Kilian Hett, PhD
Kilian Hett, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Hett specializes in neuroimaging, computational neuroscience, and the development of imaging biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. His work integrates advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), artificial intelligence, and image analysis techniques to better understand the structural and physiologic changes associated with disorders such as Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and frontotemporal dementia.
Dr. Hett serves as Director of Computational Imaging within the Division of Behavioral Neurology, where he oversees computational imaging initiatives supporting faculty, trainees, and research staff across multiple investigational programs. He is a member of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and the Huntington’s Study Group and contributes to national and international collaborations focused on imaging biomarkers in neurodegenerative disease. He also serves as a reviewer for numerous leading journals and conferences in medical imaging, neuroscience, and biomedical engineering.
Dr. Hett has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and has presented his research at international scientific meetings. His work has received recognition from the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Vanderbilt Neurology. He has also played a significant role in mentoring students, postdoctoral fellows, and physician trainees in neuroimaging, machine learning, and computational neuroscience.
Dr. Hett earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and a Master of Science degree in Imaging and Biomedical Engineering from the University of Strasbourg in France. He completed his PhD in Computer Science at the University of Bordeaux, where his research focused on imaging biomarkers for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. He subsequently completed postdoctoral training in Computer Science at Vanderbilt University and in Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center before joining the faculty as a Clinical Scientist in 2023.
Research Information
Dr. Hett’s research focuses on developing advanced neuroimaging biomarkers and computational methods to improve the detection and monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases. His work combines magnetic resonance imaging, machine learning, deep learning, and image-processing techniques to characterize changes in brain structure, cerebrospinal fluid circulation, and neurofluid pathways in disorders including Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and frontotemporal dementia. As principal investigator and collaborator on multiple funded research projects, Dr. Hett seeks to identify sensitive imaging markers that improve understanding of disease mechanisms, facilitate earlier diagnosis, and support the development of new therapeutic approaches for neurologic disease.