Ansel Hillmer, PhD
Assistant Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and of Psychiatry; Associate Director of Imaging, Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
I am interested in implementing neurochemically specific brain imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET), to investigate the underlying neuroadaptations involved in substance dependence and withdrawal, particularly alcohol and nicotine. Areas of previous and current research include:
-Characterization of PET imaging radiotracers targeting alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, serotonin 5-HT1A receptors, 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
-Development of experimental paradigms to interrogate acetylcholine neurotransmission in vivo with PET imaging
-Development of imaging paradigms that capture neuroimmune function
-Imaging neuroimmune function in substance use disorders
-Methods development of analysis tools integrating PET imaging data with fMRI connectivity data.
-Studying alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in people with PTSD
-Studying opioid and dopamine signalling during acute cannabis use
-Developing novel analytic tools to examine relationships of synaptic density with brain immune markers
-Novel analysis development to estimate different sources of PET radiotracer uptake
Coauthors
Research Interests
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Neuroimaging; Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment
Selected Publications
- Cholinergic system adaptations are associated with cognitive function in people recently abstinent from smoking: a (-)-[18F]flubatine PET studyCalakos K, Hillmer A, Anderson J, LeVasseur B, Baldassarri S, Angarita G, Matuskey D, Kapinos M, Zheng M, Huang Y, Cosgrove K. Cholinergic system adaptations are associated with cognitive function in people recently abstinent from smoking: a (-)-[18F]flubatine PET study Neuropsychopharmacology 2023, 48: 683-689. PMID: 36681758, PMCID: PMC9938267, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01535-1.
- Nicotine Use and Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 in Individuals With Major Depressive and Posttraumatic Stress DisordersBaldassarri S, Asch R, Hillmer A, Pietrzak R, DellaGioia N, Esterlis I, Davis M. Nicotine Use and Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 in Individuals With Major Depressive and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders Chronic Stress 2023, 7: 24705470231154842. PMCID: PMC9943964, DOI: 10.1177/24705470231154842.
- Nicotine Use and Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 in Individuals With Major Depressive and Posttraumatic Stress DisordersBaldassarri S, Asch R, Hillmer A, Pietrzak R, DellaGioia N, Esterlis I, Davis M. Nicotine Use and Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 in Individuals With Major Depressive and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders Chronic Stress 2023, 7: 24705470231154842. PMID: 36843572, PMCID: PMC9943964, DOI: 10.1177/24705470231154842.
- The metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 as a biomarker for psychiatric disordersAsch R, Hillmer A, Baldassarri S, Esterlis I. The metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 as a biomarker for psychiatric disorders 2022, 168: 265-310. PMID: 36868631, DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2022.10.007.
- The metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 as a biomarker for psychiatric disordersAsch R, Hillmer A, Baldassarri S, Esterlis I. The metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 as a biomarker for psychiatric disorders 2022 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2022.10.007.
- P646. Combining Neuroimaging α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors and Peripheral Immune Markers in People With PTSDHillmer A, Davis M, Esterlis I, Matuskey D, Huang H, Carson R, Krystal J, Cosgrove K. P646. Combining Neuroimaging α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors and Peripheral Immune Markers in People With PTSD Biological Psychiatry 2022, 91: s351. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.02.883.
- Multimodal neuroimaging of metabotropic glutamate 5 receptors and functional connectivity in alcohol use disorderSmart K, Worhunsky PD, Scheinost D, Angarita GA, Esterlis I, Carson RE, Krystal JH, O'Malley SS, Cosgrove KP, Hillmer AT. Multimodal neuroimaging of metabotropic glutamate 5 receptors and functional connectivity in alcohol use disorder Alcoholism Clinical And Experimental Research 2022, 46: 770-782. PMID: 35342968, PMCID: PMC9117461, DOI: 10.1111/acer.14816.
- Assessment of transient dopamine responses to smoked cannabisCalakos KC, Liu H, Lu Y, Anderson JM, Matuskey D, Nabulsi N, Ye Y, Skosnik PD, D'Souza DC, Morris ED, Cosgrove KP, Hillmer AT. Assessment of transient dopamine responses to smoked cannabis Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2021, 227: 108920. PMID: 34399137, PMCID: PMC8464527, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108920.
- Morphine Induces a Neuroimmune Response in Healthy Volunteers: Implications for Opioid Use DisorderWoodcock E, Angarita G, Matuskey D, Ropchan J, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Hillmer A, Carson R, Cosgrove K. Morphine Induces a Neuroimmune Response in Healthy Volunteers: Implications for Opioid Use Disorder Biological Psychiatry 2021, 89: s252-s253. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.02.632.
- PET Imaging Estimates of Regional Acetylcholine Concentration Variation in Living Human Brain.Smart K, Naganawa M, Baldassarri SR, Nabulsi N, Ropchan J, Najafzadeh S, Gao H, Navarro A, Barth V, Esterlis I, Cosgrove KP, Huang Y, Carson RE, Hillmer AT. PET Imaging Estimates of Regional Acetylcholine Concentration Variation in Living Human Brain. Cerebral Cortex 2021, 31: 2787-2798. PMID: 33442731, PMCID: PMC8355478, DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa387.
- PBR28 Brain PET imaging with lipopolysaccharide challenge for the study of microglia function in Alzheimer’s diseaseSalardini A, Hillmer A, Mecca A, Hashemi‐Aghdam A, Laltoo E, Savoia S, O'Dell R, Harris J, Godek T, Nabulsi N, Lim K, Ropchan J, Huang Y, Cosgrove K, Carson R, Strittmatter S, van Dyck C. PBR28 Brain PET imaging with lipopolysaccharide challenge for the study of microglia function in Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer's & Dementia 2020, 16 DOI: 10.1002/alz.037792.
- 11C‐PBR28 brain PET imaging with lipopolysaccharide challenge for the study of microglia function in Alzheimer’s diseaseSalardini A, Hillmer A, Mecca A, Hashemi‐Aghdam A, Laltoo E, Savoia S, O'Dell R, Harris J, Godek T, Nabulsi N, Lim K, Ropchan J, Huang Y, Cosgrove K, Carson R, Strittmatter S, van Dyck C. 11C‐PBR28 brain PET imaging with lipopolysaccharide challenge for the study of microglia function in Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer's & Dementia 2020, 16 DOI: 10.1002/alz.043584.
- Nondisplaceable Binding Is a Potential Confounding Factor in 11C-PBR28 Translocator Protein PET StudiesLaurell G, Plavén-Sigray P, Jucaite A, Varrone A, Cosgrove KP, Svarer C, Knudsen G, Consortium K, Ogden R, Zanderigo F, Cervenka S, Hillmer A, Schain M. Nondisplaceable Binding Is a Potential Confounding Factor in 11C-PBR28 Translocator Protein PET Studies Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2020, 62: 412-417. PMID: 32680926, PMCID: PMC8049343, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.120.243717.
- Effects of age, BMI and sex on the glial cell marker TSPO — a multicentre [11C]PBR28 HRRT PET studyTuisku J, Plavén-Sigray P, Gaiser EC, Airas L, Al-Abdulrasul H, Brück A, Carson RE, Chen MK, Cosgrove KP, Ekblad L, Esterlis I, Farde L, Forsberg A, Halldin C, Helin S, Kosek E, Lekander M, Lindgren N, Marjamäki P, Rissanen E, Sucksdorff M, Varrone A, Collste K, Gallezot J, Hillmer A, Huang Y, Höglund C, Johansson J, Jucaite A, Lampa J, Nabulsi N, Pittman B, Sandiego C, Stenkrona P, Rinne J, Matuskey D, Cervenka S. Effects of age, BMI and sex on the glial cell marker TSPO — a multicentre [11C]PBR28 HRRT PET study European Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2019, 46: 2329-2338. PMID: 31363804, PMCID: PMC6717599, DOI: 10.1007/s00259-019-04403-7.
- Quantification of PET infusion studies without true equilibrium: A tissue clearance correctionHillmer AT, Carson RE. Quantification of PET infusion studies without true equilibrium: A tissue clearance correction Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2019, 40: 860-874. PMID: 31088233, PMCID: PMC7168787, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x19850000.
- F33. In Vivo Brain Imaging of 11beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase, a Marker of Cortisol Production, in PTSDBhatt S, Matuskey D, Rusowicz A, Southwick S, Carson R, Hillmer A, Huang H, Cosgrove K. F33. In Vivo Brain Imaging of 11beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase, a Marker of Cortisol Production, in PTSD Biological Psychiatry 2019, 85: s225. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.03.570.
- F3. Imaging Alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Individuals With PTSDHillmer A, Esterlis I, Davis M, Matuskey D, Huang H, Carson R, Krystal J, Cosgrove K. F3. Imaging Alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Individuals With PTSD Biological Psychiatry 2018, 83: s237-s238. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.02.616.
- In vivo imaging of translocator protein, a marker of activated microglia, in alcohol dependenceHillmer AT, Sandiego CM, Hannestad J, Angarita GA, Kumar A, McGovern EM, Huang Y, O'Connor KC, Carson RE, O'Malley SS, Cosgrove KP. In vivo imaging of translocator protein, a marker of activated microglia, in alcohol dependence Molecular Psychiatry 2017, 22: 1759-1766. PMID: 28242869, PMCID: PMC5573660, DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.10.
- IC‐P‐063: Alzheimer's disease biomarker‐based clusters predict amyloid accumulation and cognitive decline in a preclinical cohort: Findings from the wisconsin registry for Alzheimer's prevention (WRAP)Racine A, Nicholas C, Clark L, Koscik R, Okonkwo O, Hillmer A, Murali D, Barnhart T, Gallagher C, Rowley H, Dowling N, Asthana S, Bendlin B, Blennow K, Zetterberg H, Carlsson C, Christian B, Johnson S. IC‐P‐063: Alzheimer's disease biomarker‐based clusters predict amyloid accumulation and cognitive decline in a preclinical cohort: Findings from the wisconsin registry for Alzheimer's prevention (WRAP) Alzheimer's & Dementia 2015, 11: p47-p49. DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.06.084.
- O1‐01‐03: Alzheimer's disease biomarker‐based clusters predict amyloid accumulation and cognitive decline in a preclinical cohort: Findings from the wisconsin registry for Alzheimer's prevention (WRAP)Racine A, Nicholas C, Clark L, Koscik R, Okonkwo O, Hillmer A, Murali D, Barnhart T, Gallagher C, Rowley H, Dowling N, Asthana S, Bendlin B, Blennow K, Zetterberg H, Carlsson C, Christian B, Johnson S. O1‐01‐03: Alzheimer's disease biomarker‐based clusters predict amyloid accumulation and cognitive decline in a preclinical cohort: Findings from the wisconsin registry for Alzheimer's prevention (WRAP) Alzheimer's & Dementia 2015, 11: p123-p125. DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.07.029.
- O2–02–05: Cognitive decline, neural function and amyloid burden in middle‐aged adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease: Findings from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (WRAP)Okonkwo O, Oh J, Christian B, Xu G, Cleary C, Harding S, Wooten D, Hillmer A, Murali D, Barnhart T, Bendlin B, Asthana S, Sager M, Johnson S. O2–02–05: Cognitive decline, neural function and amyloid burden in middle‐aged adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease: Findings from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (WRAP) Alzheimer's & Dementia 2013, 9: p317-p318. DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.04.145.
- IC‐P‐076: Cognitive decline, neural function and amyloid burden in middle‐aged adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease: Findings from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's PreventionOkonkwo O, Oh J, Christian B, Xu G, Cleary C, Harding S, Wooten D, Hillmer A, Murali D, Barnhart T, Bendlin B, Asthana S, Sager M, Johnson S. IC‐P‐076: Cognitive decline, neural function and amyloid burden in middle‐aged adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease: Findings from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention Alzheimer's & Dementia 2013, 9: p45-p45. DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.05.073.
- 5-HT1A binding of [18F]MEFWAY in the rhesus monkeyWooten D, Hillmer A, Moirano J, Tudorascu D, Murali D, Barnhart T, Kalin N, Davidson R, Mukherjee J, Schneider M, Christian B. 5-HT1A binding of [18F]MEFWAY in the rhesus monkey NeuroImage 2010, 52: s129-s130. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.04.105.