Abstract: Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) allows non-invasive quantification of a number of neurochemicals, including neuronal and glial markers, neurotransmitters (glutamate, g-aminobutyric acid), antioxidants (glutathione, vitamin C) and energy metabolites.  Regional quantification of these metabolites provides access to multiple aspects of pathology in neurodegenerative diseases. This presentation will share our experience in utilizing high field MRS to detect early neurochemical changes and to monitor treatments in neurodegenerative diseases. The talk will also address the limitations of standard, commercial clinical MRS tools, which are overcome with advanced MRS technology developed in the research setting. Finally, I will demonstrate that advanced MRS methodology can be harmonized across sites and share our experience in using the advanced technology in multi-site settings. 

Bio: Dr. Gulin Oz is Professor at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota and specializes in magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and imaging (MRI). Following BS degrees in Physics and Chemistry from Bosphorus University in Istanbul and a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Minnesota, she continued with postdoctoral training at the CMRR where she later joined the faculty.

She uses high field, multi-nuclear MRS to explore neurochemical and metabolic alterations in diseases that affect the brain and spearheaded utilization of neurochemical profiles to assess cerebral changes in patients with neurological diseases and their response to treatment. She focuses on applications of advanced MRS methods in neurodegenerative diseases including spinocerebellar ataxias, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s diseases and ALS. She further studies the effects of diabetes and the hypoglycemic consequences of intensive insulin therapy on brain glucose and glycogen metabolism in humans. She leads efforts to facilitate the harmonization of advanced MRI and MRS methodology in the multi-site clinical trial setting.  She serves as PI of a new Consortium to assess COVID-19 sequelae in the brain (COVID-BRAIN) and MPI of a Clinical Trial Readiness study (READISCA) that aims to validate MRI and MRS biomarkers in the earliest stages of neurodegeneration in spinocerebellar ataxias.

~BME Faculty Host: Dr. Uzay Emir~

Note: Students registered for the seminar are expected to attend in-person.

Zoom link: https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/7731446991?pwd=RHdkZTVnRkxTM3J3dnRvY1VLWTlYUT09