Silvina G. Horovitz, Ph.D.

Senior Associate Scientist and Lead, Mobile Clinical Research Unit (MCRU)
Silvina Horovitz, Ph.D.
Division
Division of Intramural Research
Contact
silvina.horovitz@nih.gov
301-435-2163

Dr. Silvina Horovitz earned her Bioengineering degree from the Universidad Nacional de Entre Rios Argentina. In 1996, she joined the Yale University Faculty to work on the development of the Biomedical Engineering program. She further pursued her Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Sciences, also at Yale University, working with Dr John C Gore on the integration of EEG, fMRI and near infrared imaging to study brain function in humans.

After a post-doctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt University, Dr Horovitz joined NINDS in 2004, first as a fellow, where, working with Dr Jeff Duyn, she pioneered the use of EEG and fMRI to investigate the neuronal underpinnings of the level of consciousness. In 2008, she joined the Human Motor Control Section as a Staff Scientist, where she focuses on understanding functional and structural brain alterations underlying functional movement disorders, Parkinson Disease, and other movement disorders.

In January 2023, Dr. Horovitz started leading an NIND strategic initiative to plan and evaluate the feasibility and costs related to developing and operationalizing the mobile collection of multimodal clinical neurology research data. Dr. Horovitz leads the the Mobile Clinical Research Unit. Publications List. 

Research Interests:

Dr. Horovitz has expertise in neuroimaging and the integration of magnetic resonance techniques (MRI and MRS) with other experimental methods such as electrophysiology, behavior, genetics, and clinical data. Her work has expanded into sleep and movement disorders.

Dr Horovitz research interest is to understand and prepare a pathway toward the extension of intramural clinical research operations to enable inclusion of populations and communities traditionally under-represented in on-campus studies, as well as research into the incidence and prediction of asymptomatic, under-detected, or undertreated neurological disorders in these populations. 

Mobile Clinical Research Unit (MCRU) Background

Recent studies have brought to light difficulties and barriers that result in a lack of recruitment and retention of participants in US biomedical research. The NINDS mission to reduce the burden of neurological disease across all aspects of the population requires that a broad swath of patients be represented and retained in neurological studies. 

Representation in research is crucial to advancing neurological health for all. However, lack of access may prevent people from participating. 

Our Mobile Clinical Research Unit (MCRU) aims to developing a model for bringing mobile, innovative, non-invasive MRI and OCT technologies to rural and underserved populations. Our team is especially interested in the use of portable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), both non-invasive imaging tests with the potential to capture signs of neurological disease. 

The NINDS MCRU will address the following long-term goals:

  1. to understand and prepare a pathway toward the extension of intramural clinical research operations to enable participation of populations and communities traditionally under-represented in on-campus studies, as well as research into the incidence and prediction of asymptomatic, under-detected, or undertreated chronic and acute neurological disorders in these populations
  2. to enable population sampling for neuroepidemiology
  3. to enable point-of-care follow-up for neurologically disabled patients in NINDS protocols
  4. to enable extended or more frequent follow-up to evaluate therapies. 

Overall, by enhancing access to clinical research with a community-engaged approach, we seek better neurological care and outcomes for all.

Scope of MCRU Research

On-Site Pilot Study (Protocol IRB 001719N)

This protocol aims to better understand the utility and applicability of ultra-low field (ULF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ULF-MRI can deliver accessible neuroimages that could provide opportunities for increasing participation in research, early therapeutic intervention, and improving standard of care. 

For this purpose, we will invite healthy volunteers and populations with neurological presentations, mostly those enrolled in NIH studies collecting standard brain MRI, to participate in this protocol for ULF-MRI data collection. We will evaluate ULF MRI images in comparison to standard field MRI images. This analysis will aid at defining the type of research we can do with the ULF as a stand-alone technique and provide preliminary data for future research. 

Some example exploratory analyses may aim to:

  • Evaluate the ability to detect specific lesion type / characteristics at ULF MRI.
  • Observe ability to detect changes in lesion size.
  • Characterize the blood brain barrier disruption measures at ULF.

Learn more about our study.

MCRU Community Engagement Efforts

We aim to engage with community stakeholders and capture their perspectives across a range of settings, from informal discussion to focus groups and interviews. These conversations guide the MCRU in an ethically and socially considerate manner, ensuring partnership with the communities we aim to serve. 

We welcome the collaboration and feedback of all stakeholders—including researchers, community members, and organizations. Feel free to email Silvina G. Horovitz, Ph.D. or call/text to 240-974-4479.
 

MCRU Team Members

MCRU Collaborators

Join the MCRU

If interested in joining the MCRU for a training experience, reach out to Silvina Horovitz, Ph.D.