BrainMap

Mr. Ruben Emanuel Nechifor

Ph.D.

Researcher - UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Other affiliations

Research Consultant - Laif Science (United States of America)

Researcher | Scientific reviewer

Dr. Ruben Emanuel Nechifor is a Researcher at the International Institute for Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health (Babeș-Bolyai University). His distinguished career includes postdoctoral fellowships at UCLA (Radiological Sciences) and the University of New Brunswick (MRI Research Center). Academic Background: Ph.D. (2011): Materials Engineering from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, specializing in NMR molecular dynamics in drug-release nanocapsules. He conducted part of his doctoral research at TU Ilmenau, Germany. Education: Master’s in Complex Molecular Systems and a Bachelor’s in Medical Physics (UBB), featuring an Erasmus scholarship at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France. Core Expertise: Neuroimaging, Resting & Task fMRI, Structural MRI, Diffusion, and Perfusion. His work bridges the gap between material science, physics, and advanced medical imaging.

Web of Science ResearcherID: https://publons.com/researcher/C-2252-2015/

Curriculum Vitae (05/05/2026)

Expertise & keywords

Assessing the Neural Correlates of Highly Religious Christian, Moderate Religious Christian and Nonreligious Belief through fMRI and Structural MRI Analysis Call name:
R64145/CNxxx 2021 - 2023

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI ()

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI ()

Project website: https://cee.ianramseycentre.ox.ac.uk/grants?fbclid=IwAR2tegIWrvICjHkDc1pb0d6Vra0ITrFXli3x8gxNPRSRdHkxEIhH9l59rv0

Abstract:

The project assesses the neural correlates of highly religious Christians (HRC), moderate religious Christians (MRC), and nonreligious individuals (NRI) through fMRI and structural MRI analysis. Specifically, neural information in terms of brain activity and brain structure between HRC, MRC and NRI will be comparatively evaluated. There are few studies that investigate the brain activity in religious and nonreligious individuals and between HRC and MRC through stimuli-driven fMRI. However, little is known in terms of comparative brain activity for all three categories. Furthermore, there are no studies testing the brain activity for all three categories through resting fMRI, especially the resting-state brain activity using the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) during free-living conditions. Moreover, there are no studies evaluating structural MRI outputs (i.e., gray/white matter volume, CSF, cortical thickness) for all three categories. To differentiate the levels of religiosity we will use the Centrality of Religiosity Scale (CRS).

Exploring Clinical MRI Scanner Performance by Optimizing Radio Frequency Pulse Sequences Call name:
GTC 35277/18.11.2020 2020 - 2021

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI ()

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI ()

Project website:

Abstract:

The standard Radio Frequency (RF) pulse sequences of the Clinical MRI scanners are permanently required to be optimized, in order to (1) reduce the time acquisition, (2) increase patient comfort, (3) increase image resolution, (4) reduce the costs associated with the scanning procedure. For this purpose, we proposed to evaluate the Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) pulse sequence performance and explore alternative ways to compute the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC). The optimized RF pulse sequence will be tested on brain tumor patients.

Testing the efficacy of an online REBT transdiagnostic intervention for internalizing problems in adolescents Call name: P 4 - Proiecte de Cercetare Exploratorie
PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0861 2017 - 2019

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Project website: http://emad.granturi.ubbcluj.ro/

Abstract:

According to World Health Organization, mental health problems are the largest cause of the burden of disease among young people. Even though cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the first line of treatment recommended by clinical guidelines for most of the internalizing problems (anxious and depressive disorders) found in teenagers, major barriers in the dissemination of evidence-based treatment exist. The majority of evidence-based CBT protocols for mood and anxiety disorders in youth are diagnostic-specific and fail to offer data on the theoretical underpinnings of the disorder and/or of the treatments (i.e., theory/mechanisms of change). Therefore, to innovatively promote evidence-based treatments, we need to focus on transdiagnostic approaches by focusing on the theory and mechanisms of change underlying both disorders and the proposed treatments. In this context, our project aims to investigate a computerized, transdiagnostic online delivered Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) intervention for adolescents’ mood and anxiety disorders (REBTonAD). Furthermore, we also aim to investigate brain predictors (neural/brain biomarkers) of treatment response. Through investigating the biomarkers that reflect commonalities in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders, we aim to guide treatment selection for anxious and mood disorders in adolescent populations and to develop a personalized treatment. More so, although Internet treatments seem to be promising, accessible cost-effective interventions for different patient groups, this project will add timely data on the cost-effectiveness of this computerized treatment for mood and anxiety disorders in adolescents. In addition to its scientific impact, we expect that transdiagnostic online REBTonAD will be a valuable tool for large-scale mental health efforts, considering its easy dissemination and personalized content.

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of surface effects on dynamics of molecules confined inside porous media with magnetic impurities Call name: Exploratory Research Projects - PCE-2011 call
PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0238 2011 - 2016

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: Universitatea Tehnica din Cluj-Napoca

Project partners: Universitatea Tehnica din Cluj-Napoca (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: http://idei305.weebly.com/

Abstract:

The physical properties of molecules adsorbed on the surface or confined inside porous media may substantially differ from the properties of their bulk materials. Consequently, it is very important for technical applications (separation, catalysis) of such host-guest systems to obtain a complete understanding of the dynamical effects carried out by the interaction of molecules with the surface. Due the non-invasive character Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is an efficient tool in studying molecular dynamics and extensive investigations were done in this area. However, in spite of the evident progress, one is still far from achieving a complete understanding of the effect of molecule-surface interaction on molecular dynamics. For instance, there are no systematic investigations of the relationship between molecular dynamics, the polar character of the confined molecules, temperature and saturation degree. Moreover, most natural porous media (concrete, soils) intrinsically contain magnetic impurities and there is no systematic evaluation of their effect on NMR measurements. It is the goal of the present project to undertake such investigations. Thus, we will perform systematic diffusion and nuclear relaxation studies on polar and non-polar molecules confined in porous media with magnetic impurities. The investigations will be done as a function of temperature, saturation degree and magnetic content. These investigations will allow us to obtain information on the restriction

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