Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a complex and powerful diagnostic tool in modern medicine. By expanding the capabilities of the technology and developing new magnetic resonance imaging techniques, Dr. Melanie Martin and her research team are hoping to improve the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and Schizophrenia.

On this episode the research question is: “How does magnetic resonance imaging help detect nervous system disorders?”

Episode Credits

Written, Narrated and Produced by Kent Davies

UWRQ Logo by Kimberley Moore

Interviews

Dr. Melanie Martin, Interviewed by Kent Davies, April 28, 2023, in Winnipeg, MB. Remote Recording. “Research Question Podcast,” Oral History Centre Archive, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB.

Music

Lee Rosevere – Let’s start at the beginning, Puzzle pieces

Blue Dot Sessions – Brer Spine, The Maison, Trailmaker, 

Nuisance – Woodcarver Instrumental

Xylo-Ziko – Sway, Lull

Selected Readings

Herrera, Sheryl L., Maxina Sheft, Morgan E. Mercredi, Richard Buist, Kant M. Matsuda, and Melanie Martin. “Axon diameter inferences in the human corpus callosum using oscillating gradient spin echo sequences.” Magnetic Resonance Imaging 85 (2022): 64-70.

Lang, Michael L., Qiang Zhang, Xiaolei Chen, Niandong Yan, Haoqin Zhu, Melanie Martin, Feng Yu, Chaoshi Niu, Gong Zhang, and Qiang Zeng. “First ground-based, high-field, cryogen-free, mobile intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging system.” Magnetic Resonance Imaging 99 (2023): 34-40.

Martin M, Measuring Restriction Sizes Using Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Review. Magnetic Resonance Insights (2013) 6: 59-64.

Whittaker HT, Zhu S, Di Curzio DL, Buist R, Li XM, Noy S, Wiseman FK, Thiessen JD, Martin M, T1, diffusion tensor, and quantitative magnetization transfer imaging of the hippocampus in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (2018) 50: 26-37.  

Hayes K, Buist R, Vincent TJ, Thiessen JD, Zhang Y, Zhang H, Wang J, Summers AR, Kong J, Li XM, Martin M, Comparison of Manual and Semiautomated Segmentation Methods to Evaluate Hippocampus Volume in APP and PS1 Transgenic Mice obtained via in-vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Journal of Neuroscience Methods (2014) 221: 103-111. 

Kastyak-Ibrahim MZ, Di Curzio DL, Buist R, Herrera SL, Albensi BC, Del Bigio MR, Martin M, Neurofibrillary tangles and plaques are not accompanied by white matter pathology in aged triple transgenic-Alzheimer disease mice, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (2013) 31(9): 1515-1521.