SUMMARY
Burcu Zeydan, M.D., has research interests that include imaging, sex differences and women's health in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in multiple sclerosis (MS). Dr. Zeydan focuses on sex differences in the disease course of MS, and the impact of reproductive milestones such as pregnancy, menopause and andropause on MS prognosis.
Dr. Zeydan focuses on investigating candidate imaging biomarkers of preclinical and subclinical progression in MS before symptoms become clinically evident. In addition to advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, Dr. Zeydan's research includes molecular positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in MS, aiming to understand the underlying mechanisms of multiple sclerosis at a molecular level.
Focus areas
- Identification of imaging biomarkers of subclinical and preclinical progressive MS. Dr. Zeydan and her colleagues in the areas of radiology and neurology investigate advanced imaging techniques including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and PET imaging in MS to be used as diagnostic and prognostic metrics in clinical practice and outcome metrics in clinical trials of multiple sclerosis. To date, Dr. Zeydan and her team showed that cervical spinal cord atrophy (gradual decline in tissue volume) can be used as an early biomarker of progressive MS onset.
- Understanding underlying mechanisms of progressive MS. Dr. Zeydan leads a multidisciplinary team of clinical and translational Mayo Clinic researchers in using PET imaging in MS to investigate the underlying mechanisms of progressive neurodegeneration at a molecular level, potentially providing an opportunity for earlier detection of pathological changes. To date, Dr. Zeydan and her team showed that Pittsburgh compound-B (PiB) PET can be used as a marker of myelin integrity in MS.
- Precision medicine in the management of patients with MS accounting for age and sex differences. Dr. Zeydan leads an investigation of sex differences in MS, particularly investigating the association of reproductive milestones such as pregnancy, menopause and andropause, sex-hormone deficiencies and menopausal hormone therapies with multiple sclerosis prognosis and quality of life. To date, she and her team showed an association between early-onset progressive MS with nulliparity (no pregnancy) and early menopause (onset before 45 years old).
Significance to patient care
There is an unmet need for detecting MS progression in patients before they clinically develop progressive symptoms. One of Dr. Zeydan's research goals is to identify an early biomarker of progression in MS to determine the optimal time of intervention to delay or prevent disease progression.
Although MS is three times more common in women and mostly affects women of childbearing age, women are more likely to have a better prognosis than men when diagnosed before menopause. Therefore, counseling both women and men based on sex-specific clinical and imaging differences is critical in individualizing and improving the management and quality of life for patients with MS.
Professional highlights
Grants
- K12 Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH), National Institutes of Health, 2023-2026.
- Radiology Research Internal Grant Program Award, Mayo Clinic, 2023-2025.
- Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Award, Mayo Clinic Center for MS and Autoimmune Neurology, 2022-2024.
- Career Enhancement Award, Sex-Specific Effects of Endocrine Disruption on Aging and Alzheimer's Disease (U54 AG 44170), National Institute of Health, 2018-2023.
Awards
- Department of Neurology Clinical Research Award, Mayo Clinic, 2022.
- Young Scientist Award, Turkish Neurological Society, 2015.
Memberships
- Women's Health Cluster, 2020-present.
- Co-lead, International Women in Multiple Sclerosis Imaging Interest Group, 2019-present.
- Women's Health Research Center, Mayo Clinic, 2017-present.
- Radiologically Isolated Syndrome Consortium, 2016-present.
- Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 2016-present.