“Imaging the Human Corpus Callosum Before Birth – from Fetal Brain Atlases to Prognostic Markers”
Hosted by the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC) and the Department of Neuroscience.
The IDDRC Seminars for Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research brings in WashU faculty and other experts across disciplines whose research has particular implications for interventions in neurodevelopmental disorders.
In countries with systematic prenatal ultrasound screening programs, agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) is one of the most frequently detected anomalies. Due to neurodevelopmental outcomes potentially ranging from close-to-normal to severe cognitive delay, prenatal counselling of parents in this situation is extremely challenging. From early second trimester (18 gestational weeks) onwards, fetal MRI provides structural and recently even functional imaging data of the developing human brain. Partly overcoming the problem of fetal motion, modern MR neuroimaging techniques (Diffusion tensor imaging, functional BOLD imaging) have been successfully adapted to fetal MR imaging. Most recent insights from spatiotemporal atlas data showing early prenatal deviations from normal brain structure in ACC subjects will be presented. Ultimately our most recent efforts to develop fetal MR imaging biomarkers/scoring systems to optimize prediction in these cases are shown.
Dr. Kasprian serves as neuroradiologist with specific background in pediatric neuroradiology. His scientific interest is in the field of developmental brain imaging. He and his group was active in introducing and applying advanced MR imaging techniques to study the connectivity and even function of the fetal brain. His background in neurology and neuroanatomy facilitated his studies on fetal brain structure and function. Dr. Kasprian has published more than 100 original articles, several book chapters and a series of review articles in the fields of developmental and pediatric brain imaging. His work in the field of Diffusion tensor MR imaging has been acknowledged with young investigator awards by the Radiological Society of Northern America, the European Society of Radiology and the American Society of Neuroradiology. He established widespread research collaborations with American (postdoctoral research fellow at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas), European, Australian and Asian institutions.
IDDRC Seminar Mini-series January-May 2021
“Toward advances in IDD treatment through maternal-fetal medicine”
Full schedule, IDDRC Seminars
For inquiries or if you would like to be added to a distribution list for these events, contact Daniel Gray.