Researchers in the Adam Sapirstein Lab focus on the roles played by phospholipases A2 and their... lipid metabolites in brain injury. Using in vivo and in vitro models of stroke and excitotoxicity, the team is examining the roles of the cytosolic, Group V, and Group X PLA2s as well as the function of PLA2s in cerebrovascular regulation. Investigators have discovered that cPLA2 is necessary for the early electrophysiologic changes that happen in hippocampal CA1 neurons after exposure to N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA). This finding has critical ramifications in terms of the possible uses of selective cPLA2 inhibitors after acute neurologic injuries. view more

Research in the Ivor Berkowitz Lab targets pediatric critical care medicine. We are particularl...y interested in the pathophysiology behind the cerebrovascular dysfunction that occurs in bacterial meningitis as well as the anesthetic and perioperative complications of patients with dwarfing syndromes. view more

Research in the Jennifer Lee-Summers Lab explores cerebrovascular autoregulation, particularly ...during anesthesia. Our previous studies have examined cerebrovascular autoregulation and blood flow in patients with hypothermia, in neonatal patients with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and in pediatric patients with moyamoya disease. view more

Researchers in the John Sampson Lab investigate relevant, appropriate, affordable and sustainab...le ways to improve anesthesia and perioperative care in low-resource settings. The team’s research interests include the Universal Anesthesia Machine; interpersonal relationships between anesthesia providers and their patients; how the quality of those relationships impacts professionalism, autonomy, anxiety, patient cooperation and patient satisfaction; how disease influences cerebrovascular reactivity as measured by MRI; and how education and communication can improve medical care in Africa and other austere environments. The team is currently working with clinicians in Ghana, Ethiopia and Kenya. view more

Dr. Hua's research has centered on the development of novel MRI technologies for in vivo functi...onal and physiological imaging in the brain, and the application of such methods for studies in healthy and diseased brains. These include the development of human and animal MRI methods to measure functional brain activities, cerebral perfusion and oxygen metabolism at high (3 Tesla) and ultra-high (7 Tesla and above) magnetic fields. He is particularly interested in novel MRI approaches to image small blood and lymphatic vessels in the brain. Collaborating with clinical investigators, these techniques have been applied 1) to detect functional, vascular and metabolic abnormalities in the brain in neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntingdon's disease (HD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mental disorders such as schizophrenia; and 2) to map brain functions and cerebrovascular reactivity for presurgical planning in patients with vascular malformations, brain tumors and epilepsy. view more

The Lima Lab’s research is concentrated on the development and application of imaging and techn...ology to address scientific and clinical problems involving the heart and vascular system.

Specifically, our research is focused on developing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast techniques to investigate microvascular function in patients and experimental animals with myocardial infarction; functional reserve secondary to dobutamine stimulation and myocardial viability assessed by sodium imaging; and cardiac MRI and computed tomography (CT) program development of techniques to characterize atherosclerosis in humans with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease.

Current projects include:
• The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study
• The MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) Study
• The Coronary Artery Evaluation using 64-row Multidetector Computed Tomography Angiography (CORE64) Study

Joao Lima, MD, is a professor of medicine, radiology and epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. view more