Prof. Dr. Christine Ecker
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy
Deutschordenstrasse 50
60528 Frankfurt am Main
+49 (0)69 6301 84705
E-Mail: christine.ecker@kcl.ac.uk
Scientific Focus
Our research efforts focus on the development of novel approaches to image analysis as applied to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data with the aim of developing biomarkers that can be leveraged to (i) understand the neurobiology of complex neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), and to (ii) provide targets for developing and monitoring pharmacotherapies and interventions.
Methods
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), image analysis, statistical learning
Selected Publications
Pretzsch, C. M., Floris, D. L., Schäfer, T., Bletsch, A., Gurr, C., Lombardo, M. V., Chatham, C. H., Tillmann, J., Charman, T., Arenella, M., Jones, E., Ambrosino, S., Bourgeron, T., Dumas, G., Cliquet, F., Leblond, C. S., Loth, E., Oakley, B., Buitelaar, J. K., … Ecker, C. (2023). Cross-sectional and longitudinal neuroanatomical profiles of distinct clinical (adaptive) outcomes in autism. Molecular Psychiatry, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-023-02016-z
Leyhausen, J., Schäfer, T., Gurr, C., Berg, L. M., Seelemeyer, H., Pretzsch, C. M., Loth, E., Oakley, B., Buitelaar, J. K., Beckmann, C. F., Floris, D. L., Charman, T., Bourgeron, T., Banaschewski, T., Jones, E. JH., Tillmann, J., Chatham, C., Group, T. E.-A. L., Murphy, D. & Ecker, C. (2023). Differences in Intrinsic Gray-Matter Connectivity and their genomic underpinnings in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biological Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.06.010
Ecker, C., Pretzsch, C. M., Bletsch, A., Mann, C., Schaefer, T., Ambrosino, S., Tillmann, J., Yousaf, A., Chiocchetti, A., Lombardo, M. V., Warrier, V., Bast, N., Moessnang, C., Baumeister, S., Dell’Acqua, F., Floris, D. L., Zabihi, M., Marquand, A., Cliquet, F., … Murphy, D. G. M. (2022). Interindividual Differences in Cortical Thickness and Their Genomic Underpinnings in Autism Spectrum Disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 179(3), 242–254. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.20050630
Pretzsch, C. M., Schäfer, T., Lombardo, M. V., Warrier, V., Mann, C., Bletsch, A., Chatham, C. H., Floris, D. L., Tillmann, J., Yousaf, A., Jones, E., Charman, T., Ambrosino, S., Bourgeron, T., Dumas, G., Loth, E., Oakley, B., Buitelaar, J. K., Cliquet, F., … Ecker, C. (2022). Neurobiological Correlates of Change in Adaptive Behavior in Autism. American Journal of Psychiatry, 179(5), 336–349. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.21070711
Bieneck, V., Bletsch, A., Mann, C., Schäfer, T., Seelemeyer, H., Herøy, N., Zimmermann, J., Pretzsch, C. M., Hattingen, E. & Ecker, C. (2021). Longitudinal Changes in Cortical Thickness in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Association with Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors. Genes, 12(12), 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes12122024