معرفی
Dr. Graeme Mason is a Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine. He serves as Director of Metabolic Modeling and Director of Psychiatric MRS at the Magnetic Resonance Research Center, as well as Director of the Neuroimaging Sciences Training Program. Dr. Mason also chairs the Magnetic Resonance Research Center Protocol Review Committee and holds appointments in multiple research centers including the Center for Brain & Mind Health, Center for Nicotine and Tobacco Use Research at Yale (CENTURY), Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcohol, Diabetes Research Center, and the Division of Neurocognition, Neurocomputation & Neurogenetics.
Dr. Mason received his BS in Nuclear Engineering with a minor in Spanish from The Pennsylvania State University in 1986. He completed Graduate Study and earned his PhD from Yale University in 1991, followed by Postdoctoral Research Associate work at Yale. In 1994, he completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for Nuclear Imaging Research.
Dr. Mason's research focuses on brain metabolism and neurotransmission, with particular emphasis on the effects of alcohol on the brain. His laboratory develops and applies experimental models and methods for studies of brain metabolism using 1H and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Mass Spectrometry in conjunction with 13C isotopic labeling. His work spans from in vivo human studies to cell preparations and other systems. Key research areas include:
- Glucose transport kinetics, energetics, and neurotransmitter metabolism in the brain
- Relationships among GABA, glutamate, and glutamine concentrations and their rates of synthesis and release
- Effects of acute and chronic alcohol use on brain chemistry and metabolism
- Detailed kinetic modeling of isotopomers and isotopologues using data from high-resolution NMR and mass spectrometry
- Investigation of metabolic and neurotransmitter changes in psychiatric, neurological, and metabolic conditions
Analysis of Dr. Mason's recent publications reveals a strong focus on advanced neuroimaging techniques, particularly magnetic resonance spectroscopy at high field strengths (7T). His work combines methodological innovation with clinical applications, examining brain metabolism in conditions including obesity, diabetes, depression, PTSD, and alcohol use disorders. A significant thread throughout his research is the application of 13C labeling techniques to measure metabolic fluxes in the living brain, providing insights into neuroenergetics and neurotransmission that were previously inaccessible.
Dr. Mason's contributions to the field have been recognized with several prestigious awards:
- Neuropsychopharmacology Top 10 Reviewers (2022)
- Editor's Recognition for Reviewing, Biological Psychiatry (2020)
- Inducted into the Academy Distinguished Investigator Council (2018)
- Editor's Recognition for Reviewing, Biological Psychiatry (2016)
- Elected Fellow, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (2015)
As Director of the Neuroimaging Sciences Training Program in Substance Abuse, Dr. Mason plays a significant role in mentoring the next generation of researchers. His research is supported by multiple clinical trials examining brain metabolism in various conditions. Current trials he's involved in include studies on mGluR5 and synaptic density in psychiatric disorders, the impact of hypoglycemia on brain ketone and neurotransmitter metabolism in Type 1 DM, examination of glutamate and mGluR5 in psychiatric disorders, and biomarkers of clinical subtype and treatment response in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Dr. Mason leads the Magnetic Resonance Research Center's Psychiatric MRS program and is part of the Yale Biomedical Imaging Institute. His laboratory, known as the Whisk Cup Streamline, focuses on metabolic modeling and psychiatric applications of magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The lab works closely with other researchers at Yale, including frequent collaborators Kevin Behar, Douglas Rothman, John Krystal, Robin de Graaf, and Janice Jin Hwang, to advance understanding of brain metabolism in health and disease.