| The research of the ODP brain imaging has a strong focus on the combination of Nuclear and Radiological imaging techniques in a clinical context and in close cooperation with the departments of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Under direct supervision of Jan Booij PhD (department of Nuclear Medicine), there is an ongoing effort in producing new ligands, with in vitro, animal and human research. The imaging of neurotransmission, (especially dopaminergic and serotonergic transporters and receptors) in a number of diseases like Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia and in research into the neurotoxicity of drugs (MDMA, Ecstasy) was quite successful, leading to registration of FP-CIT for clinical use. There is 'work in progress' in developing ligands (M2 Muscarin Receptor and Amyloid) in Alzheimer's disease. Also perfusion imaging in psychiatric diseases like PTSS is also under investigation. Charles Majoie PhD, (department of Radiology) is responsible for research in advanced MRI techniques like f-MRI, perfusion MRI, diffusion MRI (including diffusion tensor imaging), and MR proton spectroscopy (single voxel and spectroscopic imaging). Apart from a technology assessment study of these techniques in neuro oncology, all the research projects have a combined nuclear and radiological approach. Image processing studies with special focus on CT angiography of the brain vasculature are conducted by Henk Venema PhD, (department of Radiology and Medical Physics). |
