Dr Farshid Sepehrband - Mapping perivascular space fluid, revisiting extra-cellular space model

Friday 21st August 6:00 am Brisbane.

Abstract: In diffusion MRI studies of brain microstructure, extracellular space (ECS) fluid is assumed to be the hindered fluid that resides in tissue parenchyma, following a random-walk between cellular compartments. The ECS also consists of a nonparenchymal compartment, which is part of the glia-lymphatic system, accommodating interstitial fluid exchange with cerebrospinal fluid through perivascular spaces. The nonparenchymal ECS fluid is less restricted compared to the parenchymal ECS and therefore could have a different diffusion profile. In this talk, I will discuss diffusion MRI at ECS, focusing on perivascular space fluid.

Bio: After finishing his undergraduate and master’s studies in computer science and digital electronics in Iran, Farshid moved to UQ Brisbane and did his PhD at Center for Advanced Imaging (CAI) and Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), studying biomedical engineering and neuroscience. He then joined Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI) at University of Southern California (USC) for postdoctoral training.

Farshid is an Assistant Professor at USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (INI) and directs the INI Microstructural imaging Group (IMG). His research focus is on developing new neuroimaging technologies to study Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. More specifically, his work is centered around combining ultra-high field technology, diffusion weighted imaging and microstructural modelling, with the aim of obtaining detailed structural markers of brain tissue from MRI.