Greg Stanisz

Research Synopsis

Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Mechanisms of Tissue Contrast
The goal of our studies is to develop magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods to improve specificity and sensitivity of non-invasive image methods in characterizing tissue pathology. We use MRI both in animal models of disease and in patients. In particular we use MRI to evaluate tissue microstructure and metabolism in variety of different disorders. Our research interest include, but are not limited to:

Cancer Applications:

•  Optimizing MRI methods to predict tumour response to treatment,
•  Applying new imaging technology for MRI-Linac and MRI-brachytherapy systems,
•  Developing MRI methods to assess radiation dose,
•  Testing new multimodal contrast agents for improved specificity of cancer diagnosis,

Neuroscience:

• Characterizing new models of spinal cord injury and testing new treatments for SCI,
• Understanding the mechanisms of tissue damage in central nervous system,
• Evaluating brain metabolism using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in response to microbiotic treatment in animal models of depression.

Our group has an access to following facilities:

• 3 T MRI human systems (GE, Phillips, Siemens),
• 7 T MRI animal scanner (Bruker),
• Animal PET/SPECT/CT system (MILabs),
• Multiphoton in vivo microscope (Olympus)

Our group consists of one PhD student,  three post-doctoral fellows and three research associates (biology and physics).

For further information, please visit Dr. Greg Stanisz profile at Sunnybrook.

Recent Publications

Recent Publications listed in Google Scholar.

• Janik R, Thomason LAM, Stanisz AM, Forsythe P, Bienenstock J, STANISZ GJ, “Magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals oral Lactobacillus promotion of increases in brain GABA, N-acetyl aspartate and glutamate”, Neuroimage, 125:988-995 (2016)
• Desmond KL, Mehrabian H, Chavez S, Sahgal A, Soliman H, Rola R, STANISZ GJ,  “Chemical exchange saturation transfer for predicting response to stereotactic radiosurgery in human brain metastasis”, Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 2016 Sept 30. Doi:  10.1002/mrm.26470 [Epub ahead of print]
• Mehrabian H, Desmond KL, Chavez S, Bailey C, Radoslaw R,Sahgal A, Czarnota GJ, Soliman H, Martel A, STANISZ GJ, ”Water exchange rate constant as a biomarker of treatment efficacy in patients with brain metastases undergoing Stereotactic RadioSurgery”, International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 98(1):47-55 (2017)
• Mehrabian H, Desmond KL, Soliman H, Sahgal A, STANISZ GJ, “Differentiation between radiation necrosis and tumor progression using chemical exchange saturation transfer”, Clinical Cancer Research, 2017 Jan 17. pii: clincanres.2265.2016. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-16-2265. Epub ahead of print]
• Oakden W., Bock N., Al-Ebraheem A., Farquharson M., STANISZ GJ,  “Early regional cuprizone induced demyelination in a rat model revealed with MRI”, NMR in Biomedicine,  2017 May 22. doi: 10.1002/nbm.3743. [Epub ahead of print]
• Van Zijl PCM, Lam WW, Xu J, Knutsson L, STANISZ GJ, “Magnetization transfer contrast and chemical exchange saturation transfer MRI.  Features and analysis of the field-dependent saturation spectrum”, Neuroimage, 2017 Apr 20. pii: S1053-8119(17)30340-3. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.04.045. [Epub ahead of print]
• Mehrabian H, Desmond KL, Soliman H, Sahgal A, STANISZ GJ, “Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer in differentiation between Radiation Necrosis and Tumour Progression in Brain Metastasis treated with Steriotactic Radiosurgery,” Clinical Cancer Research 23 (14), pp. 3667-3675 (2017) [Epub 2017 Jan 17]
• Mehrabian H, Myrehaug S, H, Soliman H, Sahgal A, STANISZ GJ, “Quantitative Magnetization Transfer in Monitoring Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Response to Therapy”, Scientific Reports (2018)
• Mehrabian H, Myrehaug S, H, Soliman H, Sahgal A, STANISZ GJ, “Evaluation of Glioblastoma (GBM) Response to Therapy with Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST)”,  International Journal of Radiation, Oncology, biology, Physics (2018) [Accepted]
• Mehrabian H, Lam WW, Myrehaug S, Sahgal A, STANISZ GJ, “Glioblastoma (GBM) effects on quantitative MRI parameters of Contralateral Normal Appearing White Matter”, Journal of Neuro-Oncology 139(1) (2018).
• Lam W, Oakden W, Murray L, Klein J, Iorio C, Screaton R, Koletar M, Chu W, Liu S, STANISZ GJ, "Differentiation of Normal and Radioresistant Prostate Cancer Xenografts Using Magnetization Transfer-Prepared MRI," Sci Rep (2018) [Accepted]

Graduate Students

Daniel Djayakarsana
Ryan Oglesby