Ching, Christopher
Assistant Professor of Research Neurology
Dr. Ching’s research focuses on neuroimaging and genomic markers of psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. As a core organizing member of the Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium, he designs and implements standardized processing and analysis techniques for large-scale neuroimaging studies. He leads the ENIGMA Bipolar Disorder Working Group, an effort pooling data and resources from around the world to improve our understanding of the biological processes driving bipolar disorder, and studies rare copy number variants like 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome to understand how genetic mutations can lead to increased risk for developing psychiatric illness. He leads several large-scale transdiagnostic neuroimaging and genomic initiatives using machine learning to map common and distinct brain and clinical factors across mental illnesses.
Choupan, Jeiran
Assistant Professor of Research Neurology
I have been working in the field of neuroimage processing and computational neuroscience since 2009. My focus is on employing advanced neuroimaging and machine learning techniques to improve structural and functional mapping of the brain to study neurodegenerative disorders. In particular, my main research focus is on mapping vascular and perivascular features of the brain across lifespan in health and in the presence of cognitive decline and dementia. Perivascular space is a major component of the brain clearance system and plays an important role in maintaining a healthy functioning brain, particularly in elderly and individuals at risk of neurodegenerative disease.
Lawrence, Katherine
Assistant Professor of Research Neurology
Our research is focused on improving understanding of the brain in neurodevelopmental conditions and in typical development by using unprecedented large-scale neuroimaging datasets and advanced computational methods. Specifically, we study brain connectivity, brain function, and brain structure by analyzing diffusion-weighted MRI, resting-state and task-based fMRI, and structural MRI. We are particularly interested in understanding individual differences within and across autism and ADHD, including sex differences, age effects, and co-occurring conditions. Much of our work is conducted with the worldwide ENIGMA Consortium, for which Dr. Lawrence co-chairs the ENIGMA Autism Working Group. The long-term goal of our research is to inform how we can best support the unique strengths and needs of every neurodivergent individual.
