Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2005
Mentor: Mujeeb U. Shad, M.D.
Department: Psychiatry
Room number: FL6.628
Mail Code: 8828
Phone number: 214-648-5271
E-mail: mujeeb.shad@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: To investigate relationship between dorsolateral prefrontal cortical
volume and cognitive functioning in first-episode schizophrenia
Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): Pending
Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): NA
Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects) patient based research
Brief Description of Project:
Objective: The primary goal of this exploratory study will be to enhance our
understanding of the neurobiology of cognitive deficits and psychopathology
in first-episode schizophrenia through structural imaging.
Background: Despite significant advances in schizophrenia research, the neurobiological
basis of schizophrenia, especially in relation to its cognitive deficits and
psychopathology is not well understood. Neuroimaging has provided a valuable
tool to enhance our understanding in this challenging area.
Methods: We will obtain MRI scans from first-episode schizophrenia subjects
by using a Siemens 3T Trio system. We will conduct morphometric assessments
on specific brain regions (e.g. dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and its sub-regions,
anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum etc.),
which are thought to mediate cognitive deficits and other psychopathology observed
in schizophrenia subjects. For this purpose schizophrenia subjects will be recruited
from in- and out-patient psychiatric departments of affiliated hospitals with
UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. We will primarily focus on recruiting
first-episode schizophrenia subjects since this population does not have the
confounding effects of chronic use of antipsychotic medications and illness
chronicity. The morphometric assessments will employ Voxel-Based Morphometry
(VBM) analysis to generate hypothesis and Region of Interest (ROI) analysis
for hypothesis confirmation.
Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:
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