Selected Bibliography

• Evans Matthew C, Modo Michel, Talbot Kevin, Sibson Niki, and Turner Martin R (2012) Magnetic resonance imaging of pathological processes in rodent models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotroph Lateral Scler, 13(3):288-301.

• Serres Sebastien, Soto Manuel S, Hamilton Alastair, McAteer Martina A, Carbonell W S, Robson Matthew D, Ansorge Olaf, Khrapitchev Alexandre, Bristow Claire, Balathasan Lukxmi, Weissensteiner Thomas, Anthony Daniel C, Choudhury Robin P, Muschel Ruth J, and Sibson Nicola R (2012) Molecular MRI enables early and sensitive detection of brain metastases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 109(17):6674-9.

• Couch Yvonne, Alvarez-Erviti Lydia, Sibson Nicola R, Wood Matthew JA, and Anthony Daniel C (2011) The acute inflammatory response to intranigral alpha-synuclein differs significantly from intranigral lipopolysaccharide and is exacerbated by peripheral inflammation. J Neuroinflammation, 8:166.

• Serres Sebastien, Mardiguian Silvy, Campbell Sandra J, McAteer Martina A, Akhtar Asim, Krapitchev Alexandre, Choudhury Robin P, Anthony Daniel C, and Sibson Nicola R (2011) VCAM-1-targeted magnetic resonance imaging reveals subclinical disease in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. FASEB J, 25(12):4415-22.

• Sibson Nicola R, Anthony Daniel C, van Kasteren Sander, Dickens Alex, Perez-Balderas Francisco, McAteer Martina A, Choudhury Robin P, and Davis Benjamin G (2011) Molecular MRI approaches to the detection of CNS inflammation. Methods Mol Biol, 711:379-96.

Dr Nicola Sibson

The overall goal of the Experimental Neuroimaging Group is to develop and apply imaging methods to improve our understanding of the biology of secondary cancer to the brain, or brain metastasis.  The emphasis of our research programme is on whole system, in vivo, studies, with particular interest in magnetic resonance (MR) based methods.  Our specific aims are (1) to develop imaging methods for early detection and monitoring of brain metastases, (2) to identify the role of inflammatory processes in the development of brain metastases, and (3) to determine the consequences of brain metastases on brain metabolism and function.

Over the last 20 years, we have studied a number of models of human disease, including stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral malaria and prion disease.  We have a particular interest in the contribution of inflammatory processes to the development and progression of neurological disease.  In 2007 the Group relocated to the Gray Institute, and we are now taking what we know from our previous work into the field of cancer and, in particular, brain metastasis.

We use a broad range of MRI techniques, including fMRI, together with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) approaches for measuring aspects of cerebral metabolism. In addition, we have worked extensively in the area of molecular MRI, with the aim of finding new methods of detecting neurological disease early, thus improving diagnosis and enabling targeted therapy.  Recently we have demonstrated that one of these approaches enables very early detection of brain metastases, and we are now taking this method through the translational pipeline to clinical trial (funding MRC DPFS grant 0902181):

http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2012/270312.html

http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/archive/pressrelease/2012-03-26-brain-tumour-image

We anticipate that meeting our objectives will open new avenues for clinical interrogation of brain metastases, enabling improved and earlier detection of this devastating disease, and will identify new routes of therapeutic intervention.

Specific areas currently being studied include:

• Role of endothelium, astrocytes and microglia in brain metastasis.
• Contribution of systemic inflammation to the progression of brain metastasis 
• Functional and metabolic response of the brain to metastases.
• New molecular imaging approaches for detection and monitoring of tumours.
• Selective permeabilisation of the blood-brain barrier at sites of brain metastases for targeted therapy and detection.
• Biofluid metabolomics detection of neurological disease, including brain metastasis.
• New MRI methods for assessment of the tumour microenvironment.

In addition to our primary interest in brain metastasis, we also have collaborative projects in the areas of medulloblastoma, glioblastoma and lung metastasis.  At the same time our previous research programmes in neurovascular and neurometabolic coupling, pharmacological MRI, CNS inflammation (MS and ALS in particular) and the development of new MRI techniques for neuroimaging are on-going.

2010 - Senior Group Leader
Director of Graduate Studies
Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology & Biology
University of Oxford

2007 - 2010 Senior Group Leader
Deputy Director of Graduate Studies
Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology & Biology
University of Oxford

2004-2007 - University Research Lecturer & Senior Research Scientist
Head of Experimental Neuroimaging Group
Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics
University of Oxford 

1999-2004 - MRC Research Scientist Band 3
MRC Biochemical & Clinical Magnetic Resonance Unit
University of Oxford

1997-1999 - Associate Research Scientist
Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry
USA

1995-1997 - Postdoctoral Associate
Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry
Yale University
USA