CLINICAL TRIAL SERVICES
The Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center (BNAC) is a dedicated research center that has expertise in aging and dementia (Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment) clinical trials. Our team uses both qualitative and quantitative analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to understand the onset and progression of these diseases as well as the changes that occur in normal aging. We served as Clinical Core Lab for a number of aging and dementia clinical trials.
Lesion Related Outcomes
BNAC is a world leader in the quantitative evaluation of white matter pathology in neurodegenerative diseases and aging. BNAC uses a three-level quality control system where scans are reviewed by multiple expert evaluators and the resulting gold-standard regions of interest (ROIs) are painstakingly edited to ensure the highest possible accuracy. In addition, BNAC has also been working to augment expert raters with deep learning systems in clinical trial workflows to improve overall quality of lesion detection. The high quality of BNACs three-level quality control system provides unparalleled training data for us to teach artificial intelligence (AI) systems to identify and delineate brain regions and areas of pathology. By feeding this back into clinical trial activities, we are able to augment human operators to further improve precision of lesion delineation and accuracy of lesion detection and maximize study power.
Central Nervous System Atrophy
This research helps discover the causes and progression of neurodegenerative changes in diseases like MS. BNAC has extensive expertise in the development and application of quantitative algorithms for brain volumetry and change detection, and has contributed numerous techniques to improve the accuracy and power of clinical investigations and therapeutic trials. Additionally, BNAC has contributed new measurement methods for real-world clinical use, such as the NeuroSTREAM platform. Additionally, new measurement methods for real-world clinical use, such as the NeuroSTREAM platform, are created through this research.
Microstructual Changes
BNAC is using a variety of imaging measures to evaluate microstructural damage in the central nervous system (CNS). Among others, these include magnetization transfer and diffusion tensor imaging for in-vivo insight into demyelination and remyelination, spectroscopy for exploration of metabolic changes, quantitative susceptibility mapping for measuring iron changes, and perfusion for detecting cerebral blood flow alterations.
Brain Connectomics
Our brain connectomics work uses state-of-the art structural and functional MRI connectivity measurements to help better understand neuroplasticity, recovery, and cognition.
Optical Coherence Tomography
Our optical coherence tomography (OCT) research has shed new light on neurodegenerative central nervous system processes.
Radiotracers and PET Imaging
Our novel work with radiotracers and positron emission tomography (PET) Imaging has expanded the understanding of molecular drivers in neurodegenerative disease progression and pathology.
For more information about imaging endpoints, click here.
FEATURED RECENT AGING AND DEMENTIA STUDIES
- Jakimovski D,P Zivadinov R, Weinstock Z,G Fuchs TA, Dwyer MG, Bergsland , Weinstock-Guttman B, Benedict RHB. Cortical thickness and cognitive performance of elderly with multiple sclerosis. J Neurol 2023:doi:10.1007/s00415-023-11945-2. [Open Article]
CONTACT OUR TEAM TODAY
Part of BNAC’s mission is to help share our tools and experience with our colleagues and other industry partners. If you need help with managing a medical imaging trial related to aging and dementia, please reach out to discuss how we can assist. Our group brings decades of experience and expertise to every collaborative study and service partnership.
