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School of Medicine

Professor Steve Williams BA MA DPhil

Photograph of Steve Williams

Professor of Imaging Science

Imaging Science and Biomedical Engineering
Stopford Building
University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PT

 

Research

My research is based on the use of magnetic resonance techniques (imaging - MRI; spectroscopy - MRS) to understand normal physiology/biochemistry and how these become deranged in disease. I research into the development of new techniques but also the application of existing techniques in human disease and animal models.  I have established valuable collaborations with a number of research groups in Manchester (see below) which have led to PhD studentships, programme grants, project grants and joint academic appointments as well as publications and abstracts. My main areas of interest are: (i) functional MRI of the brain, in the use of pharmacological challenge to probe the brain areas which respond to drugs, in gut-brain interactions and in appetite regulation. This work is carried out in human volunteers, psychiatric patients and animals; (ii) MRS of the brain, particularly the measurement of glutamate in psychiatric disease and in a human model of cortical plasticity; (iii) studies of anti-vascular agents in rodent models using contrast-enhanced MRI.

I am also a member of the Institute of Health Sciences Diabetes and Obesity Research Network. My research interests in this area include:
 

  • Functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of appetite regulation
  • Measuring liver and muscle fat by MR spectroscopy
  • Measuring whole body fat distribution by MRI
  • Functional brain imaging of appetite regulation
 

Methodological Knowledge

  • Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy
  • Computer-based analysis of spectra and images
  • Analysis of fMRI data
  • Design and optimization of protocols for MRI/MRS
 

Teaching

I was Post Graduate Tutor in ISBE until Sep 2007, ultimately responsible for the educational experience of our PhD students, of which there are about 25. I teach on our MSc 'Physics and Computing in Medicine and Biology', lead our 3rd Year Physics Module on 'Physics in Medicine and Biology' and contribute to some teaching on the pre-med course.

I took over as Programme Director of the MSc in September 2007.

 

Qualifications

1977 BA (Hons) Chemistry, Merton College Oxford

1980 D.Phil Biochemistry, Merton and Linacre Colleges Oxford

 

Collaborators and affiliated staff

Geoff Parker, David Buckley; ISBE

Shaheen Hamdy, David Thompson; GI Sciences

Bill Deakin, Ian Anderson, Rebecca Elliott, Serdar Dursun, Shane McKie; Psychiatry

Giorgio Terenghi; Tissue Injury and Repair

Andrew Mayes, Emmanuel Stamatakis; Psychological Sciences

Peter Trainer, Claire Higham; Endocrine Sciences

Simon Luckman, Jenny Stark; FLS

Alan McGown; University of Salford

Nathan Jeffrey; Liverpool University

Nicola Sibson; Oxford University

Caroline Rae; University of New South Wales

Danielle Graveron; University of Lyon

 

Publications

2011

  • Yiu, H., Pickard, M., Olariu, C., Williams, S., Chari, D. & Rosseinsky, M (2011). Fe(3)O (4)-PEI-RITC Magnetic Nanoparticles with Imaging and Gene Transfer Capability: Development of a Tool for Neural Cell Transplantation Therapies. Pharm Res, eScholarID:142139 | PMID:22134779 | DOI:10.1007/s11095-011-0632-1

2010

  • Dodd, G., Williams, S. & Luckman, S (2010). Functional magnetic resonance imaging and c-Fos mapping in rats following a glucoprivic dose of 2-deoxy-D-glucose. J Neurochem, 113, 1123-1132. eScholarID:78279 | PMID:20236391 | DOI:10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06671.x
  • Goulden, N., McKie, S., Suckling, J., Williams, S., Anderson, I., Deakin, J. & Elliott, R (2010). A comparison of permutation and parametric testing for between group effective connectivity differences using DCM. Neuroimage, 50(2), 509-15. eScholarID:78278 | PMID:20004253 | DOI:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.11.059
  • Suckling, J., Barnes, A., Job, D., Brenan, D., Lymer, K., Dazzan, P., Marques, T., MacKay, C., McKie, S., Williams, S., Williams, S., Lawrie, S. & Deakin, B (2010). Power calculations for multicenter imaging studies controlled by the false discovery rate. Hum Brain Mapp, 31(8), 1183-95. eScholarID:103725 | DOI:10.1002/hbm.20927
  • Vollm BA, Richardson PC, McKie S, Reniers R, Elliott R, Anderson I, Williams SR, Dolan M, Deakin JFW. (2010). Neuronal correlates and serotonergic modulation of behavioural inhibition and reward in healthy and antisocial individuals. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 44, 123-131. eScholarID:1d21083 | DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2009.07.005

2009

  • Dodd, G., Stark, J., McKie, S., Williams, S. & Luckman, S (2009). Central cannabinoid signaling mediating food intake: a pharmacological-challenge magnetic resonance imaging and functional histology study in rat. Neuroscience, 163(4), 1192-200. eScholarID:103724 | DOI:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.07.022
  • Kong Y, McKie S, Mukherjee TT, Deakin JFW, Williams SR. (2009). Analysis of connectivity in the resting state of the default-mode of brain function: a major role for the cerebellum? International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control, 9(3), 236-246. eScholarID:1d21131
  • Richardson PC, Williams SR, Hepenstall S, Gregory LJ, McKie S, Corrigan F. (2009). A Single-Case fMRI Study: EMDR Treatment of a Patient With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 3, eScholarID:1d19536
  • Singh S, Mistry S, Jefferson S, Davies K, Rothwell J, Williams SR, Hamdy S. (2009). A magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of brain glutamate in a model of plasticity in human pharyngeal motor cortex. Gastroenterology, 136( 2), eScholarID:1d19535 | DOI:10.1053/j.gastro.2008.10.087
  • Stefan, D. Di Cesare, F. Andrasescu, A. Popa, E. Lazariev, A. Vescovo, E. Strbak, O. Williams, S. Starcuk, Z. Cabanas, M. van Ormondt, D. Graveron-Demilly, D. (2009). Quantitation of magnetic resonance spectroscopy signals: the jMRUI software package. Measurement Science & Technology, 20(10), eScholarID:78281 | DOI:10.1088/0957-0233/20/10/104035
  • Völlm B, Zhao L, Richardson P, Clark L, Deakin J, Williams SR, Dolan M. (2009). A voxel-based morphometric MRI study in men with borderline personality disorder: preliminary findings. Crim Behav Ment Health, 19( 1), eScholarID:1d19473 | DOI:10.1002/cbm.716
  • Vollm, B., Zhao, L., Richardson, P., Clark, L., Deakin, J., Williams, S. & Dolan, M (2009). A voxel-based morphometric MRI study in men with borderline personality disorder: preliminary findings. Crim Behav Ment Health, 19(1), 64-72. eScholarID:103726 | DOI:10.1002/cbm.716

2008

  • Anderson I, McKie S, Elliott R, Williams SR, Deakin JFW. (2008). Assessing human 5-HT function in vivo with pharmacoMRI. Neuropharmacology, 55(6), 1029-1037. eScholarID:1d31920 | DOI:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2008.06.029
  • Deakin JFW, Lees J, McKie S, Hallak J, Williams SR, Dursun S. (2008). Glutamate and the neural basis of the subjective effects of ketamine: a pharmaco-magnetic resonance imaging study. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 65(2), 154-164. eScholarID:1d32208 | DOI:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2007.37
  • Paine P, Hamdy S, Chitnis X, Gregory L, Giampietro V, Brammer M, Williams SR, Aziz Q. (2008). Modulation of activity in swallowing motor cortex following esophageal acidification: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Dysphagia, 23( 2), eScholarID:1d19538 | DOI:10.1007/s00455-007-9114-3
  • Stark J, McKie S, Davies K, Williams SR, Luckman S. (2008). 5-HT(2C) antagonism blocks blood oxygen level-dependent pharmacological-challenge magnetic resonance imaging signal in rat brain areas related to feeding. Eur J Neurosci, 27( 2), eScholarID:1d19539 | DOI:10.1111/j.1460-9568.2007.06002.x

2007

  • Anderson I, Del-Ben C, Mckie S, Richardson P, Williams SR, Elliott R, Deakin JFW. (2007). Citalopram modulation of neuronal responses to aversive face emotions: a functional MRI study. Neuroreport, 18(13), 154-164. eScholarID:1d32614 | DOI:10.1097/WNR.0b013e3282742115
  • Jeffery N, Davies K, Köckenberger W, Williams SR. (2007). Craniofacial growth in fetal Tarsius bancanus: brains, eyes and nasal septa. J Anat, 210( 6), eScholarID:1d19542 | DOI:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2007.00725.x
  • West C, Davies KE, Andrew Hart, Mikael Wiberg, Williams SR, Terenghi G. (2007). Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging of dorsal root ganglia for the objective quantitative assessment of neuron death after peripheral nerve injury. Experimental Neurology, 203, 22-33. eScholarID:1d27539 | DOI:10.1016/j.expneurol.2006.07.013

2006

  • Stark J, Davies KE, Williams SR, Luckman S. (2006). Functional magnetic resonance imaging and c-Fos mapping in rats following an anorectic dose of m-chlorophenylpiperazine. Neuroimage, 31(3), 1228-1237. eScholarID:1d13549 | DOI:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.01.046
  • Williamson DC, Hawesa H, Thacker NA, Williams SR. (2006). Robust quantification of short echo time 1H magnetic resonance spectra using the Pade approximant. Magnetic Resonance In Medicine, 55, 762-771. eScholarID:1d27541 | DOI:10.1002/mrm.20842

2005

  • Del-Ben C, Deakin JFW, McKie S, Delvai N, Williams SR, Elliott R, Dolan M, Anderson I. (2005). The effect of Citalopram pretreatment on neuronal responses to neuropsychological tasks in normal volunteers: an FMRI study. Neuropsychopharmacology, 30( 9), eScholarID:1d11105 | DOI:10.1038/sj.npp.1300728
  • Del-Ben, Deakin, McKie, Delvai, Williams SR, Elliott RM, Dolan, Anderson. (2005). The Effect of Citalopram Pretreatment on Neuronal Responses to Neuropsychological Tasks in Normal Volunteers: An fMRI Study. Neuropsychopharmacology, 30:1724-1734. eScholarID:1d26749
  • Leach, Brindle, Evelhoch, Griffiths, Horsman, Jackson, A-, Jayson, Judson, Knopp, Maxwell, Williams, SR. (2005). The assessment of antiangiogenic and antivascular therapies in early-stage clinical trials using magnetic resonance imaging: issues and recommendations. British Journal Of Cancer, 1599-1610. eScholarID:1d26634
  • McKie S, Del-Ben C, Elliott R, Williams SR, Delvai NA, Anderson I, Deakin JFW. (2005). Neuronal effects of acute Citalopram detected by pharmacoMRI (pMRI). Psychopharmacology, 180, 680-686. eScholarID:1d10428 | DOI:10.1007/s00213-005-2270-y
  • Peet, Leach, Pinkerton, Price, Williams SR, Grundy. (2005). The development of functional imaging in the diagnosis, management and understanding of childhood brain tumours. Pediatric Blood Cancer, 103-113. eScholarID:1d26632
  • Williamson DC, Thacker NA, Williams SR. (2005). Effects of Intramolecular Dipolar Coupling on the Isotropic-Nematic phase transition of a hard spherocylinder fluid. Phys Rev E, eScholarID:1d7657

2004

  • Preece NE, Houseman J, King MD, Weller RO, Williams SR. (2004). Development of vigabatrin-induced lesions in the rat brain studied by magnetic resonance imaging, histology, and immunocytochemistry. Synapse, 53, 36-43. eScholarID:1d10384
  • Stefanutti G, Vejchapipat P, Williams SR, Pierro A, Eaton S. (2004). Heart energy metabolism after intestinal ischaemia and reperfusion. J Pediatr Surg, 39( 2), 179-83; discussion 1. eScholarID:1d9290

2003

  • King M.D, Crowder M J, Hand D J, Harris N G, Williams SR, Obrenovitch T P, Gadian D G. (2003). Temporal relation between the ADC and DC potential responses to transient focal ischemia in the rat: a Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation analysis. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 23, 677-688. eScholarID:1d6231

2002

  • Anderson I, Clark L, Elliott R, Kulkarni B, Williams SR, Deakin JFW. (2002). 5-HT2C receptor activation by m-Chlorophenylpiperazine detected in humans with fMRI. NeuroReport, 13 (12), 1547-1551. eScholarID:1d23706
  • Fraser, CH, Power, ML, Hamdy, S, Rothwell, JC, Hobday, DDI, Hollander, I, Tyrrell, PJ, Hobson, AR, Williams, SR, Thompson, DG. (2002). Driving plasticity in human adult motor cortex is associated with improved motor function after brain injury. Neuron, 34, 831-840. eScholarID:1d2064 | DOI:10.1016/S0896-6273(02)00705-5
  • Harris N.G, Gauden V, Fraser P.A, Williams SR, Parker GJM. (2002). MRI measurement of blood-brain barrier permeability followingspontaneous reperfusion in the starch microsphere model of ischemia. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 20, eScholarID:1d23476
  • Harris NG, Williams SR, Le Belle JE, Bhakoo KK. (2002). A comparison of cell and tissue extraction techniques using high-resolution 1H-NMR spectroscopy. NMR Biomed, 15, 37-44. eScholarID:1d3955
  • McLean MA, Simister RJ, Wald LL, Williams SR, Barker GJ, Busza AL. (2002). In vivo GABA+ measurement at 1.5T using a PRESS-localized double quantum filter. Magnetic Resonance In Medicine, 48, 233-241. eScholarID:1d3947

2001

  • Harris NG, Lythgoe MF, Thomas DL, Williams SR. (2001). Cerbrovascular reactivity following focal brain ischaemia in the rat: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study. NeuroImage, 13, 339-350. eScholarID:1d3951
  • Williams SR, Vejchipipat P, Pierro A, Proctor E, Lauro V, Spitz L. (2001). Moderate hypothermia ameliorates liver energy failure after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion in anesthetised rats. Journal Of Pediatric Surgery, 36, 269-275. eScholarID:1d3977
  • Fraser, CH, Power, ML, Hamdy, S, Hobday, DDI, Hollander, I, Hobson, AR, Tyrrell, PJ, Williams, SR, John Rothwell, Thompson, DG. (2001). Switching on swallowing, switching on the brain - a new approach for the treatment of dysphagia. Gut, 48, 109-110. eScholarID:17d238

2000

  • Harris N.G, Zilkha E, Houseman J, Symms M.R, Obrenovitch T.P, Williams SR. (2000). The relationship between the apparent diffusion coefficient measured by magnetic resonance imaging, anoxic depolarization and glutamate efflux during experimental cerebral ischaemia. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 20, 28-36. eScholarID:1d1190
  • Lythgoe MF, Thomas DL, Calamante F, Pell GS, King MD, Busza AL, Sotak CH, Williams, SR, Ordidge RJ, Gadian DG. (2000). Acute changes in MRI diffusion, perfusion, T1, and T2 in a rat model of oligemia produced by partial occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Magnetic Resonance In Medicine, 44, 706-712. eScholarID:1d3987
  • O'Shea JM, Williams SR, Van Bruggen N, Gardner-Medwin AR. (2000). Apparent diffusion coefficient and MR relaxation during osmotic manipulation in isolated turtle cerebellum. Magnetic Resonance In Medicine, 44, 427-432. eScholarID:1d24135
  • Tasker RC, Sahota SK, Williams SR. (2000). Hypercarbia and mild hypothermia, only when not combined, improve postischemic bioenergetic recovery in neonatal rat brain slices. Journal Of Cerebral Bloodflow And Metabolism, 20, 612-619. eScholarID:1d24134

1999

  • Williams SR. (1999). Cerebral amino acids studied by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vivo. Progress in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, 34, 301-326. eScholarID:1d1234

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