My research interests have two main divisions. The first is developing methods for the analysis of medical images. This research focuses on creating parametric maps from post-reconstructed PET, SPECT, MRI, CT, and source localization EEG images. My current work focuses on improving parameter estimation using dynamic image noise reduction, segmentation algorithms, and the development of large image databases and specialized image search algorithms. Associated with my search algorithms is my machine learning methods, I am currently continuing my work with Stochastic Discrimination which I began back as a mathematics student, this approach is very robust in protecting against over-training which has proven very effective with neuro-images which have millions of features, but perhaps only hundreds of images with a classification.
My other line of work focuses on neuro-imaging of auditory and language processing. Past work has focused on binaural hearing; current work has moved towards neural markers of top-down compensation for language processing in subjects that do not perform well with speech in noisy background.
Education and Training:
PhD, Communicative Disorders and Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo (2010)
MA, Applied Mathematics, State University of New York at Buffalo (1992)
BA, Applied Mathematics, State University of New York at Buffalo (1989)
BA, Music Performance, State University of New York at Buffalo (1989)
Employment:
Research Associate Professor, Nuclear Medicine, SUNY at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2013-present)
Chief of Algorithm and Multimodal Integration Research, Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Jacobs Neurological Institute (2007-present)
Research Assistant Professor, Nuclear Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1998–2013)
Instructor, Mathematics, State University of New York at Buffalo (1995–2008)
IT Specialist / Applications Software, Veterans Administration Western New York Health Care System (1992–2006)
Research Instructor, Nuclear Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1992–1998)
Instructor, Mathematics, Daemen College (1992)
Assistant Professor, Mathematics, Erie Community College (1991–1992)
Instructor, Mathematics, State University of New York at Buffalo Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (1991)
Research Expertise:
Auditory Imaging: Functional Imaging of Auditory System
Medical Imaging Analysis and Algorithms: Kinetic Modelling, Noise Reduction Methods, Medical Imaging Informatics
Magnano C Schirda C Weinstock-Guttman B Wack ds Lindzen E Hojnacki D Bergsland N Kennedy C Beloc P Dwyer MG Poloni GU Beggs CB Zivadinov R . (2012) Cine cerebrospinal fluid imaging in multiple sclerosis. journal of magnetic resonance imaging (Jun).
Wack DS, Dwyer MG, Bergsland, N, Di Perri, C, Ranza, l, Hussein, S, Ramasamy, D, Poloni, G, Zivadinov R. (2012) Improved assessment of multiple sclerosis lesion segmentation agreement via detection and outline error estimates. BMC Medical Imaging (Jan), 12(17).
Badgaiyan R, Wack DS. (2011) Evidence of Dopaminergic Processing of Executive Inhibition. PLos ONE (Dec), 6(e2807).
Wack DS, Badgaiyan R. (2011) Complex Singular Value Decomposition Based Noise Reduction of Dynamic PET Images, with Application to 11C Raclopride Imaging. Current Medical Imaging Reviews (Jul), 7(2): 113-117.
Burkard RF, Reyes, S, Wack DS, McNerney K. (2010) Can source localization and functional imaging help identify the generators of auditory evoked potentials?. Perspectives on Hearing and Hearing Disorder: Research and Diagnostics (Feb), 14: 4-11.
Amer Wack D Supala A Hershey L Bednarczyk E. (2005) The effect of topiramate (TPM) on dural blood flow (DBF) in migraineurs during and after an infusion of nitroglycerin (GTN ). Clinical Pharmacology (Jan), 79(2).
Bednarczyk EM, Wack DS, Kassab M, Burch K, Trinidad KS, Haka MS, Gona JM. (2002) Brain blood flow in the nitroglycerin (GTN) model of migraine: measurement using positron emission tomography and transcranial Doppler. Cephalalgia (Nov), 22(9): 749-757.
Lockwood AH, Wack DS, Burkard RF, Coad ML, Reyes SA, Arnold SA, Salvi RJ. (2001) The functional anatomy of gaze-evoked tinnitus and sustained lateral gaze. Neurology (Feb), 56(4): 472-480.
Jaeger JJ Lockwood AH Van Valin RD Kemmerer DL Murphy BW Wack DS. (1998) Sex differences in brain regions activated by grammatical and reading tasks. Neuroreport (Aug), 9: 2803-2807.
Benedict RHB Lockwood AH Shucard JL Shucard DW Wack DS Murphy BW. (1998) Functional neuroimaging of attention in the auditory modlality. Neuroreport (Jan), 9(1): 121-126.
Jaeger JJ Wack DS VanValin RDJr. Kemmerer DL Murphy BW Lockwood AH. (1997) Grammatical and reading tasks activate different brain regions in men and women. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism (Jun), 17:S: 2700.
Wood R, Iacobucci G, Khobragade P, Ying L, Snyder KV, Wack DS, Rudin S, Ionita CN. (2014) SU-E-QI-6 Design and initial validation of a precise capillary phantom to test perfusion systems. Medical Physics, (Jun) 378
Miletich RS, Wack DS. (2013) Alzheimer-like global brain impairment in newly diagnosed lung cancer. Society for Neuroscience, (Jan)
Wack D Badgaiyan R. (2011) Complex Singular Value Decomposition improves parameter estimation in dynamic PET images. J. Nucl Med, (Jan) 2031
Wack D Wisniewski S Erb D Dandona P Nabi H. (2011) Complex singular value decomposition improves the image quality of C11-PIB images. 5th Annual Human Amyloid Imaging, (Jan)
Nabi H Dhindsa S Erb S Wack D Chaudhuri A Dubey S Wisniewski S Dandona P. (2011) Objective measurement of B amyloid plaques with C-11 PIB Positron Emission Tomography of Hypogonadal Men with Type 2 Diabetes. 5th Annual Human Amyloid Imaging, (Jan)
Schirda C Zamboni P Magnano C Lindzen E Wack D Weinstock-Guttman B Ramasamy D Carl E Hojnacki D Kennedy C Dwyer MG Bergsland N Cox JL Salvi F Zivadinov R. (2010) Objective quantification of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow rate in cerebral aqueduct in patients with multiple sclerosis. Neurology, (Jan) A291
Poloni GU Zamboni P Haacke EM Bastianello S Dwyer MG Bergsland N Schirda C Wack D Magnano C Weinstock-Guttman B Salvi F Hojnacki D Zivadinov R. (2010) Quantitative venous vasculature assessment on susceptibility-weighted imaging reflects presence of severe chronic venous insufficiency in the brain parenchyma of multiple sclerosis patients. A case-control study. Proc Soc Magn Reson Med, (Jan) P210
Wack D Dwyer MG Bergsland N Hussein S Zivadinov R. (2010) Evaluating MACC for improved MS rater agreement. Proc Soc Magn Reson Med, (Jan) P2075
Wack D Dwyer MG Bergsland N Zivadinov R. (2010) The need for standardization of lesion activity analysis categorization in the multiple sclerosis clinical trials. Neurology, (Jan)
Wack DS Dwyer MG DiPerri C Ranza L Hussein S Durfee J Schirda C Bergsland N Cox JL Zivadinov R. (2009) Inter-operator agreement of hyperintense T2 lesions is improved on 3T versus 1.5T scanners. Mult Scler, (Jan)
Bednarczyk EM Wack DS Lockwood AH Pendergast D. (2000) A Pilot Study of Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF) under Physiologic Simulations of Altered Gravity. ASCPT, (Mar)