The mission of the Behavioral Neuroimaging Research Division is to lead the discovery and development of neuroimaging biomarkers utilizing advanced neuroimaging tools coupled with powerful bioinformatics technology to improve diagnosis, guide pharmacologic and behavioral interventions, and predict treatment response in children and adults devastated by severe Neuropsychiatric illness and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Specifically this task involves the delineation and validation of in vivo neuroimaging biomarkers of molecular events.



Pre-clinical neuroscience research and clinical research studies are centered within the research division which utilizes state of the art neuroimaging tools including advanced 3D morphometric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and functional MRI (fMRI) to investigate brain structure, neurochemistry and function, respectively. Facilities include 3T Human MR, 7T animal MR, and PET/CT. In addition, the division houses advanced high performance computing and bioinformatics technology for data analyses. Additional collaborative research investigations are carried out at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, and at the VA Medical Center, Lebanon, PA.



Areas of active clinical neuroimaging research investigation in pediatric and adult subjects include: Bipolar Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, PTSD, Autism, Eating Disorders, Sleep Disorders, Restless Leg Syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease and Suicide Prevention.



Areas of active preclinical and basic neuroscience neuroimaging investigation include Monitoring of Pharmacologic Modulation of Neurochemistry, Effects of Stress on Neurochemistry/Brain Structure, and Neuroprotective/Neurotrophic Effects.



In addition to the research mission, members of the division are actively involved in professional consultation, education and outreach activities locally, statewide, nationally and internationally.