Personal Statement
David J. Mikulis, MD is Full Professor and Co-Director of Medical Imaging Research in the Dept. of Medical Imaging at the University of Toronto and the University Health Network in Toronto. He holds two additional directorships in the Dept. of Medical Imaging including the Director of the Radiology Residency Research Program, and Director of the Functional Imaging Research Lab.
The primary emphasis of his work has been translational research focusing on the application of novel imaging methods to the clinical environment. He established one of the first fMRI labs in Canada in 1993 and is currently involved in developing advanced neurovascular imaging methods with major program arms including: 1) quantitative measurement and clinical application of cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) metrics using a patented device (RespirActTM) that enables precision control of blood oxygen and carbon dioxide, and 2) high resolution and functional imaging of intra and extra-cranial blood vessel walls, and 3) input function independent penumbra imaging in acute ischemic stroke. Work in these areas has led to the discovery of a form neurovascular uncoupling that may explain the origin of chronic ischemic white matter injury a major contributor to vascular dementia.
Keywords: Brain plasticity,cerebrovascular disease, functional brain imaging functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) magnetic resonace imaging (MRI) cerebral autoregulation, stroke, perfusion imaging, permeability imaging
The primary emphasis of his work has been translational research focusing on the application of novel imaging methods to the clinical environment. He established one of the first fMRI labs in Canada in 1993 and is currently involved in developing advanced neurovascular imaging methods with major program arms including: 1) quantitative measurement and clinical application of cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) metrics using a patented device (RespirActTM) that enables precision control of blood oxygen and carbon dioxide, and 2) high resolution and functional imaging of intra and extra-cranial blood vessel walls, and 3) input function independent penumbra imaging in acute ischemic stroke. Work in these areas has led to the discovery of a form neurovascular uncoupling that may explain the origin of chronic ischemic white matter injury a major contributor to vascular dementia.
Keywords: Brain plasticity,cerebrovascular disease, functional brain imaging functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) magnetic resonace imaging (MRI) cerebral autoregulation, stroke, perfusion imaging, permeability imaging
Research and Contribution to Science
My major scientific contributions have been derived from a life-long goal aimed at finding clinical applications for advanced MRI techniques including:
1. Co-developed a method for assessing the physiology of brain blood flow using a patent pending device1 that enables non-invasive prospective targeting of arterial blood gasses during MRI scanning. The final result is an MRI map of cerebro-vascular reactivity a metric that has found application in:
2. Developed high-resolution MRI applications for imaging the walls of intra-cranial arteries in order to improve diagnostic specificity over and above diagnostic angiography. This led to my appointment as co-chair of the an international vessel wall imaging study group sponsored by the American Society of Neuroradiology in order to disseminate this new form of imaging for clinical applications and research.5,6
3. One of the first researchers to apply fMRI in the assessment of neural plasticity following various types of central and peripheral nervous system injury including corticectomy, cervical spinal cord injury, and upper extremity reconstruction.
1. Co-developed a method for assessing the physiology of brain blood flow using a patent pending device1 that enables non-invasive prospective targeting of arterial blood gasses during MRI scanning. The final result is an MRI map of cerebro-vascular reactivity a metric that has found application in:
- Assessing stroke risk as well as the efficacy of surgical re-vascularization in patients with cervico-cerebral steno-occlusive disease
- Assessing the reliability of pre-surgical mapping of eloquent cerebral cortex using fMRI
- Defining a new syndrome entitled “Neurovascualar Uncoupling Syndrome” consisting of brain injury that occurs in the absence of acute ischemic stroke in patients with dysfunctional control of brain blood flow and in those with exhausted vascular reserve2-4
2. Developed high-resolution MRI applications for imaging the walls of intra-cranial arteries in order to improve diagnostic specificity over and above diagnostic angiography. This led to my appointment as co-chair of the an international vessel wall imaging study group sponsored by the American Society of Neuroradiology in order to disseminate this new form of imaging for clinical applications and research.5,6
3. One of the first researchers to apply fMRI in the assessment of neural plasticity following various types of central and peripheral nervous system injury including corticectomy, cervical spinal cord injury, and upper extremity reconstruction.
Contact:
E-mail:
Webpage: https://www.uhnresearch.ca/researcher/david-j-mikulis Social Media: |