Robust measures of cavum septum pellucidum in older veterans with cognitive impairment as a metric for repetitive head injuries on brain magnetic resonance imaging
Renaud La Joie, Professor
UC San Francisco
Open. Apprentices needed for the fall semester. Enter your application online beginning August 21st. The deadline to apply is Monday, August 31st, 4pm.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHI) are common among military veterans and have been linked to an increased risk of cognitive impairment, psychiatric symptoms, and potentially neurodegenerative diseases later in life. Although not all individuals who are exposed to TBI or RHI experience long-term neurological consequences, the factors that distinguish those at greater risk remain poorly understood.
One anatomical feature that has received increasing attention is the cavum septum pellucidum (CSP), a fluid-filled cavity between the leaflets of the septum pellucidum that is visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Previous studies have reported a higher prevalence of a CSP among individuals with a history of RHI, including athletes and military personnel, as well as those with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). However, the relationship between the presence of a CSP and head impact exposure remains poorly understood, and the significance of a CSP in military veterans has not been fully characterized.
This project will utilize structural MRI data from the Department of Defense Alzheimer’s Disease Blood Testing Initiative (DoD-ADBI) to characterize CSP in older military veterans with cognitive impairment. Undergraduate researchers will be trained to identify and measure CSP on T1-weighted MRI scans, including determining its presence or absence and quantifying its length and volume using standardized neuroimaging methods. These measurements will contribute to the creation of one of the largest well-characterized datasets of CSP in military veterans.
As the project progresses, these neuroimaging measures will be integrated with clinical and behavioral data available through DoD-ADBI to explore whether the presence of a CSP is associated with combat exposure, cognitive performance, neuropsychiatric outcomes, and other neuroimaging measures (i.e. white matter hyperintensities, overall brain volume). These analyses aim to improve our understanding of the potential relationship between CSP, RHI, and long-term brain health in veterans.
Role: Successful candidates will gain hands-on experience in neuroanatomy, structural MRI analyses, and neuroimaging research methods. Students will learn how to identify brain structures on MRI, perform standardized anatomical measurements, contribute to quality control procedures, and participate in scientific discussions about study design and data interpretation. Candidates will meet regularly with the direct research supervisor to review progress, discuss findings, and develop research skills. There will also be the possibility of extending the project to future semesters and developing the work into an undergraduate thesis.
Qualifications: Ideal candidates should have a background in neuroscience, psychology, computer science, or a related field. Knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and CTE, as well as a familiarity with neuroimaging software is recommended but not required. The candidate should be able to be on site (i.e. off campus) at least one day when the lab is present in San Francisco on Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday (preferably Thursday, when we have lab meetings).
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Grace Recht, PhD
Hours: to be negotiated
Off-Campus Research Site: 654 Minnesota St San Francisco, CA 94107
Related website: https://rabinovicilab.ucsf.edu/
Biological & Health Sciences