Ji Hyun Ko, PhD

Dr. Ji Hyun Ko is an associate professor in the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba, where he specializes in human anatomy and cell science, and a Canada Research Chair in Neuroimaging and Neuromodulation. 

He is also a member of the graduate program in Biomedical Engineering, Price Faculty of Engineering. Dr. Ko's research focuses on the development of quantifiable imaging-based biomarkers for accurate diagnosis and outcome measurement for novel therapies. His research themes include Brain Imaging (MRI and PET) and Non-invasive brain stimulation (tDCS and HD-tDCS), and his research interests include Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Posttraumatic stress disorder, Epilepsy, and Healthy aging.

Dr. Ko earned his bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea, and his doctor of philosophy in neuroscience from McGill University in Montreal. He completed his first post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Toronto, where he trained in functional brain imaging in Parkinson’s disease under the supervision of Dr. Antonio Strafella. He then moved to New York to join Dr. David Eidelberg’s group and trained in multivariate brain imaging analysis in Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Ko's expertise in kinetic modeling of PET radiotracers and machine learning-based multi-modal brain imaging analysis has been well recognized, and he is also interested in the therapeutic use of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation. He has received numerous awards and recognitions, including CBC Manitoba’s Future 40 Finalist from CBC Manitoba (2017), Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Awards from UM (2017), and EJN Best Publication award from the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (2009).

As the principal investigator of the Neuroscience Research Program at the Kleysen Institute for Advanced Medicine (KIAM), Dr. Ko is accepting graduate students in his lab, including Master's and PhD students. His research focuses on realizing the "bench to bedside" approach in developing novel therapies for various neurological disorders.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (Neuroscience), McGill University (2009)

Bachelor of Science (Electrical Engineering), Hanyang University (2004)

Awards

CBC Manitoba’s Future 40 Finalist from CBC Manitoba (2017)

Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Awards from UM (2017)

EJN Best Publication award, Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (2009)