Eric T. Ahrens Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences Carnegie Mellon University Phone: (412) 268-5105 Fax: (412) 268-7083 Email: eta@andrew.cmu.edu

Ph.D., University of California Research Interests My research centers on advancing the state-of-the-art of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and using these techniques to visualize development, connectivity, function, and pathology of the vertebrate nervous system. Extremely-high resolution MRI, or magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM), is an emerging technique that can observe the inner workings of intact living animals in three-dimensions at near-cellular resolution. Tissue morphological changes, progression of disease states, and biochemical changes may all be visualized with MRM. Small animal models of human development and disease are often the subject, and these capabilities make MRM an ideal complement to optical microscopy. Currently my lab focuses on understanding early events associated with the onset of autoimmune disease in the central nervous system (CNS). For these studies, we employ a prototypical animal disease model called experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Many aspects of EAE mimic the human disease multiple sclerosis. Both diseases are characterized by the presence of lymphocyte infiltrates in white matter of the CNS. Also, demyelination is often observed. Our emphasis is understanding the mechanisms of the early lymphocyte entry into the CNS. Towards this goal, MRM is used to conduct in vivo longitudinal investigations using numerous imaging modalities. We employ anatomical image analyses, quantitative biophysical measurements, intra-cellular contrast reagents, and functional imaging. The studies are conducted at the Pittsburgh NMR Center for Biomedical Research. In parallel with this project, we are working on advancing MRM technology. We are devising new strategies for improving the sensitivity and resolution of MRM using cryogenically-cooled detection hardware. Also, in collaboration with the Computer Graphics Group at Brown University, we are developing novel software visualization tools for three-dimensional rendering of MR images. Recent Publications Louie, A.Y., Huber, M.M., Ahrens, E.T., Fraser, S.E., Jacobs, R.E., Meade, T.J. (2000). In vivo visualization of gene expression using magnetic resonance imaging. Nature Biotechnology 18:321-325. Ahrens, E.T., Blumenthal, J., Jacobs, R.E., Giedd, J.N (2000). Imaging Brain Development. In: Brain Mapping: The Systems, eds. A.W. Toga and J.C. Mazziota, Academic Press, San Diego p.561-589 Jacobs, R.E., Ahrens, E.T., Dickinson, M.E., Laidlaw, D.H. (1999). Towards a microMRI atlas of mouse development. Comput. Med. Imaging Graph. 23:15-24. Jacobs, R.E., Ahrens, E.T., Meade. T.J., Fraser, S.E. (1999). Looking deeper into vertebrate development. Trends Cell Biol. 9:73-76. Ahrens, E.T., Laidlaw, D.H., Readhead, C., Brosnan, C.F., Fraser, S. E., Jacobs, R.E. (1998). MR microscopy of transgenic mice that spontaneously acquire experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Magn. Reson. Med. 40:119-132. Ahrens, E.T., Rothbacher, U., Fraser, S.E., Jacobs, R.E. (1998). A model for MRI contrast enhancement using T1 agents. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95: 8443-8448.