Project Study Metal Exposure and AD/ADRD using Synchrotron XRF and CytoViva Hyperspectral Imaging Program Health & Human Sciences Term Academic Year 2023 Status Accepted Research Area Neurodegeneration, Novel imaging technology Description The long-term goal of this line of research is to study the association of metal exposure, metal interactions in brain, and neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD related dementias (AD/ADRD). The goal of this project is to study the deposition of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and selenium (Se) in brains of AD and healthy human subjects, and its association with AD/ADRD neuropathology. Aim 1 is to characterize the concentration and distribution of Pb, Hg, and Se in cortex and hippocampus regions using synchrotron XRF. Aim 2 is to explore the association of metal distribution/concentration and AD/ADRD pathology using the synchrotron XRF elemental imaging and CitoViva hyperspectral imaging. Supervisor Linda H Nie Mentor Type of work required a) Read papers and materials about Pb/Hg exposure and neurological effects, Pb/Hg neurotoxicity, and the interaction of Pb/Hg and Se in brain.
b) Obtain high resolution metal nanoparticle images of the brain samples from AD and healthy patients using CitoViva hyperspectral imaging;
c) Fuse the synchrotron elemental scan image and the CitoViva image, and determine where and how the metals, especially Pb, Hg, and Se, deposit in brain;
d) Evaluate relation of Pb/Hg/Se complex, associations, and neuropathology;
e) If the results look promising, write a paper about it.
Websites N.A. Qualifications GPA > 3.0; interested in metal neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration; good data analytical skills. Credit Hours 3 Weekly Hours 10 (estimated)