I use neuroimaging methods such as PET and MR to 1) understand the effects of stimulation therapies such as TMS on brain function and 2) understand the role and function of dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and mood disorders.
For a number of years, I have taken advantage of the possibility of using positron emission tomography (PET) to study in vivo, longitudinally, compensatory changes in the monoaminergic system induced by aging or lesion of the DA nigro-striatal system as in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) or depression in rodents, primates and porcines. These studies are performed in collaboration with the UBC/TRIUMF PET program and use a number of radioactive tracers specific for DA, serotonin and noradrenalin. The current main aspects are to investigate the effects of experimental therapies for PD and depression on the function of the monoamine systems in acute and chronic conditions and to develop methods of scanning applicable to human to study specific aspects of receptors and transporters function.
The methodologies employed cover both behavioural assessment, binding assays using autoradiographic techniques with a phosphor imaging device, microdialysis and immunostains in addition of PET imaging with current state of the art tomograph for human (HRRT) and rodents (microPET R4).