Alberto L. Vazquez, PhD
Alberto L. Vazquez, PhD
Associate Professor
Departments of Radiology and Bioengineering
University of Pittsburgh
Research Focus
Imaging and biomarker development of neuronal, metabolic and vascular function and dysfunction.
Summary1
Summary2
Affiliations
Department of Radiology (link)
Department of Bioengineering (link)
Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC) (link)
Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh (CNUP) (link)
Collaborative Cluster for Neurovascular Coupling Research (CNBC, Pitt/CMU) (link)
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Google Scholar
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Research Interests
My research focuses on neural, vascular and metabolic imaging of normal brain function in vivo with extensions to neurological pathologies, especially Alzheimer’s disease. I use an array of computational and optical methodologies, such as linear/non-linear modeling and characterization of biological sytems, optical/fluorescence imaging, two-photon microscopy, calcium imaging, optogenetics and magnetic resonance imaging, to assess nervous system function and dysfunction. Although these methods are mostly implemented in animal models, I focus on methods that can be adapted or applied to humans (e.g. PET or fMRI). It is the goal to blend imaging modalities in order to advance our understanding of brain function and develop new avenues for the quantification of physiological and functional parameters that can be used to study, diagnose and/or treat brain pathologies.
We have placed emphasis on cell-type specific contributions to neuro-vascular and neuro-metabolic mechanisms in healthy subjects (link), neuro-vascular and neurons-metabolic dysfunction in models of brain injury (link) and neuro-degenerative disease (Alzheimer's, link), and the development of new imaging markers and biomarkers of neurodegeneration (in collaboration with PET-Radiology, ADRD and Dept of Neurology, link).
Data Requests
Vascular PO2 from JCBFM 2009 (here)
Metabolic Responses Measured by FAI and PO2 from JCBFM 2010 (here)
Hemodynamic Responses Evoked by Optogenetic Stimulation of Thy1-ChR2 Mice from Cereb Cortex 2014 (here)
Neuronal and Hemodynamic Fluctuations at Rest in GCaMP Mice (from Brain Conn 2014)
Hemodynamic Responses Evoked by Inhibitory Neuron Activity from Cereb Cortex 2018 (here)
Resources for Lab Students
Neuroimaging Topics Teams (contact Alberto) Nueroimaging Lab Meeting Teams (contact Alberto) Neuroimaging Lab Calendar (contact Alex) Imaging courses, especially MRI and Optics-based courses Signal and Image Processing, Time-frequency and Time-series Analysis, Linear/non-linear Systems, Machine Learning, etc. Join the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC) Join the Collaborative Cluster for Neurovascular Coupling Research (Slack group) Join the Center for Neuroscience of the University of Pittsburgh (CNUP)
Contact:
3025 E. Carson St., Rm. 159.05
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
E-mail: alv15 at pitt.edu