MTA-SE-NAP B Genetic Brain Imaging Migraine Research Group
Title of the Project: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and genetic biomarker investigations in migraine
Institution: Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest Nagyvárad tér 4.
Financial support provided by the European Union and the Hungarian State: 120 738 000 HUF
Duration of the project: 2015.01.01. – 2017.12.31.
Short summary of the project:
The MTA-SE-NAP-B Genetic Brain Imaging Research Group funded by the Hungarian Brain Research Program is investigating the neural response (brain activity) related to stress resilience and pain perception in people with migraine and in healthy control subjects.
Physiological and psychosocial stressors are considered to have a significant role in recurrence of migraine attacks. However, there are no drug treatments currently available which reliably prevent such attacks. Therefore our aim is to reveal the possible causes of migraine attacks with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that enables us to measure brain activity during stress-related psychological tasks and pharmacological challenge. Our method will identify brain imaging biomarkers that are defined as changes in brain structures and/or functions that can predict migraine susceptibility. These brain imaging biomarkers then will be matched to molecular genetic risk factors.
Our second aim is to investigate how autogenic training (AT) – a psychological stress-reduction technique – can exert its effect on migraine attacks. Identification of brain areas and related biological markers that mediate the positive effect of AT on the frequency of attacks may help our understanding of the causes behind the recurrence of migraine attacks.
In summary, our project will contribute to the investigation and identification of genetic regulatory mechanisms involved in migraine etiology, and additionally to the identification of new targets of migraine preventive medications. Our further aim is to identify specific risk factors that can predict individual differences in pain and stress-related functions and response to different treatment options.
We are collaborating with other research groups at the Semmelweis University and at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and applying modern neuroimaging and genetic tools that provide deeper insight into migraine pathology so that we can be competitive at world-class level.
Contact:
Email address: agykutatas@gmail.com
| Members of our research group | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Dr. Gabriella Juhász | Research group leader, senior lecturer (Semmelweis University, Department of Phamacodynamics) | MTMT Semmelweis University Department of Pharmacodynamics |
 | Dr. Gyöngyi Kökönyei | Researcher consultant, senior lecturer (ELTE, ELTE PPK Department of Psychiatry) | MTMT ELTE PPK Department of Psychiatry |
 | Edina Szabó | researcher psychologist, Phd student (ELTE, Psychology PhD school) | ELTE,Psychology PhD school |
 | Natália Kocsel | researcher psychologist, Phd student (ELTE, Psychology PhD school) | ELTE, Psychology PhD school |
 | Dr. Andrea Édes | Researcher Pharmacist, PhD student (Semmelweis University, PhD school of Mental Health Sciences) | Semmelweis University, PhD school of Mental Health Sciences |
 | Kinga Gecse | Pharmacy TDk Student, (Semmelweis University, Faculty of Pharmacy) | Semmelweis University, Faculty of Pharmacy |
| Zsuzsanna Tóth | Pharmacy TDk Student, (Semmelweis University, Faculty of Pharmacy) | Semmelweis University, Faculty of Pharmacy | |
| Collaborating partners of our research group: 1. Semmelweis University, Department of Pharmacodynamics (Principal: Prof. Bagdy György) 2. MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and NAP-A National Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, (Prof. Bagdy György) |
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|---|---|---|---|
 | Dr. György Bagdy | Director of Department of Pharmacodynamics, Doctor of Hungarian Academy of Sciences | MTMT Semmelweis University, Department of Pharmacodynamics |
| Dr. Andrea Édes | Researcher Pharmacist, PhD student (Semmelweis University, PhD school of Mental Health Sciences) | Semmelweis University, PhD school of Mental Health Sciences |
 | Attila Galambos | Researcher Psychologist | |
 | Nóra Eszlári | Researcher Psychologist, PhD student (Semmelweis University, PhD school of Mental Health Sciences) | Semmelweis University, PhD school of Mental Health Sciences |
 | Dr. Zoltán Tóth | Electrical engineer (Msc) | Óbuda University Kandó Kálmán Faculty of Electrical Engineering MTMT |
| Semmelweis University, Department of Neurology (Director: Prof. Bereczky Dániel) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Dr. Csaba Ertsey | Neurologist, Senior lecturer, (Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology) | MTMT Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology |
 | Dr. Terézia Zsombók | Scientific consultant, relaxation therapist | MTMT Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology |
 | Dr. Éva Csépány | PhD student (Semmelweis university, Szentágothai János PhD school of Neurosciences) | Semmelweis university, Szentágothai János PhD school of Neurosciences |
 | Dr. Máté Magyar | neurologist, central intern of Department of Neurology | Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology |
 | Tamás Gyüre | Psychologist, PhD student (Semmelweis university, Szentágothai János PhD school of Neurosciences) | Semmelweis university, Szentágothai János PhD school of Neurosciences |
| Semmelweis University, Magnetic Resonance Research Center (Director: Dr. Rudas Gábor) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Dr. Lajos Kozák | Medical Doctor (MD) ,Master of Science (MSc) in Biomedical Engineering ,Assistant professor , (Semmelweis University,Magnetic Resonance Research Center ) | MRKK MTMT |
 | Dr. Ádám Szabó | Medical Doctor (MD), radiologist central intern (Semmelweis University,Magnetic Resonance Research Center) | MRKK |
 | Gyula Gyebnár | Physicist, PhD student (Semmelweis university, Szentágothai János PhD school of Neurosciences) | Semmelweis university, Szentágothai János PhD school of Neurosciences |
 | Dr. Andrea Lakatos | Radiologist, PhD student(Semmelweis university, Szentágothai János PhD school of Neurosciences) | Semmelweis university, Szentágothai János PhD school of Neurosciences |