People

Ansel obtained his Ph.D. in Medical Physics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2014. His research program features core areas of translational characterization of novel PET radiotracers, developing new imaging paradigms to improve quantification of brain neurobiology, and human neuroimaging research studying mechanisms underlying diverse psychiatric conditions. Research efforts are complemented by didactic activities lecturing at Yale and individual mentoring of trainees. Current projects include characterizing novel PET radiotracers of immune-related targets in the brain; developing novel imaging paradigms to study acute alcohol effects on neuroimmune and glutamate systems; assessment of dopamine release from smoked cannabis; method development for analyzing multimodal imaging data from fMRI-PET or PET-PET datasets; and implementing Independent Component Analysis (ICA) to identify different sources of PET radiotracer uptake.

Nakul Raval's work is firmly rooted in the domain of PET science, where he focuses on the systematic development and evaluation of radioligands for brain imaging. His expertise spans both translational in vitro and in vivo assessments of these novel compounds. Deepening the scope of his research, Nakul holds a particular interest in the areas of substance use disorder and neurodegeneration. This interest manifests in his continued efforts towards the advancement of radioligands that address pathways associated with neurodegenerative conditions. With a methodical approach and a foundation in rigorous scientific principles, Nakul's contributions serve as valuable insights into the evolving landscape of neuroscience.