Our research program (Ann Ragin, PhD Principal Investigator) is focused on clinical applications of quantitative MR strategies, including Brain Volumetry, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Magnetization Transfer Imaging, Subcortical Segmentation, Iron Imaging and other approaches. We are interested in using these methodologies to study the effects of infection and inflammation on the brain, particularly in the setting of HIV infection.

In an ongoing project, we are using quantitative MR technologies to determine the presence and extent of brain injury in early stage infection and to identify specific factors associated with increased neurological vulnerability. We are also using MR to derive biophysical measurements of the bone marrow in vivo, in order to examine the relationship to neurological status. Collaborators on these projects include Ying Wu, MD (Evanston Hospital), Leon Epstein, MD (Childrens Memorial), Suzanne Gartner, PhD (Johns Hopkins), Bruce Cohen (Neurology, Northwestern), Justin McArthur, MD (Johns Hopkins), Kathy Conant, MD (Johns Hopkins), P.V. Prasad, PhD (Evanston Hospital, University of Chicago), Philip J. Norris, MD (UCSF), Richard Skolasky, PhD (Johns Hopkins) and Hongyan Du, MS.

Project Research Coordinator: Renee Ochs; Clinical Coordinator: Linda Reisberg, RN. Research Technician:Paul Foryt. Medical Student Fellow: Alfred Shouky.