Neuroimaging Core

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PROJECT SUMMARY: Neuroimaging Core The Neuroimaging Core (NC) plays an integral role in the UC Davis (UCD) ADRC scientific mission by providing imaging-based structural and functional markers of aging and disease processes. These imaging biomarkers support the primary aim of the UCD ADRC to understand factors that influence cognitive trajectories from normal aging to dementia. Building on nearly 15 years of success, the NC will continue to provide services related to acquisition, storage, post-processing and dissemination of imaging data. In addition, the NC will collaborate with other departments at UC Davis as well as other institutions to develop novel state- of-the-art methods for measuring the lifespan course of brain injury leading to dementia. The Aims of the NC reflect the steady progression of its capabilities. The NC is now a mature component of the ADRC that enriches the other Cores and the AD research community. It currently provides raw images to the Clinical and Neuropathology Cores to support diagnostic activities. The NC also provides validated state-of- the-art measurements of brain structure and function to the Data Management and Statistics Core and other collaborating centers to support research projects. Finally, the NC works with the Research Education Component and the Outreach Recruitment and Education Core to train investigators in neuroimaging methods and disseminate information regarding imaging related research. The addition of Dr. Audrey Fan to the NC brings a new dimension of expertise in the use of MRI and PET imaging for new biomarkers of vascular disease, aging and cognitive change. In addition to imaging acquisition expertise, she provides a strong link to the Biomedical Engineering Department at UC Davis and to new facilities such as the total-body EXPLORER PET scanner. The novel imaging strategies and kinetic modeling approaches from Dr. Fan’s lab complement existing NC research capabilities. With over 20 grants, including SCAN, currently supporting image acquisitions and processing by the NC, we provide benefits national and international collaborations that are far beyond the level of Core funding. The overall goals of the NC to image brain injury leading to dementia aligns with the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) mission to identify pre-symptomatic AD, establishing early imaging biomarkers through large public-private studies such as ADNI. The goals of NC are to continue to provide essential resources to the UCD ADRC and build new capabilities at the forefront of neuroimaging.