Methods Series: How to work with UK Biobank data?

WIP: Investigating changes in neurochemicals throughout stroke recovery in rodents

Presented by Ioana Grigoras

 Abstract: Stroke is a leading cause of both morbidity and mortality: each year ten million people worldwide have a stroke. Therapy options are limited by our incomplete knowledge of stroke pathophysiology; understanding how the brain changes after a stroke is key to developing novel therapies. Decreases in GABA are associated with neuroplasticity in the motor cortex (M1) in both healthy humans and animals. Moreover, decreases in M1 GABA also correlate with motor improvements following neurorehabilitation in stroke survivors. However, human studies mostly focus on chronic stroke (> 6 months post-stroke), as research early after stroke is difficult and patient care needs to take priority. Here, we will use Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), a non-invasive, cross-species neuroimaging technique, to investigate changes in excitatory and inhibitory neurochemicals at different stages of stroke recovery in rodents. In a longitudinal design, we will collect MRS and motor behaviour data from male rats before stroke (baseline) and at different time points throughout stroke recovery: 24 hours after stroke (hyper-acute stage), 5 days after stroke (acute stage) and 30 days after stroke (chronic stage). Rats will be split into two groups: stroke and sham interventions. Before each MRS scan, we will evaluate motor behaviour to test the hypothesis that lower inhibition is associated with better motor recovery.

Methods Series: How to work with UK Biobank data?

Presented by Fidel Alfaro Almagaro

Abstract: Fidel will provide a (very brief) overview of the UK Biobank data, covering brain imaging, non-imaging variables, health outcomes, and genetics. If time permits, we will discuss the data processing, including a concise description of the pipeline's location and how to execute it. Additionally, we will discuss accessing the data, both for those within our data application and those outside of it. The presentation will also delve into the contents of the MATLAB workspace and the recommended regressors/confounds to incorporate into your analysis.