Jeremy J Flint

Jeremy J Flint,

Assistant Scientist

Department: Department of Neuroscience
Business Phone: (352) 294-8451
Business Email: jflint@mbi.ufl.edu

About Jeremy J Flint

Dr. Jeremy Flint graduated summa cum laude from UF’s Interdisciplinary studies (IDS) program with a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Neurobiology (2002). He attended the University of Florida’s interdisciplinary program in biomedical sciences with a concentration in neuroscience for his Ph.D (2009). After performing postdoctoral studies in the laboratory of Dr. Stephen Blackband, he accepted a post as an Assistant Scientist in UF’s Department of Neuroscience (2014). Dr. Flint’s research program is dedicated to using magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) techniques to study the MR contrast properties of cells: specifically, the diffusion-based MR contrast properties of mammalian neurons. Given the unique and important role MRI plays in our ability to perform non-invasive imaging of the human brain, the ultimate goal of Dr. Flint’s work is to improve the diagnostic utility of clinical imaging protocols through an understanding of how early-stage neuropathologies affect the MR contrast properties of CNS tissues at the cellular level.

Accomplishments

LRP Award
2010-2012 · National Institutes of Health
Grinter Fellowship
2004-2007 · University of Florida

Teaching Profile

Courses Taught
2021-2024
GMS6007 Fundamentals of Neuroscience
2021
GMS6029 Brain Journal Club
2022-2024
GMS6790 New Developments in Neuroscience
2022-2024
GMS6910 Supervised Research
2024
GMS7795 Special Topics in Neuroscience

Clinical Profile

Areas of Interest
  • Aging changes in the nervous system
  • Imaging and radiology
  • MRI
  • Spinal cord trauma
  • Traumatic Brain Injury

Research Profile

One of the most significant limitations of MRI is its inherent lack of sensitivity which reduces the ultimate image resolution achievable under practical conditions. Dr. Flint’s research program focuses on overcoming this limitation by employing state-of-the art spectrometer systems and radio frequency (RF) coil technology to maximize the available MR signal generated. In this way, tissue components too small to visualize in the clinic—such as cells—can be imaged and studied with excised models in the laboratory. Using ultra-high-field imaging systems available to him through the National High Magnetic Field Lab’s (NHMFL) Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy (AMRIS) facility at UF, Dr. Flint is able to conduct studies at sub-100um resolutions that comprise a subfield of MRI know as Magnetic Resonance Microscopy (MRM). His time spent performing MRM research at UF has resulted in some of the most significant high-resolution MR images to date which include the first direct visualization of mammalian neurons—including human neurons—and most recently the first MRM of live mammalian neurons. To enable work on living tissues, Dr. Flint designs and fabricates purpose-built, MRI-compatible micro perfusion systems that maintain the viability of acute or organotypic slice cultures and cell culture samples during prolonged periods of image collection. Dr. Flint believes that cellular-level characterization of MR contrast properties in excised tissues will be useful for informing how contrast changes in macroscopic scans—such as are collected routinely in the clinic—relate to pathology occurring at the cellular level. Such knowledge would give clinicians a means to detect and monitor the earliest stages of disease progression which would lead to earlier treatment and, subsequently, improved patient outcomes.

Areas of Interest
  • Advanced MRI and stroke
  • neuroscience
  • traumatic brain injury

Publications

2021
Management of Cardiovascular Disease in Kidney Disease Study: Rationale and Design.
American journal of nephrology. 52(1):36-44 [DOI] 10.1159/000513567. [PMID] 33640890.
2020
On the Origins of Diffusion MRI Signal Changes in Stroke.
Frontiers in neurology. 11 [DOI] 10.3389/fneur.2020.00549. [PMID] 32714267.
2020
Visualization of live, mammalian neurons during Kainate-infusion using magnetic resonance microscopy.
NeuroImage. 219 [DOI] 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116997. [PMID] 32492508.
2017
Magnetic Resonance Microscopy (MRM) of Single Mammalian Myofibers and Myonuclei.
Scientific reports. 7 [DOI] 10.1038/srep39496. [PMID] 28045071.
2017
Metabolic Support of Excised, Living Brain Tissues During Magnetic Resonance Microscopy Acquisition.
Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE. (128) [DOI] 10.3791/56282. [PMID] 29155793.
2017
Simulated blast overpressure induces specific astrocyte injury in an ex vivo brain slice model.
PloS one. 12(4) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0175396. [PMID] 28403239.
2016
Diffusion tensor microscopy data (15.6 μm in-plane) of white matter tracts in the human, pig, and rat spinal cord with corresponding tissue histology.
Data in brief. 9:271-4 [DOI] 10.1016/j.dib.2016.08.020. [PMID] 27668273.
2015
A Microperfusion and In-Bore Oxygenator System Designed for Magnetic Resonance Microscopy Studies on Living Tissue Explants.
Scientific reports. 5 [DOI] 10.1038/srep18095. [PMID] 26666980.
2015
Investigation of the subcellular architecture of L7 neurons of Aplysia californica using magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) at 7.8 microns.
Scientific reports. 5 [DOI] 10.1038/srep11147. [PMID] 26059695.
2015
Magnetic resonance microscopy of renal and biliary abnormalities in excised tissues from a mouse model of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease.
Physiological reports. 3(8) [DOI] 10.14814/phy2.12517. [PMID] 26320214.
2013
Oscillating and pulsed gradient diffusion magnetic resonance microscopy over an extended b-value range: implications for the characterization of tissue microstructure.
Magnetic resonance in medicine. 69(4):1131-45 [DOI] 10.1002/mrm.24325. [PMID] 22576352.
2012
Magnetic resonance microscopy of human and porcine neurons and cellular processes.
NeuroImage. 60(2):1404-11 [DOI] 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.01.050. [PMID] 22281672.
2011
Diffusion tensor microscopy in human nervous tissue with quantitative correlation based on direct histological comparison.
NeuroImage. 57(4):1458-65 [DOI] 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.04.052. [PMID] 21575730.
2011
Optically based-indentation technique for acute rat brain tissue slices and thin biomaterials.
Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials. 97(1):84-95 [DOI] 10.1002/jbm.b.31789. [PMID] 21290586.
2010
Cellular-level diffusion tensor microscopy and fiber tracking in mammalian nervous tissue with direct histological correlation.
NeuroImage. 52(2):556-61 [DOI] 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.04.031. [PMID] 20403443.
2009
Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging of neuronal activity in the hippocampal slice model.
NeuroImage. 46(2):411-8 [DOI] 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.02.003. [PMID] 19233299.
2009
Magnetic resonance microscopy of mammalian neurons.
NeuroImage. 46(4):1037-40 [DOI] 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.03.009. [PMID] 19286461.
2009
Postmortem interval alters the water relaxation and diffusion properties of rat nervous tissue–implications for MRI studies of human autopsy samples.
NeuroImage. 44(3):820-6 [DOI] 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.09.054. [PMID] 18996206.
2007
Non-invasive evaluation of alginate/poly-l-lysine/alginate microcapsules by magnetic resonance microscopy.
Biomaterials. 28(15):2438-45 [PMID] 17239948.
2004
Accumulation of calpain and caspase-3 proteolytic fragments of brain-derived alphaII-spectrin in cerebral spinal fluid after middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.
Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. 24(1):98-106 [PMID] 14688621.
2001
Accumulation of non-erythroid alpha II-spectrin and calpain-cleaved alpha II-spectrin breakdown products in cerebrospinal fluid after traumatic brain injury in rats.
Journal of neurochemistry. 78(6):1297-306 [PMID] 11579138.

Grants

Aug 2020 – Aug 2021
VA Intergovernmental Personnel Act Assignment Agreement for Flint
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: US DEPT OF VET AFF GAINESVILLE MED CTR
Jul 2020 – Jun 2021
Check #00116290 FSU support (Flint)
Role: Co-Project Director/Principal Investigator
Funding: FL STATE UNIV
Jul 2016 – Jun 2020
diffusion functional imaging (dfmri) of evoked neuronal activation at the cellular level
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NINDS

Education

Ph.D. (Neuroscience)
2004-2009 · University of Florida
B.S. (Cell and Molecular Neurobiology)
1998-2002 · University of Florida

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 294-8451
Emails:
Business:
jflint@mbi.ufl.edu
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
UF MCKNIGHT BRAIN INSTITUTE
GAINESVILLE FL 326110001
Business Street:
1149 NEWELL DR RM L1 131
GAINESVILLE FL 32611