Project Overview
Functional Magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is widely used to study how the brain works. It measures brain activity indirectly by tracking changes in blood flow, assuming that blood vessels respond normally when brain cells are active. However, in many brain diseases (brain tumors, stroke, dementia) this relationship between brain activity and blood flow is disrupted. When this happens, fMRI may give a misleading picture of brain function.
The goal of this project is to improve how brain function is measured when blood vessels do not behave normally. We use cerebrovascular reactivity, which reflects how well blood vessels in the brain can adjust to changes in breathing and blood chemistry. By measuring cerebrovascular reactivity alongside fMRI, we aim to separate changes caused by blood vessel dysfunction from true changes in brain activity. This approach addresses a fundamental challenge in brain imaging and supports Brain Canada’s priority of developing more accurate and biologically meaningful tools to study the brain across health and disease.
We will work with patients with brain tumors receiving radiation therapy. Radiation therapy provides a unique opportunity because it can alter neuronal and blood vessel function. Patients will undergo MRI scans before and after treatment, allowing us to track how blood vessel and brain function change. By comparing these measurements, we can determine when fMRI signals reflect real brain changes and when they are influenced by blood vessel damage.
This research will help improve the interpretation of brain fMRI in patients whose blood vessels are altered. In the long term, this work could lead to better tools for monitoring brain health and more accurate brain imaging in many neurological conditions where blood vessel function is altered. By developing innovative, translational brain imaging methods, this work aligns with Brain Canada’s mission to accelerate discoveries that improve brain health for Canadians.
Partners & Donors
Azrieli Foundation
