Pathobiochemical Profiling

Introduction

The human brain is a highly dynamic and complex chemical environment in which metabolic homeostasis and brain function rely on the sophisticated interplay of a wealth of neurochemicals. Quantitative information on the involved substances is necessary to study ongoing processes and underlying mechanisms. More importantly, a number of neurological dysfunctions and clinical conditions are reflected by the tissue's neurochemical composition.

MR spectroscopy (MRS) and spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) allow the spatially resolved quantification of chemical compounds in the living brain in a non-invasive fashion. The repertoire of accessible biochemicals and the quantitative character of MRS/MRSI make them versatile tools for the identification of clinical conditions, patient monitoring and treatment control.

MR spectroscopy methods promise access to the brain's neurochemistry in vivo, but suffer from methodological limitations (e.g. sensitivity, localization accuracy, quantification accuracy) and experimental imperfections (e.g. in static B0 and radio-frequency B1 magnetic fields).

Goal

The clinical goal of my laboratory is to understand the role that neurochemicals play in the protection of the human brain or, alternatively, how dysfunction promotes the brain’s vulnerability towards neurodegenerative diseases. To this end, we combine ultra-high 7 Tesla field, state-of-the-art B0/B1shim technology and optimized MRS/MRSI methods to establish MRS/MRSI as clinical research tools.

Current Work

My laboratory provides methodological and research support for pre-clinical and clinical studies similar to a core facility. This work includes the installation of state-of-the-art MR imaging and spectroscopy methods and the development of novel techniques for MR investigations of the human brain at 3T and 7T. We actively pursue translational and clinical research collaborations that aim at a deeper understanding of neurological disorders and clinical conditions.

Recent publication:

Reproducibility measurement of glutathione, GABA, and glutamate: Towards in vivo neurochemical profiling of multiple sclerosis with MR spectroscopy at 7T (J Magn Reson Imaging 45:187-98, 2017)