2023
SECOND QUARTER
- Dejan Jakimovski, PhD was awarded the Clin-STAR grant post-doctoral fellow award by The Clinician-Scientists Transdisciplinary Aging Research (ClinSTAR), funded by the National Institutes of Health National Institute on Aging (NIA) under award U24AG065204.
- Dejan Jakimovski, PhD has been selected to participate in the ACTRIMS Young Scientist Summit in Clinical Neuroimmunology hosted October 30 – November 2, 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
- Jack Reeves has been selected to receive a Beverly Petterson Bishop and Charles W. Bishop Neuroscience Travel Award for the Spring 2023 cycle, in the amount of $1000.
- Jack Reeves, a BNAC Ph.D. candidate was selected for 2023 ECTRIMS travel grant award in the amount of 800 euro.
FIRST QUARTER
- Leo Marecki, PhD student in BNAC, was a finalist in the UB Three Minute Thesis competition.
- Nicholas Young won first place at the medical school's research symposium.
2022
FOURTH Quarter
2022 Marc Stecker Award for Excellence in MS Research
Tom Fuchs, a BNAC Postdoctoral Research fellow, was awarded the 2022 Marc Stecker Award for Excellence in MS Research in amount of $1,000. This award is given in honor of Marc Stecker, a founding member of the BNAC Advisory Council and a faithful supporter of research into the causes of and cures for multiple sclerosis.
2022 European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) Travel Grant
Taylor Wicks, BNAC MSc candidate has been awarded the ECTRIMS 2022 Travel Grant.
2022 UB Graduate Student Association Travel Stipend
Taylor Wicks, BNAC MSc candidate has been awarded the UB 2022 Graduate Student Association Travel Stipend.
2022 Beverly Petterson Bishop and Charles W. Bishop Neuroscience Travel Award
Ilyes Benslimane, a BNAC PhD candidate was awarded the Beverly Petterson Bishop and Charles W. Bishop Neurosicience Travel Award. The fund supports University at Buffalo efforts and excellence in neuroscience and ensures that neuroscience remains a major focus at UB.
THIRD Quarter
2022 SUNY Chancellor Award
Robert Zivadinov, PhD was awarded SUNY Chancellor’s 2022 Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities – University at Buffalo, State University of New York.
2022 Travel Stipend from the UB Graduate Student Association to attend the 2022 Joint Workshop on MR phase, magnetic susceptibility, and electrical properties mapping in Luca, Italy
lyes Benslimane and Fahad Salman, PhD candidates were awarded travel stipends from the UB Graduate Student Association to attend the 2022 Joint Workshop on MR phase, magnetic susceptibility, and electrical properties mapping in Luca, Italy under mentorship of Ferdinand Schweser, PhD.
2022/23 Nancy Chazen- Foundation of the CMSC Medical Student Research Scholarship Award
Zachary Weinstock, a BNAC PhD Candidate, was awarded the $5,000 Nancy Chazen- Foundation of the CMSC Medical Student Research Scholarship Award
2022 ISNVD Annual Meeting at New York University Grossman School of Medicine Travel Award
Nicholas Young was awarded 2022 ISNVD Annual Meeting at New York University Grossman School of Medicine Travel Award in amount of $500.
SECOND Quarter
2022 Jacob's School of Medicine Dean's Research fellowship.
Nicholas Young was awarded 2022 Jacob's School of Medicine Dean's Research fellowship in amount of $3,000. This is an award granted to 6 medical students who are pursuing research at UB. The project will consist of quantifying the characteristics of vascular retinal architectures measured on optical coherence tomography in MS patients and comparing them to MRI-based disease measures, their cerebrovascular status, and their cognitive/disability measures.
2022 Beverly Petterson Bishop and Charles W. Bishop Neuroscience Fund Doctoral Thesis Award
Tom Fuchs, a BNAC Postdoctoral Research fellow, was awarded the Beverly Petterson Bishop and Charles W. Bishop Neurosicience Fund Doctoral Thesis Award. The fund supports University at Buffalo efforts and excellence in neuroscience and ensures that neuroscience remains a major focus at UB.
2022 - 2024 ECTRIMS (European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Tom Fuchs, a BNAC Postdoctoral Research fellow, was a recipient for the ECTRIMS Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, working at Amsterdam UMC with Menno Schoonheim.
Article: Fellowship Recipients 2022 - ECTRIMS
Experiential Learning Fund by Bauer Foundation for Women in Science and Engineering
Saleha Mir, an undergraduate student, was a recipient of the stipend to support undergraduate students in Women in Science and Engineering with expenses in pursuit of experiential learning activities .
FIRST Quarter
2022 Medical Student Experience
Zachary Weinstock, a BNAC Ph.D. candidate, was selected as one of the reciptients of the 2022 Medical Student Experience at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting
2022 American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Prize for Excellence
Tom Fuchs, a BNAC Postdoctoral Research fellow, was awared the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Medical Student Prize for Excellence.
2021
Fourth Quarter
2021 Induction to Gold Humanism Honor Society
Tom Fuchs, a BNAC Postdoctoral Research fellow, was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Those who are apart of this society are leaders who serve as role models of the human connection in healthcare.
Third Quarter
Editor's Pick for the Month of July, Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Article title: QSM reconstruction challenge 2.0: A realistic in silico head phantom for MRI data simulation and evaulation of susceptibility mapping procedures. (2021. 86(1):526-542). [senior author]
Awarded to: Ferdinand Schweser, Ph.D.
Second Quarter
Scialog Fellow for Advancing Bioimaging, Research Corporation for Science Advancement
Scialog Fellow for Advancing Bioimaging, Research Corporation for Science Advancement. Scialog seeks to accelerate the work of 21st-century transformational science through research, dialog, and community. 50 early-career faculty were invited to participate as Fellows for this three-year initiative that aims to accelerate the development of the next generation of imaging technologies
Awareded to: Ferdinand Schweser, Ph.D.
ISMRM Educational Stipend
International Society for Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Medicine (ISMRM) Educational Stipend
Awareded to: Ilyes Benslimane, Fahad Salman, and Thomas Jochmann (BNAC Ph.D. candidates)
First Quarter
Integrated Program in Neuroscience Internal Student Award
Franziska Hildesheim was awarded the "Integrated Program in Neuroscience Internal Student Award" at McGill University (https://ipnawards.mcgill.ca) for her Ph.D.
Academic Editor
Dr. Bergsland became part of the editorial board for BMC Neurology (IF 2.293) and Journal of Personalized Medicine (IF 4.945), both in the role of Academic Editor
2020
December 2020
Announcing the 1st Recipient of Marc Stecker Award for Excellence in Multiple Sclerosis Research
During this year, the BNAC Advisory Council established the Marc Stecker Award for Excellence in Multiple Sclerosis Research to recognize outstanding research achievements made in honor of the Advisory Council’s founding member, Marc Stecker. Since 2011, Marc has used his passion for finding a cure for multiple sclerosis along with his impressive aptitudes and determination, to “push” the BNAC researchers in areas that his own research indicated could be promising, yet off the mainstream. As a result of Marc’s tenacity, research was conducted during 2019 that produced two significant publications and provided new evidence for a significant role of the Epstein Barr virus in the etiology of multiple sclerosis.
The Marc Stecker Award for Excellence in Multiple Sclerosis Research is a non-renewable award that seeks to recognize the qualities that Marc has shown throughout his tenure on the Advisory Council, including persistence, courage, willingness to pursue ideas that may be off the mainstream, a vision that includes patient-centered outcomes/interests and skills for effectively communicating technical information to any audience.
The 2020 Marc Stecker Award for Excellence in Multiple Sclerosis Research was awarded to Dejan Jakimovski, MD, PhD, BNAC’s Clinical Research Director. In addition to his publications that now exceed 70, Dr. Jakimovski’s contributions far exceeded the award criteria and earned him the clear choice through unanimous nominations. The Council expressed its desire that this award inspire future research that emphasizes patient centric interests.
November 2020
Ferdinand Schweser has been promoted to Technical Director of UB's Center for Biomedical Imaging at the University at Buffalo
September 2020
Associated Editor for Frontiers in Neurology
nomination
Awarded to Niels Bergsland
August 2020
MSVirtual2020 Educational Grant
For attendance of the 8th Joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Meeting, September 11-13, 2020
Awarded to Tom Fuchs
August 2020
Dr. Schweser's team has filed a patent titled "Method for high accuracy extraction of information from at least two-dimensional measurement data of an object, which are superimposed by a signal from external sources"
May 2020
Dr. Schweser has been awarded an international collaboration grant by the German Academic Exchange Service for "Mapping magnetic properties of the aging brain". The two other Co-PIs are Drs. Hamalainen (Harvard Medical School) and Haueisen (Technische Universitat Ilmenau)
April 2020
- Thomas Jochmann, PhD student in Dr. Schweser's team, received a 1st Place Poster Award at the 2020 Annual Meeting of the ISMRM & SMRT for the work "How to train a Deep Convolutional Neural Network for Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM)"
- Thomas Jochmann, PhD student in Dr. Schweser's team, received a 3st Place Poster Award at the Public Engagement Competition of the 2020 Annual Meeting of the ISMRM & SMRT for the work "Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping, more than just a phase."
- Edith Baader, Poonam Choudhary and Thomas Jochmann received educational stipends to present their work at the 2020 Annual Meeting of the ISMRM & SMRT
March 2020
Three Minute Thesis People's Choice Award contestant
Poonam Choudrey
2019
December 2019
2019 Radiology Editor’s Recognition Award
For reviewing with Distinction
Awarded to: Dr. Robert Zivadinov
November 2019
Mark Diamond Research Fund grant
For work entitled “Cross Sectional Area of Medulla Oblongata as Cervical Cord Proxy measurement: Retrospective Longitudinal feasibility Study.”,
Awarded to: Dr. Dejan Jakimovski
Named “Emerging Leader” in the “18 under 36” publication
Awarded to: Dr. Tom Fuchs
PhD from Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Awarded to: Tom Fuchs
ACTRIMS Young Scientist Summit fully-paid participation
2020 ACTRIMS Young Scientist Summit, Austin Texas
Awarded to: Suyog Pol
Nomination as Section Editor for multiple sclerosis in Journal of Neuroimaging
Awarded to: Niels Bergsland
October 2019
Tom Fuchs was awarded the Beverly Petterson Bishop and Charles W. Bishop Neuroscience Fund Award for attendance to the annual European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) annual conference.
Announcement of Marc Stecker Award
The Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center (BNAC) has decided to establish an award in honor of Marc Stecker, longtime member of the BNAC Advisory Board Council and a faithful supporter of research into the causes of and cures for multiple sclerosis for many years.
This award will be bi-annual and will based on several criteria. This will be a one-time award for the successful candidate, and will be non-renewable. The amount of the award will be between $500-$1000, to be determined by the Awards Committee.
September 2019
A retrospective, five-year study of 1,314 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has found that atrophied brain lesion volume is the only marker from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans that can accurately predict which patients will progress to the most severe form of the disease.
Secondary progressive MS, known as SPMS, typically appears 10 to 20 years after the initial onset and causes patients to become more physically and cognitively impaired.
Of the 1,314 patients in the study, more than 1000 were women with an average age of 46.
The study, by researchers in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, builds on previous work they did that determined that atrophied brain lesion volume was a better indicator of disease progression than the appearance of lesions or whole brain atrophy, both of which have long been used as predictors of disease progression.
July 2019
A comprehensive, longitudinal study of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) that followed patients from the time of their diagnosis for an average of five years, has found that while a commonly used imaging linear contrast agent, gadodiamide, does accumulate in the brain early in the disease, there is no discernible clinical impact. At the same time, the study found that there were some indications of greater disease severity in patients who had undergone more magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies using these agents. The findings, published in the July 5, 2019 online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, are the result of work conducted by researchers at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo. It is the latest research to address the ongoing controversy in the MS community about use of gadolinium-based contrast agents, known as GBCAs.
June, 2019
Young Investigator Award
For the best abstract presentation at the 9th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Neurovascular Disease (ISNVD) for his abstract entitled “Decrease in Secondary Neck Vessels and Cerebral Aqueduct Enlargement in Multiple Sclerosis: A 5-year Longitudinal MRI Study.”
Awarded to: Dejan Jakimovski
June 2019
Graduate Student Union Professional Development Award
For attendance to the International Multiple Sclerosis Cognition Society (IMSCOGS) annual conference
Awarded to: Tom Fuchs
April 2019
Merit Award, Magna Cum Laude
Annual Meeting of the ISMRM, Melbourne, Australia
For the top 15% abstract entitled: U2-Net for DEEPOLE QUASAR–A Physics-Informed Deep Convolutional Neural Network that Disentangles MRI Phase Contrast Mechanisms.
Awarded to: Thomas Jochmann+
Travel stipend for presenting her work at the 27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine in Montreal, QC, Canada.
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Awarded to: Poonam Choudhary+
Travel stipend for presenting his work at the 27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine in Montreal, QC, Canada.
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Awarded to: Thomas Jochmann+
Travel stipend for presenting his work at the 27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine in Montreal, QC, Canada.
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Awarded to: Zachary SmithU+
Travel stipend for presenting his work at the 27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine in Montreal, QC, Canada.
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Awarded to: Ruonan Shi+
March 2019
Undergraduate Research Award
Awarded to: Macrae Kozodny
February 2019
Fully funded attendee at the 7th ECTRIMS Summer School 2019 on “Methodology of Clinical Research and Statistics”
Dublin, Ireland
Awarded to: Dejan Jakimovski
(Dr. Jakimovski was unable to attend due to visa issues at the time of the meeting in June 2019)
Editorial Board of Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging nomination
Awarded to: Niels Bergsland
2018
October 2018
Exceptional Scholar – Sustained Achievement Award
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo
Awarded to: Robert Zivadinov
Bishop Travel Award
University at Buffalo
Awarded to: Suyog Pol
Bishop Travel Award
University at Buffalo
Tom Fuchs
Editorial Board of Journal of Neuroimaging nomination
Awarded to: Niels Bergsland
Editorial Board of Journal of Neuroimaging nomination
Awarded to: Michael Dwyer
August 2018
Undergraduate Research Award
Awarded to: JonPaul Bonsignore
Editorial Board of PLOS ONE nomination
Awarded to: Niels Bergsland
July 2018
Appointment of Professor of Biomedical Informatics
Department of Biomedical Informatics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Awarded to: Robert Zivadinov
June 2018
Golden Award of International Society for Neurovascular Disease
Zghenzhou, China
Awarded to: Robert Zivadinov
April 2018
Mark Diamond Research Fund grant
For work on exosome research entitled “A Noninvasive and Targeted Approach of USPIO-Exosome Mediated MRI imaging of Microglia in CreERT2 EAE induced Mice”.
Awarded to: Natan Babek
February 2018
Editorial Board of Journal of Neuroimaging nomination
Awarded to: Robert Zivadinov
2017
BNAC mentored ten fellows under the direction of Drs. Robert Zivadinov, Michael G. Dwyer and Ferdinand Schweser. They were/are: Dejan Jakimovski, MD, Ivo Paunkoski, MD, Dhaval Shah, MSc, Emanuele Ghione, MD, Laura Pelizzari, PhD, Nicole Ziliotto, PhD, Michelle Sudyn, PhD, Stefano Ziccardi, PhD, Tom Fuchs, PhD, Poonam Choudhary, PhD. These fellows worked on the NeuroSTREAM, and preclinical studies. We are grateful to The Jacquemin Family Foundation and the BNAC Advisory Council for the support that we have received this year for this program.
The North American Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis (NAIMS) Logo Contest
Dr. Dwyer’s design was chosen from over 30 entries as the new logo for NAIMS.
Presented to: Dr. Michael Dwyer, PhD
Student Award of Excellence
Jacobs School of Medicine
For Promoting Inclusion and Cultural Diversity
Awarded to: Tom Fuchs, PhD student
Beverly Peterson Bishop and Charles W. Bishop Outstanding Neuroscience Thesis Award
For an excellent dissertation on MS and contributions to the UB Neuroscience Program
Awarded to: Michelle Sudyn, PhD student
David Mahoney Neuroimaging Program Award
Charles A. Dana Foundation
For the study entitled “The impact of acute and chronic neuroinflammation on iron homeostasis and oligodendrocyte viability in the deep gray matter”
Awarded to: Ferdinand Schweser, Ph.D.
Individual Development Award
University at Buffalo
This program is intended to assist employees in the University at Buffalo in developing their full professional potential in preparing for advancement by funding professional development activities.
Awarded to: Michael Dwyer, Ph.D.
Student Award
University at Buffalo Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA)
For work entitled “Exosome-Mediated MRI Contrast Agent Delivery Across the Blood Brain Barrier/Escosomes for Delivering MRI Contrast Agents Across Blood Brain Barriers.”
Mentor: Natan Babek
Period: January 2017-May 2017
November 2017
Richard C. Kundsen Publication Award
The Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity (ABSA International)
For a risk assessment study of a virus found in laboratory mice.
The Kundsen award honors an article published in the journal Applied Biosafety that reports a significant contribution in scientific investigation and/or health and safety.
Awarded to: Dr. Robert Zivadinov, Claire Modica, Michelle Sudyn
October 2017
22 abstracts accepted for both podium and poster presentations
7th Joint Congress of the European and American Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS/ACTRIMS) in Paris, France
Travel Grant
ECTRIMS 2017 annual Congress; October 2017
For presentation on accepted abstract
Awarded to: Dejan Jakimovski, PhD student
Travel Grant
European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) annual Congress; October 2017
For presentation on accepted abstract
Awarded to: Tom Fuchs, Ph.D. student
Travel Grant
European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) annual Congress; October 2017
For presentation on accepted abstract
Presented to Emanuele Gione, BNAC Fellow
September 2017
Named to the Ad Hoc Committee
Promotions in Academic (Tenurial) Ranks
Awarded to: Robert Zivadinov
June 2017
Dr. Zivadinov oversaw the 2017 Resident’s Research Day on June 9, 2017. During the ten months prior to this, Dr. Zivadinov mentored several residents on a required large research project that is due before graduation from Residency. The Residents presented their research this past June with Dr. Zivadinov and other SUNY Buffalo Neurology faculty in attendance to judge. Above-average abstracts were submitted for publication consideration. The 2017 Research Day included presentations from four graduating residents as well as six interim presentations from 2017-2018 graduating residents who will graduate following their June 2018 presentations.
May 2017
6 abstracts accepted for podium and poster presentations
7th Annual International Society for Neurovascular Disorders (ISNVD) Meeting, May 4-6, 2017, in Taormina, Italy
Tracy Putnam Award for Research Excellence
For valuable contributions to the ISNVD, numerous best podium presentations, best young investigator awards
7th Annual International Society for Neurovascular Disease (ISNVD) Conference, May 2017 in Taormina, Sicily
Awarded to: Dr. Dejan Jakimovski
April 2017
18 abstracts accepted for both podium and poster presentations, several staff members in attendance
American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, April 22-28th, 2017
For a complete listing, please see below.
Virginia Barnes Travel Award
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
For attending the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) meeting, Boston, Massachusetts; April 2017
Awarded to: Tom Fuchs, Ph.D. student
Beverly Peterson Bishop and Charles W. Bishop 201 Neuroscience Travel Grant
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
For attendance to the AAN meeting in Boston; April 2017
Awarded to: Michelle Sudyn, PhD student
February 2017
Named Director for Biomedical Imaging
Clinical Translational Science Institute, SUNY at Buffalo
Awarded to: Dr. Robert Zivadinov
Member of the Steering Committee for the Clinical Translational Research Award
Awarded to: Dr. Robert Zivadinov
Educational Grant
America’s Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2017; February 2017
For presentation on accepted abstract
Awarded to: Dejan Jakimovski, PhD student
2016
In 2016, Dr. Zivadinov authored a paper that was published in Multiple Sclerosis called “Leptomeningeal Contrast Enhancement (LM CE) is Associated with the Progression of Cortical Atrophy in MS; A retrospective, pilot, observational longitudinal study.” During the study, we learned that Leptomeningeal Contrast Enhancement can be a living biomarker of cortical pathology (brain atrophy) in Multiple Sclerosis patients. 50 patients were followed for five years. At the end of five years, all of the patients were scanned using 3-D fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging. In total, 25 patients (50%) of MS patients had LM CE at the five year follow-up. Hence, it can be assumed that the presence of LM CE is associated with the progression of cortical atrophy.
The NeuroSTREAM analysis tool has been substantially updated with a multi-atlas algorithm to provide more accurate and robust atrophy measures. To build a comprehensive normative database, it has been run on over 14,000 baseline and follow-up MRI scans from 2,140 people with MS, 200 people with CIS and 381 healthy individuals. This normative data is in the process of being incorporated into an interactive, web-based predictive modeling system. In the meantime, the NeuroSTREAM method has also been applied to a prospectively collected real-world multi-center study of clinical routine imaging in MS (MS-MRIUS). In this large, heterogeneous dataset, NeuroSTREAM was the only atrophy measure that produced significant and clinically-correlated results.
In 2016, BNAC served as a centralized imaging center for 2 clinical trials focusing on stroke prevalence in subjects undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) One was published in JAMA, the “Effect of a Cerebral Protection Device on Brain Lesions Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis: The CLEAN-TAVI Randomized Clinical Trial”, while the other called “Cerebral embolic protection during transcatheter aortic valve replacement” was published in J Am Coll Cardiol and is under approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Even after TAVI, stroke still remains a major predictor of mortality in humans. It was proposed that cerebral protection devices may reduce brain injury as determined by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI). In the two trials, we studied the effect of a cerebral protection device on the number and volume of cerebral lesions in patients under-going TAVI. The primary end point was the numerical difference in new positive post-procedure DWMRI brain lesions at two days after TAVI in potentially protected territories. The first hierarchical secondary outcome was the difference in volume of new lesions after TAVI in potentially protected territories.
Another significant study that BNAC worked on this year was called “Cerebral Microbleeds in Multiple Sclerosis; A case-controlled study.” It was published in Radiology. Cerebral microbleeds have been documented to be associated with aging and neurodegenerative disorders. No previous studies have investigated Cerebral Microbleeds (CMB) in terms of their prevalence to MS patients. We scanned a number of MS patients here in Buffalo by means of a 3T MRI and they were also given clinical examinations. CMB number was assessed on susceptibility-weighted minimum intensity projections using the Microbleed Anatomical Rating Scale. Our results concluded that more MS patients had CMBs compared to healthy controls. The presence of CMBs also put patients at risk for more physical disability as well as deteriorated auditory/verbal learning and memory in MS patients.
In 2016, we concluded a study called “Humoral Response to EBV is Associated with Cortical Atrophy and Lesion Burden in MS patients” which was published in Neurology, Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation. Because dysregulated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected B cells may induce meningeal inflammation, which contributes to cortical pathology in MS, we investigated associations between antibody responses to EBV and the development of cortical pathology in MS. All participants were scanned on 3T MRI. Serum samples were analyzed for IgG antibodies against EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) and EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1), and their quartiles were determined on the whole study sample. We found that more than 30% of patients with MS and CIS presented with the highest quartile of anti-EBV-VCA and -EBNA-1 status compared to ≤10% of healthy controls. Humoral response to anti-EBV-VCA and -EBNA-1 is associated with more advanced cortical atrophy, accumulation of chronic T1 black holes and focal white matter lesions in patients with MS.
CEG Study: Throughout 2016, The Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center (BNAC) continued actively enrolling subjects in the CEG-MS study. With the help of Dr. Dejan Jakimovski and Dr.Ivo Paunkoski as new fellows, together with Dr.Sirin Gandhi, the recruitment process went as planned. Following interim analysis, the CEG-MS study yielded several published journal and conference papers. Notable papers accepted in high impact factor journals like Multiple Sclerosis Journal (MSJ) and Radiology as well as conference abstracts in the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), ECTRIMS (European Committee for Treatment and Research In Multiple Sclerosis) and The International Society for Neurovascular Diseases (ISNVD) further demonstrate the uniqueness and strength of this long-term follow-up study. With the increasing number of enrolled patients, we are looking forward to an exciting 2017 that will vastly contribute in understanding the cardiovascular, environmental and genetic influences on the pathophysiology and progression of MS.
Best Poster Award
4th International Workship on MRI Phase Contrast and Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping
For the poster: Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) in the presence of microscopic anisotropy and macromolecular exchange effects: QUASAR.
Awarded to: Ferdinand Schweser, Ph.D.
Distinguished Service to the Society
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
For services as a reviewer during 2014-2015
Awarded to: Ferdinand Schweser, Ph.D.
Grateful Appreciation of Service to the Society
Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging
For services as a reviewer during the academic year 2015
Awarded to: Ferdinand Schweser, Ph.D.
2016 Beverly Petterson Bishop and Charles W. Bishop Outstanding Neuroscience Thesis Award
The fund supports university-wide efforts and excellence in neuroscience, and helps ensure that neuroscience remains a major focus at SUNY Buffalo.
Presented to Claire Modica, Ph.D.
September 2016
Young Investigator Travel Award
ECTRIMS, London, England; September 14-17, 2016
For accepted abstract submission
Awarded to: Dejan Jakimovski, M.D.
ECTRIMS 2016 Young Investigator Travel Award
Jesper Hagemeier, Ph.D. for accepted abstract submission
London, England; September 14-17, 2016
ECTRIMS 2016 Young Investigator Travel Award
Niels Bergsland, Ph.D. for accepted abstract submission
London, England; September 14-17, 2016
April 2016
ISNVD Silver Medal Award
ISNVD 6th Annual Meeting; New York City, USA; April 30th, 2016
Distinguished service award for achievements and accomplishments while
Dr. Zivadinov served as the ISNVD’s Executive Director from 2013-2016.
Presented to Dr. Robert Zivadinov
Young Investigator Travel Award
AAN, Vancouver, BC; April 17th-24th, 2016
For accepted abstract submission
Awarded to: Sirin Gandhi, MBBS
Young Investigator Travel Award
AAN, Vancouver, BC; April 17th-24th, 2016
For accepted abstract submission
Awarded to: Claire Modica, Ph.D
2015
BNAC is a leader in the development of new analysis techniques geared toward obtaining a more complete understanding of underlying disease processes. To view the latest developments of BNAC’s research studies on quantitative magnetic resonance, ultrasound and optic coherence tomography imaging findings in multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases as well as aging, click here.
BNAC is investigating the role that extracranial venous abnormalities play in the pathophysiology of neurological disorders To see the latest updates in the extracranial venous system research, click here.
Magna cum Laude Merit Award
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
For the top 15% abstract entitled: “On the Limitations of Brain Lesion Characterization by Direct Assessment of MRI Phase.”
Awarded to: Ferdinand Schweser, Ph.D.
Distinguished Service to the Society – as a reviewer for the journal Magnetic Resonance in Medicine during 2013-2014.
Best Oral Presentation By a Young Investigator
European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS)
For the abstract entitled: “Effects of gait training on brain plasticity in multiple sclerosis: a functional MRI study”
Awarded to: Niels Bergsland
2014
BNAC is a dedicated research center for quantitative analysis of MRI for clinical research including Phase I, II, III, and IV clinical trials and investigator-led research studies on multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinon's disease, Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. BNAC ensures fast contracting, ethical committee approval and start-up processes, and is structured to manage multiple projects with tens of thousands of scans. BNAC brings to every clinical trial a high degree of professionalism and integrity that stipulates unequivocal respect for deadlines and commitments.
Award for the best PhD thesis in 2014
School of Medicine, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
Awarded to: Ferdinand Schweser, Ph.D.
ISMRM Junior Fellow
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
The Junior Fellow Program has been established to recognize outstanding researchers at an early stage in their careers, with an established and long-term commitment to the ISMRM. The Junior Fellowship may be maintained for up to ten years.
Awarded to: Ferdinand Schweser, Ph.D.
2014 Neuro Image Editor’s Choice Award on the recommendation of the Editorial Board
Organization for Human Brain Mapping
For the 2013 paper “Toward in vivo histology: a comparison of quantitative suscleptibility mapping (QSM) with magnitude-, phase-, and R2*-imaging at ultra-high magnetic field strength.”
Awarded to: Ferdinand Schweser, Ph.D.
February 2014
Buffalo, NY – February 4, 2014. BNAC part in the GALA study that prompts change in FDA labelling for glatiramer acetate (Copaxone©) On the basis of results from the GALA study group, which included UB Dept. of Neurology Professor of Neurology Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD, the FDA has approved three-times weekly glatiramer acetate (Copaxone©) injections for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Prior approved dosing required daily injections. The study, which was conducted across 17 countries and involved more than 1400 patients, showed that the three-times weekly regimen is safe and effective, with the advantage of fewer injections. The GALA study was published in the June 2013 issue of Annals of Neurology. Dr. Zivadinov directs the BNAC which performed the MRI analysis for the trial.
2013
The Bacelli Award
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo
The Bacelli award honors a graduate who has conducted the most outstanding research while in medical school and has displayed the highest ability and initiative in areas of scientific investigation.
For work entiteled “No regional gray matter atrophy differences between pediatric and adult-onset relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.”
Awarded to: Donahue Katelyn
Mentors: Robert Zivadinov, JL Cox
2008
Travel Grant
24th Joint Annual Meeting of ECTRIMS and ACTRIMS and LACTRIMS, Montreal
For work entitled “Lesion characteristics at 1.5 and 3 Tesla in multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls. A morphological and topological quantitative comparison study.
Awarded to: Carol DiPerri
Mentor: Robert Zivadinov
Travel Grant
24th Joint Annual Meeting of ECTRIMS and ACTRIMS and LACTRIMS, Montreal
For work entitled “Conventional and non-conventional quantitative MRI outcomes differ when comparing multiple definitions of benign multiple sclerosis.”
Awarded to: J Passanese
Mentor: Robert Zivadinov
Travel Grant
24th Joint Annual Meeting of ECTRIMS and ACTRIMS and LACTRIMS, Montreal
For work entitled “Does multiple sclerosis become an ischemic disease over time? A 3-year follow-up study of patients with anti-phospholipid antibodies”
Awarded to: Milena Stosic
Mentor: Robert Zivadinov
Dr. Lawrence D. Jacobs Medical MRI Fellowship
For work entitled “Comparison of standard 1.5 vs 3T optimized protocols in normal controls and multiple sclerosis patients”
Awarded to: Carol DiPerri
Mentor: Robert Zivadinov
2007
Travel Grant
23rd Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, Prague
For work entitled “Protective effect of Met66 allele of BDNF polymorphism on gray matter volume in patients with multiple sclerosis: a voxel based morphometric study”
Awarded to: Deepa P Ramasamy, JL Cox (Mentor)
Travel Grant
23rd Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, Prague
For work entitled “A robust shape-based approach to optic nerve segmentation and atrophy measurement using 1.5 and 3.0T MRI. Mult Scler 2007 (in press)”
Awarded to: Michael Dwyer
Mentor: Robert Zivadinov
Dr. Lawrence D. Jacobs Medical MRI Fellowship
For work entitled “A study of MRI and neuropsychological measures in patients with Parkinson Disease”
Awarded to: TO Dalaker
Mentor: Robert Zivadinov
Dr. Lawrence D. Jacobs Medical MRI Fellowship
For work entitled “Application of functional MRI in patients with multiple sclerosis”
Awarded to R. Antulov
Mentors: JL Cox, Robert Zivadinov
2006
Dr. Lawrence D. Jacobs Medical MRI Fellowship
For work entitled “Evaluation of normal appearing brain tissue damage in patients with MS and antiphospholipid syndrome using non-conventional MRI”
Awareded to M Stosic
Mentor: Robert Zivadinov
Dr. Lawrence D. Jacobs Medical MRI Fellowship
For work entitled “Evolution of different brain atrophy measures in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis over 2 and 5 years.”
Awarded to: D Horakova
Mentor: Robert Zivadinov
Travel Grant - European Neurological Society
For work entitled “Detection of cortical lesions is dependent on choice of slice thickness in patients with multiple sclerosis”
Awarded to: O Dolezal
Mentor: Robert Zivadinov
2005
Dr. Lawrence D. Jacobs Medical MRI Fellowship
For work entitled “Longitudinal evolution of gray and white matter atrophy in patients with multiple sclerosis”
Awarded to O. Dolezal
Mentor: Robert Zivadinov
2004
Dr. Lawrence D. Jacobs Medical MRI Fellowship
For work entitled “Diffusion-weighted entropy in patients with multiple sclerosis.”
Awarded to: Eleonora Tavazzi
Mentor: Robert Zivadinov
Dr. Lawrence D. Jacobs Computer MRI Fellowship
For work entitled “Automated evaluation of confluent and non-confluent T2 lesion volume using supervised and unsupervised machine learning approaches.
Awarded to: T Sampath
Mentor: Robert Zivadinov
2003
Alpha Omega Alpha – Medical Student Research Scholarship
For work entitled “Is cerebral gray and white matter volume loss related to cognitive dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis?”
Awarded to: M Sanfilipo
Mentor: R Bakshi
2002
Alpha Omega Alpha – Medical Student Research Scholarship
For work entitled “Diffusion weighted MRI detection of gray matter damage in multiple sclerosis.”
Awarded to: AJ Fabiano
Mentor: R Bakshi
2001
G. Milton Shy Award
American Academy of Neurology
For outstanding medical student neuroscience research, entitled “Bicaudate ratio as a marker of brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis.”
Awarded to RA Bermel
Mentors: R Bakshi, L Jacobs
Alpha Omega Alpha – Medical Student Research Scholarship
For work entitled “Gray matter MRI T2 shortening in multiple sclerosis: correlation with physical disability and neuropsychological function.
Awarded to: RA Bermel
Mentor: R Bakshi
