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In-Young Choi, Ph.D.

In Young Choi portrait
Professor with Tenure, Neurology
ichoi@kumc.edu

Professional Background

Dr. In-Young Choi is a Professor in the Department of Neurology and Director of the Metabolic Imaging Unit and the Magnetic Resonance Science Program at the Hoglund Biomedical Imaging Center at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She is also affiliated with the Bioengineering Program at the University of Kansas. Dr. Choi received her Ph.D. in Biophysical Sciences and Medical Physics at the University of Minnesota and continued her postdoctoral training at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research at the University of Minnesota, where she was trained in magnetic resonance (MR) physics, MR imaging, and MR spectroscopy techniques, neurochemistry, and neurobiology. Prior to taking a position at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2005, she was a Senior Research Scientist and Section Leader for Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy at the Center for Advanced Brain Imaging and Department of Medical Physics at the Nathan Kline Institute in New York.

Dr. Choi is a member of multiple professional societies and international scientific organizations, and received awards/scholarships from the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, International Society for Neurochemistry, American Society for Neurochemistry, International conference on Brain Energy Metabolism, and American Federation for Aging Research, among others. Her leadership roles in the scientific community include Chair of program/organizing committees of international workshops and conferences of these societies. She is also a recipient of the Frontiers Team Science Award.

Dr. Choi’s expertise led her to serve as the volume editor of the Handbook Series: Advances in Neurobiology titled “Neural Metabolism In Vivo,” which is authored by 99 world-renowned experts covering the entire fields of in vivo neurochemistry and neurobiology related to neural metabolism and brain function using all major neuroscience tools and methods. She is the editor of a book series, Advances in Magnetic Resonance Technology and Applications, and the volume editor of Advanced Neuro Magnetic Resonance Techniques. In addition, she serves on the editorial board of several scientific journals and as guest editor of major journals in her fields of research, including NMR in Biomedicine, the Journal of Neurochemistry, and Neurochemical Research.

Education and Training
  • PhD, Medical Physics, University of Minnesota - Minneapolis, MN
  • Other, Medical Physics, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota - Minneapolis, MN, Minneapolis, MN

Research

Overview

Dr. Choi's research focuses on the identification of quantitative, objective biomarkers linked to the mechanisms underlying disease status and progression in a variety of neurological conditions. Accordingly, Dr. Choi works on the development of noninvasive advanced magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy techniques to measure region-specific alterations of neurotransmitters (e.g., GABA) and antioxidants (e.g., glutathione and vitamin C) in the human brain. Her research utilizes these techniques to characterize metabolic, morphological, and functional pathophysiology of various neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and stroke. Dr. Choi’s reseach interests include understing the role of the cerebral antioxidant defense system in aging and these neurological disorders. For example, her lab identified that continued loss of brain glutathione was correlated with clinical worsening in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis, suggesting the significant role of the cerebral antioxidant defenses in the continuous neurological decline of patients. The long-term goal of her research is to understand the mechanisms contributing to clinical worsening in neurodegenerative diseases and guide and accelerate the development of intervention strategies for patients who show sub-optimal or absent response to current treatments. Dr. Choi’s interdisciplinary translational research encompasses biomedical imaging, neurology, neurobiology, and neurochemistry in both clinical and pre-clinical studies.