imaginostics

Tackling unmet clinical needs in non-invasive quantitative diagnostics

About Imaginostics

Imaginostics is a health tech startup developing a breakthrough longevity technology for precision medicine located in Lake Nona Medical City, Orlando, FL.


Imaginostics is on a mission to revolutionize healthcare through precision diagnostic tools that empower scientists, clinicians, and drug developers to advance personalized care, accelerate therapeutic innovation, and proactively address aging-related health challenges.

Our Vision

At Imaginostics, we envision a future where healthcare moves from reactive to preventive. Our breakthrough Quantitative Ultrashort Time-to-Echo Contrast-Enhanced MRI (QUTE-CE MRI) technology provides clinicians and researchers unprecedented quantitative insights into vascular health, enabling early disease detection, more effective treatments, and proactive management of health and longevity.

The Problem We Solve

Conventional MRI is qualitative, generating arbitrary black-and-white images limited to visual inspection by radiologists. The commonly used contrast agent—gadolinium—is toxic, accumulates in tissues, and poses health risks, particularly limiting its use in preventive diagnostics and longitudinal care.

Our Transformative Solution

QUTE-CE MRI delivers quantitative data, turning MRI pixel intensities into precise physiological measurements. Using ferumoxytol—an FDA-approved intravenous iron supplement—eliminates the toxicity associated with gadolinium, enabling safe, repeated imaging and preventative diagnostics for everyone.

Our Story

Imaginostics was cofounded by Dr. Codi Gharagouzloo and Valerie Gharagouzloo, whose combined passion for science, innovation, and entrepreneurship sparked the creation of a transformative medical imaging technology. During his doctoral research in nanomedicine, Codi recognized the profound limitations of traditional MRI—particularly the qualitative nature of images and toxicity of contrast agents. He envisioned a breakthrough technology that would overcome these challenges using ultrashort time-to-echo sequences paired with iron oxide nanoparticles, enabling unparalleled quantitative vascular imaging.

Valerie, an accomplished attorney and entrepreneur based at the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), shared Codi’s vision from the very start. She brought strategic clarity, business acumen, and deep passion, significantly shaping the company’s mission and direction from its inception. Valerie’s entrepreneurial expertise and commitment to social justice were instrumental in moving Imaginostics forward—from early-stage strategy to full-fledged commercialization efforts.

Together, Codi and Valerie transitioned Imaginostics from a groundbreaking scientific concept into a thriving diagnostics company. Valerie initially supported the company part-time, formally joining the team as COO in 2023 and stepping into the CEO role in early 2025. Their partnership fostered a diverse, inclusive, and passionate team culture, dedicated to bringing advanced quantitative imaging technology to improve patient lives worldwide.


Imaginostics began clinical validation efforts at UCSF with Dr. Peder Larson, navigating early challenges including fundraising disruptions during COVID-19. Significant NIH grants and support from the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) fueled our growth from 2022 onward. In 2024, we secured FDA Breakthrough Device Designation and successfully raised $5.5 million in additional funding, highlighting clinician-investors’ confidence in our vision and technology.


In 2024, Dr. Scott Hoge (CTO, formerly Brigham and Women's Hospital) and Dr. Chenguang Zhao (pulse sequence expert formerly with Philips) joined our leadership team, further strengthening our technical capabilities and strategic direction.


Currently, Imaginostics is poised for another major leap forward through strategic partnerships that will significantly accelerate our pathway to Phase 3 clinical trials, bringing us closer to transforming patient care worldwide.

Long-Term Impact

In the short term, our goal is to replace toxic contrast agents for patients unable to use them safely, delivering superior imaging and precision diagnostics. Long-term, we aim for widespread adoption of our technology, integrating vascular health assessments into routine care and proactive longevity management, significantly improving life quality across age-related diseases and conditions.


At Imaginostics, we are passionate about creating a healthier, brighter future—transforming healthcare, one scan at a time.

TEAM

Daniel Teper, PharmD, MBA

Executive Chairman of the Board

Daniel Teper is a seasoned corporate executive, industry strategist, and serial entrepreneur with decades of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. He began his career in leadership roles at global pharmaceutical companies (including Novartis, GSK, and Sanofi) before transitioning into strategic consulting as a Partner at firms such as Havas Health, ISO Healthcare (now Deloitte), and Bionest (now part of Accenture). Daniel later served as Chief Commercial Officer of SoftWatch, an early digital health pioneer, and went on to found multiple companies — including Immune Pharmaceuticals (which he led to a NASDAQ listing), Cytovia Therapeutics, and most recently NAYA Biosciences.


As Executive Chairman of the Board at Imaginostics, Daniel provides strategic guidance and global business insight to advance the company’s mission in precision medicine. He leverages his extensive background in launching and scaling ventures to help position Imaginostics’ breakthrough imaging technology for broad clinical adoption and commercial success. Daniel holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from Paris-Saclay University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from INSEAD. He has also completed executive programs at the Wharton School in Entrepreneurship and at MIT in Artificial Intelligence. Outside of work, Daniel is a lifelong learner and family man. He is married to Nicole and has three adult sons, and he remains driven by a passion for innovation that improves patient lives.

Valerie Aimee Gharagouzloo, Esq

Cofounder & CEO

President

Board Member

Valerie Aimee Gharagouzloo is the Cofounder and CEO of Imaginostics. A New York-trained attorney with a background in International Human Rights Law and U.S. Immigration Law, she has long been an advocate for affordable healthcare for all. Valerie’s dedication to improving medical outcomes is deeply personal: her youngest brother has lived with a rare, incurable neurological disorder, inspiring her fight to advance better diagnostics and treatments. This passion led Valerie, together with her husband Dr. Codi Gharagouzloo, to establish Imaginostics in 2018 and translate a breakthrough quantitative imaging technology from the research bench to the patient’s bedside.


As CEO, Valerie leads Imaginostics with a mission-driven and compassionate approach. She forges partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and healthcare organizations to accelerate drug development using Imaginostics’ precision imaging biomarkers, and she engages with investors to bring the company’s longevity-focused technology to market. Valerie leverages her legal expertise and heartfelt commitment to patients to guide the company’s strategy, ensuring that Imaginostics’ innovations in precision medicine ultimately improve lives. As a mother of three, she is personally motivated to create a healthier future for the next generation.

Codi Amir Gharagouzloo, MSc, PhD

Scientific Cofounder, President & CEO

Board Member

Codi Amir Gharagouzloo, PhD, is the Scientific Founder of Imaginostics and serves as Chief Science Officer. An MRI physicist and biomedical engineer, Codi invented Imaginostics’ core MRI-based quantitative vascular imaging technology during his doctoral research. He earned his PhD in Bioengineering, along with a Master’s in Biophotonics, and holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering and Physics. Codi further refined this imaging modality as a postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he led preclinical and clinical studies to prove its potential for precision medicine.


As CSO, Codi drives Imaginostics’ scientific vision and innovation pipeline. He oversees research and development, ensuring that the company’s quantitative imaging biomarkers are rigorously validated and continually optimized for clinical use. Codi is passionate about pushing the frontiers of MRI technology to enable early disease detection and personalized patient care. Outside of the lab, he enjoys bike riding, hitting the gym, and playing board games with his family. If given another lifespan, he would love to embark on a space exploration adventure—channeling the same curiosity and bold spirit that fuels his work in medical innovation.

W. Scott Hoge, PhD

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Dr. Scott Hoge serves as Chief Technology Officer at Imaginostics, spearheading the development of the company’s advanced quantitative imaging platform. Scott earned his doctorate in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University and has been an MRI physicist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital for over two decades. He is widely recognized as an expert in pulse sequence programming, image reconstruction, advanced signal processing, and imaging analysis techniques.


As CTO, Scott combines his deep technical expertise with a creative mindset to turn Imaginostics’ scientific vision into real-world solutions. Drawn to MRI by his passion for art, mathematics, and technology, he found a unique intersection of creativity and science. With a mission-driven desire to understand and improve the human condition, Scott advances innovative MRI solutions that will enable groundbreaking precision diagnostics and patient care.

Chenguang Zhao, PhD

VP Engineering

Chenguang Zhao, PhD, is the Vice President of Engineering at Imaginostics and a seasoned expert in biomedical imaging technology. He earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and spent five years as a postdoctoral researcher focused on multi-modal MRI and NMR spectroscopy. With over 13 years of experience in the MRI field, Chenguang has designed two affordable MR systems and pioneered clinical solutions such as free-breathing liver imaging and fast spectroscopic imaging.


Now leading Imaginostics’ engineering team, Chenguang is driven by a passion for scientific innovation and engineering excellence. He spearheads the development of precise, fast, and reliable imaging biomarkers that enhance patient care, ensuring the company’s quantitative imaging solutions are both state-of-the-art and clinically practical. His unique blend of academic insight and industry know-how — gained from working across the US, China, and Europe — gives him a global perspective in problem-solving. Outside of work, Chenguang enjoys reading and exploring new destinations from his home base in Orlando, Florida.

Joshua Leaston, BS

Neuroimaging Engineer

Josh is an MD/PhD candidate at Stanford University. He holds a BS in Neuroscience from Northeastern University. Josh worked 2.5 years at Imaginostics full-time developing neuroimaging data processing pipelines and publishing results, now he works part-time on analysis. He has 3 years of hands-on experience working on Bruker 7T preclinical scanners, with expertise in awake imaging obtained from the Center for Translational Neuroimaging (CTNI). 

Florian Knoll, PhD

Scientific Advisor

Dr. Florian Knoll is a professor and Head of the Computational Imaging Lab at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany. His research focuses on artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques for MRI, particularly in advanced image reconstruction and accelerated imaging acquisition. Previously, Dr. Knoll was an Assistant Professor of Radiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where he helped develop AI models to improve imaging speed and quality. In recognition of his contributions, he was named a 2024 Fellow of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM). As a scientific advisor for Imaginostics, he provides expert guidance on AI-driven MRI technologies to enhance the company’s imaging capabilities and ultimately improve patient care.

Jonathan Polimeni, PhD

Scientific Advisor

Dr. Jonathan R. Polimeni is an Associate Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School, affiliated with the Radiological Sciences Laboratory. He is an esteemed neuroscientist whose research specializes in advanced brain imaging techniques. Dr. Polimeni’s innovative work integrates ultra-high-resolution MRI imaging and computational modeling, significantly advancing our understanding of brain structure and function. As a scientific advisor for Imaginostics, he brings deep expertise in neuroimaging, contributing critical insights to the development of advanced MRI-based solutions for neurological disorders.

Kayvan R. Keshari, PhD

Scientific Advisor

Dr. Kayvan R. Keshari is a Member, Professor, and Fred Lebow Chair at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). Recognized internationally as an expert in metabolic imaging and cancer biology, Dr. Keshari earned his PhD in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. His pioneering research employs hyperpolarized MRI to elucidate metabolic pathways in cancer, providing crucial insights into tumor progression and therapeutic response. As a scientific advisor to Imaginostics, Dr. Keshari brings his extensive expertise in advanced metabolic imaging, helping to guide the development of transformative diagnostic tools that improve cancer detection and patient outcomes.

Peder Larson, one of the board advisors of Imaginostics

Peder EZ Larson, PhD

Scientific Advisor

Dr. Peder Larson is a Professor in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at UCSF. He is the Director of the Advanced Imaging Technologies Resource Group and co-Leader of the Hyperpolarized MRI Technology Resource Center. Dr. Larson’s influential research spans a wide range of imaging technology developments, aiming to improve clinical outcomes across metabolic MRI, lung MRI, myelin imaging, PET/MRI, and radiation therapy planning. His groundbreaking work with hyperpolarized carbon-13 MRI provides unique metabolic information without toxic or ionizing contrast agents and is currently advancing through clinical trials. As a scientific advisor for Imaginostics, Dr. Larson shares his extensive knowledge in quantitative imaging methods, enhancing the precision and impact of advanced imaging applications.

Kevin Johnson, PhD

Scientific Advisor

Dr. Kevin Johnson is an Associate Professor of Medical Physics and Radiology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the inventor of Imaginostics’ proprietary 3D UTE pulse sequence. His research has significantly advanced medical imaging modalities, particularly MRI, through innovative pulse sequence development, non-Cartesian and non-Fourier imaging techniques, and motion-robust free-breathing MRI. Dr. Johnson’s work aims to address MRI’s inherent limitations, such as slow speed and susceptibility artifacts, paving the way for faster, more quantitative, and molecular-level imaging. As a scientific advisor for Imaginostics, Dr. Johnson leverages his expertise to enhance MRI technology’s precision, enabling superior diagnostic and prognostic capabilities across a wide range of diseases.