Department of Pharmacology

Research Description

Malcolm J. Avison, Ph.D., is a graduate of Cambridge University and earned his M Phil and Ph.D. in Chemistry and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University. He worked at Yale University and the University of Kentucky before joining the Vanderbilt faculty in 2003. Dr. Avision is Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences and Professor of Pharmacology. His current research focuses on the development and application of novel imaging methods for the study of central nervous system (CNS) development and function in health and disease. Projects include functional and structural imaging studies of the effects of prenatal cocaine and alcohol exposure on the CNS in monkeys and humans, and imaging studies of the neuropathogenesis of HIV dementia.

Section: Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science

• Fitsanakis VA, Zhang N, Anderson JG, Erikson KM, Avison MJ, Gore JC, Aschner M. Measuring brain manganese and iron accumulation in rats following 14 weeks of low-dose manganese treatment using atomic absorption spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging. Toxicol. Sci [print-electronic]. 2008 May; 103(1): 116-24. PMID: 18234737, PII: kfn019, DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfn019, ISSN: 1096-0929.
• Tang L, Avison MJ, Gatenby JC, Gore JC. Failure to direct detect magnetic field dephasing corresponding to ERP generation. Magn Reson Imaging [print-electronic]. 2008 May; 26(4): 484-9. PMID: 18180125, PMCID: PMC2459244, PII: S0730-725X(07)00408-0, DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2007.09.003, ISSN: 0730-725X.
• Williams JM, Owens WA, Turner GH, Saunders C, Dipace C, Blakely RD, France CP, Gore JC, Daws LC, Avison MJ, Galli A. Hypoinsulinemia regulates amphetamine-induced reverse transport of dopamine. PLoS Biol. 2007 Oct 10/16/2007; 5(10): e274. PMID: 17941718, PMCID: PMC2020502, PII: 06-PLBI-RA-2396, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0050274, ISSN: 1545-7885.
• Bottiggi KA, Chang JJ, Schmitt FA, Avison MJ, Mootoor Y, Nath A, Berger JR. The HIV Dementia Scale: predictive power in mild dementia and HAART. J. Neurol. Sci [print-electronic]. 2007 Sep 9/15/2007; 260(1-2): 11-5. PMID: 17482212, PII: S0022-510X(07)00217-1, DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2006.03.023, ISSN: 0022-510X.
• Waddell KW, Avison MJ, Joers JM, Gore JC. A practical guide to robust detection of GABA in human brain by J-difference spectroscopy at 3 T using a standard volume coil. Magn Reson Imaging [print-electronic]. 2007 Sep; 25(7): 1032-8. PMID: 17707165, PMCID: PMC2131736, PII: S0730-725X(06)00399-7, DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2006.11.026, ISSN: 0730-725X.
• Chen LM, Turner GH, Friedman RM, Zhang N, Gore JC, Roe AW, Avison MJ. High-resolution maps of real and illusory tactile activation in primary somatosensory cortex in individual monkeys with functional magnetic resonance imaging and optical imaging. J. Neurosci. 2007 Aug 8/22/2007; 27(34): 9181-91. PMID: 17715354, PII: 27/34/9181, DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1588-07.2007, ISSN: 1529-2401.
• Qin Q, Gore JC, Does MD, Avison MJ, de Graaf RA. 2D arbitrary shape-selective excitation summed spectroscopy (ASSESS). Magn Reson Med. 2007 Jul; 58(1): 19-26. PMID: 17659614, DOI: 10.1002/mrm.21274, ISSN: 0740-3194.
• Zhang N, Gore JC, Chen LM, Avison MJ. Dependence of BOLD signal change on tactile stimulus intensity in SI of primates. Magn Reson Imaging [print-electronic]. 2007 Jul; 25(6): 784-94. PMID: 17614230, PII: S0730-725X(07)00277-9, DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2007.05.002, ISSN: 0730-725X.
• Hackler EA, Turner GH, Gresch PJ, Sengupta S, Deutch AY, Avison MJ, Gore JC, Sanders-Bush E. 5-Hydroxytryptamine2C receptor contribution to m-chlorophenylpiperazine and N-methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxamide-induced anxiety-like behavior and limbic brain activation. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther [print-electronic]. 2007 Mar; 320(3): 1023-9. PMID: 17138863, PII: jpet.106.113357, DOI: 10.1124/jpet.106.113357, ISSN: 0022-3565.
• Fitsanakis VA, Zhang N, Avison MJ, Gore JC, Aschner JL, Aschner M. The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the study of manganese neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicology [print-electronic]. 2006 Sep; 27(5): 798-806. PMID: 16620989, PII: S0161-813X(06)00050-7, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2006.03.001, ISSN: 0161-813X.
• Avison MJ, Nath A, Greene-Avison R, Schmitt FA, Greenberg RN, Berger JR. Neuroimaging correlates of HIV-associated BBB compromise. J. Neuroimmunol. 2004 Dec; 157(1-2): 140-6. PMID: 15579291, PII: S0165-5728(04)00344-3, DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2004.08.025, ISSN: 0165-5728.
• Avison MJ, Nath A, Greene-Avison R, Schmitt FA, Bales RA, Ethisham A, Greenberg RN, Berger JR. Inflammatory changes and breakdown of microvascular integrity in early human immunodeficiency virus dementia. J. Neurovirol. 2004 Aug; 10(4): 223-32. PMID: 15371152, PII: TRBHMA4TR2A099MJ, DOI: 10.1080/13550280490463532, ISSN: 1355-0284.
• Blonder LX, Smith CD, Davis CE, Kesler-West ML, Garrity TF, Avison MJ, Andersen AH. Regional brain response to faces of humans and dogs. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2004 Aug; 20(3): 384-94. PMID: 15268916, PII: S0926641004000965, DOI: 10.1016/j.cogbrainres.2004.03.020, ISSN: 0926-6410.
• Andersen AH, Zhang Z, Avison MJ, Gash DM. Automated segmentation of multispectral brain MR images. J. Neurosci. Methods. 2002 Dec 12/31/2002; 122(1): 13-23. PMID: 12535761, PII: S016502700200273X, ISSN: 0165-0270.
• Avison MJ, Nath A, Berger JR. Understanding pathogenesis and treatment of HIV dementia: a role for magnetic resonance?. Trends Neurosci. 2002 Sep; 25(9): 468-73. PMID: 12183208, PII: S0166-2236(02)02234-8, ISSN: 0166-2236.
• Smith CD, Andersen AH, Kryscio RJ, Schmitt FA, Kindy MS, Blonder LX, Avison MJ. Women at risk for AD show increased parietal activation during a fluency task. Neurology. 2002 Apr 4/23/2002; 58(8): 1197-202. PMID: 11971086, ISSN: 0028-3878.
• Kesler-West ML, Andersen AH, Smith CD, Avison MJ, Davis CE, Kryscio RJ, Blonder LX. Neural substrates of facial emotion processing using fMRI. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2001 Apr; 11(2): 213-26. PMID: 11275483, PII: S0926641000000732, ISSN: 0926-6410.
• Smith CD, Andersen AH, Kryscio RJ, Schmitt FA, Kindy MS, Blonder LX, Avison MJ. Differences in functional magnetic resonance imaging activation by category in a visual confrontation naming task. J Neuroimaging. 2001 Apr; 11(2): 165-70. PMID: 11296587, ISSN: 1051-2284.
• Berger JR, Avison MJ. Diffusion tensor imaging in HIV infection: what is it telling us? [editorial]. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2001 Feb; 22(2): 237-8. PMID: 11156760, ISSN: 0195-6108.
• Nath A, Maragos WF, Avison MJ, Schmitt FA, Berger JR. Acceleration of HIV dementia with methamphetamine and cocaine. J. Neurovirol. 2001 Feb; 7(1): 66-71. PMID: 11519485, DOI: 10.1080/135502801300069737, ISSN: 1355-0284.
• Berger JR, Nath A, Greenberg RN, Andersen AH, Greene RA, Bognar A, Avison MJ. Cerebrovascular changes in the basal ganglia with HIV dementia. Neurology. 2000 Feb 2/22/2000; 54(4): 921-6. PMID: 10690987, ISSN: 0028-3878.
• Zhang Z, Andersen AH, Avison MJ, Gerhardt GA, Gash DM. Functional MRI of apomorphine activation of the basal ganglia in awake rhesus monkeys. Brain Res. 2000 Jan 1/10/2000; 852(2): 290-6. PMID: 10678755, PII: S0006-8993(99)02243-X, ISSN: 0006-8993.
• Smith CD, Andersen AH, Kryscio RJ, Schmitt FA, Kindy MS, Blonder LX, Avison MJ. Altered brain activation in cognitively intact individuals at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Neurology. 1999 Oct 10/22/1999; 53(7): 1391-6. PMID: 10534240, ISSN: 0028-3878.
• Andersen AH, Gash DM, Avison MJ. Principal component analysis of the dynamic response measured by fMRI: a generalized linear systems framework. Magn Reson Imaging. 1999 Jul; 17(6): 795-815. PMID: 10402587, PII: S0730-725X(99)00028-4, ISSN: 0730-725X.
• Chen Q, Andersen AH, Zhang Z, Ovadia A, Cass WA, Gash DM, Avison MJ. Functional MRI of basal ganglia responsiveness to levodopa in parkinsonian rhesus monkeys. Exp. Neurol. 1999 Jul; 158(1): 63-75. PMID: 10448418, PII: S0014-4886(99)97089-9, DOI: 10.1006/exnr.1999.7089, ISSN: 0014-4886.
• Andersen AH, Zhang Z, Zhang M, Gash DM, Avison MJ. Age-associated changes in rhesus CNS composition identified by MRI. Brain Res. 1999 May 5/22/1999; 829(1-2): 90-8. PMID: 10350533, PII: S0006-8993(99)01343-8, ISSN: 0006-8993.
• Smith CD, Trevathan ER, Zhang M, Andersen AH, Avison MJ. Functional magnetic resonance imaging evidence for task-specific activation of developmentally abnormal visual association cortex. Ann. Neurol. 1999 Apr; 45(4): 515-8. PMID: 10211477, ISSN: 0364-5134.
• Smith CD, Landrum W, Carney JM, Landfield PW, Avison MJ. Brain creatine kinase with aging in F-344 rats: analysis by saturation transfer magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Neurobiol. Aging. 1997 Nov; 18(6): 617-22. PMID: 9461059, PII: S0197458097001565, ISSN: 0197-4580.
• Smith CD, Andersen AH, Chen Q, Blonder LX, Kirsch JE, Avison MJ. Cortical activation in confrontation naming. Neuroreport. 1996 Feb 2/29/1996; 7(3): 781-5. PMID: 8733744, ISSN: 0959-4965.
• Chen Q, Andersen AH, Zhang Z, Ovadia A, Gash DM, Avison MJ. Mapping drug-induced changes in cerebral R2* by Multiple Gradient Recalled Echo functional MRI. Magn Reson Imaging. 1996; 14(5): 469-76. PMID: 8843359, PII: 0730725X95021008, ISSN: 0730-725X.
• Smith CD, Pettigrew LC, Avison MJ, Kirsch JE, Tinkhtman AJ, Schmitt FA, Wermeling DP, Wekstein DR, Markesberry WR. Frontal lobe phosphorus metabolism and neuropsychological function in aging and in Alzheimer’s disease. Ann. Neurol. 1995 Aug; 38(2): 194-201. PMID: 7654066, DOI: 10.1002/ana.410380211, ISSN: 0364-5134.
• Novotny EJ, Avison MJ, Herschkowitz N, Petroff OA, Prichard JW, Seashore MR, Rothman DL. In vivo measurement of phenylalanine in human brain by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Pediatr. Res. 1995 Feb; 37(2): 244-9. PMID: 7731764, DOI: 10.1203/00006450-199502000-00020, ISSN: 0031-3998.
• Gruetter R, Magnusson I, Rothman DL, Avison MJ, Shulman RG, Shulman GI. Validation of 13C NMR measurements of liver glycogen in vivo. Magn Reson Med. 1994 Jun; 31(6): 583-8. PMID: 8057810, ISSN: 0740-3194.
• Chen W, Avison MJ, Bloch G, Shulman RG. Proton NMR observation of glycogen in vivo. Magn Reson Med. 1994 May; 31(5): 576-9. PMID: 8015415, ISSN: 0740-3194.
• Bloch G, Chase JR, Meyer DB, Avison MJ, Shulman GI, Shulman RG. In vivo regulation of rat muscle glycogen resynthesis after intense exercise. Am. J. Physiol. 1994 Jan; 266(1 Pt 1): E85-91. PMID: 8304447, ISSN: 0002-9513.
• Price TB, Rothman DL, Taylor R, Avison MJ, Shulman GI, Shulman RG. Human muscle glycogen resynthesis after exercise: insulin-dependent and -independent phases. J. Appl. Physiol. 1994 Jan; 76(1): 104-11. PMID: 7909795, ISSN: 8750-7587.
• Avison MJ, Van Why SK, Siegel NJ. DdAVP does not stimulate acute changes in levels of medullary trimethylamines in humans. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 1993 Dec; 4(6): 1379-84. PMID: 8130365, ISSN: 1046-6673.
• Chen W, Avison MJ, Zhu XH, Shulman RG. NMR studies of 1H NOEs in glycogen. Biochemistry. 1993 Nov 11/2/1993; 32(43): 11483-7. PMID: 8218214, ISSN: 0006-2960.
• Chen W, Zhu XH, Avison MJ, Shulman RG. Nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation of glycogen H1 in solution. Biochemistry. 1993 Sep 9/14/1993; 32(36): 9417-22. PMID: 8369311, ISSN: 0006-2960.
• Bloch G, Chase JR, Avison MJ, Shulman RG. In vivo 31P NMR measurement of glucose-6-phosphate in the rat muscle after exercise. Magn Reson Med. 1993 Sep; 30(3): 347-50. PMID: 8412606, ISSN: 0740-3194.
• Boydstun II, Thulin G, Zhu XH, Avison MJ, Gaudio KM, Siegel NJ. Disassociation of postischemic recovery of renal adenosine triphosphate and cellular integrity. Pediatr. Res. 1993 Jun; 33(6): 595-7. PMID: 8378118, DOI: 10.1203/00006450-199306000-00013, ISSN: 0031-3998.
• Van Waarde A, Avison MJ, Thulin G, Gaudio KM, Shulman RG, Siegel NJ. Role of nucleoside uptake in renal postischemic ATP synthesis. Am. J. Physiol. 1992 Jun; 262(6 Pt 2): F1092-9. PMID: 1621813, ISSN: 0002-9513.
• Avison MJ, Rothman DL, Nixon TW, Long WS, Siegel NJ. 1H NMR study of renal trimethylamine responses to dehydration and acute volume loading in man. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1991 Jul 7/15/1991; 88(14): 6053-7. PMID: 2068084, PMCID: PMC52020, ISSN: 0027-8424.
• Price TB, Rothman DL, Avison MJ, Buonamico P, Shulman RG. 13C-NMR measurements of muscle glycogen during low-intensity exercise. J. Appl. Physiol. 1991 Apr; 70(4): 1836-44. PMID: 2055862, ISSN: 8750-7587.
• Avison MJ, Herschkowitz N, Novotny EJ, Petroff OA, Rothman DL, Colombo JP, Bachmann C, Shulman RG, Prichard JW. Proton NMR observation of phenylalanine and an aromatic metabolite in the rabbit brain in vivo. Pediatr. Res. 1990 Jun; 27(6): 566-70. PMID: 2162514, DOI: 10.1203/00006450-199006000-00005, ISSN: 0031-3998.
• Avison MJ, van Waarde A, Stromski ME, Gaudio K, Siegel NJ. Metabolic alterations in the kidney during ischemic acute renal failure. Semin. Nephrol. 1989 Mar; 9(1): 98-101. PMID: 2740655, ISSN: 0270-9295.
• Gullans SR, Kone BC, Avison MJ, Giebisch G. Succinate alters respiration, membrane potential, and intracellular K+ in proximal tubule. Am. J. Physiol. 1988 Dec; 255(6 Pt 2): F1170-7. PMID: 3202180, ISSN: 0002-9513.
• Avison MJ, Gullans SR, Ogino T, Giebisch G. Na+ and K+ fluxes stimulated by Na+-coupled glucose transport: evidence for a Ba2+-insensitive K+ efflux pathway in rabbit proximal tubules. J. Membr. Biol. 1988 Nov; 105(3): 197-205. PMID: 3221380, ISSN: 0022-2631.
• Stromski ME, van Waarde A, Avison MJ, Thulin G, Gaudio KM, Kashgarian M, Shulman RG, Siegel NJ. Metabolic and functional consequences of inhibiting adenosine deaminase during renal ischemia in rats. J. Clin. Invest. 1988 Nov; 82(5): 1694-9. PMID: 3263396, PMCID: PMC442739, DOI: 10.1172/JCI113782, ISSN: 0021-9738.
• Avison MJ, Rothman DL, Nadel E, Shulman RG. Detection of human muscle glycogen by natural abundance 13C NMR. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1988 Mar; 85(5): 1634-6. PMID: 3422752, PMCID: PMC279828, ISSN: 0027-8424.
• Avison MJ, Gullans SR, Ogino T, Giebisch G, Shulman RG. Measurement of Na+-K+ coupling ratio of Na+-K+-ATPase in rabbit proximal tubules. Am. J. Physiol. 1987 Jul; 253(1 Pt 1): C126-36. PMID: 2440310, ISSN: 0002-9513.
• Stromski ME, Cooper K, Thulin G, Avison MJ, Gaudio KM, Shulman RG, Siegel NJ. Postischemic ATP-MgCl2 provides precursors for resynthesis of cellular ATP in rats. Am. J. Physiol. 1986 May; 250(5 Pt 2): F834-7. PMID: 3486599, ISSN: 0002-9513.
• Avison MJ, Hetherington HP, Shulman RG. Applications of NMR to studies of tissue metabolism. Annu Rev Biophys Biophys Chem. 1986; 15: 377-402. PMID: 3521659, DOI: 10.1146/annurev.bb.15.060186.002113, ISSN: 0883-9182.
• Gullans SR, Avison MJ, Ogino T, Giebisch G, Shulman RG. NMR measurements of intracellular sodium in the rabbit proximal tubule. Am. J. Physiol. 1985 Jul; 249(1 Pt 2): F160-8. PMID: 2409818, ISSN: 0002-9513.
• Hetherington HP, Avison MJ, Shulman RG. 1H homonuclear editing of rat brain using semiselective pulses. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1985 May; 82(10): 3115-8. PMID: 2987910, PMCID: PMC397725, ISSN: 0027-8424.
• Ogino T, Shulman GI, Avison MJ, Gullans SR, den Hollander JA, Shulman RG. 23Na and 39K NMR studies of ion transport in human erythrocytes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1985 Feb; 82(4): 1099-103. PMID: 2579385, PMCID: PMC397201, ISSN: 0027-8424.
• Siegel NJ, Avison MJ, Reilly HF, Alger JR, Shulman RG. Enhanced recovery of renal ATP with postischemic infusion of ATP-MgCl2 determined by 31P-NMR. Am. J. Physiol. 1983 Oct; 245(4): F530-4. PMID: 6605093, ISSN: 0002-9513.