The Killam Seminar Series

Supported by the generosity of the Killam Trusts, the MNI's Killam Seminar Series invites outstanding guest speakers whose research is of interest to the scientific community at the MNI and McGill University.

Talk Title: DBS in the MRI Scanner: From Contra-Indication to New Method of Optimizing Treatment of Neurological Disease

Alexandre Boutet

Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Canada

Abstract: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become a standard of care therapy for movement disorders, particularly Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and dystonia, and is being investigated in psychiatric and cognitive disorders. To date, more than 244 000 individuals have been implanted with DBS worldwide. During DBS surgery, electrodes are inserted into precise brain structures, usually part of the underlying aberrant circuit. The therapeutic effects achieved with DBS hinge upon selective stimulation of the intended structure through accurate and precise delivery of the stimulation—maximizing therapeutic benefits while minimizing spillover onto neighbouring structures that may produce adverse effects. Recent neuroimaging data have shown that the therapeutic effect of DBS may be better understood as a network effect. Thanks to recent advances in MRI safety, fMRI can now be used to probe the consequences of stimulation on brain networks. Specifically, it can be used to predict optimal DBS stimulation parameters, which could represent an objective biomarker of clinical response. This could streamline the current empirical process of individually titrating the stimulation, which is cumbersome for patients and costly for the healthcare system. This may represent a step towards the possibility of autonomous, closed-loop functional imaging-assisted DBS programming.

Speaker Bio: Originally from Quebec City, Alex completed his medical school and MSc at McGill University and developed his passion for neuroscience at the Montreal Neurological Institute. He pursued a residency in radiology and a PhD in brain modulation at the University of Toronto. His main interest is to use neuroimaging to improve patient care. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling and social gathering with friends.