Joo Woo Kim, PHD

Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant 

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York

Title: “Assessing Microstructural Integrity of Cervical Spinal Cord Gray and White Matter with Ultra-High Field Diffusion MRI for Progressive MS”

Term:  7/1/17-6/30/20

Joo-Won Kim, PhD, is a post-doctoral fellow at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Dr. Kim received his PhD in applied mathematics and statistics from Stony Brook University. In 2016, he competed for and received a travel award to attend the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). Dr. Kim’s postdoctoral training is focused on assessing damage to the spinal cord in people with MS using advanced imaging techniques.

Background

Gray matter (the tissue in the brain that contains mainly nerve cells and appears gray) and white matter (the tissue in the brain that contains mainly nerve fibers covered in myelin and appears white) in both the brain and spinal cord are damaged in MS. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans of the brain is a standard way for physicians to track an individual’s disease activity. However, the spinal cord is fairly small, and imaging it is difficult with conventional imaging methods.

Background

Gray matter (the tissue in the brain that contains mainly nerve cells and appears gray) and white matter (the tissue in the brain that contains mainly nerve fibers covered in myelin and appears white) in both the brain and spinal cord are damaged in MS. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans of the brain is a standard way for physicians to track an individual’s disease activity. However, the spinal cord is fairly small, and imaging it is difficult with conventional imaging methods.

The Study

Dr. Kim, along with his mentors, Dr. Xu and Dr. Matilde Inglese, are using an advanced type of imaging called ultra-high field diffusion MRI to scan gray and white matter tissue integrity of the spinal cord. The team is comparing MRI measurements in people with progressive MS compared to people without MS. They are also comparing people with MS who have different levels of disease severity. These non-invasive imaging methods will allow more precise monitoring of damage to the spinal cord in people with progressive MS.

The Study

Dr. Kim, along with his mentors, Dr. Xu and Dr. Matilde Inglese, are using an advanced type of imaging called ultra-high field diffusion MRI to scan gray and white matter tissue integrity of the spinal cord. The team is comparing MRI measurements in people with progressive MS compared to people without MS. They are also comparing people with MS who have different levels of disease severity. These non-invasive imaging methods will allow more precise monitoring of damage to the spinal cord in people with progressive MS.

What’s Next

Figuring out a good way to image MS damage in the spinal cord would open up the ability to use spinal cord imaging in larger studies and clinical trials, and allow more accurate assessment of damage to test therapies designed to treat MS.

What’s Next

Figuring out a good way to image MS damage in the spinal cord would open up the ability to use spinal cord imaging in larger studies and clinical trials, and allow more accurate assessment of damage to test therapies designed to treat MS.