ALS Research Collaboration
  • Home
  • Learn ⇓
    • ALS Glossary of Terms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • About Familial ALS
  • Research Studies
  • Get Involved ⇓
    • Join a Study
    • Contact Us
    • US Clinical Trial Map
    • Newsletter
    • Support Our Research
  • About Us ⇓
    • Our Journey
    • Core Members
  • Search
  • Menu
ALS Research Collaboration
  • Home
  • Learn ⇓
    • ALS Glossary of Terms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • About Familial ALS
  • Research Studies
  • Get Involved ⇓
    • Join a Study
    • Contact Us
    • US Clinical Trial Map
    • Newsletter
    • Support Our Research
  • About Us ⇓
    • Our Journey
    • Core Members
  • Search
  • Menu
ALS Research Collaboration
  • Home
  • Learn ⇓
    • ALS Glossary of Terms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • About Familial ALS
  • Research Studies
  • Get Involved ⇓
    • Join a Study
    • Contact Us
    • US Clinical Trial Map
    • Newsletter
    • Support Our Research
  • About Us ⇓
    • Our Journey
    • Core Members
  • Search
  • Menu
ALS Research Collaboration
  • Home
  • Learn ⇓
    • ALS Glossary of Terms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • About Familial ALS
  • Research Studies
  • Get Involved ⇓
    • Join a Study
    • Contact Us
    • US Clinical Trial Map
    • Newsletter
    • Support Our Research
  • About Us ⇓
    • Our Journey
    • Core Members
  • Search
  • Menu
ALS Research Collaboration
  • Home
  • Learn ⇓
    • ALS Glossary of Terms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • About Familial ALS
  • Research Studies
  • Get Involved ⇓
    • Join a Study
    • Contact Us
    • US Clinical Trial Map
    • Newsletter
    • Support Our Research
  • About Us ⇓
    • Our Journey
    • Core Members
  • Search
  • Menu
ALS Research Collaboration
  • Home
  • Learn ⇓
    • ALS Glossary of Terms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • About Familial ALS
  • Research Studies
  • Get Involved ⇓
    • Join a Study
    • Contact Us
    • US Clinical Trial Map
    • Newsletter
    • Support Our Research
  • About Us ⇓
    • Our Journey
    • Core Members
  • Search
  • Menu

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Biomarkers in ALS (MRI)

About the Study

Principal Investigators: Michael Benatar, MD, PhD (University of Miami)

mriThis is a longitudinal study designed to assess whether MRI is a useful biomarker of disease progression in ALS. Participants in this study have repeat MRI scans every 3-6 months. The MRI scan involves two procedures: MRS (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) measures nerve ‘function’, and DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) measures nerve ‘structure’. Each MRI session (which includes MRS and DTI) takes about an hour.

Eligibility Criteria
  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Sporadic or familial ALS
  • FVC > 70% predicted
  • No claustrophobia and no contra-indication to MRI
  • Pre-fALS participants and other healthy subjects are also invited to participate
Funding Agencies

als_assoc_logo
ALS Association

ALS_recovery_find_Logo
ALS Recovery Fund

Collaborators
  • Martin Turner, MD, PhD (University of Oxford)
  • Varan Govind, PhD (University of Miami)
Contact

Research Coordinators

  • Eliana Reyes, B.A.
  • Sumaira Hussain, B.Sc.

Contact Information

  • fals@med.miami.edu
  • Phone: 305-243-0408
Links
Publications
  • Carew JD, Nair, G, Andersen PM, et al. Pre-symptomatic spinal cord neurometbolic findings in SOD1+ people at risk for famiilal ALS. Neurology. 2011 Oct 4; 77:1370-1375. [ Pubmed Link ] [ Press Release ]
  • Turner MR, Grosskreutz J, Kassubek J, et al. Towards a neuroimaging biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Lancet Neurol. 2011 May;10(5):400-3. [ Pubmed Link ]
  • Carew JD, Nair G, Pineda-Alonso N, et al. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the cervical cord in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotroph Lateral Scler. 2010 May;12(3):185-91. [ Pubmed Link ]
  • Nair G, Carew JD, Usher S, et al. Diffusion tensor imaging reveals regional differences in the cervical spinal cord in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuroimage. 2010 Nov 1;53(2):576-83. [ Pubmed Link ]
  • Metwalli NS, Benatar M, Nair G, et al. Utility of axial and radial diffusivity from diffusion tensor MRI as markers of neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain Res. 2010 Aug 12;1348:156-64. [ Pubmed Link ]
Presentations and Lectures

Nair G, Wuu J, Gronka S, Walker M, Carew J, Benatar M. MRI evidence of disease in pre-symptomatic SOD1+ individuals at risk for developing familial ALS. Accepted for platform presentation at the 22nd International Symposium on ALS/MND, Sydney, Australia, Nov 30 – Dec 2, 2011

Carew J, Nair G, Usher S, Hu X, Benatar M. Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of the Cervical Spine in ALS and Pre-symptomatic SOD1 Positive People. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 19th Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada, May 7-13, 2011

Nair G, Carew J, Li L, Usher S, Hu X, Benatar M. DTI Detects Progressive Neurodegeneration in the Brain and Cervical Spinal Cord in ALS. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 19th Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada, May 7-13, 2011

Nair G, Carew J, Usher S, Benatar M, Hu X. T1-weighted Images Detect Motor Neuron Degeneration in ALS. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 19th Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada, May 7-13, 2011

Nair G, Gronka S, Lu D, Wuu J, Hu XP, Benatar M. Towards an imaging-metric for presymptomatic manifestations of ALS. Poster presentation at the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 19th Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada, May 7-13, 2011

Nair G, Lu D, Walker M, Carew J, Hu X, Benatar M. Longitudinal Evolution of MRI Parameters with Disease Progression in ALS. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 19th Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada, May 7-13, 2011

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Correlates with ALS Severity. Platform Presentation by John Carew at the 8th Annual Meeting of the Northeast ALS Consortium, St Pete’s Beach, Florida, October 2009

Metwalli N, Benatar M, Nair G, Usher S, Hu X, Carew J. Axial and Radial Diffusivity are Sensitive Diffusion Tensor MRI Measures in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. 15th Annual Human Brain Mapping Meeting, San Francisco, June 2009

Back to Research Studies

Active Research Studies

  • Research Studies (All)
  • Pre-fALS
  • CReATe PGB
  • PRESS-ALS
  • CRiALS Biomarker
  • CRiALS Genetics
  • Neuraltus NP001

Contact Us

By phone:
For familial ALS and general inquiries:
1-888-413-9315
For the CReATe Consortium and related studies:
1-844-837-1031

By email:
fals@miami.edu (For familial ALS inquiries)
projectcreate@miami.edu (For CReATe inquiries)
alsresearch@miami.edu (General inquiries)

Support Our Research

Affiliates

  • CReATe Consortium
  • CReATe Connect
  • The Kessenich Family ALS Center at UM
  • ALS Recovery Fund
  • ALS Association
  • Muscular Dystrophy Association
  • CDC National ALS Registry
  • The Northeastern ALS Consortium
  • Myasthenia Gravis Research Group
Read Our Newsletter

News

  • Biomarker for ALS Disease Progression Identified by the Teams at University of Miami and Flinders University!03/07/2017 - 5:48 pm
  • Brain MedicineDr. Benatar presents promising phase II trial results of Arimoclomol in SOD1 ALS12/09/2016 - 5:02 pm
  • CReATe Consortium Virtual Journal Club12/08/2016 - 3:18 pm
More News
© Copyright - ALS Research Collaboration. Site by Academic Web Pages
Scroll to top
Translate »