Our fellowship program is designed to encourage leading-edge research and to teach the basic skills necessary for a successful career in academic medicine. Our ongoing postdoctoral training program in quantitative brain imaging for the study of neurological disease has been in existence for 16 years. We provide comprehensive research experience in the use of brain imaging to assess the pathophysiological basis of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the design of clinical trials of new therapeutic agents for these disorders. Over the past 15 years, we have successfully trained 22 postdoctoral fellows from the USA as well as the UK, Germany, Japan, and China. These promising scientists have built a solid track record of publications in high-impact journals and moved on to productive academic careers.

The functional brain imaging laboratory and the experimental therapeutics unit are an integral part of the Center for Neurosciences located at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research on the Manhasset campus of the North Shore-LIJ Health System.  The postdoctoral training program is directed by senior scientists with expertise in diverse fields including radiochemistry, biophysics, imaging, biostatistics, and clinical trial design.  Research currently conducted in the Center for Neurosciences uses advanced functional brain scanning techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) and high field MRI to help understand the origin of movement disorders and other neurologic diseases. A combination of analytical strategies and neurochemical measurements within the brain of conscious human subjects allows the investigation of relationships between localized neuronal deficiencies and the activity of functional brain networks within the three-dimensional structure of the brain. This approach has identified a number of discrete neuronal pathways associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease, dystonia, Tourette Syndrome and Huntington's Disease, as well as the normal aging process. The identification and quantification of these neuronal pathways is important for diagnosis, objectively measuring disease progression, and gauging the efficacy of new therapeutic interventions. Identifying the neural networks associated with neurodegenerative processes provides a means to assess new agents designed to slow disease progression.

Ongoing research projects include:

Network mapping in Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders: Investigators in the Functional Brain Imaging Laboratory are mapping the functional circuitry underlying motor performance and cognition in these diseases and in healthy aging.

Modulation of network activity during therapy for movement disorders:  Investigators are exploring changes in the activity of neural networks during pharmacotherapy and surgical interventions of PD and dystonia. Novel studies of metabolic changes following gene therapy are in progress.

Brain abnormalities and genetic susceptibility in Huntington’s and dystonia: Neuroscientists are using new statistical mapping methods to identify functional and anatomical abnormalities in the brains of individuals genetically at risk for neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington’s disease or dystonia.

Brain pathology in neurological diseases: Ongoing research is focusing on the relationship of metabolic changes and protein aggregation with disease progression. Agents such as [18F]-FDDNP and [11C]-PIB are being used in conjunction with network mapping and brain activation studies to understand the molecular basis for cognition dysfunction in PD and other brain diseases. 

Fellows in our program gain exceptional experience in patient-oriented translational research. They learn a variety of multidisciplinary skills ranging from experimental design, imaging methodology and data analysis, to manuscript preparation. Trainees gain specific expertise in the application of statistical parametric mapping as well as multivariate brain mapping techniques. They interact closely with faculty members and attend major academic conferences and in-house seminars in neuroscience and related areas. We offer a supportive and stimulating research environment with ample opportunity for professional growth. The position is initially for two years with the possibility for renewal. Salary will depend upon qualifications and experience.

Selected Publications (2006-2008)

1. Feigin A, Ghilardi MF, Huang C, Ma Y, Carbon M, Guttman M, Paulsen JS, Ghez CP, Eidelberg D. Preclinical Huntington’s disease: Compensatory brain responses during learning. Annals of Neurology, 2006; 59(1):53-59
2. Asanuma K, Tang C, Ma Y, Dhawan V, Mattis P, Edwards C, Kaplitt MG, Feigin A, Eidelberg D. Network modulation in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Brain, 2006; 129(Pt 10):2667-2678
3. Huang C, Mattis P, Tang C, Perrine K, Carbon M, Eidelberg D. Metabolic brain networks associated with cognitive function in Parkinson’s disease. NeuroImage, 2007; 34(2):714-723
4. Eckert T, Feigin A, Lewis DE, Dhawan V, Frucht S, Eidelberg D. Regional metabolic changes in parkinsonian patients with normal dopaminergic imaging. Movement Disorders, 2007; 22(2):167-173
5. Ma Y, Tang C, Spetsieris P, Dhawan V, Eidelberg D. Abnormal metabolic network activity in Parkinson’s disease: Test-retest reproducibility. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 2007; 27(3): 597-605
6. Huang C, Tang C, Feigin A, Lesser M, Ma Y, Pourfar M, Dhawan V, Eidelberg D. Changes in network activity with the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Brain, 2007; 130(Pt 7):1834-1846
7. Feigin A, Tang C, Ma Y, Mattis P, Zgaljardic D, Guttman M, Paulsen JS, Dhawan V, Eidelberg D. Thalamic metabolism and symptom onset in preclinical Huntington’s disease. Brain 2007; 130  (Pt 11):2858-2867
8. Feigin A, Kaplitt MG, Tang C, Lin T, Mattis P, Dhawan V, During MJ, Eidelberg D. Modulation of metabolic brain networks following subthalamic gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 2007; 104(49): 19559-19564
9. Carbon M, Ghilardi M-F, Argyelan M, Dhawan V, Bressman S, Eidelberg D. Increased cerebellar activation during sequence learning in DYT1 carriers: An equiperformance study. Brain 2008; 131(1):146-154
10. Carbon M, Kingsley PB, Tang C, Bressman S, Eidelberg D. Microstructural white matter changes in primary torsion dystonia. Movement Disorders 2008; Nov 12 [Epub ahead of print]
    

1. Huang C, Mattis P, Perrine K, Brown N, Dhawan V, Eidelberg D. Metabolic abnormalities associated with mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease. Neurology 2008; in press
2. Lin T, Carbon M, Tang C, Mogilner A, Sterio D, Beric A, Dhawan V, Eidelberg D. Metabolic correlates of subthalamic nucleus activity in Parkinson’s disease. Brain 2008; in press
3. Hirano S, Asanuma K, Ma Y, Tang C, Feigin A, Dhawan V, Carbon M, Eidelberg D. Dissociation of metabolic and neurovascular responses to levodopa in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neuroscience, 2008; in press
   
   
   

Fellowship Application

Candidates with a MD and/or PhD degree and training in neurology, brain imaging, or neuroscience will be considered for a postdoctoral fellowship position. Experience in PC and Microsoft Office software is also required for this position.

Applicants are asked to send the following:

1. A letter describing yourself, your interest in functional brain imaging, ultimate goals, and types of research.

2. A curriculum vitae.

3. A list of three references.

Please mail these materials to:

David Eidelberg, MD

Director, Center for Neurosciences

The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research

350 Community Drive

Manhasset, NY 11030

Tel: 516-562-2498