Donna J. Cross
University of Utah, USA
Biography
Dr. Cross has a BSE in Aerospace Engineering and a PhD in Neuroscience from The University of Michigan. Her research passion is to make a significant impact on the therapeutic and diagnostic options for neurological disorders and dementia through imaging. During her graduate studies, Dr. Cross developed in vivo manganese-enhanced MRI to evaluate axonal transport in rodents. She was the first to demonstrate in vivo age-related decline in transport rates and recovery of axonal connections in the olfactory tract after brain injury using an intranasal administration of paramagnetic MR contrast. During Dr. Cross’ tenure as junior faculty, this research expertise expanded to use imaging in studies of Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury in humans and animal models. Her research innovation is demonstrated by investigations with diverse application such as a new therapeutic approach for brain injury and neurodegeneration using intranasal administration of microtubule-stabilizing agents. Also, in collaboration with researchers at the VA Puget Sound Dr. Cross has been investigating the underlying neuronal substrate for the mild but persistent cognitive deficits presenting in veterans with mild traumatic brain injury from explosive blasts and the results were recently featured in Science Translational Medicine. Another innovative project collaborating with researchers in Environmental Science used FDG-PET to investigate human face recognition in wild American crows. Dr. Cross has active service with several national and international scientific organizations including Radiological Society of North America (RSNA): Research and Education Study Section, Program Committee, the Educational Exhibits committee, and Molecular Imaging Abstract Review Subcommittee, the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI): Vice Chair for the Scientific Program Committee (Neurosciences), the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) and International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM). Dr. Cross has recently moved to Salt Lake City to continue her research efforts at the University of Utah.