Dr. Pike obtained his B.Eng. from Memorial University and completed both his Masters (Hons.) and Ph.D. (Hons. 1990) at McGill University with his thesis research focused on stereotactic radiosurgery and magnetic resonance angiography, respectively, at the Montreal Neurological Institute. He conducted his postdoctoral studies in Radiological Sciences at Stanford University. Dr. Pike joined the faculty of McGill at the MNI in 1993 and was Director of the McConnell Brain Imaging Centre from 1999-2013. In September 2013 he moved to the Hotchkiss Brain Institute of the University of Calgary.
Dr. Pike investigates magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods and applications for basic and clinical neuroscience research. As a primary focus, he detects and measures the physiological modulations that are associated in neuronal activation and inhibition. This technique is called functional MRI. It can detect changes in blood oxygenation and tissue perfusion with a high temporal and spatial resolution.
It also provides a powerful tool for studying brain physiology in health and disease. Recently, he used his methods to determine, for the first time, the relationship between regional cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism in the cortex over a broad range of activation and inhibition conditions in healthy subjects as well as patients with epilepsy, stroke, and Moyamoya disease. He has also developed a in vivo quantitative MR technique term quantitative magnetization transfer (aMT) imaging that probes the magnetic interaction between macromolecules and water. Using MT imaging, his group has revealed focal pathology in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients that precedes the development of conventional MRI visible MS lesions by up to 2 years. His most recent project is the establishment of an MR guided focused ultrasound program. This program has 3 research themes: neurosurgery, drug delivery, and neuromodulation. Dr. Pike has published more than 350 scientific papers and book chapters.
When not working, Bruce spends as much time as possible in the Rocky Mountains where he pursues his passions of skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, canoeing, and hiking.
