Psychiatrist

Raj Narendran, MD. Assistant Professor of Radiology and Psychiatry. Raj's primary research interests are in characterizing novel PET radioligands and using them to study the pathophysiology of drug abuse and schizophrenia.


Education

Stanley Medical College
Madras, India         

 MD 1995 Medicine

SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine Buffalo, New York        

 Psychiatry Residency 1997-2001

Columbia University NY, NY         Research Fellowship in PET Imaging        

Fellowship 2001-2004

Selected Recent Publications

  • Hwang D-R, Narendran R, Huang Y, Slifstein M, Talbot PS, Sudo Y, Van Berckel BN, Kegeles LS, Martinez D, Laruelle M. Quantitative analysis of (-)-N-[11C]-propyl-norapomorphine in vivo binding in nonhuman primates. J Nucl Med 2004 45: 338-346

  • Narendran R, Hwang D-R, Slifstein M, Talbot PS, Erritzoe D, Huang Y, Cooper T, Martinez D, Kegeles LS, Abi-Dargham A, Laruelle M. In vivo vulnerability to competition by endogenous dopamine: comparison of the D2 receptor agonist radiotracer (-)-N-[11C]propyl-norapomorphine ([11C]NPA) with the D2 receptor antagonist radiotracer [11C]-raclopride. Synapse 2004 52 (3): 188-208.

  • Narendran R, Frankle G, Keefe R, Gill R, Martinez D, Kegeles LS, Talbot PS, Huang Y, Hwang D-R, Khenissi L, Cooper T, Laruelle M, Abi-Dargham A. Dopaminergic alterations in a group of chronic recreational ketamine users. Am J Psych 2005: 162 (12):2352-9

  • Narendran R, Hwang D-R, Slifstein M, Hwang Y, Huang Y, Ekelund J, Guillin O, Scher E, Martinez D, Laruelle M. Measurement of the proportion of D2 receptors configured in state of high affinity for agonists in vivo: a Positron Emission Tomography study using [11C]N-propyl-norapomorphine and [11C]raclopride in baboons. J PET. 2005 315(1): 80-90.

Ways to reach Dr. Narendran

U.S. Postal Mail
Raj Narendran, MD
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
PUH PET Facility, B-938
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2582
U.S.A. Tel. (412) 647-0714Fax (412) 647-0700 
Or 
Send email to Dr. Narendran at narendranr@upmc.edu

radiologypethelpdesk@msx.upmc.edu Updated: 5/18/06