MRI Clinical Faculty

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	Evanthia Bernitsas, MD Associate Professor of Neurology Wayne State University School of Medicine Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center Email: ebernits@med.wayne.edu Publications: link
Research interests: I study the application of multimodal imaging in the pathophysiology, diagnosis and therapeutics of multiple sclerosis and related demyelinating disorders. My research interests focus on the correlation between imaging and clinical outcomes, detection of early changes, and association of these changes with clinical metrics and disease course. Our team uses advanced imaging technology to investigate gray and white matter pathology, the effect of disease modifying agents on the CNS and the potential mechanisms for remyelination. My goal is to use imaging biomarkers for an accurate diagnosis and successful therapeutic interventions.
	Csaba Juhasz, MD, PhD Professor of Pediatrics, Neurology, Neurosurgery Wayne State University School of Medicine Email: csaba.juhasz@wayne.edu Publications: link
Research interests: My overall goal is to combine my clinical and research background with my expertise in multimodal imaging to find better ways to diagnose and treat patients with various neurological disorders, with the main focus on epilepsy, brain tumors, and Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS). Our group pioneered the use of novel PET tracers in localization of epileptic foci, including imaging GABA receptors, tryptophan metabolism, and activated microglia. I have also introduced the clinical use of tryptophan PET in the imaging of human brain tumors. Read more ... Another major line of my clinical research is the longitudinal, multimodal imaging of SWS that yielded one of the largest MRI and PET databases of children with SWS, collected since 2003. I also study advanced MRI and PET approaches to study epileptic foci in children who undergo epilepsy surgery. I have active collaborations with several research groups at WSU as well as in other U.S. institutes, including Northwestern University, Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins University, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard University, the University of Illinois, as well as the Sturge-Weber Foundation and participants of the Brain Vascular Malformation Consortium.
	Swathi Mody, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology Director of Pediatric Neuroradiology and Fetal Imaging Wayne State University School of Medicine Email: smody@med.wayne.edu Publications: link
Research interests: With my clinical background in pediatric radiology and neuroradiology, my main research interest are in fetal and neonatal neuroimaging and imaging of the placenta.
	David R. Rosenberg, MD Professor and Chair of Psychiatry Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences Wayne State University School of Medicine Email: drosen@med.wayne.edu Publications: link
Research interests: My main research interest has been the identification of neurobiological markers of pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders. Specific research interests have included the examination of glutamate, neurochemical, functional, and structural abnormalities in pediatric OCD and obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OCB) using volumetric and functional MRI, voxel based morphometry and magnetic resonance spectroscopy and most recently combining these brain imaging methods with genetic assessment. The goal of my research is to provide a better understanding of the impact of genetic variants on fronto-striatal-thalamocortical and glutamatergic dysregulation in the pathogenesis of OCD and OCB and lead to new diagnostic, therapeutic, and prevention strategies.
	Maysaa M. Basha, MD, FAES Associate Professor and Interim Chair Department of Neurology Wayne State University School of Medicine Neurology Service-In-Chief, Detroit Medical Center Chief, Epilepsy Division Email: mmerhi@med.wayne.edu Publications: link
Research interests: Dr. Basha’s clinical and research interests include the treatment of medically intractable epilepsy, treatment of status epilepticus, EEG and seizure semiology analysis, and seizure safety.
	Peter LeWitt, MD Professor of Neurology Sastry Foundation Endowed Chair Director of Movement Disorder Fellowship Program WSU Email: aa1142@wayne.edu Publications: link
Research interests: Dr. LeWitt has extensive experience in clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. His research interests have also included animal models and biomarkers of neurological disease, pharmacokinetic analysis, and gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease.
	Mykol Larvie, MD, PhD Professor of Radiology Chief of Neuroradiology, Director of MRI, Detroit Medical Center Publications: link
Research interests: My research and clinical work are centered on understanding the biological determinants of brain health and identifying biomarkers to distinguish between normal and abnormal brain function, particularly inflammation, neurodegeneration and normal aging.