Biography
Dr. Prabesh Kanel is a faculty member at the University of Michigan specializing in neurological disorders. He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from Florida State University and underwent postdoctoral research training under the supervision of Drs. Nicolaas I. Bohnen and Martijn L.T.M. Muller at the University of Michigan. With over 13 years of experience using MRI and PET imaging, Dr. Kanel's research focuses on the role of altered neurotransmission systems in Parkinson's disease (PD), Dementia with Lewy Body (DLB), and other atypical Parkinsonian syndromes (APS). Through international collaborations, Dr. Kanel is exploring the potential of non-invasive neurostimulation treatments to improve cognition and balance in PD and APS patients. Ultimately, his goal is to deepen our understanding of disease progression in Parkinsonian disorders and to predict and potentially prevent the onset of dementia.
Areas of Interest
My long-term research goal is to leverage neuroimaging techniques (fMRI, MRI, and PET) to understand brain changes in healthy aging and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD) and atypical parkinsonian syndromes (APS). This includes dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), with a hope to identify potential therapeutic targets based on the specific changes observed in the brain.
By applying computer vision, pattern recognition, and machine learning to analyze structural and functional neuroimaging data, I aim to uncover novel insights and early markers for these disorders. My current focus utilizes PET scans to assess the integrity of various neurotransmitter pathways (dopaminergic, cholinergic, GABAergic) using specific tracers like [11C]PE2I , [11C]DTBZ, [11C]PMP, [18F]FEOBV, [18F]FDOPA, and [18F]flubatine. Additionally, I analyze β-amyloid and tau deposition with [11C]PiB and [18F]AV1451 tracers to gain a comprehensive picture of neurodegenerative processes.
Credentials
MS - University of Nebraska, 2008
PhD - Florida State University, 2017