neonates with Complex Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)” Poster presentation. Children’s National Hospital 15th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. March-April 2025.
2025 | March
Mora Álvarez M, et al. "White Matter Microstructural Disruptions in Zika Virus-Exposed Children Without Congenital Zika Syndrome.” Poster presentation. Children’s National Hospital 15th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. March-April 2025.
2024
Álvarez MGM, Madhuranthakam AJ, Udayakumar D. “Quantitative Non-Contrast Perfusion MRI in the Body Using Arterial Spin Labeling.” MAGMA. 2024 Aug;37(4):681-695. doi: 10.1007/s10334-024-01188-1. Epub 2024 Aug 6. PMID: 39105949
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39105949
2023
Mora Álvarez MG, Hölzel BK, Bremer B, Wilhelm M, Hell E, Tavacioglu EE, Koch K, Torske A. “Effects of web-based mindfulness training on psychological outcomes, attention, and neuroplasticity.” Scientific Reports. 2023 Dec 19;13(1):22635. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-48706-0. PMID: 38114554; PMCID: PMC10730881
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38114554
2022 | December
Berg RC, Menegaux A, Amthor T, Gilbert G, Mora M, Schlaeger S, Pongratz V, Lauerer M, Sorg C, Doneva M, Vavasour I, Mühlau M, Preibisch C. “Comparing myelin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging measures and resulting g-ratios in healthy and multiple sclerosis brains.” Neuroimage. 2022 Dec 1;264:119750. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119750. Epub 2022 Nov 13. PMID: 36379421; PMCID: PMC9931395
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36379421
2022 | August
Bremer B, Wu Q, Mora Álvarez MG, Hölzel BK, Wilhelm M, Hell E, Tavacioglu EE, Torske A, Koch K. “Mindfulness meditation increases default mode, salience, and central executive network connectivity.” Scientific Reports. 2022 Aug 2;12(1):13219. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-17325-6. PMID: 35918449; PMCID: PMC9346127
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35918449