Tissue loss in the thalamus is one of the earliest imaging hallmarks of multiple sclerosis. This has been recognized for some time, yet the current lack of non-invasive methods to study tissue alterations on the cellular and molecular level in the various sub-regions of the deep gray matter presents a major challenge in understanding and targeting the biological mechanisms that may be associated with or precede neurodegeneration. This inability to study these mechanisms has been a major obstacle in developing treatments for multiple sclerosis.
Dr. Schweser is one of the pioneering developers of Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM), a sophisticated MRI technique that allows for the quantification of magnetic susceptibility in the brain and other organs. This technology was developed at the Medical Physics Group led by Dr. Jürgen Reichenbach. Magnetic tissue susceptibility MRI provides a unique opportunity to assess tissue iron in a clinical setting. Dr. Schweser's pioneering work has opened up a new avenue of exploration in the medical field.
Iron is an essential co-factor in various biochemical pathways. Its deprivation from glial cells in the normal-appearing white matter is a pathological hallmark of multiple sclerosis that has been implicated in neuronal injury. It was recently observed that the thalamus of patients with multiple sclerosis shows a progressive decline in magnetic susceptibility. Other research suggests that a similar phenomenon may exist in other deep gray matter regions.
We are currently undertaking a comprehensive investigation into the population and subject-level dynamics of iron homeostasis imaging markers in the deep gray matter (DGM) of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Our research aims to determine whether disease progression is associated with iron-related oligodendroglia dysfunction in the DGM. We anticipate that this research will have a significant impact on the field, as it will open up new avenues for the development of effective treatments to combat the progression of MS, ultimately improving public health.
We are currently undertaking a comprehensive investigation into the population and subject-level dynamics of iron homeostasis imaging markers in the deep gray matter (DGM) of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Our research aims to determine whether disease progression is associated with iron-related oligodendroglia dysfunction in the DGM. We anticipate that this research will have a significant impact on the field, as it will open up new avenues for the development of effective treatments to combat the progression of MS, ultimately improving public health.
Publications
Jack A. Reeves, N. Bergsland, M. Dwyer, G. Wilding, D. Jakimovski, Fahad Salman, B. Süle, Nicklas Meineke, B. Weinstock-Guttman, R. Zivadinov, F. Schweser
NeuroImage, 2022
Two Novel Brain Iron Networks Explain Aging-related Variation in Deep Gray Matter
Reeves J, Bergsland N, Jakimovski D, Salman F, Damm J, Meineke N, Dwyer MG, Zivadinov R, Schweser F
American Academy of Neurology (AAN), Seattle, WA, 2022, p. 1950
Temporal evlution of iron concentration and content in the pulvinar of patients with MS.
Salman F, Bergsland N, Dwyer MG, Weinstock-Guttman B, Zivadinov R, Schweser F
15th Annual Buffalo Neuroscience Research Day, Buffalo, NY, 2022
Salman F, Bergsland N, Dwyer M, Weinstock-Guttman B, Zivadinov R, Schweser F
Joint Workshop on MR phase, magnetic susceptibility and electrical properties mapping, Lucca, Italy, 2022
Salman F, Bergsland N, Dwyer MG, Weinstock-Guttman B, Zivadinov R, Schweser F
Proc Intl Soc Mag Reson Med, 2021, p. 2805
F. Schweser, J. Hagemeier, M. Dwyer, N. Bergsland, S. Hametner, B. Weinstock-Guttman, R. Zivadinov
Human brain mapping, 2020
Salman F, Zivadinov R, Bergsland N, Dwyer MG, Weinstock-Guttman B, Schweser F
Proc Intl Soc Mag Reson Med, 2020, p. 1385
Targeting Iron Dyshomeostasis for Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders
N. Bergsland, E. Tavazzi, F. Schweser, D. Jakimovski, J. Hagemeier, M. Dwyer, R. Zivadinov
CNS Drugs, 2019
F. Schweser, Ana Luiza Raffaini Duarte Martins, J. Hagemeier, F. Lin, Jannis Hanspach, B. Weinstock-Guttman, S. Hametner, N. Bergsland, M. Dwyer, R. Zivadinov
NeuroImage, 2018
Brain Iron at Quantitative MRI Is Associated with Disability in Multiple Sclerosis.
R. Zivadinov, E. Tavazzi, N. Bergsland, J. Hagemeier, F. Lin, M. Dwyer, E. Carl, C. Kolb, D. Hojnacki, D. Ramasamy, J. Durfee, B. Weinstock-Guttman, F. Schweser
Radiology, 2018
Iron-related gene variants and brain iron in multiple sclerosis and healthy individuals
J. Hagemeier, M. Ramanathan, F. Schweser, M. Dwyer, F. Lin, N. Bergsland, B. Weinstock-Guttman, R. Zivadinov
NeuroImage: Clinical, 2017
J. Hagemeier, F. Schweser, M. Dwyer, P. Polak, N. Bergsland, B. Weinstock-Guttman, R. Zivadinov
2016
J. Hagemeier, Schweser Ferdinand, M. Dwyer, P. Polak, N. Bergsland, B. Weinstock-Guttman, R. Zivadinov
2016
R. Zivadinov, D. Ramasamy, R. Benedict, P. Polak, J. Hagemeier, C. Magnano, M. Dwyer, N. Bergsland, N. Bertolino, B. Weinstock-Guttman, C. Kolb, D. Hojnacki, D. Utriainen, E. Haacke, F. Schweser
Radiology, 2016
T. Doring, Vanessa Granado, F. Rueda, A. Deistung, J. Reichenbach, G. Tukamoto, E. Gasparetto, F. Schweser
PloS one, 2016
Effects of diet on brain iron levels among healthy individuals: an MRI pilot study
J. Hagemeier, Olivia Tong, M. Dwyer, F. Schweser, M. Ramanathan, R. Zivadinov
Neurobiology of Aging, 2015
Toward online reconstruction of quantitative susceptibility maps: Superfast dipole inversion
F. Schweser, A. Deistung, K. Sommer, J. Reichenbach
Magnetic resonance in medicine, 2013
F. Schweser, M. Dwyer, A. Deistung, J. Reichenbach, R. Zivadinov
Front. Physics, 2013
F. Schweser, Xiang Feng, Rosa Mach Batlle, D. Güllmar, A. Deistung, M. Dwyer, R. Zivadinov, J. Reichenbach
2013
Effect of Age on MRI Phase Behavior in the Subcortical Deep Gray Matter of Healthy Individuals
J. Hagemeier, M. Dwyer, N. Bergsland, F. Schweser, C. Magnano, M. Heininen-Brown, D. Ramasamy, E. Carl, C. Kennedy, R. Melia, P. Polak, A. Deistung, J. Geurts, J. Reichenbach, R. Zivadinov
American Journal of Neuroradiology, 2013
U. Löbel, A. Meyer-Osores, J. Sedlacik, F. Schweser, R. Grosse, A. Deistung, J. Reichenbach, A. Schulz, M. Hartig, A. Kohlschütter
2013
C. Langkammer, F. Schweser, N. Krebs, A. Deistung, W. Goessler, E. Scheurer, K. Sommer, G. Reishofer, K. Yen, F. Fazekas, S. Ropele, J. Reichenbach
NeuroImage, 2012
Non-invasive Investigation of the Compartmentalization of Iron in the Human Brain
F. Schweser, J. Sedlacik, A. Deistung, J. Reichenbach
2012
J. Hagemeier, M. Dwyer, N. Bergsland, F. Schweser, C. Magnano, M. Heininen-Brown, D. Ramasamy, E. Carl, C. Kennedy, Mariya Cherneva, R. Melia, P. Polak, A. Deistung, J. Reichenbach, R. Zivadinov
2012
Superfast Dipole Inversion ( SDI ) for real-time Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping ( QSM )
F. Schweser, A. Deistung, K. Sommer, J. Reichenbach
2011