Dennis Spencer, MD

Dr. Spencer's research has brought together basic scientists and clinicians around a program concerning energetics, glutamate metabolism and the neurobiological study of human epileptogenic tissue. Study techniques include 4T MRS, C13 intraoperative glucose turnover studies, and in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology and microdialysis, immunohistochemistry, confocal and EM microscopy, and molecular biology. In particular, laboratory discoveries are correlated with the epileptogenic substrate in order to help define human epilepsy pathogenesis and potential therapies.Recently his research centers around a team effort with Hitten Zaveri of Neurology and Mark Reed of Engineering designing the next generation of multimodal, neurochemistry probes for Brain injury, vascular disease and epilepsy. With Dr Zaveri he pursues wireless transmission of intracranial signals and cooling of the brain. With Tore End of laboratory medicine he studies cerebral metabolism and with Pue Farooque of Neurology, cerebral networks associated with epilepsy.

Specialized Terms: Cerebral metabolic abnormalities that sustain epileptogenesis using MR spectroscopy, Microdialysis, and human tissue studies