Alan Koretsky, Ph.D.

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.

Research Interests

The Section of Plasticity and Imaging of the Nervous System (SPINS), located within the Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Imaging (LFMI), develops novel functional and molecular imaging techniques to study brain structure and function. Emphasis is on MRI; however, some optical imaging is performed as well.

Furthermore, SPINS conducts cutting-edge research on cellular energetics; in particular, the role of the enzyme creatine kinase and regulation of mitochondrial metabolism.The Section of Plasticity and Imaging of the Nervous System 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.

Lab Members

Selected Publications

Pothayee N, Maric D, Sharer K, Tao-Cheng JH, Calac A, Bouraoud N, Pickel J, Dodd S, Koretsky A. Neural precursor cells form integrated brain-like tissue when implanted into rat cerebrospinal fluid.(external link) Commun Biol. 2018;1:114.

Petrus E, Dembling S, Usdin T, Isaac JTR, Koretsky AP. Circuit-Specific Plasticity of Callosal Inputs Underlies Cortical Takeover.(external link) J Neurosci. 2020;40(40):7714-7723.

Barbic M, Dodd SJ, ElBidweihy H, Dilley NR, Marcheschi B, Huston AL, Morris HD, Koretsky AP. Multifield and inverse-contrast switching of magnetocaloric high contrast ratio MRI labels.(external link) Magn Reson Med. 2021;85(1):506-517.

Ma Z, Reich DS, Dembling S, Duyn JH, Koretsky AP. Outlier detection in multimodal MRI identifies rare individual phenotypes among more than 15,000 brains.(external link) Hum Brain Mapp. 2022;43(5):1766-1782.

Liu L, Dodd S, Hunt RD, Pothayee N, Atanasijevic T, Bouraoud N, Maric D, Moseman EA, Gossa S, McGavern DB, Koretsky AP. Early detection of cerebrovascular pathology and protective antiviral immunity by MRI.(external link) Elife. 2022;11.

Lab Alumni

Explore past trainees of Dr. Alan P. Koretsky including postdoctoral associates and graduate students. The tables below also include information on trainee positions after being a trainee and may not accurately reflect each trainee's latest role.
 

Postdoctoral Associates Supervised

Graduate Students Advised

About the Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Imaging (LFMI)

LFMI was founded in 1999 with the major goal of developing imaging techniques that provide anatomical, functional and molecular information about tissue function. The specific emphasis is on advancing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques for analysis of the brain. MRI has grown into a critical imaging tool for anatomical characterization of normal and pathophysiological states in human and animal models. Over the past ten years progress in sensitizing MRI to parameters related to regional blood flow has opened up the area of functional MRI (fMRI). FMRI studies are having a large impact on understanding the localization of neural function in the brain. Scientists in LFMI played an early role in developing fMRI techniques and presently are pushing these techniques to higher spatial and temporal resolution. A feature of this work is to develop the highest magnetic field MRI scanners as possible to increase signal to noise and contrast to noise in fMRI studies. Presently LFMI is developing a 7 Tesla/ 90 cm bore size MRI for humans and an 11.7T/31 cm bore size MRI for animals.

A basic assumption in LFMI is that to understand the brain it will be important to image the whole cascade of events related to the processes that support neural function. FMRI techniques are able to localize activity, however, there are many other processes important for normal function of the brain. These include metabolism to support function, neuronal connections, gene expression, calcium dynamics, cell movements, receptor and neurotransmitter function, etc LFMI is interested in extending and developing techniques that enable imaging of these events in human and animal brains. While these studies rely heavily on MRI, other modalities are used as well, such as optical imaging and electrophysiological techniques. The ability to image specific molecular and cellular processes are part of the rapidly growing field of molecular imaging. Techniques developed are expected to impact the ability to diagnosis and stage a variety of diseases such as neurological disorders, cognitive disorders and cancers.

Other Interests in LFMI

In addition to development of specific functional and molecular imaging techniques, projects within LFMI touch on a range of interests from the basic design of MRI detectors and imaging sequences to biological interests in mapping brain function , regulation of microcirculation, and cellular energy metabolism. Indeed, another bias of LFMI is that some of the best progress in imaging occurs when we are confronted with specific biological problems. Collaborations exist with a number of investigators interested in mapping brain function and imaging a number of diseases. Some of this work is done using MRI resources available in the NIH MRI Research Facility (NMRF) and in the Functional Neuroimaging Facility (FNIF). Both of these facilities make MRI resources available to NIH and members of LFMI play a major role in these resources. Work by members of LFMI has relied on using mouse models that make use of molecular genetic and proteomic techniques. Indeed there is rapidly growing interest in using radiological imaging techniques to analyze transgenic and knockout mice. LFMI staff is playing a major role in the development of the NIH Mouse Imaging Facility (MIF) that contains MRI, CT, ultrasound, and some optical imaging techniques for use by the NIH community. Recently, work in LFMI is aimed at the marmoset for MRI study of the brain. Due to the large range of problems MRI has impacted, research in LFMI is broad and diverse. Details of specific research interests can be found in information given with the specific Sections and People.

Organization of LFMI

LFMI is organized in a fashion typical to most of NIH with a major goal of developing high field MRI of the brain. Presently, there are two independent Sections that share significant intellectual and physical resources. Jeff Duyn heads the Advanced Imaging Section, and Alan Koretsky heads the Section of Plasticity and Imaging of the Nervous System. Dr. Koretsky also serves as Chief of the LFMI. The MRI Engineering Team, led by Dr. Gudino, complements these two Sections by developing new hardware technologies to advance ultra-high field MRI. In addition to these three groups the LFMI has administrative expertise to assist members with the recruitment of personal, generation of research protocols and collaborations. LFMI is in the intramural research program of the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders. Physically most of LFMI is located in the NIH In Vivo NMR Center, a multi-institutional building dedicated to advancing MRI located in Building 10. In addition to LFMI, the NIH NMR Center contains active research programs from the Laboratory of Cardiac Energetics, NHLBI, the Laboratory of Diagnostic Radiology Research, CC, the Section on Functional Imaging Methods, Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, NIMH, and the Stroke Diagnostic and Therapeutics Section in the Stroke Branch, NINDS. These groups have strong interactions and a large range of imaging resources.

MRI Resources

Imaging Resources in LFMI

• 11.7T Animal MRI Scanner
• System Configuration
• Arrive(All Pictures)
• 7T Human MRI Scanner

Other Imaging Resources

• Imaging Resources in MIF/NMRF
• Imaging Resources in FNIF/NIMH

Other NIH Sites

• NINDS Intranet
• NIH
• NIH Library

Training Opportunities

Training Opportunities

There are numerous training opportunities in LFMI for students at all levels. Most of these programs are described on the NINDS Training & Career Development page. In addition, the Office of the Director of Intramural Research offers numerous mechanisms for training at NIH. These programs are described on the Office of Intramural Training & Education page.

Postdoctoral: There are numerous opportunities for training in LFMI. Each of the Sections in LFMI usually has openings for postdoctoral fellows that would like to work in an area of research interest in LFMI. Interested candidates should contact the appropriate Section Head or the Chief, of the Laboratory directly. NIH and LFMI provide an excellent environment for training. NIH is one of the worlds largest biomedical research institutions. This ensures an active and lively atmosphere for being exposed to cutting edge research in any discipline of modern biomedical sciences. LFMI has outstanding intellectual and physical resources and the NIH NMR Center has a number of outstanding imaging groups that interact with LFMI. Finally, the Washington, DC area is an exciting cosmopolitan city with a reasonable cost of living.

Graduate Studies: NIH does not confer Ph.D. degrees, however, there are a variety of ways to perform graduate research within LFMI. NIH is developing a number of formal partnerships with universities around the country and the world and students can work with LFMI members as part of these programs. For more information visit Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP). Alternatively, research can be undertaken informally by students enrolled in graduate programs around the world via a collaboration between the students home thesis advisor and a Section Head or Staff Scientist in LFMI.

Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research: NIH has a program for recent graduates from college and university who would like to spend time doing research before applying to graduate or medical school. It is possible to work at LFMI through this program. Information about this program and how to apply can be found on the Office of Intramural Training & Education page. 

Undergraduate Studies: LFMI encourages undergraduates to get involved in research at an earliest stage as possible. NINDS has a summer program for undergraduates that is described on the Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) page. NIH has other summer programs that would enable a student to work at LFMI as described on the Office of Intramural Training & Education page. For students local to the Washington area it is possible to participate in LFMI projects during the normal school year by contacting the specific Section Head or Laboratory Chief.

Human Studies

Work in LFMI often makes use of human subjects, primarily normal volunteers. This work is done in a manner that is consistent with all the rules and regulations of the NINDS Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Clinical Center guidelines for use of human subjects. Subjects are used in support of MRI studies aimed at developing new anatomical, functional, and molecular MRI techniques. We are always looking for new volunteers for the imaging studies. Volunteers are given a stipend for their participation. Interested people should contact Susan Guttman.

Studies Actively Recruiting Healthy Volunteers:

00-N-0082:  Study of New Magnetic Resonance Imaging Methods of the Brain 

16-N-0031:  Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Sleep Study With Auditory Stimuli

How to get started?

Work with human subjects in LFMI is done under the supervision of the NINDS IRB, the Clinical Center, and the NIH NMR Center Human Imaging Committee. For a detailed description of procedures that are followed prior to starting any studies that involve human subjects in LFMI, please visit the AMRI web page.

Animal Studies

Work in LFMI often makes use of animal models, especially rodents. This work is done in a manner that is consistent with all of the rules and regulations of the NINDS IACUC. Rodents are used for three types of studies:

• Advancing non-invasive assessment of brain function using anatomical, functional, and molecular imaging techniques
• Elucidating the regulation and control of cellular energy metabolism and the role of creatine kinase
• Development of imaging techniques useful for analyzing transgenic mice to help with functional genomic studies
• Understanding control of cerebral microcirculation
• Establishing the marmoset as an animal modal for marmoset study of the brain

Active LFMI animal protocols

• ASP 1142-09 - Imaging Brain Function in Rats and Mice
• ASP 1160-10 - Imaging Brain Plasticity in Rats and Mice
• ASP 1321-10 - Manganese Based Radiotracers for PET Imaging in Rodents
• 03-N-0142 - Development of 7 Tesla MRI Methodology for Anatomical Functional and Spectroscopic Imaging of the Brain
• 05-N-0179 - MRI Measurement of Brain Metabolism Across the Sleep-Wake Cycle
• ASP 1291-08 - Functional MRI in Awake Rodents
• ASP 1199-11 - Breeding of Mice for Experiments in the LFMI

How to get started?

Work with animals in LFMI is done under the supervision of the NINDS IACUC and the NIH NMR Center Mouse Imaging Committee. For a detailed description of procedures that are followed prior to starting any animal studies in LFMI, please go to the NMRF web site (login required).

Directions to LFMI

Laboratory Address

Directions to the office at Building 10

LFMI is located in B1D728 and 3D17 areas of the Clinical Center (Building 10). Take the Clinical Center main elevators to the B1 level and follow signs to the 'NMR Research Center'. After you enter NMR Research Center, go straight and then turn left after you pass a court yard on your left. Go through a door and turn left again. The LFMI office is on your right in the room B1D728.

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