People

In my research, I create and apply data analysis tools to extract information from biomedical signals and clinical time series.

My main aim is to reveal the subtle changes that major diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's and epilepsy) cause in the brain activity.

In collaboration with researchers at Edinburgh, across the UK and overseas, I am currently working in the processing and analysis of biomedical signals, particularly human brain activity. By developing and applying signal processing methods, I aim at increasing our understanding of how several brain conditions progress. Of particular interest is the evaluation of brain functional connectivity in both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases to understand how they affect the way in which different brain regions interact with each other. I am also interested in the interplay between structure and function in the brain and in the application of pattern recognition techniques to highly-dimensional clinical datasets to support decision making. Finally, I also work in the development of non-invasive methods for rehabilitation purposes, being either the dexterous controls prostheses for amputees or brain-computer interfaces.

For additional information, please see: http://www.research.ed.ac.uk/portal/jescuder

Retinal imaging, image processing, automated image analysis, machine learning, medical devices, ophthalmology, eye health care, eye diseases, systemic diseases apparent in the eye.

I completed my basic medical training from Govt Medical College, Thrissur, India, and MD in psychiatry from TN Medical college, Bombay University, India. Following this, I was sponsored by the British Council PGME scheme to train in psychiatry in the UK.  I am a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and completed my PhD from the University of Glasgow.

I currently work as a Consultant Psychiatrist with the NHS GGC in ESTEEM, the only early intervention in psychosis team in Scotland.

Academic area of interest include using functional MRI and functional connectivity to predict outcomes in complex mental health problems. Linking inflammation to brain connectivity.

Social cognition, neuroeconomics, computational psychiatry, schizophrenia, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, imaging genetics

Assessing neurodegeneration of the retina and brain with ultra-widefield retinal images.

Philosophers have often described the eye as the window to the soul. This can also be addressed on the scientific basis that the retina is a direct window into the health of the brain (or CNS). My focus is on the development of automatic detection algorithms of biomarkers for Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in retinal images. AMD is often characterised by the presence of drusen, small deposits of cellular debris, in retinal images appearing as bright white/yellow spots. The hallmark of AD is the presence of Aβ-amyloid which has also been shown to be present in drusen. There are currently no treatments for late AMD, therefore early diagnosis and detection of drusen could provide timely treatment. Additionally, the potential of drusen as an early biomarker of AD will be explored. My methods focus on image analysis and quantification of fundus and OptoMap images (Optos) and application of machine learning algorithms as an automatic detection strategy.

Psychiatry, neurology, brain imaging: http://dslink333.dyndns.org/