Early Career Research Grant Feature: Dr. Tahereh Kamali

Published on Sun, 04/28/2024

Dr. Tahereh Kamali brings a strong background in computer science and systems design engineering to her work. With degrees from Shiraz University in Iran and a Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo in Canada, she has a deep understanding of computational methodologies. Since joining Stanford's Department of Neurology alongside Dr. John Day in 2019, she has focused on exploring the effects of DM on the central nervous system.

In her role as a postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Kamali developed a spatio-temporal method using convolutional neural networks to analyze brain MRI scans of DM patients. This innovative approach allowed her to identify unique biomarkers of DM neurological features with a high degree of accuracy. Additionally, her research includes an analysis of cognitive impairment in DM through the classification of neuropsychological features.

Dr. Kamali's dedication to DM research is evident in her four published papers and numerous conference presentations, showcasing her commitment to advancing understanding and diagnostic capabilities for DM. She also played a key role as the co-PI in a collaborative project with UCB Biopharma, aiming to develop multi-modal biomarkers for DM1.

In recent years, Dr. Tarareh Kamali's team made strides by creating an artificial intelligence (AI) model capable of identifying specific CNS changes indicative of DM progression. Their next step involves enhancing this AI model, addressing data scarcity by creating synthetic yet realistic CNS data and incorporating real-world patient data. This innovative project “Utilizing Generative AI to Expand Clinical Data for DM Studies and Treatment Efficacy Planning” aims to revolutionize DM research, facilitating more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatments.

Click here to learn more about previous MDF Grant Recipients.