dr. N. Petridou
dr. N. Petridou
- 7T Group
Research Programs
Biography
Biography
My research is at the intersection of neuroimaging with emphasis on MRI, biomedical engineering, computational neuroscience, and fundamental neuroscience. The ultimate goals are to enable non-invasive quantitative MRI measurements that can be used to infer neuronal and vessel function in the human brain, and to further our understanding neurovascular coupling mechanisms in health and neurovascular pathologies. On the technical side, my research group develops innovative MRI methods at human ultra-high field (7 tesla) to enable measurements of neuro-vascular function at the level of detail that is fundamental for brain function (μm to few mm). On the neuroscience side, my group seeks to elucidate neurovascular coupling mechanisms in the human brain at the same level of detail. A large part of this research focuses on the development and validation of computational models that can enable quantitative assessment of neuro-vascular function from MRI measurements. This includes assessment of spatial (e.g. laminar) and temporal aspects of function of neuronal populations and of intracortical vessels (e.g. vascular reactivity, blood flow patterns). We build methods and fundamental knowledge by studying the healthy human brain, and apply these to neurovascular pathologies with a specific interest in dementia.
My training blends neuroimaging, MRI physics, biomedical engineering, computing, and neuroscience with a focus on neurovascular coupling and neurophysiology. My Master’s training was in biomedical engineering and MR spectroscopy, at the George Washington University, Washington DC USA, and the In Vivo NMR Research Center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA. I pursued my doctoral research at the unit of functional imaging methods, NIMH, NIH USA, which exposed me to pioneers and experts in functional MRI and MRI, (neuro)physiological mechanisms underlying fMRI signals, as well as electrophysiology and properties of neuronal circuits. I pursued my post-doctoral training as a Sir Peter Mansfield fellow (Nobel Prize for Medicine 2003) at the University of Nottingham UK, and have worked on advanced 7 tesla fMRI techniques since the early days of human 7 tesla MRI scanners. As a post-doc at the University Medical Center Utrecht, I was in the front-lines of cortical depth-resolved fMRI (laminar fMRI) development for the human brain, and I eventually started my own group zooming in on neurovascular coupling. Each of these informs the current research of my group, in which we take an integrated approach to understand the mechanisms of neurovascular coupling in health and disease, spanning advanced neuroimaging methods development, computational modelling, and the relationship between neuronal and vascular function in the human brain.
Fellowship and Awards
Grants as principal PI
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2013 |
VIDI, NWO Applied & Engineering Sciences; “Measuring neuronal activity in humans: From Blood to Neuron” |
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Innovational Research Incentives Scheme personal program grant focusing on the development of ultra-high field (7T) fMRI methods for measuring spatially detailed neuronal activity in humans, validated with intra-cranial human electrophysiology (ECoG). | ||
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2013 |
ASPASIA, NWO |
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Personal program grant for the advancement of talented female scientists in academia. | ||
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2014 |
NWO Medium Investment grant; ”Detailed imaging of human brain function” |
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Project to develop a high-density signal receive head coil-array for very high spatiotemporal resolution functional MRI of the human brain. | ||
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2016 |
BRAIN Initiative, National Institutes of Health (NIH); “Development and validation of empirical models of the neuronal population activity underlying non-invasive human brain measurements” |
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Transatlantic consortium program focusing on the development and validation of computational models of the neuronal population activity underlying non-invasive human brain measurements, based on empirical measurements from the human brain obtained with fMRI at 3T and 7T, MEG, EEG, and intra-cranial electrophysiology (ECoG). Receiving a BRAIN Initiative award as a non-USA based principal PI is exceptional (~1% rate). | ||
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2017 |
NIH diversity program grant |
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Grant under a special call to promote diversity in health-related research. The funds supported a female bachelor’s student to gain a 2-year research experience in neuroscience. | ||
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2021 |
Top Sector Life Sciences & Health (LSH) – NWO. Human Measurement Models 2.0 program; “Virtual Cerebrovascular Responses: Modeling the human cortical vasculature to understand brain function in health and disease” |
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Public-private consortium program (2 UMCs – 2 SMEs) focusing on the development and validation of a computational model of cortical vessel function in the human brain that will bridge the gap between the information obtained with functional MRI and the underlying biology. Validation involves multi-contrast 7T functional MRI and intra-cranial instrinsic signal optical imaging from the human brain. The model will help optimize the functional measurements to stage neurovascular disease severity and to interpret the observed changes. | ||
Grants as co-PI
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2010 |
Focus & Massa, Neuroscience and Cognition Utrecht |
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Project investigating the causal link between cortical organization and conscious perception using fMRI and electrophysiology in humans. | ||
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2016 |
NWO scientist visit grant |
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Award for short-term support/visit of an international scientist to collaborate on project ”Pushing the limit of fMRI in speed and detail” | ||
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2022 |
NWO Medical Research Domain (ZonMw); “Mechanisms of Dementia (MODEM)” |
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Consortium program focusing on elucidating the biological mechanisms that lead to dementia, or protect against it, aiming to help in the improvement of diagnostics and developing medical treatments. | ||
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2023 |
NWO National Roadmap - Large Scale Infrastructure ; “DYNAMIC” |
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The Dutch National 14Tesla Initiative in Medical Science (DYNAMIC) consortium program to establish a 14T MRI system as an (inter)national resource for the development of ultra-high field imaging techniques and their application in Neuroscience and Medicine. | ||
Honors/Awards
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2021 |
Aspasia nomination for the advancement of exceptionally talented female scientists, Dutch Research Council |
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2014 |
Outstanding Teacher Award, International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine |
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2013 |
Aspasia award for the advancement of exceptionally talented female scientists, Dutch Research Council |
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2006 |
Sir Peter Mansfield Fellowship, Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Center, University of Nottingham |
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2002 |
Fellows Award for Research Excellence , National Institutes of Health |
Research Output (75)
Schellekens Wouter, Bhogal Alex A, Roefs Emiel Ca, Báez-Yáñez Mario G, Siero Jeroen Cw, Petridou Natalia 19 Oct 2022, In: Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. 43 , p. 419-432 14 p.
Groen Iris I A, Piantoni Giovanni, Montenegro Stephanie, Flinker Adeen, Devore Sasha, Devinsky Orrin, Doyle Werner, Dugan Patricia, Friedman Daniel, Ramsey Nick, Petridou Natalia, Winawer Jonathan 19 Aug 2022, In: The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 42 , p. 7562-7580 19 p.
van Dijk Jelle A, de Jong Maartje C, Piantoni Gio, Fracasso Alessio, Vansteensel Mariska J, Groen Iris I A, Petridou Natalia, Dumoulin Serge O 3 Aug 2022, In: PLoS ONE. 17 , p. 1-15
Schellekens Wouter, Bakker Carlijn, Ramsey Nick F, Petridou Natalia Apr 2022, In: PLoS Computational Biology. 18 , p. 1-31
van Dijk Jelle A, Fracasso Alessio, Petridou Natalia, Dumoulin Serge O 25 Oct 2021, In: Current Biology. 31 , p. 4635-4640.e4
Schellekens Wouter, Thio Martijn , Badde Stephanie, Winawer Jonathan, Ramsey Nick, Petridou Natalia Sep 2021, In: Brain Structure and Function. 226 , p. 2099-2112 14 p.
Piantoni Giovanni, Hermes Dora, Ramsey Nick, Petridou Natalia 6 Aug 2021, In: NeuroImage. 242
Fracasso Alessio, Dumoulin Serge O, Petridou Natalia 2021, In: Progress in Neurobiology. 202
Fracasso Alessio, Gaglianese Anna, Vansteensel Mariska J., Aarnoutse Erik J., Ramsey Nick F., Dumoulin Serge O., Petridou Natalia 2021, In: Brain structure & function. 227 , p. 1371-1384 14 p.
van Dijk Jelle A, Fracasso Alessio, Petridou Natalia, Dumoulin Serge O 1 Dec 2020, In: Scientific Reports. 10 15 p.