Dr. Vesna Sossi

2007 Career Investigator Award, Senior Scholar

Imaging studies: Towards understanding the complications related to advanced monoaminergic disease and treatment|,|

Parkinson's is the second most common neurological disorder affecting approximately 100,000 Canadians. The disease involves the degeneration of nerve cells that produce dopamine — a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) that transmits messages between cells. Insufficient dopamine interrupts the message flow, leading to loss of motor function. Although treatments can alleviate the symptoms, they typically don’t alter progression of the disease and often have undesired side-effects, such as motor complications and high risk taking behavior such as compulsive gambling.

As an MSFHR Scholar, Dr. Vesna Sossi used Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to study the brain's production and use of dopamine at varying stages of the disease. PET produces a three-dimensional image or map of functional processes in the body, making it ideal for investigating the complex neuron-chemical changes that happen with a degenerative neurological disease.

Now, Dr. Sossi is developing and using imaging techniques, together with data interpretation, to gain insights into the impact of different treatment for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) on motor complications and treatment-induced psychiatric complications. Dr. Sossi will conduct clinical studies using a new, state-of-the art human PET brain scanner. This scanner, one of only 15 in use around the world, requires development of accurate data manipulation and interpretation of algorithms — another component of Dr. Sossi’s research program. Dr. Sossi will also be investigating rodent models of PD and their relation to other diseases such as, for example, Alzheimer's, due to the evidence of some clinical and pathological overlap between neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Sossi’s research will help to increase our understanding of treatment-related complications in PD and will lead to the development of improved treatment methods in addition to providing insight into side effects such as motor complications and compulsive behavior.

Read Dr. Sossi's 2002 Scholar profile

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