Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when an external force traumatically injures the brain, often as a result of traffic accidents, sports injuries, or violence. The effects of TBI can range from a concussion to severe brain damage and even death. Signatured with a complex pathophysiology, TBI encompasses changes to molecular, cellular, functional, and gross anatomical structure with a cascade of deleterious physiological changes following the initial impact. Recent studies have shown TBI to be associated with an increased risk of early-onset dementia, as key protein aggregates, which incidentally also play a role in Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia, have been reported in patients who have sustained a TBI.
Previously, Dr Nasrallah has demonstrated extensive experience in the application of multimodality imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), especially resting state functional MRI (rsfMRI), positron emission tomography and electrophysiology, to understand brain function in rodents and humans.
She was able to demonstrate, for the first time, the potential to detect changing resting state networks following a cognitive task in the sedated rodent brain using rsfMRI. She was also the first to detect such resting state functional connectivity networks in the mouse brain.
Having moved to QBI in late 2015, her laboratory aims to harness multimodality methods to identify and comprehend the fundamental mechanisms triggered following TBI. This will allow mapping of structural, functional, metabolic and molecular changes in the brain in an attempt to cross-link imaging metrics with behavioural measures and protein biomarkers, giving insight into the pathophysiology of TBI and its link to dementia. The scope of the research will include: (1) development and validation of animal models of TBI, (2) development of specific imaging tools and diagnostic molecular biomarkers of TBI and dementia, and (3) translation of novel imaging tools and biomarkers to clinical investigations.
Group leader
Associate Professor Fatima Nasrallah
MAIC Senior Research Fellow - GL, Queensland Brain Institute
+61 7 344 33004
f.nasrallah@uq.edu.au
UQ Researcher Profile
Journal Articles
To, Xuan Vinh, Vegh, Viktor, Owusu-Amoah, Naana, Cumming, Paul and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2023). Hippocampal demyelination is associated with increased magnetic susceptibility in a mouse model of concussion. Experimental Neurology, 365 114406. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114406
Nasrallah, Fatima, Bellapart, Judith, Walsham, James, Jacobson, Esther, To, Xuan Vinh, Manzanero, Silvia, Brown, Nathan, Meyer, Jason, Stuart, Janine, Evans, Tracey, Chandra, Shekhar S, Ross, Jason, Campbell, Lewis, Senthuran, Siva, Newcombe, Virginia, McCullough, James, Fleming, Jennifer, Pollard, Clifford and Reade, Michael (2023). PREdiction and Diagnosis using Imaging and Clinical biomarkers Trial in Traumatic Brain Injury (PREDICT-TBI) study protocol: an observational, prospective, multicentre cohort study for the prediction of outcome in moderate-to-severe TBI. BMJ Open, 13 (4), e067740. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067740
To, Xuan Vinh, Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Cumming, Paul and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2023). Association of sub-acute changes in plasma amino acid levels with long-term brain pathologies in a rat model of moderate-severe traumatic brain injury. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16 1014081. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1014081
Kn, Bhanu Prakash, Cs, Arvind, Mohammed, Abdalla, Chitta, Krishna Kanth, To, Xuan Vinh, Srour, Hussein and Nasrallah, Fatima (2023). An end-end deep learning framework for lesion segmentation on multi-contrast MR images—an exploratory study in a rat model of traumatic brain injury. Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing, 61 (3), 847-865. doi: 10.1007/s11517-022-02752-4
Gao, Yang, Xiong, Zhuang, Fazlollahi, Amir, Nestor, Peter J., Vegh, Viktor, Nasrallah, Fatima, Winter, Craig, Pike, G. Bruce, Crozier, Stuart, Liu, Feng and Sun, Hongfu (2022). Instant tissue field and magnetic susceptibility mapping from MRI raw phase using Laplacian enhanced deep neural networks. NeuroImage, 259 119410, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119410
Vinh To, Xuan, Soni, Neha, Medeiros, Rodrigo, Alateeq, Khawlah and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2022). Traumatic brain injury alterations in the functional connectome are associated with neuroinflammation but not tau in a P30IL tauopathy mouse model. Brain Research, 1789 147955, 147955. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.147955
Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Cumming, Paul, Nasrallah, Fatima A. and Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (2022). Escalation of tau accumulation after a traumatic brain injury: findings from positron emission tomography. Brain Sciences, 12 (7) 876, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12070876
To, Xuan Vinh and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2022). A mice resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging dataset on the effects of medetomidine dosages and prior-stimulation on functional connectivity. Data in Brief, 42 108279, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2022.108279
Ellethy, Hanem, Chandra, Shekhar S. and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2022). Deep neural networks predict the need for CT in pediatric mild traumatic brain injury: a corroboration of the PECARN rule. Journal of the American College of Radiology, 19 (6), 769-778. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2022.02.024
To, Xuan Vinh, Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Cumming, Paul and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2022). Subacute cytokine changes after a traumatic brain injury predict chronic brain microstructural alterations on advanced diffusion imaging in the male rat. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 102, 137-150. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.02.017
To, Xuan Vinh, Vegh, Viktor and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2022). Towards data-driven group inferences of resting-state fMRI data in rodents: comparison of group ICA, GIG-ICA, and IVA-GL. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 366 109411, 109411. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109411
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Yap, Hong Kai, Lai, Hwa Sen, Yeow, Chen-Hua and Lim, Jeong Hoon (2022). Effect of proprioceptive stimulation using a soft robotic glove on motor activation and brain connectivity in stroke survivors. Journal of Neural Engineering, 18 (6) 066049. doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac456c
Zhou, Xiaoqing Alice, Blackmore, Daniel G., Zhuo, Junjie, Nasrallah, Fatima A., To, XuanVinh, Kurniawan, Nyoman D., Carlisle, Alison, Vien, King-Year, Chuang, Kai-Hsiang, Jiang, Tianzi and Bartlett, Perry F. (2021). Neurogenic-dependent changes in hippocampal circuitry underlie the pro-cognitive effect of exercise in ageing mice. iScience, 24 (12) 103450, 103450. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103450
Patkar, Omkar L., Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Narayanan, Ashwin, Mardon, Karine, Cowin, Gary, Bhalla, Rajiv, Stimson, Damion H. R., Kassiou, Michael, Beecher, Kate, Belmer, Arnauld, Alvarez Cooper, Ignatius, Morgan, Michael, Hume, David A., Irvine, Katharine M., Bartlett, Selena E., Nasrallah, Fatima and Cumming, Paul (2021). A binge high sucrose diet provokes systemic and cerebral inflammation in rats without inducing obesity. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 11252, 11252. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-90817-z
Cheng, Hsiao-Ju, Ng, Kwun Kei, Qian, Xing, Ji, Fang, Lu, Zhong Kang, Teo, Wei Peng, Hong, Xin, Nasrallah, Fatima Ali, Ang, Kai Keng, Chuang, Kai-Hsiang, Guan, Cuntai, Yu, Haoyong, Chew, Effie and Zhou, Juan Helen (2021). Task-related brain functional network reconfigurations relate to motor recovery in chronic subcortical stroke. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 8442, 8442. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-87789-5
Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Cumming, Paul and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2021). Traumatic brain injury augurs ill for prolonged deficits in the brain’s structural and functional integrity following controlled cortical impact injury. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 21559, 21559. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-00660-5
Discriminating head trauma outcomes using machine learning and genomics
Ibrahim, Omar, Sutherland, Heidi G., Lea, Rodney A., Nasrallah, Fatima, Maksemous, Neven, Smith, Robert A., Haupt, Larisa M. and Griffiths, Lyn R. (2021). Discriminating head trauma outcomes using machine learning and genomics. Journal of Molecular Medicine, 100 (2), 303-312. doi: 10.1007/s00109-021-02158-z
Winter, Craig, Bjorkman, Tracy, Miller, Stephanie, Nichols, Paul, Cardinal, John, O’Rourke, Peter, Ballard, Emma, Nasrallah, Fatima and Vegh, Viktor (2021). Acute mountain sickness following incremental trekking to high altitude: correlation with plasma vascular endothelial growth factor levels and the possible effects of dexamethasone and acclimatization following re-exposure. Frontiers in Physiology, 12 746044, 746044. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.746044
Multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging in a mouse model of concussion
To, Xuan Vinh and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2021). Multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging in a mouse model of concussion. Scientific Data, 8 (1) 207, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41597-021-00985-w
The detection of mild traumatic brain injury in paediatrics using artificial neural networks
Ellethy, Hanem, Chandra, Shekhar S. and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2021). The detection of mild traumatic brain injury in paediatrics using artificial neural networks. Computers in Biology and Medicine, 135 104614, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2021.104614
Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Nestor, Peter J., Cumming, Paul, Nasrallah, Fatima A. and for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (2021). Traumatic brain injury fast-forwards Alzheimer’s pathology: evidence from amyloid positron emission tomorgraphy imaging. Journal of Neurology, 269 (2), 873-884. doi: 10.1007/s00415-021-10669-5
Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Cumming, Paul and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2021). White matter alterations are associated with cognitive dysfunction decades after moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury and/or posttraumatic stress disorder. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 6 (11), 1100-1109. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.04.014
Soni, Neha, Medeiros, Rodrigo, Alateeq, Khawlah, To, Xuan Vinh and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2021). Diffusion tensor imaging detects acute pathology-specific changes in the P301L tauopathy mouse model following traumatic brain injury. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 15 611451, 611451. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2021.611451
A roadmap of brain recovery in a mouse model of concussion: insights from neuroimaging
To, Xuan Vinh and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2021). A roadmap of brain recovery in a mouse model of concussion: insights from neuroimaging. Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 9 (1) 2, 2. doi: 10.1186/s40478-020-01098-y
Nichols, Paul, Urriola, Javier, Miller, Stephanie, Bjorkman, Tracey, Mahady, Kate, Vegh, Viktor, Nasrallah, Fatima and Winter, Craig (2021). Blood-brain barrier dysfunction significantly correlates with serum matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) following traumatic brain injury. NeuroImage: Clinical, 31 102741, 102741. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102741
To, Xuan Vinh, Benetatos, Joseph, Soni, Neha, Liu, Dedao, Abraha, Hyab Mehari, Yan, Wenyi, Panagiotopoulou, Olga and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2020). Ultra-high-field diffusion tensor imaging identifies discrete patterns of concussive Injury in the rodent brain. Journal of Neurotrauma, 38 (8) neu.2019.6944, 1-16. doi: 10.1089/neu.2019.6944
Soni, Neha, Vegh, Viktor, To, Xuan Vinh, Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Borges, Karin and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2020). Combined diffusion tensor imaging and quantitative susceptibility mapping discern discrete facets of white matter pathology post-injury in the rodent brain. Frontiers in Neurology, 11 153, 1-16. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00153
Evaluating spatiotemporal microstructural alterations following diffuse traumatic brain injury
Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Corrigan, Frances, Collins-Praino, Lyndsey E., Plummer, Stephanie L., Soni, Neha and Nasrallah, Fatima (2020). Evaluating spatiotemporal microstructural alterations following diffuse traumatic brain injury. NeuroImage: Clinical, 25 102136, 102136. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.102136
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Campbell, Megan EJ., Yap, Hong Kai, Yeow, Chen-Hua and Lim, Jeong Hoon (2019). Functional connectivity of brain associated with passive range of motion exercise: proprioceptive input promoting motor activation?. NeuroImage, 202 116023, 116023. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116023
Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Cumming, Paul and Nasrallah, Fatima (2019). Response to the letter concerning the publication: Amyloid pathology fingerprint differentiates post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Mohamed AZ, et al. NeuroImage Clinical 2018 June 5;19:716–726. NeuroImage: Clinical, 23 101867, 101867. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101867
Soni, Neha, Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Kurniawan, Nyoman D., Borges, Karin and Nasrallah, Fatima (2019). Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging unveils the spatiotemporal microstructural gray matter changes following injury in the rodent brain. Journal of Neurotrauma, 36 (8), 1306-1317. doi: 10.1089/neu.2018.5972
Editorial: Neuroscientific research for management of dementia
Kamal, Mohammad A. and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2019). Editorial: Neuroscientific research for management of dementia. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 11 31, 31. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00031
Evaluation of nuisance removal for functional MRI of rodent brain
Chuang, Kai-Hsiang, Lee, Hsu-Lei, Li, Zengmin, Chang, Wei-Tang, Nasrallah, Fatima A., Yeow, Ling Yun and Singh, Kavita Kaur D./O.Ranjit (2019). Evaluation of nuisance removal for functional MRI of rodent brain. NeuroImage, 188, 694-709. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.12.048
Venkataraman, Kavita, Pun, Vivian, Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Luo, Miyang, Wong, Caroline, Zong, Fangrong, Khoo, Eric Y.H., Tai, E. Shyong and Nasrallah, Fatima (2019). Altered motor and motor perceptual cognitive imagery task-related activation in diabetic peripheral neuropathy: insights from functional MRI. Diabetes Care, 42 (10), 2004-2007. doi: 10.2337/dc19-0746
Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Cumming, Paul, Srour, Hussein, Gunasena, Tamara, Uchida, Aya, Haller, Courtney Nicole and Nasrallah, Fatima (2019). Corrigendum to ‘Amyloid pathology fingerprint differentiates post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury’ NeuroImage: CLINICAL. 19 (2018) 716–726 (NeuroImage: Clinical (2018) 19 (716–726), (S2213158218301621), (10.1016/j.nicl.2018.05.016)). NeuroImage: Clinical, 22 101829, 101829. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101829
Tauopathy in veterans with long-term posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury
Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Cumming, Paul, Götz, Jürgen and Nasrallah, Fatima (2019). Tauopathy in veterans with long-term posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 46 (5), 1139-1151. doi: 10.1007/s00259-018-4241-7
Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Cumming, Paul, Srour, Hussein, Gunasena, Tamara, Uchida, Aya, Haller, Courtney Nicole, Nasrallah, Fatima and Department of Defense Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (2018). Amyloid pathology fingerprint differentiates post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. NeuroImage: Clinical, 19 101829, 716-726. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.05.016
Yap, Hong Kai, Lim, Jeong Hoon, Nasrallah, Fatima and Yeow, Chen-Hua (2018). Design and preliminary feasibility study of a soft robotic glove for hand function assistance in stroke survivors (vol 11, 547, 2017). Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12 (MAY) 323, 323. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00323
Blackmore, Daniel G., Turpin, Fabrice, Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Zong, Fangrong, Pandit, Rucha, Pelekanos, Matthew, Nasrallah, Fatima, Sah, Pankaj, Bartlett, Perry F. and Gotz, Juergen (2018). Multimodal analysis of aged wild-type mice exposed to repeated scanning ultrasound treatments demonstrates long-term safety. Theranostics, 8 (22), 6233-6247. doi: 10.7150/thno.27941
Yap, Hong Kai, Lim, Jeong Noon, Nasrallah, Fatima and Yeow, Chen-Hua (2017). Design and Preliminary Feasibility Study of a Soft Robotic Glove for Hand Function Assistance in Stroke Survivors. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 11 (OCT) 547, 547. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00547
Functional networks and network perturbations in rodents
Chuang, Kai-Hsiang and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2017). Functional networks and network perturbations in rodents. Neuroimage, 163, 419-436. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.09.038
Xin Hong, Lu, Zhong Kang , Teh, Irvin , Nasrallah, Fatima Ali , Teo, Wei Peng , Ang, Kai Keng , Phua, Kok Soon , Guan, Cuntai , Chew, Efe and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2017). Brain plasticity following MI-BCI training combined with tDCS in a randomized trial in chronic subcortical stroke subjects: a preliminary study. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 9222, 9222. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-08928-5
GABAergic effect on resting-state functional connectivity: dynamics under pharmacological antagonism
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Singh, Kavita Kaur D./O. Ranjit, Yeow, Ling Yun and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2017). GABAergic effect on resting-state functional connectivity: dynamics under pharmacological antagonism. NeuroImage, 149, 53-62. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.01.040
Furlong, Teri M., Duncan, Jhodie R., Corbit, Laura H., Rae, Caroline D., Rowlands, Benjamin D., Maher, Anthony D., Nasrallah, Fatima A., Milligan, Carol J., Petrou, Steven, Lawrence, Andrew J. and Balleine, Bernard W. (2016). Toluene inhalation in adolescent rats reduces flexible behaviour in adulthood and alters glutamatergic and GABAergic signalling. Journal of Neurochemistry, 139 (5), 806-822. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13858
Yap, Hong, Kamaldin, Nazir, Lim, Jeong, Nasrallah, Fatima, Goh, James Cho Hong and Yeow, Chen-Hua (2016). A magnetic resonance compatible soft wearable robotic glove for hand rehabilitation and brain imaging. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 25 (99), 782-793. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2016.2602941
Resting state functional connectivity data supports detection of cognition in the rodent brain
Nasrallah, Fatima A., To, Xuan Vinh, Chen, Der-Yow, Routtenberg, Aryeh and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2016). Resting state functional connectivity data supports detection of cognition in the rodent brain. Data in Brief, 7, 1156-1164. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2016.03.041
Yap, Hong Kai, Lim, Jeong Hoon, Nasrallah, Fatima, Cho Hong Goh, James and Yeow, Chen-Hua (2016). Characterisation and evaluation of soft elastomeric actuators for hand assistive and rehabilitation applications. Journal of Medical Engineering and Technology, 40 (4), 199-209. doi: 10.3109/03091902.2016.1161853
Functional connectivity MRI tracks memory networks after maze learning in rodents
Nasrallah, Fatima A., To, Xuan Vinh, Chen, Der-Yow, Routtenberg, Aryeh and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2016). Functional connectivity MRI tracks memory networks after maze learning in rodents. NeuroImage, 127, 196-202. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.08.013
Metabolomic approaches to defining the role(s) of GABAρ receptors in the brain
Rae, Caroline, Nasrallah, Fatima A., Balcar, Vladimir J., Rowlands, Benjamin D., Johnston, Graham A. R. and Hanrahan, Jane R. (2015). Metabolomic approaches to defining the role(s) of GABAρ receptors in the brain. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 10 (3), 445-456. doi: 10.1007/s11481-014-9579-4
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Yeow, Ling Yun, Biswal, Bharat and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2015). Dependence of BOLD signal fluctuation on arterial blood CO2 and O2: Implication for resting-state functional connectivity. NeuroImage, 117, 29-39. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.05.035
Pharmacokinetics of Gd(DO3A-Lys) and MR imaging studies in an orthotopic U87MG glioma tumor model
Chandrasekharan, Prashant, Yang, Chang-Tong, Nasrallah, Fatima Ali, Tay, Hui Chien, Chuang, Kai-Hsiang and Robins, Edward G. (2015). Pharmacokinetics of Gd(DO3A-Lys) and MR imaging studies in an orthotopic U87MG glioma tumor model. Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging, 10 (3), 237-244. doi: 10.1002/cmmi.1634
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Low, Si-Min, Lew, Si Kang, Chen, Kaina and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2014). Pharmacological insight into neurotransmission origins of resting-state functional connectivity: α2-adrenergic agonist vs antagonist. NeuroImage, 103, 364-373. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.09.004
Rae, Caroline D., Davidson, Joanne E., Maher, Anthony D., Rowlands, Benjamin D., Kashem, Mohammed A., Nasrallah, Fatima A., Rallapalli, Sundari K., Cook, James M. and Balcar, Vladimir J. (2014). Ethanol, not detectably metabolized in brain, significantly reduces brain metabolism, probably via action at specific GABA(A) receptors and has measureable metabolic effects at very low concentrations. Journal of Neurochemistry, 129 (2), 304-314. doi: 10.1111/jnc.12634
Detection of functional connectivity in the resting mouse brain
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Tay, Hui-Chien and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2014). Detection of functional connectivity in the resting mouse brain. NeuroImage, 86, 417-424. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.10.025
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Lew, Si Kang, Low, Amanda Si-Min and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2014). Neural correlate of resting-state functional connectivity under α2 adrenergic receptor agonist, medetomidine. NeuroImage, 84, 27-34. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.08.004
Imaging brain deoxyglucose uptake and metabolism by glucoCEST MRI
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Pages, Guilhem, Kuchel, Philip W., Golay, Xavier and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2013). Imaging brain deoxyglucose uptake and metabolism by glucoCEST MRI. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 33 (8), 1270-1278. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2013.79
Metabolism, compartmentation, transport and production of acetate in the cortical brain tissue slice
Rae, Caroline, Fekete, Aurelie D., Kashem, Mohammed A., Nasrallah, Fatima A. and Broeer, Stefan (2012). Metabolism, compartmentation, transport and production of acetate in the cortical brain tissue slice. Neurochemical Research, 37 (11), 2541-2553. doi: 10.1007/s11064-012-0847-5
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Lee, Eugene L. Q. and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2012). Optimization of flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) for perfusion functional MRI of rodent brain. NMR in Biomedicine, 25 (11), 1209-1216. doi: 10.1002/nbm.2790
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Tan, Jolena and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2012). Pharmacological modulation of functional connectivity: α2-adrenergic receptor agonist alters synchrony but not neural activation. NeuroImage, 60 (1), 436-446. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.12.026
Activity-dependent γ-aminobutyric acid release controls brain cortical tissue slice metabolism
Nasrallah, Fatima A. , Balcar, Vladimir J. and Rae, Caroline D. (2011). Activity-dependent γ-aminobutyric acid release controls brain cortical tissue slice metabolism. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 89 (12), 1935-1945. doi: 10.1002/jnr.22649
A metabonomic study of inhibition of GABA uptake in the cerebral cortex
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Balcar, Vladimir J. and Rae, Caroline (2010). A metabonomic study of inhibition of GABA uptake in the cerebral cortex. Metabolomics, 6 (1), 67-77. doi: 10.1007/s11306-009-0176-0
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Maher, Anthony D., Hanrahan, Jane R., Balcar, Vladimir J. and Rae, Caroline D. (2010). γ-Hydroxybutyrate and the GABAergic footprint: A metabolomic approach to unpicking the actions of GHB. Journal of Neurochemistry, 115 (1), 58-67. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06901.x
Rae, Caroline, Nasrallah, Fatima A. and Bröer, Stefan (2009). Metabolic effects of blocking lactate transport in brain cortical tissue slices using an inhibitor specific to MCT1 and MCT2. Neurochemical Research, 34 (10), 1783-1791. doi: 10.1007/s11064-009-9973-0
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Griffin, Julian L., Balcar, Vladimir J. and Rae, Caroline (2009). Understanding your inhibitions: Effects of GABA and GABAA receptor modulation on brain cortical metabolism. Journal of Neurochemistry, 108 (1), 57-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2008.05742.x
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Garner, Brett, Ball, Graham E. and Rae, Caroline (2008). Modulation of brain metabolism by very low concentrations of the commonly used drug delivery vehicle dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Journal of Neuroscience Research, 86 (1), 208-214. doi: 10.1002/jnr.21477
Understanding your inhibitions: Modulation of brain cortical metabolism by GABAB receptors
Nasrallah, Fatima A., Griffin, Julian L., Balcar, Vladimir J. and Rae, Caroline (2007). Understanding your inhibitions: Modulation of brain cortical metabolism by GABAB receptors. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 27 (8), 1510-1520. doi: 10.1038/sj.jcbfm.9600453
ALANINE METABOLISM, TRANSPORT AND CYCLING IN THE BRAIN
Bröer, Stefan, Bröer, Angelika, Hansen, Jonas T., Bubb, William A., Balcar, Vladimir J., Nasrallah, Fatima A., Garner, Brett and Rae, Caroline (2007). ALANINE METABOLISM, TRANSPORT AND CYCLING IN THE BRAIN. Journal of Neurochemistry, 102 (6), 1758-1770. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.004654.x
Conference Publication
Venkataraman, K., Pun, V., Mohamed, A. Z., Luo, M., Wong, C., Zong, F., Khoo, E. Y. H., Tai, E. S. and Nasrallah, F. (2019). Altered motor and motor imagery task related activation in diabetic peripheral neuropathy: insights from functional magnetic resonance imaging. 55th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Barcelona, Spain, 16-20 September, 2019. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer.
Fluorinated benzimidazole sulfones as candidate radioligands for CB2 PET-imaging
Kallinen, Annukka, Boyd, Rochelle, Lane, Samuel, Bhalla, Rajiv, Mardon, Karine, Stimson, Damion, Cowin, Gary, Nasrallah, Fatima, Werry, Eryn, Connor, Mark and Kassiou, Michael (2019). Fluorinated benzimidazole sulfones as candidate radioligands for CB2 PET-imaging. 23rd International Symposium on Radiopharmaceutical Sciences (ISRS 2019), Beijing, China, 26-31 May 2019. Oxford, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons.
Hu, Mengjiao, Ji, Fang, Lu, Zhongkang, Huang, Weimin, Khosrowabadi, Reza, Zhao, Ling, Ang, Kai Keng, Phua, Kok Soon, Nasrallah, Fatima Ali, Chuang, Kai-Hsiang, Stephenson, Mary C, Totman, John, Jiang, Xudong, Chew, Effie, Guan, Cuntai and Zhou, Juan (2018). Differential amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in brain networks after BCI training with and without tDCS in stroke. 40th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), Honolulu, HI, United States, 18-21 July 2018. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2018.8512395
Yap, Hong Kai, Lim, Jeong Hoon, Nasrallah, Fatima, Goh, James C. H. and Yeow, Raye C. H. (2015). A soft exoskeleton for hand assistive and rehabilitation application using pneumatic actuators with variable stiffness. 2015 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA, Seattle, WA USA, 26-30 May 2015. Washington, DC USA: IEEE Computer Society. doi: 10.1109/ICRA.2015.7139889
Combining EPI and motion correction for fMRI human brain images with big motion
Lu, Zhongkang, Phua, Kok Soon, Huang, Weimin, Hong, Xin, Nasrallah, Fatima Ali, Chuang, Kai-Hsiang and Guan, Cuntai (2015). Combining EPI and motion correction for fMRI human brain images with big motion. 3Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), Milan, Italy, 25-29 August 2015. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2015.7319624
MRC-glove: A fMRI compatible soft robotic glove for hand rehabilitation application
Yap, Hong Kai, Lim, Jeong Hoon, Nasrallah, Fatima, Low, Fan-Zhe, Goh, James C.H. and Yeow, Raye C.H. (2015). MRC-glove: A fMRI compatible soft robotic glove for hand rehabilitation application. IEEE Computer Society. doi: 10.1109/ICORR.2015.7281289
Rae, Caroline, Nasrallah, Fatima A., Griffin, Julian L. and Balcar, Vladimir J. (2009). Now i know my ABC. A systems neurochemistry and functional metabolomic approach to understanding the GABAergic system. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.05803.x
Honours projects available
Mapping the functional connectome following a concussion
Resting state functional connectivity using fMRI has become an important tool in examining differences in brain activity between patient and healthy populations. It describes interregional correlations across the brain and has gained prominence in recent years not only for its usefulness in highlighting several functional neural networks of the brain, but also for identifying neuroimaging biomarkers of a disorder.
This work will focus on understanding the functional connectome in the brain and how the temporal profile of these brain networks change over time following a concussive injury, specifically in sports-related concussion.
The candidate will gain experience in multimodality imaging methods, data analysis of imaging data, and a better understanding of the biomarkers that are related to concussion detection and prediction.
Probing markers of axonal injury and tissue integrity in traumatic brain injury patients using Diffusion tensor imaging
Traumatic brain injury affects a significant number of patients worldwide. The changes in the brain that provide us with sufficient information to predict patient outcomes are not known.
In this project we aim to use advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), specifically diffusion tensor imaging, to determine changes in the grey and white matter of the brain to allow better interpretation of whether these changes allow for better diagnosis of injury severity and better prognostication of patient outcome.
Gained skills: The project will provide candidates with the theoretical and technical expertise relevant to multimodal MRI imaging, MRI data processing, and the software skills that would allow them to interpret the next stage of MRI data that may become the standard of care in the clinic.
Prior experience: an interest in magnetic resonance imaging and traumatic brain injury. The work would be suitable for students with a background in medicine, biomedical sciences, computational neuroscience, biomedical engineering, engineering, neuroscience or other areas of study. No prior experience in MRI imaging and data processing is required although this would be preferable and the candidate will be able to learn such skills as part of the process.
Blood brain barrier leakiness measured with magnetic resonance imaging following a traumatic brain injury
The blood brain barrier (BBB) is the border that protects our brain. Following a traumatic brain injury, the blood brain barrier becomes leaky and we can use magnetic resonance imaging, specifically, dynamic contrast enhanced MRI, to measure this leakiness. We have data that has been collected and is being collected to investigate ways to monitor BBB leakiness and determine whether it can predict the outcome of a patient following a traumatic brain injury.
Gained skills: The project will provide candidates with the theoretical and technical expertise relevant to multimodal MRI imaging, MRI data processing, and the software skills that would allow them to interpret the next stage of MRI data that may become the standard of care in the clinic.
Prior experience: an interest in magnetic resonance imaging and traumatic brain injury. The work would be suitable for students with a background in, but not limited to, medicine, biomedical sciences, computational neuroscience, biomedical engineering, engineering, neuroscience or other areas of study. No prior experience in MRI imaging and data processing is required although this would be preferable, and the candidate will be able to learn such skills as part of the process.
PhD projects available
Prediction of outcome following mild traumatic brain injury: a combined artificial intelligence and magnetic resonance imaging approach.
Mild traumatic brain injury is a condition which occurs from a mild blow to the head, either with or without loss of consciousness, and can lead to temporary or persistent long term cognitive symptoms. One issue is that a significant proportion of cases are not visible on computed tomography (CT) scans or conventional magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRI).
In this work we will be using our own data and data from the TRACK-TBI dataset to investigate multimodal MRI for the prediction of patient outcome. The study will also apply novel artificial intelligence and machine learning models to predict patient outcome and determine early on those who will suffer persistent symptoms from concussion which will allow for early clinical intervention and better delivery of treatment.
Prior experience with machine learning would be preferable.
A multimodal magnetic resonance imaging approach for investigating outcome following a traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury is a very complex condition and involves both primary and secondary processes which contribute to the long-term outcome of patients. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is an advanced imaging method that can give good temporal and spatial information about the brain noninvasively. There are a number of MRI methods that each target different aspects of brain function and we would like to use all these modalities combined to determine the correlation between different processes that are ongoing following a traumatic brain injury and which of those modalities best allows us to determine such an outcome. Machine learning will be applied on the data to best predict the methods most relevant to outcome.
Gained skills: The project will provide candidates with the theoretical and technical expertise relevant to multimodal MRI imaging, MRI data processing, and the software skills in addition to experience in machine learning methods.
Prior experience: Prior experience with machine learning and MRI would be preferable.
Research Areas
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Early-onset dementia
- Concussion
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