People with psychiatric problems experience a wide
range of symptoms / behaviours for which there are no
specific diagnostic tests. Our research depends on the
principle that a given core symptom or behaviour can
be mapped to the brain, reflecting significant change
in brain tissue volume (sMRI) or change in brain blood
flow (fMRI). For example, identifying facial emotional
expressions can be difficult for people with autism
and so lead to communication problems. Looking at facial
emotional expressions can be used as a specific task
to determine which areas of the brain respond or fail
to engage during the task. This kind of information
can tell us if there are regions that have failed to
develop normally. Our objective is that in future, MRI
can be used to facilitate diagnosis as well as to assess
the effectiveness of treatments that prevent brain injury.
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Currently we employ a range of research
software tools such as SPM99 (Statistical Parametric
Mapping, Wellcome Department of Cognitive Neurology,
Queens Square, London), BAMM (Brain Activation and Morphology
Mapping, Institute of Psychiatry, London and Cambridge
University Brain Mapping Unit), Epirecon (General Electric,
USA), Analyze (Biomedical Imaging Resource at the Mayo
Foundation, USA), Mricro (University of Nottingham,
UK), and Measure (Johns Hopkins University, USA). Our
team warmly welcomes research collaboration as well
as students interested in pursuing MPhil or PHD degrees.
Future research in collaboration with colleagues in
Medical Physics, Radiology and Engineering will focus
on the integration of other speciality techniques such
as electro-encephalography (EEG) or diffusion tension
imaging (DTI) with fMRI and sMRI so as to yield brain
images of the highest quality possible.
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MRI is a quick, safe and widely-used around
the world as a high quality imaging tool. MRI relies on the
principle that water molecules in the body behave like mini-magnets
when given energy by a radio signal in the presence of a large
magnet. Since 70% of the human body is water, MRI is useful
to produce detailed images of body tissue and blood circulation.
The process of scanning can be rather noisy but otherwise,
there is no discomfort. MRI scan does not have X-rays, and
there is no need for drugs/ injections. Most people can safely
undergo MRI scan so long as they do not have metal (ie. ferromagnetic
material) in the body. Thus, all our subjects are strictly
checked first to ensure suitability before having the MRI
scan.
We are keen to recruit subjects of all ages
as healthy volunteers, or with psychiatric disorder. Using
MRI, past research projects have included autism, hyperactivity,
and schizophrenia, and future projects will be extended to
depression. If eligible for study participation, our subjects
are reimbursed for travel/ time and the scan usually takes
about half an hour in the MRI unit. The MRI scan is always
screened by an experienced radiologist to detect any brain
lesion which may warrant further clinical attention. We conduct
detailed voxel-based (whole brain) analysis using powerful
automated statistical mapping software to examine the entire
brain volume for identification of significant brain changes
in terms of brain structure (sMRI) or brain function (fMRI).
All projects are vetted by the Institutional Review Board
(Hong Kong West, and by the MRI Biomedical Safety Sub-committee
(Queen Mary Hospital) for ethical and safety approval respectively.
- SSM
students join for a month fulltime. During this time they
will be guided in order to contribute meaningfully to ongoing
projects.
- SSM students can bring
their own project ideas if they prefer. However, we have a
range of projects in psychosis, autism, hyperactivity, depression.
We use MRI (functional, structural) and multichannel EEG to
do brain mapping.
- Some students enjoy more clinical experience, such as seeing
patients or attending ward rounds. This can be arranged.
- Some students
in the past have made a significant research contribution,
meriting co-authorship. This is encouraged.
- By joining the Brain
imaging group for a period we hope students gain a better
understanding of how a research protocol works, from design
stage to manuscript preparation. However in the short time
available we do not expect that SSM students participate at
every stage. Ideally students can manage a miniproject within
the time available. Above all, we hope to make the SSM enjoyable
and instructive, this is the point of research !
| 1. |
Jason Cheung, Faculty
of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong |
| 2. |
Jack Tsang, Faculty
of Medicine, The Unviersity of Hong Kong |
| 1. |
Nina Lienenkaemper,
Department of Biomedical Sciences, The University of
Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands |
| 2. |
Hasan S., Merali, Havard
Medical School, Harvard University, USA. |
| 3. |
Jason C.H. Wong,
Department of Life Sciences, Queen's University, Canada |
| 4. |
Naikei Wong, Singapore |
| 1. |
McAlonan, G. M., Cheung,
C., Cheung, V., Lienenkaemper, N., Wong, N. K., Suckling,
J., Chua, S. E. (in press). Distinct patterns of grey
matter abnormality in high functioning autism and Asperger's
syndrome, Journal of Child Psychiatry and psychology. |
| 2. |
Chua,
S. E., Cheung, C., Cheung, V., Tsang, J. T. K., Chen,
E. Y. H., Wong, J. C. H., Cheung, J. P. Y., Leung, V.
K. F., Yip, L., Tai, K. S., Suckling, J., Bullmore, Ed.,
McAlonan, G. M. (2007). Cerebral grey, white matter &
CSF in never-medicated, first-episode schizophrenia. Schizophrenia
Research, 89(1-3), 12-21. |
| 3. |
S. E. Chua, Y. Deng, E. Y. H. Chen, C. W.
Law, C. P. Y. Chiu, C. Cheung, J. C. H. Wong, N. Lienenkaemper,
V. Cheung, J Suckling, G. M. McAlonan. Early striatal
hypertrophy in first-episode psychosis within three weeks
of initiating antipsychotic drug treatment. Psychological
Medicine (in press). |
| 4. |
Deng, M. Y., McAlonan,
G. M., Cheung, C., Merali, H. S., Chiu, C. P. Y., Law,
C. W., Cheung, V., Sham, P. C., Chen, E. Y. H., Chua,
S. E. Early evidence of grey matter volume increase after
treatment in anti-psychotic naive, newly diagnosed schizophrenia.
In submission. |
| 5. |
McAlonan, G. M., Cheung,
C., Cheung, V., Wong, N. K., Suckling, J., Chua, S. E.
Differential effects on white matter systems in high functioning
autism and Asperger's syndrome. In submission. |
| 1. |
Deng,
M. Y., Merali, H. S., Cheung, C., Chen, E. Y. H., Cheung,
V., McAlonan, G. M., Chua, S. E. (2008). Early evidence
of cerebral grey matter volume changed after treatment
in neuroleptic naive, newly diagnosed schizophrenia, Schizophrenia
Research, 98 Supp 1, 38. 14th Biannual Winter Workshop
on Schizophrenia, Montreux, Switzerland. |
| 2. |
Merali,
H. S., Deng, M. Y., Cheung, C., Chen, E. Y. H., Cheung,
V., McAlonan, G. M., Chua, S. E. (2008). Grey matter excess
in basal ganglia after early treatment in neuroleptic
naive, newly diagnosed schizophrenia, Schizophrenia
Research, 98 Supp 1, 128-129. 14th Biannual Winter Workshop
on Schizophrenia, Montreux, Switzerland. |
| 3. |
Deng, Y., Cheung, V.,
Cheung, C., Chen, E. Y. H., Tsang, J. T. K., Wong, J.
C. H., Yip, L., Tai, K. S., Suckling, J., McAlonan, G.
M., Chua, S. E. (2007). Early cerebral grey matter excess
in basal ganglia after early treatment in first-onset,
never-medicated schizophrenia. 2nd International Congress
of Biological Psychiatry. Santiago, Chile. |
| 4. |
Cheung, J. P. Y., Cheung,
V., Cheung, C., Chen, E. Y. H., Tsang, J. T. K., Wong,
J. C. H., Yip, L., Tai, K. S., Suckling, J., Bullmore,
E., McAlonan, G. M., & Chua, S. E. (2006) Early striatal
& extrastriatal cerebral grey matter excess within 3 weeks
of anti-psychotic treatment in schizophrenia. 13th
Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland,
3 - 10 Feb. |
| 5. |
Wong, J. C. H., Cheung,
C., Cheung, V., Chen, E. Y. H., Tsang, J. T. K., Yip,
L., Tai, K. S., Suckling, J., Bullmore, E., Chua, S. E.,
McAlonan, G. M. (2006). Bilateral caudate volume deficits
in never-treated schizophrenia. 13th Biennial
Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland,
3 - 10 Feb. |
| 2008 |
Paul Dudley White Traveling
Fellowship, Harvard Medical School, 14th
Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Montreux, Canada. |
| 2006 |
Young Scientist Award, 13th
Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland,
3 - 10 Feb. |
| 2006 |
Travel Grants, 13th
Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland,
3 - 10 Feb. |
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