Research Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology University of Pittsburgh Phone: 412-383-6696 Fax: 412-383-6799 Email: Chan4074@pitt.edu

Ph. D., The University of Hong Kong

Research Interests

The performance of the visual system depends on the interconnectivity between the eye and the brain. Recent evidence suggested that the visual brain is involved in early mechanisms of eye diseases such as glaucoma, whereas treatment to both the eye and the brain for some eye diseases may result in better outcomes than treating the eye alone. Upon loss of visual input from the eye, the visual brain may also adapt by enhancing alternative inputs through other senses even in the adult stage. To understand the regulations of the structure, metabolism, physiology and function of the visual system globally and longitudinally, my research employs advanced, non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) of the eye and the brain in health and disease, with the ultimate goal of providing better and timelier strategies for vision restoration. Specifically, I am interested in determining the mechanistic processes for microstructural reorganization and functional recovery in vivo during visual brain plasticity and regeneration. My current projects include structure-function relationships and longitudinal assessments of glaucoma in the eye and the visual brain; investigation of brain mechanisms of sensory substitution in the blind using a tongue vision device; in vivo evaluation of neuroplasticity in neonatal injury and optic nerve regeneration; and development and applications of novel in vivo MRI contrasts for visualization and quantification of normal, developing and injured visual systems. These studies will mainly be conducted at the Neuroscience Imaging Center, which has a research laboratory located at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The laboratory houses a 3-Tesla MRI scanner for human and primate studies, a 9.4-Tesla MRI scanner for cat and rodent studies, and a physiology laboratory dedicated to basic brain research.

Recent Publications

• KC Chan, JS Cheng, SJ Fan, IY Zhou, J Yang, EX Wu. In vivo evaluation of retinal and callosal projections in early postnatal development and plasticity using manganese-enhanced MRI and diffusion tensor imaging. NeuroImage, in press.
• KC Chan, J Li, P Kau, IY Zhou, MM Cheung, C Lau, J Yang, KF So, EX Wu. In vivo retinotopic mapping of superior colliculus using manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. NeuroImage, 2011; 54(1):389-395.
• YX Liang, SW Cheung, KC Chan, EX Wu, DK Tay, RG Ellis-Behnke. CNS regeneration after chronic injury using a self-assembled nano material and MEMRI for real-time in vivo monitoring. Nanomedicine, 2011;7(3):351-9
• C Lau, JW Zhang, KK Xing, IY Zhou, MM Cheung, KC Chan, EX Wu. BOLD Response in the Superior Colliculus of the Rat Viewing an Apparent Motion. NeuroImage, 2011;58(3):878-84.
• C Lau, IY Zhou, MM Cheung, KC Chan, EX Wu. BOLD Temporal Dynamics of Rat Superior Colliculus and Lateral Geniculate Nucleus Following Short Duration Visual Stimulation. PLoS One, 2011; 6(4): e18914
• KC Chan, MM Cheung, EX Wu. In vivo multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy of rodent visual system. Journal of Integrative Neuroscience (invited review), 2010; 9(4):477-508.
• KC Chan, MM Cheung, KK Xing, IY Zhou, EX Wu. Functional MRI of postnatal visual development in normal and hypoxic-ischemic-injured superior colliculi. NeuroImage, 2010; 49(3):2013-2020.