Douglas Rothman, PhD
Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and of Biomedical EngineeringCards
About
Titles
Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and of Biomedical Engineering
Co-Director MRI Research Center, Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Biography
Dr. Rothman is director of the Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC) at the Yale School of Medicine. The MRRC presently supports the NIH- funded work of more than 70 Principal Investigators, as well as 13 program project grants and center grants. Dr. Rothman has an international reputation as a leader in the development of novel MR methods for the study of brain, liver, and muscle metabolism and function. Among the many MR 'firsts' of his team of bioimaging scientists have been the development of MR methods for imaging glutamate and GABA neurotransmission, brain energy metabolism, and liver and muscle glycogen and glucose metabolism and metabolic control. He is presently supported by two R01 grants, and has served as the primary mentor of six postdoctoral fellows and two students. His postdoctoral fellows have all gone on to faculty positions at major research institutions in the US and abroad. He is a named mentor on five K awards at different levels and is an informal mentor to many other junior and mid-level faculty members in the use of MR technology in their research.
Appointments
Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
ProfessorFully Joint
Other Departments & Organizations
- All Institutions
- Bioimaging Sciences
- Dean's Workshops
- Deuterium Metabolic Imaging (DMI)
- Diabetes Research Center
- Fellowship Training
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center
- Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
- MR Core
- Neuroscience Research Training Program (NRTP)
- Quantitative Neuroscience with Magnetic Resonance
- Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
- Radiology Diversity Program
- Yale Biomedical Imaging Institute
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- PhD
- Yale University (1987)
Research
Publications
2026
Impact of obesity on aromatic amino acids and brain glucose during acute hyperglycemia
Matson B, Gunawan F, Rothman D, Mason G, Ilkayeva O, Newgard C, Hwang J. Impact of obesity on aromatic amino acids and brain glucose during acute hyperglycemia. AJP Endocrinology And Metabolism 2026, 330: e346-e355. PMID: 41638639, PMCID: PMC13036701, DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00463.2025.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute hyperglycemiaBrain glucose levelsPlasma concentrationsPlasma amino acidsInsulin resistanceGlucose levelsBrain glucoseMass spectrometry-based metabolomicsEarly markersMarkers of insulin resistancePlasma concentrations of aromatic amino acidsHealthy adultsPlasma concentrations of amino acidsPeripheral metabolic changesImpact of obesityAssociated with insulin resistanceEarly insulin resistanceConcentrations of aromatic amino acidsBranched chain amino acidsPlasma glucagon levelsBrain oxidative stressType 2 diabetesChain amino acidsResponse to hyperglycemiaLean controls
2025
Comment on the Editorial “Embracing the Modern Biochemistry of Brain Metabolism”
Dienel G, Rothman D, Mangia S. Comment on the Editorial “Embracing the Modern Biochemistry of Brain Metabolism”. Journal Of Neurochemistry 2025, 169: e70197. PMID: 40810250, PMCID: PMC12351431, DOI: 10.1111/jnc.70197.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchKetosis Elevates Antioxidants and Markers of Energy Metabolism: A Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study
van Nieuwenhuizen H, Antal B, Hone-Blanchet A, Lithen A, McMahon L, Nikolaidou S, Kuang Z, Clarke K, Jenkins B, Rothman D, Mujica-Parodi L, Ratai E. Ketosis Elevates Antioxidants and Markers of Energy Metabolism: A Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study. Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience And Neuroimaging 2025, 10: 1186-1196. PMID: 40633732, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2025.06.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeurochemical effectsNeural functionDevelopment of novel treatment strategiesProton magnetic resonance spectroscopyNovel treatment strategiesRs-fMRIGamma-aminobutyric acidMR spectroscopy studiesNeuroactive amino acidsMagnetic resonance imagingEnergy markersH-MRSAcute ketosisKetone monoesterTreatment strategiesBrain metabolitesResting-state functional magnetic resonance imagingFunctional magnetic resonance imagingTotal creatineMarkers of energy metabolismRs-fMRI scansFunctional neuroimaging findingsGlucose drinkPosterior cingulate cortexGlutamine levels1727-P: Reduced Aromatic Amino Acid Suppression during Acute Hyperglycemia in Young Adults with Obesity
MATSON B, GUNAWAN F, ROTHMAN D, MASON G, NEWGARD C, HWANG J. 1727-P: Reduced Aromatic Amino Acid Suppression during Acute Hyperglycemia in Young Adults with Obesity. Diabetes 2025, 74 DOI: 10.2337/db25-1727-p.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCentral nervous systemAcute hyperglycemiaLean controlsBrain glucose levelsMass spectrometry-based metabolomic profilingMeasured plasma amino acidsInsulin resistanceGlucose levelsBranched chain amino acidsPlasma amino acidsDevelopment of insulin resistanceAromatic amino acid levelsChain amino acidsAcid suppressionResponse to hyperglycemiaMetabolomic profilesImpaired suppressionHyperglycemic clampObesityInsulin sensitivityHyperglycemiaNervous systemAmino acid changesBrain glucoseHealthy adults358-OR: Acute Fatty Acid Elevation Does Not Alter Brain Glucose Uptake in Humans
MATSON B, CHANG W, PALMIOTTO J, ROTHMAN D, BELFORT DE AGUIAR R, MASON G, HWANG J. 358-OR: Acute Fatty Acid Elevation Does Not Alter Brain Glucose Uptake in Humans. Diabetes 2025, 74 DOI: 10.2337/db25-358-or.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchElevation of non-esterified fatty acidsNon-esterified fatty acid levelsHyperglycemic clampBrain glucose uptakeCirculating non-esterified fatty acidsBrain glucoseAcute elevationIntralipid infusionInsulin resistanceIntravenous infusion of salineAbsence of insulin resistanceNon-esterified fatty acidsInduce peripheral insulin resistanceHealthy adultsInfusion of salinePresence of hyperglycemiaGlucose uptakeMeasures of insulin sensitivityPeripheral insulin resistanceHigh-fat dietGlucose infusion rateIntravenous infusionPlasma glucoseLean individualsMRS scansA Bird's‐Eye View of Glycolytic Upregulation in Activated Brain: The Major Fate of Lactate Is Release From Activated Tissue, Not Shuttling to Nearby Neurons
Dienel G, Rothman D, Mangia S. A Bird's‐Eye View of Glycolytic Upregulation in Activated Brain: The Major Fate of Lactate Is Release From Activated Tissue, Not Shuttling to Nearby Neurons. Journal Of Neurochemistry 2025, 169: e70111. PMID: 40476345, PMCID: PMC12142580, DOI: 10.1111/jnc.70111.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeuron-astrocyte interactionsCerebral blood flowMetabolic brain imagingMetabolite of glucoseMetabolic mismatchBlood-borne glucoseActive neuronsAdequate oxygenationNearby neuronsActive tissuesLactate transportBlood flowAerobic glycolysisGlycolytic metabolismIntense sensory stimulationAstrocytesNeuronsTissue pHBrain cellsAstrocytic glycogenBrainSensory stimulationTissueGlycolysisRate of glucoseKetosis Elevates Antioxidants and Enhances Neural Function Through Improved Bioenergetics: A 1H MR Spectroscopy Study
van Nieuwenhuizen H, Antal B, Hone-Blanchet A, Lithen A, McMahon L, Nikolaidou S, Kuang Z, Clarke K, Jenkins B, Rothman D, Mujica-Parodi L, Ratai E. Ketosis Elevates Antioxidants and Enhances Neural Function Through Improved Bioenergetics: A 1H MR Spectroscopy Study. Proceedings Of The International Society For Magnetic Resonance In Medicine ... Scientific Meeting And Exhibition. 2025 DOI: 10.58530/2025/1010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeurochemical effectsNeural functionFunctional network dynamicsFunctional neuroimaging dataWithin-subject designNeurotransmitter ratiosBrain chemistryNeuroimaging dataBrain healthNeuroactive amino acidsNeuroinflammation markersMR spectroscopy studiesHuman brainEnhancing neural functionsNovel treatment strategiesDisordersBrainAcute ketosisTreatment strategiesGlc levelsNeurodegenerative disordersElevated antioxidantsRsfMRINetwork dynamicsE/IFunctional MRI with UTE to investigate stimulus-driven CSF flow
Ponticorvo S, Paasonen E, Filip P, Rothman D, Valjakka J, Gröhn O, Michaeli S, Mangia S. Functional MRI with UTE to investigate stimulus-driven CSF flow. Proceedings Of The International Society For Magnetic Resonance In Medicine ... Scientific Meeting And Exhibition. 2025 DOI: 10.58530/2025/3719.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchModeling Neurotransmitter Cycling: Predicting Glu and GABA Dynamics in Response to Ketone Body Administration
Antal B, van Nieuwenhuizen H, Strey H, Ratai E, Mujica-Parodi L, Rothman D. Modeling Neurotransmitter Cycling: Predicting Glu and GABA Dynamics in Response to Ketone Body Administration. Proceedings Of The International Society For Magnetic Resonance In Medicine ... Scientific Meeting And Exhibition. 2025 DOI: 10.58530/2025/4874.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeurotransmitter cyclingModulation of glutamateNeurotransmitter activityConcentrations of glutamateNeurotransmitterGABABrainInhibitory neurotransmitterTemporal dynamicsGlutamateTherapeutic interventionsSteady-state concentrationsMRS dataComputational modelKetone metabolismAdministrative experienceExperimental settingsDeveloping algorithmic psychiatry via multi-level spanning computational models
Halassa M, Frank M, Garety P, Ongur D, Airan R, Sanacora G, Dzirasa K, Suresh S, Fitzpatrick S, Rothman D. Developing algorithmic psychiatry via multi-level spanning computational models. Cell Reports Medicine 2025, 6: 102094. PMID: 40300598, PMCID: PMC12147853, DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102094.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHierarchical predictive processingNeurobiological insightsTreatment modelBrain functionSystems neurosciencePsychiatryPrediction processExplanatory potentialTargeted interventionsSchizophreniaCognitionInterventionClinical realityMulti-level effectsNeuroscienceBrainIllnessTreatmentLanguageCliniciansSevere illnessComputational modelResearch
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Impact of Hypoglycemia on Brain Ketone and Neurotransmitter Metabolism in Type 1 DM
IRB ID1208010648RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date09/29/2022Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18+ years
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News
News
- January 13, 2026Source: Yale News
In Memoriam: Robert G. Shulman, PhD, Yale Biophysicist and Pioneer of Spectroscopy
- June 16, 2025
Yale Announces New Biomedical Imaging Institute
- November 27, 2024
Heavy metal to illuminate human disease
- April 14, 2022
Small Amounts of Liver Fat Lead to Insulin Resistance and Increased Cardiometabolic Risk Factors