Mark George, M.D.

Distinguished Professor Department of Psychiatry, Radiology and Neurology,
Director Center for Advanced Imaging Research,
Director Brain Stimulation Laboratory

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.

Phone: (843) 876-5142
Fax: (843) 792-5702
Email: georgem@musc.edu

Education:

MD, 1985, Medical University of South Carolina

Research Interests:

In the last 5 years he and his groups have accomplished the following landmark scientific advances. They were the first to use transcranial magnetic stimulation as an antidepressant (first also to show TMS as a maintenance therapy). They showed that it is possible to combine brain stimulation (TMS) and brain imaging (fMRI). This a most promising new neuroscience tool being adopted around the world.

In 1998 they implanted the first treatment resistant depression patient with a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS). This pioneering work is leading to FDA approval of this device to treat depression. They then showed the feasibility of performing functional brain imaging with VNS. This will likely show how to use VNS to treat a host of brain diseases. In the world of brain imaging, Dr. George and CAIR members have been the first to show the cravings induced in alcoholism, and how the brain responds to infant cries. They have performed numerous other important brain imaging studies.

Selected Recent Publications:

Bohning, D.E., Shastri, A., Lomarev, M.P., Lorberbaum, J.P., Nahas, Z. and George, M.S. BOLD-fMRI response vs. transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) pulse-train length: Testing for linearity. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging 17(3):279-290, 2003.

Frye, M.A., Pazzaglia, P.J., George, M.S., Luckenbaugh, D.A., Vanderham, E., Davis, C.L., Rubinow, D.R. and Post, R.M. Low CSF somatostatin associated with response to nimodipine in patents with affective illness. Biological Psychiatry 53(2):180-183, 2003.

George, M.S., Nahas, Z., Lisanby, S.H., Schlaepfer, T., Kozel, F.A. and Greenberg, B.D. Transcranial magnetic stimulation. Neurosurgery Clinics of North America 14(2)2003.

George, M.S., Rush, A.J., Sackeim, H.A. and Marangell, L.B. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS): utility in neuropsychiatric disorders. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology 6(1):73-83, 2003.

Nahas, Z., Kozel, F.A., Li, X.B., Anderson , B. and George, M.S. Left prefrontal transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment of depression in bipolar affective disorder: A pilot study of acute safety and efficacy. Bipolar Disorders 5(1):40-47, 2003.