Dr Susana Muñoz Maniega

Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences
Edinburgh Imaging
Row Fogo Centre

Email: s.m.maniega@ed.ac.uk

My research focuses on the application of quantitative MRI to investigate in vivo the effects of cerebrovascular disease and ageing on the brain's white matter. I am particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying cerebral small vessel disease and age-related white matter damage, and how these contribute to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

I currently lead the MRI image processing and analysis for the LACI-3 clinical trial and related studies. This work aims to improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which cerebral small vessel disease causes neurodegeneration and to determine whether these pathological processes can be prevented or reversed.

Previously, I worked on the processing and analysis of MRI data from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (LBC1936), one of the world's leading longitudinal studies of cognitive ageing. The cohort combines detailed structural brain MRI with extensive phenotypic data, including genome-wide genotyping, cognitive assessments, demographic, lifestyle and psychosocial measures, medical history, clinical examinations, and blood and urine biomarkers. My research examined age-related changes in white matter integrity and brain structure, and explored how these changes relate to cognitive function, vascular health, and genetic and lifestyle factors.

Alongside these projects, I collaborate on MRI image processing and analysis for several other studies investigating cerebrovascular disease, including the Mild Stroke Study 3 and INVESTIGATE@SVDs. Through these collaborations, I contribute advanced neuroimaging analysis to studies aimed at improving our understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of cerebrovascular disease.