William Greenleaf Eliot Professor
Chemistry
Radiology
Email Contact Info More Publications
Chemistry
Radiology
Internal Medicine
The Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory (BMRL) and its collaborators are focused on the development and application of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and imaging (MRI) for study of intact biological systems. A major area of BMRL research is the development of MR techniques that will provide a more complete understanding of the complex microstructure and governing biophysical and physiologic determinants of mammalian tissues in the intact, functioning state.
One primary focus is the use of water diffusion sensitive MR methods to probe tissue architecture and microstructure at the micron length scale, far less than the actual voxel resolution of the image itself. Tissue microstructure at the micron scale is extraordinarily sensitive to physiologic change and challenge, either normal or pathologic. We seek to elucidate the biophysical phenomena behind the striking changes of water diffusion associated with a variety of normal and pathologic states, with specific focus on cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and developmental neurobiology. Experiments exploit carefully-chosen model systems ranging from single cells (Xenopus oocytes), to populations of cultured cells (HeLa cells), to small animals (mice, rats), to non-human primates, to humans. In addition, a concerted effort is underway to develop the theoretical means by which to quantitatively describe the effect on the MR diffusion signal of various structural barriers that hinder/restrict the incoherent displacement motion of water.
A second focus exploits biologically compatible agents that affect the MR relaxation properties of tissue water. Relaxation agents can be employed to monitor water exchange between compartments, to probe tissue vascular properties (architecture, permeability, blood flow), and to target and identify cell and tissue types. An emphasis is on cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disease, and quantitative compartmental modeling of the MR signal in terms tissue-specific water properties.
Our research and training philosophy stresses hands-on full participation in all aspects of a project by students and fellows. Close collaboration with colleagues on both campuses provides the wide range of expertise required to work at the interface of the physical and biological sciences.
Research Publications
Jespersen SN, Kroenke CD, Ostergaard L, Ackerman JJ, Yablonskiy DA (2006 Dec 21). Modeling dendrite density from magnetic resonance diffusion measurements. Neuroimage. Full Article >
Zhu M, Ackerman JJ, Sukstanskii AL, Yablonskiy DA (2006 Nov). How the body controls brain temperature: the temperature shielding effect of cerebral blood flow. J Appl Physiol. 101 (5): 1481-8. Full Article >
Goodman JA, Kroenke CD, Bretthorst GL, Ackerman JJ, Neil JJ (2005 May). Sodium ion apparent diffusion coefficient in living rat brain. Magn Reson Med. 53 (5): 1040-5. Full Article >
Kroenke CD, Ackerman JJ, Yablonskiy DA (2004 Nov). On the nature of the NAA diffusion attenuated MR signal in the central nervous system. Magn Reson Med. 52 (5): 1052-9. Full Article >
Sukstanskii AL, Yablonskiy DA, Ackerman JJ (2004 Sep). Effects of permeable boundaries on the diffusion-attenuated MR signal: insights from a one-dimensional model. J Magn Reson. 170 (1): 56-66. Full Article >
Kroenke CD, Ackerman JJ, Neil JJ (2003 Oct). Magnetic resonance measurement of tetramethylammonium diffusion in rat brain: Comparison of magnetic resonance and ionophoresis in vivo diffusion measurements. Magn Reson Med. 50 (4): 717-26. Full Article >
Contact Info
Joseph J. H. Ackerman, Ph.D.
Office Location: 2304 East Building (4525 Scott Avenue)
Office Phone: 314-747-1212
Lab Phone: 314-362-9996
Other Phone: 314-935-6582
Campus Box: 8227
Fax: 314-362-0526
ackerman@wustl.edu
