We are a group of methodologists (engineers, physicists, computer scientists, mathematicians, neurobiologists and clinicians) whose focus is to develop imaging biomarkers to be used in clinical research and clinical practice across brain disorders. We mainly use two imaging technologies, Positron Emission Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging and build accurate volumetric quantifications of brain physiology (cerebral blood flow, metabolism, brain barriers function and brain fluid dynamics) as well of molecular targets (neurotransmitter receptors and transporters). We are also able to extract these data from otherwise non-specific signals (e.g. structural and functional MRI) using computational methods that map on the genetic, molecular and cellular brain milieu. We validate our methods using in-vitro methods as well as pre-clinical models and we have demonstrated the ability to take biomarkers from the bench to the clinic.

Project Portfolio

  • Cross-sectional studies (patients vs controls)
  • Longitudinal studies (time-course of disease)
  • Proof of concept drug studies (first-in-human and first-in-patient)
  • Effect of interventions
  • Multi-centre studies

Currently we guarantee analysis for more than 150 neuroimaging scans a year, regularly collecting data from 5 different UK-based imaging centres.

Project Highlights

Other projects

  • Neuroinflammationin in Psychosis, MDD, AD, PD & pharmacological interventions
  • Measurement of Dopamine Synthesis Capacity in Psychosis with pharmacological interventions 
  • Neuroreceptor systems including Dopamine, Serotonin, Gaba, Glutamate and CB1 receptors
  • Other targets including myelin, protein synthesis and CSF clearance