The structure and shape of the brain changes through development, ageing, and in disease. It has been used as a biomarker to identify diseased or at-risk patients, and regional abnormalities can help localise tissue that is causing the disorder, for example in focal epilepsies. However, with some rare exceptions, it is less clear if brain structure and shape derived from neuroimaging can also reliably track (disease) processes and progression in individual human subjects.
On a cohort-level, cross-sectionally, changes in cortical shape and structural connectivity between brain regions have been correlated with age, and markers of disease severity or progression. These changes include local or global shape alterations, increased or reduced connectivity between specific regions, or a widespread network reorganisation. However, the relationship and causality of the processes and the morphological and connectivity changes are generally not established. Thus, longitudinal tracking of individual subjects alongside with ageing/disease outcome variables are crucial in developing individualised neuroimaging markers of ageing, degenerative processes, progressive diseases, and restoration.
Proposed research:
We propose to use large-scale open-access longitudinal structural neuroimaging datasets to establish the relationship between morphological and connectivity changes across different processes, and relate them to outcome measures of the process. We will use healthy ageing as an initial process, given the previous work on brain-age prediction; and outcome measures will include age and other neuropsychological measures. Having established a baseline with healthy ageing, we propose to then turn to dementia and epilepsy as application domains, given the strength and expertise in the supervisory team in those areas.
Another key expertise in Newcastle is the development of computational biomarkers based on mechanistic understanding of the processes driving brain shape (see references below). Thus, this project is a unique opportunity to combine computational and machine learning/AI methods with huge neuroimaging datasets to gain a mechanistic understanding of how and why brain structure and shape change in a range of processes.
Potential impact:
This project will improve our understanding of how ageing and brain disorders progress and how reorganisation occurs. The study of longitudinal data will inform on the potential causality of the neuroimaging structural changes. This will enable us to predict disease progression on an individual basis based on the interaction of outcome measure, morphological and connectivity measures, which can be translated into computational tools to aid prognosis and inform medical decisions.
Environment:
This project is interdisciplinary and will be supported by a rich research environment as part the Computational Neuroscience, Neurology, and Psychiatry (CNNP) lab and the Lewy Body Lab. We expect the student to work and collaborate with neuroscientists, computer scientists, mathematicians, and clinicians; thus being exposed to different styles of working and different ways of scientific thinking. This will ensure that we train the next generation of interdisciplinary researchers with crucial transferable skills. We will run weekly group meetings, often with external speakers, which help to create a vibrant and stimulating research environment.
How to Apply:
FURTHER DETAILS AND A GUIDE TO THE FORMAT REQUIRED FOR THE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IS AVAILABLE AT https://www.ncl.ac.uk/research/transformative-neuroscience/studentship/ . Please read the information there before submitting your application. Applications not meeting these criteria may be rejected.
Applications should be made by emailing [Email Address Removed] with:
- a completed copy of the Application Form. A blank copy of the form can be found at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/research/transformative-neuroscience/studentship/
- a CV (including contact details of two academic referees).
- a covering letter. This should explain your particular interest in the projects selected, and include any additional information you feel is pertinent to your application
- copies of your degree transcripts and certificates
- a copy of your passport (photo page).
- your English language certificate (IELTS or TOEFL certificate, where applicable)
Informal enquiries may be made to the supervisors.
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