Pedro Rosa-Neto, MD, PhD, is a clinical neurologist who is interested in the structural changes that occur in the brain as a result of neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease. His studies involve using brain-imaging techniques including positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to observe and measure these changes.

Pedro Rosa-Neto directs the Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory (TNL), a multi-site facility, which is shared between the Douglas Institute, the McGill Centre for Studies in Aging and the Montreal Neurological Institute. This cross intuitional lab, a first for Quebec, will link animal studies with human conditions, and help identify early markers of disease.

The main gaols of the Pedro Rosa-Neto’s work include: 

• Identifying imaging markers of neurodegenerative disease in animal models
• Using these biomarkers for early diagnosis of dementia.

Pedro Rosa-Neto is also involved with a new research program aimed at early detection of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). His team is part of a consortium of other research centers in Europe and North America, which are using brain imaging to diagnosis AD. Previous research in neuroimaging has suggested that PET and MRI are more accurate and consistent measures of the progression of AD than those assessments currently available.