Who We Are
The Elastography Research Group is one of Europe’s leading research teams focused on the development and clinical translation of elastography technologies. Based in Rzeszów, Poland, we bring together physicists, radiologists, engineers, computer scientists, and clinicians to develop innovative imaging methods for measuring the mechanical properties of biological tissues.
Our research spans the entire imaging pipeline—from hardware development and MRI pulse sequence optimization to artificial intelligence, image reconstruction, automated segmentation, motion correction, and quantitative image analysis.
We collaborate with leading academic institutions, hospitals, and industry partners worldwide, including researchers from the United States, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Ukraine, Turkey, China, and other countries. Through these collaborations, we aim to accelerate the clinical adoption of elastography and improve the diagnosis of diseases affecting the liver, uterus, thyroid, salivary glands, pancreas, heart, spleen, prostate, and other organs.
Our work has been published in leading international journals, including Scientific Reports, Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, NMR in Biomedicine, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Diagnostics, and others.
Vitaliy Atamaniuk, PhD
Dr. Vitaliy Atamaniuk is a researcher working on medical imaging at the Rzeszów University of Technology. His research centers on the development and optimization of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) techniques, particularly for abdominal and head and neck applications. Dr. Atamaniuk is a recipient of the prestigious NCN PRELUDIUM research grant, which supports his work on advanced driver systems for MRE. Dr. Atamaniuk actively collaborates on projects involving image reconstruction, motion correction using deep learning, and quantitative imaging biomarkers. Vitaliy collaborates closely with clinical teams to translate research into practical diagnostic tools. His work bridges the fields of medical physics, artificial intelligence, and radiology.
Marzanna Obrzut, MD, PhD
Dr. Marzanna Obrzut is Associate Professor at the Institute of Health Sciences, University of Rzeszów, and leads the Laboratory of Innovative Imaging Methods. She earned her MD in 1991 from Medical Academy in Kraków and habilitated in July 2024. Her research focuses on magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), particularly of abdominal and head/neck organs, aiming to improve diagnostic sensitivity for organ stiffness. She is a principal investigator at UR for an international EFFECTFACT project, underlining her role in advancing interdisciplinary imaging research. Additionally, she collaborates with Mayo Clinic–Rochester on liver elastography applications. Dr. Obrzut is also active in academic teaching and serves as consultant radiologist for student education.
Bogdan Obrzut, MD, PhD
Dr. Bogdan Obrzut is an Associate Professor at the Medical College of the University of Rzeszów, Poland. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland, in 1997. In 2021, he was awarded the degree of Doctor Habilitatus in Medical Sciences by the Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
He completed specialist postgraduate training in obstetrics and gynecology and has over 32 years of professional experience in the field. He is the author and co-author of over 90 peer-reviewed publications, six textbook chapters, and one monograph.
Dr. Obrzut’s professional interests include operative gynecology and the clinical applications of magnetic resonance elastography. He has also participated in collaborative research on liver and uterine elastography at the Mayo Clinic, positioning his work at the intersection of surgery and medical imaging.
Łukasz Hańczyk, MSC, ENG
Łukasz Hańczyk is a medical imaging researcher at the Diagnostic Imaging Department of the MSWiA Hospital in Rzeszów. His work focuses on the practical implementation and development of advanced MRI and CT imaging protocols, with a strong emphasis on magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and dose optimization in computed tomography. Łukasz is actively involved in research projects aimed at enhancing the diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive imaging techniques. He has presented his research at major international conferences, including the European Congress of Radiology (ECR), where he showcased studies on uterine and liver MRE. His expertise combines deep technical knowledge of imaging systems with a strong focus on clinical applicability, contributing significantly to the advancement of diagnostic radiology in the region.