Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Imaging - Division of Intramural Research

Alan  P.  Koretsky, Ph.D., Senior Investigator

Dr. Koretsky received his B.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. He performed postdoctoral work in the NHLBI at NIH studying regulation of mitochondrial metabolism using optical and NMR techniques. Dr. Koretsky spent twelve years on the faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University where he was the Eberly Professor of Structural Biology and Chemistry. In summer 1999, he moved to NINDS as Chief of the Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Imaging and Director of the NIH MRI Research Facility. Dr. Koretsky's laboratory is interested in two main areas. They are actively developing novel imaging techniques to visualize brain function and study the regulation of cellular energy metabolism combining molecular genetics with non-invasive imaging tools.

Laboratory Staff

Tatjana Atanasijevic,  Ph.D.,  Visiting Fellow,  301 435 4362
Nadia Bouraoud,  Animal Biologist,  301 451 9938
Der-Yow Chen,  Ph.D.,  Research Fellow,  301 594 7314
Yun Chen,  Ph.D.,  IRTA,  301 402 1329
Steve Dodd,  Ph.D.,  Staff Scientist,  301 402 0389
Raymond  Mirasol,  Pre-doctoral IRTA,  301 451 9936
Benjamin  Porter,  Ph.D.,  IRTA Fellow,  301 594 0365
Nikorn  Pothayee,  Ph.D.,  Visiting Fellow,  301 402 9709
Chunqi Qian,  Ph.D.,  Research Fellow,  301 435 2146
Galit Saar,  Ph.D.,  Visiting Fellow,  301 451 9913
Kathryn  Sharer,  Animal Biologist,  301 402 9652
Xin Yu,  Ph.D.,  Research Fellow,  301 594 7311
Gary Zabow,  Ph.D.,  Senior Research Fellow,  301 594 2133

Research Interests

The Functional and Molecular Imaging Section has two major research interests. One is to develop novel functional and molecular imaging techniques to study brain structure and function. Emphasis is on MRI but some optical imaging is performed as well. Current areas of interest are to extend spatial resolution and understand the relation of functional MRI to neuronal architecture. New imaging tools are being developed to image calcium influx and gene expression non-invasively in the mouse brain.

The second major research area is cellular energetics. In particular, we are interested in the role of the enzyme creatine kinase and regulation of mitochondrial metabolism. This work relies on combining non-invasive imaging tools and molecular genetics in the mouse to study mitochondrial function in vivo. Current areas of interest are to determine the role of creatine kinase in cell growth and death. We are also interested in characterizing changes in the mitochondrial proteome during changes in mitochondrial metabolism using novel two-dimensional gel electrophoresis techniques.

LFMI website http://www.lfmi.ninds.nih.gov/

Selected Recent Publications

T.C, Hu, K.H. Chuang, N. Yanasak, and A.P. Koretsky
Relationship Between Blood and Myocardial Manganese Levels During Manganese-Enhanced MRII (MERI) with T1 Mapping in Rats - NMR Biomed   24 46-53 2011, 

G. Zabow, S. J. Dodd, E. Shapiro, J. Moreland, and A.P. Koretsky
Microfabricated High-Moment Micrometer Sized MRI Contrast Agents - Magn Resonan. Med  65 645-655 2011, 

Y. Chen, S. Guzik, J.P. Sumner, J. Moreland, and A.P. Koretsky
Magnetic Manipulation of Actin Orientation, Polymerization and Gliding on Myosin using Superparamagnetc Iron Oxide Particles - Nanotechnology   22  2011, 

S.E. Day, M.I. Kettunen, M.K. Cherukuri, J.B, Michell, M.J. Lizak, H.D. Morris, S. Matsumoto, A.P. Koretsky, and K.M. Brindle
Detecting Response of Rat C6 Glioma Tumors to Radiotherapy using Hyperpolarized [1-(13)C]pyruvate and (13)C Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging  - Magn Resonan Med   65 557-563 2011, 

X. Yu, S. Wang, D-Y Chen, S. Dodd, A. Goloshevsky, and A.P. Koretsky
3D Mapping of Somatotopic Reorganization with Small Animal Functional MRI - Neuroimage   49 1667-1676 2010, 

C. Wu, S. Dodd, and A.P. Koretsky
In vivo visualization of Cortical Boundaries in the Rodent Brain using Manganese Enhanced MRI as a Cytoarchitectonic Marker -     2010, 

J.P. Munasinghe, M. Banerjee, M.T. Acosta, M. Banks, A. heffer, A.C. Silva, A.P. Koretsky, W.H. Theodore
Arterial Spin Labeling Demonstrates that Focal Amygdalar Glutamatergic Agonist Infusion Leads to Rapid Diffuse Cerebral Activation - Acta Neurolo Scand  121 209-216 2010, 

Selected Earlier Publications

Contact Information

NIH/NINDS/LFMI 10 Center Drive, MSC 1065  Building 10, Room B1D728   Bethesda MD  20892-1065

Telephone: 301-402- 9659 (office), 301- 402-9659 (laboratory), 301-480- 2558 (fax), Email: koretskya@ninds.nih.gov