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The University of Winnipeg

Dr. Melanie Martin

Melanie Martin Title: Professor, Director, Magnetic Resonance Microscopy Centre, Co-Director, The University of Winnipeg Brain Imaging and Metabolic Research
Phone: 204.786.9442 (office), 204.789.3879 (lab)
Office: 3L21
Building: Lockhart Hall
Email: m.martin@uwinnipeg.ca

Degrees:
Ph. D. (Yale, 2000)

Courses:
(2024-2025):

  • Research Leave, July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.

Physics Demo Links (pages will open in new windows):

Research Interests:
I am developing new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to infer the sizes of micron-scale compartments, such as axon diameters, in samples. I am also developing high resolution multi-contrast methods to understand brain structure. Partnering with Cubresa, Inc, I am developing simultaneous positron emission tomography (PET)/MRI methods. Partnering with SCHI and SCHERI, I am developing a new intraoperative MRI system.
Research Web Page:  mri.uwinnipeg.ca

Publications:

  • Herrera SL, Mercredi ME, Buist R, Martin M. Inferring diameters of spheres and cylinders using interstitial water. Magn Reson Mater Phy 31 (2018) 31(5): 609-620
  • Mercredi M, Martin M. Toward faster inferences of micron-scale axon diameters using Monte Carlo simulations. Magn Reson Mater Phy (2018) 31(4):511-530
  • Whittaker HT, Zhu S, Di Curzio DL, Buist R, Li XM, Noy S, Wiseman FK, Thiessen JD, Martin M, T1, diffusion tensor, and quantitative magnetization transfer imaging of the hippocampus in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (2018) 50: 26-37
  • Mercredi M, Vincent TJ, Bidinosti CP, Martin M. Assessing the accuracy of using oscillating gradient spin echo sequences with AxCaliber to infer micron-sized axon diameters. Magn Reson Mater Phy (2017) 30:1-14
  • Vincent DE, Want T, Magyar TAK, Jacob PI, Buist R, Martin M. Birdcage volume coils and magnetic resonance imaging: a simple experiment for students. Journal for Biomedical Engineering (2017) 11:41
  • Snow W, Dale R, O’Brien-Moran Z, Buist R, Peirson D, Martin M, Albensi BC, In Vivo Detection of Grey Matter Neuropathology in the 3xTg mouse model of Alzheimer's disease with Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (2017) 58(3):841-853.
  • Matsuda K, Lopes-Calcas A, Honke M, O’Brien-Moran Z, Buist R, West M, Martin M, Ex vivo tissue imaging for Radiology-Pathology correlation: A pilot study with a small bore 7T MRI in a rare pigmented ganglioglioma exhibiting complex MR signal characteristics associated with melanin and hemosiderin. Journal of Medical Imaging (2017) 4(3): 036001
  • Mercredi M, Vincent TJ, Bidinosti CP, Martin M, Assessing the accuracy of using oscillating gradient spin echo sequences with AxCaliber to infer micron-sized axon diameters. Magn Reson Mater Phy (2017) 30(1): 1-14.
  • Herrera SL, Palmer VL, Whittaker H, Cardigan Smith B, Kim A, Schellenberg AE, Thiessen JD, Buist R, Del Bigio MR, Martin M, Damage to the Optic Chiasm in Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein – Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Mice, Magnetic Resonance Insights (2014) 7:23-31.
  • Hayes K, Buist R, Vincent TJ, Thiessen JD, Zhang Y, Zhang H, Wang J, Summers AR, Kong J, Li XM, Martin M, Comparison of Manual and Semiautomated Segmentation Methods to Evaluate Hippocampus Volume in APP and PS1 Transgenic Mice obtained via in-vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Journal of Neuroscience Methods (2014) 221: 103-111.

Invited Talks:

  • Martin M, Jacobs RE, Morton KA, De Santis S. The Role of Inflammation in Animal Models, Neuroinflammation Educational Session, ISMRM, 2020, scheduled for Sydney, Australia, to be held virtually due to COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Martin M, Beyond the Human Eye, TEDx, University of Winnipeg, March 16, 2019.
  • Martin M. Neuroscience: Your Career? Brain Bee, Winnipeg, March 9, 2019.
  • Martin M, Jackson MF, Siddiqui Tabrez and three artists from the Manitoba Craft Council. Neurocraft Panel Discussion.  Neurocraft, Winnipeg, MB. 2017.
  • Martin M, Di Curzio D, ash alberg (https://www.ravelry.com/designers/ash-alberg). Uncovering the mysteries of Alzheimer’s disease deep inside the living brain. University of Winnipeg Psychology colloquium.  Neurocraft, Winnipeg. 2017.
  • Martin M. Of Mice and Men. University of Manitoba Physics Colloquium.  Winnipeg, 2017.
  • Martin M. Measuring the microscopic using magnetic resonance imaging. Mid-Canada NMR Symposium: Association of Official Analytical Communities Day.  Winnipeg, 2017.
  • Understanding the Mysteries of Disease Inside the Living Brain, Invited Plenary Talk, Women in Physics Canada Conference, Saskatoon, SK, July 28, 2016.
  • Inferring the size of sub-micron compartments in samples using oscillating gradients. Pre-ISMRM Workshop for the Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, Singapore, May, 2016.
  • Martin M. Small Animal MRI. Brain Canada Manitoba Neuroimaging Platform Mini-Symposium, Winnipeg, 2016.
  • Martin M, Toward measuring sub-micron axon diameters in the live mouse brain. Manitoba Neuroscience Network 5th Scientific Meeting, Winnipeg, Canada, June 2015.
  • Martin M. Neuroscience: Your Career? Brain Bee, Winnipeg, 2015.
  • Martin M, Vincent TJ, Mercredi ME, Herrera SL, Buist R, Bidinosti CP, “Inferring sub-micron sizes using oscillating gradient diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging.” Canadian Association of Physicist Annual Congress, Sudbury, ON 2014.
  • Martin M. Brainless Physics? Canadian Association of Physicists Lecture Tour, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, 2014.
  • Martin M. Brainless Physics? Canadian Association of Physicists Lecture Tour, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, 2014.

Activities for Equity, Diversification, and Inclusion:

  • Invited speaker at the Women in Physics Canada conference originally planned for July 2020. Currently, postponed until July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Soapbox Science event speaker originally planned for May 2020. Postponed until at least September 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Chapter Advisor, Canadian Indigenous Science and Engineering Society, University of Winnipeg Chapter, September 2019-present.
  • Invited by University of Winnipeg to participate in NSERC workshop about the creation of the Dimensions program in Canada, September 2018.
  • Panel Member, 9th Canadian Science Policy Conference. Panel Member of “Missing Numbers: how girls and women can help solve Canada’s innovation crisis.” Ottawa, ON, November 3, 2017.
  • Women in STEM, SHADs Speak, Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/user-605852292 (Episode 1) March 8, 2017.
  • Panel Member, Women in Physics Canada Conference. I was a member of the “How to Succeed in Academia” panel at the Women in Physics Canada Conferences in Saskatoon, SK, July 28, 2016.
  • Co-conceiver, co-organizer, International Day of the Girl. We brought female high school students from across the province to the Manitoba Legislature and the two main universities in Winnipeg to celebrate science and encourage the students to pursue science careers, Workshop, October 2015.
  • Member, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Invited by Dr. Mario Pinto to be a key contributor to the NSERC-sponsored “Get the Full Picture: Women, Diversity and Research Excellence” event held on June 8, 2015 at Parliament Hill.

Recent Media Appearances: