Kejal Kantarci

Kejal Kantarci, M.D., is a Professor of Radiology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota. She serves as a Consultant in the Division of Neuroradiology within the Department of Radiology, where her research focuses on advanced neuroimaging in aging and dementia. She leads major research initiatives at the Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and collaborates with the Neuropathology Laboratory and the Specialized Center of Research on Sex Differences.

Dr. Kantarci earned her M.D. from Marmara University School of Medicine and completed an M.S. in Clinical and Translational Research from Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Her training includes a residency in Diagnostic Radiology and a research fellowship in Magnetic Resonance.

Her research program centers on detecting early dementia-related brain changes using MRI and PET imaging. She investigates the pathologic basis of imaging findings, differentiates Alzheimer’s disease from dementia with Lewy bodies, and studies the effects of hormone treatment on the aging brain. Her work aims to translate neuroimaging tools into clinical practice for early intervention and prevention.

The 15 most recent articles highlight a strong focus on neuroimaging biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and cognitive aging. Key themes include amyloid and tau imaging, metabolic networks, structural brain changes, and the role of genetics and cardiovascular risk in neurodegeneration. She frequently employs advanced MRI and PET techniques to explore early detection and disease progression.

• De Leon Prize in Neuroimaging Senior Scientist Award, 2018
• Dorothy Dillon Eweson Lecturer Award, American Federation for Aging Research, 2008
• Paul B. Beeson Career Development Award, National Institute on Aging, 2007
• Katherine B. Andersen Professor, 2021
• Member, Scientific Advisory Council, Lewy Body Disease Association, 2014–present

Dr. Kantarci has been continuously funded since 2003 by the NIH, Alzheimer's Association, and AFAR. She is Principal Investigator or Co-PI on multiple active grants, including projects on the long-term brain impact of COVID-19, neuroimaging in frontotemporal dementia, and the Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. She mentors trainees and collaborates extensively across neuroscience and radiology disciplines.

She is a core member of the Aging and Dementia Imaging Research (ADIR) team, which includes Clifford R. Jack Jr. and Prashanthi Vemuri. Her lab leverages multimodal imaging, biomarker analysis, and longitudinal cohort studies to advance understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.