Napapon Sailasuta, Ph.D.

Senior scientist in clinical magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at HMRI since 2007, Dr. Sailasuta served as a scientist at GE Healthcare for 15 years prior to her tenure at HMRI. Her research focuses on brain chemistry, metabolism and disease prevention.

Researching neurological complications arising from Alzheimer’s Disease, addiction and HIV-associated dementia, Dr. Sailasuta uses MRS technology as an imaging technique to assess neurochemical changes. Her work has revealed new understanding of the role that brain chemistry plays in disease onset, treatment and recovery.

At HMRI, Dr. Sailasuta’s research includes study of glutamate (a brain chemical crucial in brain function) in HIV/AIDS and Alzheimer’s patients and in abstinent methamphetamine users. She has devised new, non-invasive methods of using MRS to study glutamate levels to treat diseases more effectively.

This new approach benefits patients. Less time is spent in a magnetic resonance imaging bed, and, there is less impact on the eye area during frontal brain testing.

Most importantly, her breakthrough research on carbon MRS means that brain chemistry can now be measured in real time.

Dr. Sailasuta holds a Ph.D. from California Institute of Technology. She also serves as a clinical research associate professor at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. This year, she is organizing a global outreach workshop in Thailand for the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM). She is also the secretary-elect of the ISMRM Psychiatric MR Spectroscopy and Imaging study group.