Student innovator brings virtual reality and MRI together
Great things can happen when scientists find ways to make two fields work together to achieve big things. In the case of Aryan Shekarabi, a DDS/PhD student, those fields are high-resolution MRI imaging and virtual reality (VR), and he’s hoping they may eventually make an impact on patient MSK and pain management.
His work in these combined fields has led to his receiving the 2025 University of Minnesota Libraries Student Innovator Fellowship, one of only two that were given this year. The fellowship is intended for extended reality projects that can make a meaningful impact on communities or society at large. The fellowship, which totals $4,500, is possible thanks to support from the Wendy Pradt Lougee Innovation Fund.
In his fellowship proposal, Shekarabi explained how he wants to explore ways in which high-resolution MRI imaging could be integrated into VR settings. “Those large, detailed imaging files could potentially be adapted into a VR environment that clinicians and researchers can use for educational demonstrations or even to assist in clinical decision-making,” Shekarabi said. “Right now, I’m at the stage of testing how to process and streamline these files so they can run smoothly in a VR platform.”
A clinician-scientist in training who works at the Comparative MRI Research Lab under Casey Johnson, PhD, Shekarabi was a senior research assistant during his post-bachelor years at Temple University. “When I was there, I learned more about pharmacology, pain management and substance abuse disorders,” he said. “Observing how the opioid crisis intersects with broader pain management challenges motivated me to focus on musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders for my current research. MSK issues are a leading cause of pain worldwide, so investigating them felt like a natural next step.
“Right now, I’m applying my background in pain and imaging to explore MSK disorders from an oral biology perspective. We’re investigating how these advanced imaging modalities can be used for diagnosis, treatment planning and potential integration into emerging technologies.”
His interest in VR forms a natural link to the topic of pain reduction. “Through seminars and discussions with clinicians, I’ve been learning about the growing use of VR in healthcare,” he said. “I see VR as a promising way to make complex medical information more accessible and engaging for both practitioners and patients. I hope to bridge the gap between sophisticated imaging data and practical, interactive VR tools.”
The work he’s done so far has been supported by many. “My first thoughts are that I’d like to give a special thanks to my family, friends, and mentors for their unwavering belief in me,” he said. “Their support has been invaluable in helping me pursue this path. Then, as I think about the fellowship, it’s an incredible feeling to think this work could make a real difference. Creating accessible VR tools is contributing to something bigger than just ourselves—it’s helping clinicians, educators, and possibly even patients understand and manage MSK disorders more effectively and beyond.”
What’s ahead for Shekarabi, MRI and VR? “I hope this will be a stepping stone for others to build upon,” he said. “Eventually, I’d like to see more researchers and clinicians incorporate advanced imaging and VR into their projects. If our platform or approach can help facilitate that, I’ll consider it a success.