Wynne Schiffer Lab
Dr. Schiffer's research aim is to translate knowledge from the basic sciences using neuroimaging to develop new clinical treatments for brain disorders. The Schiffer Lab combines PET imaging expertise with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) working with collaborators at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research. Combining imaging with behavioral measures in animals parallels functional imaging studies in humans to provide valuable insight into healthy and diseased states of the brain.
Projects
Imaging the Causes and Consequences of Inhalant Abuse
Sponsor: NIDA, NIH
Project Description: Using serial PET and MRI studies in animals to measure changes in brain structure and function following reinforcing exposures to toluene.
Preclinical Assessment of a Strategy to Minimize the Abuse Liability of Opiate Medications for Pain
Sponsor: DOD
Project Description: Preclinical PET imaging combined with behavioral assays will be used to evaluate a novel strategy to eliminate the addictive liability associated with narcotic analgesics for the treatment of chronic pain in active and veteran military personnel.
Simultaneous FDG PET and fMRI Measures of Functional Connectivity in the Rodent Brain
Sponsor: University of Minnesota (IEM seed grant)
Project Description: Combined FDG PET and functional MRI studies will be performed using an innovative imaging paradigm in which radiotracer uptake (and thus measurements of metabolic function) occurs during an fMRI study while the animals are in the magnet followed by a short PET scan that captures metabolism during the fMRI image acquisition. [Co-PI with Wei Chen and Xiao-Hong Zhu]
People
Principal Investigator
- Wynne K. Schiffer, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
Principal Investigator, N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care
Institute for Translational Neuroscience Fellow
Collaborators
- Ute Goerke, PhD, Assistant Professor of Radiology, (U of M)
- Wei Chen, PhD, Professor of Radiology (U of M)
- Xiao-Hong Zhu, PhD, Research Associate, Radiology (U of M)
Research Positions
Undergraduates, Graduates and Postdocs
- Undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral researchers interested in research employment opportunities in Dr. Wynne Schiffer's laboratory should email their cover letter, CV, and list of references to memory@umn.edu. Undergraduates should also send their unofficial transcript. Postings may be found online through the University's Employment System when we are hiring.
Contact
Main Office: 612-626-2001
Physical Address for Mailing and Shipping
Wynne Schiffer, PhD, G-CRMC, Room 5-178
Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (WMBB)
2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455-3008
Main Research Office, Grossman Center:
Phone: 612-625-0963
Email: memory@umn.edu