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Spinal Cord Cross-sectional Area Analysis in Neurodegenerative Disease RISE Leadership Academy 2013-2014 Project: Research Winston Liu Fischell Department of Bioengineering & National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Algorithm Design

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Executive Summary The loss of spinal cord tissue, or atrophy, is a prominent finding in many chronic progressive neurologic diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Although spinal cord atrophy can be qualitatively detected on routine clinical MRI, a robust and sensitive method to quantify changes in spinal cord size might improve characterization of disease severity and progression. Such a method could help develop an imaging marker for disease, and serve as a surrogate end point in clinical trials. The goal of this project was to develop a semi-autonomous algorithm for cord crosssectional area analysis in MRI. The developed algorithm was then applied to healthy controls, MS, and HAM/TSP patients. Results of this work were compiled into an original journal article which was recently submitted for publication (first author).

Student Bio Winston Liu is a junior bioengineering major in the RISE program. He worked in the Neuroimmunology Branch of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke during the Fall of 2013 and studied abroad in Spain at the Universidad Carlos III during the Spring of 2014. He will finish his RISE requirements during the Summer of 2014.

Special thanks to my mentors: Dr. Govind Nair, Dr. Steven Jacobson, & Dr. Daniel Reich