Manual segmentation of dorsal root ganglia

• Grant number: 25/24347-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2025
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Radiology
• Principal Investigator: Thiago Junqueira Ribeiro de Rezende
• Grantee: Ana Cecília da Silva Martins Moreira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 25/00186-4 - Development of Advanced Computational Tools for In Vivo Analysis of Dorsal Root Ganglia and Spinal Cord Integrity in Sensory Neuronopathy, AP.JP

Abstract

Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) are a group of diseases that share cerebellar ataxia as a common clinical finding, but non-motor symptoms and cognitive deficits may also be present. Pathologically, SCA are characterized by severe neuronal loss in the cerebellum and brainstem, particularly in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Although these structures are highly relevant, there are still no magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) segmentation techniques that automatically segment them, although recent studies have described image sequences capable of visualizing them. Therefore, the main objective of this project is to create a DRG segmentation database with the aim of eventually developing a computational tool capable of automatically segmenting DRGs, using machine learning algorithms called convolutional neural networks. This tool will be of general interest, as it could be applied to several other diseases, such as sensory neuropathies, Parkinson's disease, and motor neuron diseases. Therapeutic implications may arise from the results obtained, since a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism of the disease makes it possible to create more effective therapeutic strategies.