Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program
SRI programs
Senior scientist
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
2075 Bayview Ave., S6 65b
Toronto, ON
M4N 3M5
Administrative Assistant: Kim Allen
Phone: 416-480-6100 ext. 65718
Email: kimberly.allen@sunnybrook.ca
Education:
- B.A.Sc., 1998, Electrical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
- PhD, 2004, Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Canada
Appointments and Affiliations:
- Director and Senior Scientist, Physical Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
- Professor, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto
- Canada Research Chair in Neuroimaging, Tier 1
Research Foci:
- Brain function
- Neurovascular coupling
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging
- Electrophysiology
- Multiphoton fluorescence microscopy
Research Summary:
Dr. Stefanovic's research aims to develop new methods for imaging brain function. Over the past few decades, new techniques have been developed that, for the first time, have allowed scientists to examine noninvasively the working brain in real-time and with exquisite spatial detail.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has become the dominant method of studying human brain function. Despite its widespread use by neuroscientists and clinicians in healthy study participants and patients, the full potential of fMRI is yet to be realized and arguably relies on understanding its physical and physiological processes. Like some other modalities, fMRI provides an indirect measure of neuronal activity, as well as the fMRI signal being dictated by the changes in brain vasculature and metabolism during a subject's brain activation.
Dr. Stefanovic's team is particularly interested in the coupling between local neuronal activity and the state of the surrounding vessels. On one hand, they are working on the development of novel, quantitative MRI-based techniques for human brain function imaging. On the other, they are using in vivo multiphoton fluorescence microscopy in combination with various fluorescent markers and pharmacological agents for detailed characterization of the neuronal and vascular response to brain stimulation in animals. In human and animal studies, they are using electrophysiological recordings for a more direct assessment of local neuronal activity.
Dr. Stefanovic is applying these techniques to preclinical models of ischemic stroke and Alzheimer's disease to understand better the changes in brain structure and function in these conditions, and facilitate clinical translation of this work.
Selected Publications:
See current publications list at PubMed.
Related News and Stories:
- Three Sunnybrook Research Institute scientists awarded Canada Research Chairs: Drs. JoAnne McLaurin, Meaghan O’Reilly and Bojana Stefanovic recognized with country’s highest research honour (June 17, 2019)
- Resounding approval: Sunnybrook Research Institute's success rate in CIHR competition soars past national average (Jan. 25, 2018)
- SRI scientists top the national average in successful CIHR project grants: Over a dozen projects approved (June 2, 2017)
- CIHR responds to revolt while releasing results: Peer rebellion brings promise of change to granting agency (July 18, 2016)
- Infrastructure issues: Congestion and chaos on the brain's highways: this is neurodegeneration (SRI Magazine, 2013)
- Ask a Scientist: What Are You Reading? (SRI Magazine, 2012)
- Spring's fortunes (July 9, 2012)
- Best in class: Sunnybrook Research Institute scholars recognized with national award (July 7, 2011)
- Brain scientists give Premier a glimpse into the future (Nov. 15, 2010)
- Government investment puts state-of-the-art tools in hands of SRI scientists (July 1, 2010)
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