Exploring Visual Pathway White Matter Alterations in Glaucoma
SUMMER INTERN: Paige Richter
Summer intern Paige Richter, working under the supervision of VRF researchers Loxlan Kasa and William Schierding, will explore and develop a process to evaluate advanced diffusion MRI noise-correcting methodology (MK-Curve).
In a research initiative, partnering with the Mātai Research Project, our researchers will be delving into the world of glaucoma, a progressive eye condition known for causing optic nerve damage and leading to subsequent vision loss. The focus of this investigation lies in evaluating the MK-Curve method’s sensitivity in glaucoma patients, specifically targeting microstructural abnormalities along the visual pathway, particularly in the optic radiation – a critical white matter bundle also referred to as the geniculocalcarine tract.
The optic radiation plays a pivotal role in transmitting visual information from the thalamus’s lateral geniculate nucleus to the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe. The researchers aim to utilise the MK-Curve method to extract and quantify tissue properties, enabling them to pinpoint abnormalities within the optic radiation and delve into different depths of the interconnected visual cortex in glaucoma patients.
The ultimate goal of this research project is to enhance our understanding of microstructural changes associated with glaucoma and assess the MK-Curve method’s potential for aiding in early detection and monitoring of glaucoma progression. Leveraging the UKBB dataset and the advanced diffusion MRI noise-correcting technique inherent in the MK-Curve, this will allow researchers to evaluate its sensitivity in identifying microstructural abnormalities along the visual pathway in glaucoma patient
Paige Richter
Paige Richter, an exceptional Māori wahine from Te Tairāwhiti, is embarking on her second year as a medical student. Paige successfully finished her Certificate of Health Science at the University of Auckland and completed her First year of Health Science. She has recently been accepted to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in 2024. Paige is being supported in her studies by the Bronwen Holdsworth Mātai Scholarship. She is excited about the potential of this Summer internship to connect with senior researchers and individuals who share similar interests and values, as well as to gain valuable experience, personal development, and make a positive impact on healthcare.
