Metabolic biomarkers in Neurological Disorders

Metabolic abnormalities are common in a number of diseases, including gliomas, traumatic brain injury, HIV, stroke, and others. We are investigating these neurological disorders to identify key metabolites during progression and for treatment monitoring and stratification.

Links to Relevant Papers:
- Update on MR Spectroscopy
- Altered Metabolism and Mutations in Gliomas
- Characterization of Glutamine Metabolism in Gliomas
- Brain Metabolites and Head Impacts in Athletes

Brain Thermometry

The current understanding of brain temperature regulation in health and disease has been limited by a lack of non-invasive methods for in vivo brain thermometry. We are developing magnetic resonance-based brain thermometry methods to understand the role of brain temperature after stroke, traumatic brain injury, and for implementation of thermal therapies.

Links to Relevant Papers:
- Predicting Brain Temperature using Bioheat Models
- Comparison between Modeled and Measured Brain Temperatures
- Resting-State Brain Temperature in Healthy Humans

New MRS Methods

While MR spectroscopy (MRS) can quantify metabolites in the brain and body non-invasively, clinical implementation often suffers from poor spatial and temporal resolution and is limited to a few metabolites of interest. We are developing advanced methods for acquiring and analyzing in vivo MRS data.

Links to Relevant Papers:
- OpTIMUS for Combining Multi-Channel MRS Data
- Perspective: Best Practices for Use and Reuse of Metabolomics Data

health equity

Access to medical care and broad representation in biomedical research are both critical to health equity. Diverse participation in research helps address differences in disease prevalence, treatment outcomes, and healthcare access among demographic and socioeconomic groups; however, underrepresentation and financial barriers to care persist. We are doing work to expose these gaps and advocate for practices that promote accessible healthcare for all communities.

Links to Relevant Papers:
- Demographics of Participants in Neuroimaging Studies Across a Decade of Research
- Financial Toxicity and the Effect on MRI Follow-Up Time