Georgia Institute of Technology BioE Graduate Program

Abstract:
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with contrast agents
sensitive to neural activity could have great impact in neuroscience by
combining noninvasive whole-brain coverage with molecular-level
specificity for neuronal events. My laboratory is developing molecular
fMRI approaches based on molecular sensors we have designed to detect
intra- and extracellular signalling events in the nervous system.  Our
sensors are built on a variety of chemical platforms, ranging from
small molecules to nanoparticles.  Protein-based contrast agents are of
particular interest to us because of the possibility of gene-based
brain delivery strategies and the availability of powerful protein
engineering techniques.  Here we describe molecular engineering of
several MRI sensors for neural activity, as well as the first efforts
in our laboratory to perform functional neuroimaging with molecular
specificity in living brains.