Title:  Regional Blood–Brain Barrier Dysfunction Across Health and Neurological Disease: A Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI Investigation

Speaker: Sheida Mirloo, PhD Student, Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Friedman Lab

Date: Tuesday, November 17th, 2026

Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm  

Location: 3H-01 [IN-PERSON meeting]

Description: The blood–brain barrier (BBB) maintains a stable environment for brain function, and its dysfunction has been implicated in aging and neurological disease. Using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, we characterized regional BBB dysfunction in healthy individuals, people with drug-resistant epilepsy, patients with traumatic brain injury, and older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment. Human imaging studies and complementary animal experiments demonstrate regional variation in BBB measurements, disease-associated leakage extending beyond visible structural lesions, and associations between regional BBB dysfunction and cognitive performance. The presentation will explore these findings, the potential of BBB imaging to provide information complementary to conventional structural MRI, and the methodological challenges and validation required for future clinical applications.