Using Magnetic Resonance Techniques to Study the Brain and Brain Diseases

Investigators and Faculty Profiles

(View biographical information and research interests by clicking on the faculty member name.)

The Neuroscience and Magnetic Resonance Research Program at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) consists of faculty researchers, research specialists, and graduate students who are using brain imaging tools to study how diseases affect the brain. The research team specifically looks at how drug abuse affects the chemistry, physiology and functions of the brain. Ultimately, the research results will help develop and improve diagnosis and treatments of diseases.

Linda Chang, M.D.

Dr. Chang is a Professor of Medicine at the JABSOM, UH and Co-Director of the UH-QMC MR Research Center. She has extensive experience in Clinical Neuroscience Research, particularly in relation to the application of advanced neuroimaging techniques to study brain changes associated with HIV, substance abuse, brain development and aging.  She also enjoys mentoring junior faculty and students in clinical research.

E-mail: lchang@hawaii.edu

Thomas Ernst, Ph.D.

Dr. Ernst is a Professor of Medicine at the JABSOM, UH and an MR Physicist with extensive experience in the application of advanced MR techniques to clinical research in various brain disorders, especially in the areas of HIV and substance abuse.

Andy Stenger, Ph.D.

Dr. Stenger is an Associate Professor of Medicine, UH JABSOM, and has extensive experience in pulse sequences, data acquisition, and image reconstruction schemes for fMRI and is an expert in MR physics.

Christine Cloak, Ph.D.

Dr. Cloak, Assistant Professor of Medicine, is trained in biology, psychology and neuroscience, and is experienced in conducting both human imaging studies and in working with animal models.

E-mail: tmernst@hawaii.edu

E-mail: stenger@hawaii.edu

E-mail: cloak@hawaii.edu

Daniel Alicata, M.D. Ph.D.

Dr. Alicata is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Psychiatry. He is a Principal Investigator on a SNRP project, “Methamphetamine  Psychosis: A Model in Man and Mouse. This study intends to help researchers understand the effects of meth. on the teenage brain.

E-mail: dalicata@pol.net

Helena Nakama, M.D.

Dr. Nakama is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Psychiatry. She recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry, but has decided to pursue a career in academic medicine with a special interest in methamphetamine abuse.

E-mail: nakamah@dop.hawaii.edu

Mary Ricardo-Dukelow, M.D.

Dr. Ricardo, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, is board certified in Internal Medicine and board-eligible in Infectious Diseases.  Her research involves proteomic analyses of CSF and magnetic resonance studies in HIV patients.

E-mail: marylynn@hawaii.edu

Renat Yakupov, M.S.

Mr. Yakupov is a Junior Researcher in the Department of Medicine.  He participates in most of the clinical research studies, supports the research team in performing and processing MR scans and maintains the laboratories’ hardware and software systems.

E-mail: renat@hawaii.edu

George King, Ph.D.

Dr. King is an Associate Researcher in the Dept. of Psychiatry and Medicine.  Dr. King’s research focuses on drug effects on the brain, with an emphasis on cocaine effects and the role of 5-HT3 receptors.

E-mail: grking@hawaii.edu

Michael Watters, M.D.

Dr. Watters is a Professor of Medicine in the Dept. of Medicine.  His research includes clinical evaluations of patients (exam, lumbar puncture), to establish their clinical neurological diagnosis (particularly associated with HIV or toxin exposure), which are then stratified against imaging findings.  Director for Neuroscience Research Seminar lecture series.

ine. 

E-mail: mwatters@hawaii.edu

Steve Buchthal, Ph.D.

Dr. Buchthal is an MR Spectroscopist in the Dept. of Medicine.  He supports ongoing clinical studies and is an expert in Scanner Operation.

E-mail: buchthal@hawaii.edu