Min-Jeong Kim, MD, PhD

I am a behavioral neurologist with research expertise in PET neuroimaging and clinical correlations. My PhD dissertation and early research, conducted prior to 2015, used clinical neuroimaging methods like MRI and [18F]FDG PET to investigate the disease mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Between 2015 and 2020, during my postdoctoral and clinical fellowships at the National Institute of Mental Health, I conducted translational PET research utilizing novel radioligands to target key molecules involved in neuroinflammation, such as translocator protein (TSPO) and cyclooxygenases. Since establishing my independent lab at Stony Brook Medicine in 2020, my work has been focused primarily on the clinical investigation of the neuroinflammatory mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias using PET imaging.

Current: 

• Principal Investigator. “Cyclooxygenase-1 PET imaging as a novel neuroinflammatory biomarker”, Alzheimer's Association Research Grant to Promote Diversity (AARG-D), Alzheimer’s Association
• Principal Investigator. “PET imaging of neuroinflammation in dementia with Lewy bodies”, Imaging Research in Alzheimer’s and other Neurodegenerative Diseases (IR-AND) Grant, Alzheimer’s Association and the Foundation of the American Society of Neuroradiology
• Principal Investigator. “PET imaging of reactive astrocytes and microglia in Alzheimer's disease”, Office of the Vice President for Research Seed Grant, Stony Brook University 

Past: 

• Principal Investigator. “Tau-induced cholinergic changes in Alzheimer's disease”, Targeted Research Opportunity Program – Clinical Research Awards, Stony Brook Medicine
• Principal Investigator. “Imaging of neuroinflammation in older adults with persistent post-COVID

Full list of publications on Pubmed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/min jeong.kim.2/bibliography/public/; 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=q56BBAwAAAAJ&hl

Yan X, Noergaard M, Morse CL, Liow JS, Hong J, Greve D, Telu S, Kim MJ, et al. PET Quantification in Healthy Humans of Cyclooxygenase-2, a Potential Biomarker of Neuroinflammation. J Nucl Med. 2025 Mar;66(3):398-404. 

Kim MJ, Akula HK, Marden J, Li K, Hu B, Vaska P, Qu W. The Potential Utility of (2S,4R)-[18F]fluoroglutamine as a Novel Metabolic Imaging Marker for Inflammation Explored by Rat Models of Arthritis and Paw Edema. Mol Imaging Biol. 2025 Feb;27(1):10-16. 

Ghazanfari N, Liow JS, Kim MJ, et al. [11C]PS13 Demonstrates Pharmacologically Selective and Substantial Binding to Cyclooxygenase-1 in the Human Brain. J Nucl Med. 2025 Jan 3;66(1):117-122. 

Kim MJ, Juarez Anaya F, Manly LS, et al. Whole-body PET imaging in humans shows that 11C-PS13 is selective for cyclooxygenase-1 and can measure the in vivo potency of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. J Nucl Med. 2023 Jan;64(1):159-164. 

Pilloni G, Charvet LE, Bikson M, Palekar N, Kim MJ. Potential of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Alzheimer's Disease: Optimizing Trials Toward Clinical Use. J Clin Neurol. 2022 Jul;18(4):391-400.

Taddei C, Morse CL, Kim MJ, Liow JS, Montero Santamaria J, Zhang A, Manly LS, Zanotti-Fregonara P, Gladding RL, Zoghbi SS, Innis RB, Pike VW. Synthesis of [18F]PS13 and Evaluation as a PET Radioligand for Cyclooxygenase-1 in Monkey. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2021 Feb 3;12(3):517-530. 

Kim MJ, Lee JH, Juarez Anaya F, Hong J, Miller W, Telu S, Singh P, Cortes MY, Henry K, Tye GL, Frankland MP, Montero Santamaria JA, Liow JS, Zoghbi SS, Fujita M, Pike VW, Innis RB. First-in-human evaluation of [11C]PS13, a novel PET radioligand, to quantify cyclooxygenase-1 in the brain. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2020 Dec;47(13):3143-3151. 

Meyer JH, Cervenka S, Kim MJ, Kreisl WC, Henter ID, Innis RB. Neuroinflammation in psychiatric disorders: PET imaging and promising new targets. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020 Dec;7(12):1064-1074.

Kreisl WC, Kim MJ, Coughlin JM, Henter ID, Owen DR, Innis RB. PET imaging of neuroinflammation in neurological disorders. Lancet Neurol. 2020 Nov;19(11):940-950.

Shrestha S*, Kim MJ*, Eldridge M, et al. PET measurement of cyclooxygenase-2 using a novel radioligand: upregulation in primate neuroinflammation and first-in-human study. J Neuroinflammation. 2020 May 2;17(1):140. *Co-first authors.

Kim MJ, McGwier M, Jenko KJ, Snow J, Morse C, Zoghbi SS, Pike VW, Innis RB, Kreisl WC. Neuroinflammation in frontotemporal lobar degeneration revealed by 11C-PBR28 PET. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2019 Jul;6(7):1327-1331. 

Kim MJ, Shrestha SS, Cortes M, Singh P, Morse C, Liow JS, Gladding RL, Brouwer C, Henry K, Gallagher E, Tye GL, Zoghbi SS, Fujita M, Pike VW, Innis RB. Evaluation of Two Potent and Selective PET Radioligands to Image COX-1 and COX-2 in Rhesus Monkeys. J Nucl Med. 2018 Dec;59(12):1907-1912.

Hong YJ, Kim MJ, Jeong E, Kim JE, Hwang J, Lee JI, Lee JH, Na DL. Preoperative biomarkers in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus showing a favorable shunt surgery outcome. J Neurol Sci. 2018 Apr 15;387:21-26.

Kim MJ, Seo SW, Kim ST, Lee JM, Na DL. Diffusion Tensor Changes According to Age at Onset and Apolipoprotein E Genotype in Alzheimer Disease. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2016 Oct-Dec;30(4):297-304

Kim MJ, Seo SW, Kim GH, Kim ST, Lee JM, Qiu A, Na DL. Less depressive symptoms are associated with smaller hippocampus in subjective memory impairment. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2013 Jul-Aug;57(1):110-5

Kim MJ, Lee KM, Son YD, Jeon HA, Kim YB, Cho ZH. Increased basal forebrain metabolism in mild cognitive impairment: an evidence for brain reserve in incipient dementia. J Alzheimers Dis. 2012;32(4):927-38.

• Brain Imaging Council Travel Award, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting (2025)
• Margaret M. Cahn Award, Alzheimer’s Association NY Hudson Valley Chapter (2023)
• The Fellows Award for Research Excellence, National Institutes of Health (2020)
• The Alavi-Mandell Award for publication in Journal of Nuclear Medicine, SNMMI (2019)
• Young Professional Award for the best abstract in basic science, SNMMI (2017)
• Travel fellowship award, International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease (2010)
• Young Investigator Award, World Stroke Congress (2004)

• Member, SNMMI
• Intern Member, Brain Imaging Council Board of Directors, SNMMI
• Professional Member, Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART)
• Fellowship Alumni Scholar, Institute on Methods and Protocols for Advancement of Clinical Trials in ADRD (IMPACT-AD)
• Member, Korean Neurological Association
• Member, Korean Dementia Association