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Linda Chang, MD, MS

Academic Title:

Professor

Primary Appointment:

Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine

Secondary Appointment(s):

Neurology

Location:

Baltimore, MD 21201

Phone (Primary):

(410) 706-1036

Education and Training

After completing her B.S. in Biochemistry at the University of Maryland College Park, Linda Chang obtained her M.S. in Physiology and Biophysics, and her M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine. She then completed her internship at Los Angeles County/USC, and her Neurology Residency, as well as her Neurophysiology and Neuroimaging Research Fellowships at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center.  

Biosketch

Other Academic Positions:

1992-1999        Assistant Professor of Neurology (tenure-track), UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA

1999-2000        Associate Professor of Neurology (In-Residence, Tenured), UCLA School of Medicine. Los Angeles, CA

2000-2004        Scientist, Medical Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY

2004-2017        Professor of Medicine (Tenured), John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH Manoa, Honolulu, HI

2017–2020        Adjunct Clinical Professor, John A. Burns School of Medicine, the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI

2017–Present    Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Prior Administrative Positions:

2000 – 2004     Chair, Medical Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY. Directed and managed all biomedical research conducted at BNL, including the Clinical Research Center and the Animal Facility.

2004 – 2017     Co-Director, the University of Hawaii (UH) MR Research Center, The Queen’s Medical Center

2007 – 2012     Program Director, Specialized Neuroscience Research Program (SNRP) and Neuroscience Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH Manoa

Services to the Scientific Community (National and International):

2006-2021   Section Editor for Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology

2007-2017      Editorial Board, Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging

2007-2016      Editorial Board, Journal of Magnetic Resonance in Imaging

2008-2011      Editorial Board, Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

2017-Present   Associate Editor, Frontiers in Neurology; Neuroinfection Section

2021-present Section Editor, Neuroimmune Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Council Membership at the NIH:

2008-2012      Board Member, Scientific Council for the Intramural Research Program, NIDA/NIH

2017-2020   Council Member, National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse, NIDA/NIH

2019-present (until 2025)  Council Member, Council of Councils, NIH

Research/Clinical Keywords

The ongoing research in Linda Chang's laboratory focuses on the application of several advanced neuroimaging techniques (including morphometry, diffusion tensor imaging, blood oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD)-functional MRI, cerebrovascular reactivity, and MR spectroscopy) to study elderly individuals with brain disorders (including people with HIV, Alzheimer’s disease, or substance use disorders) and in adolescent brain development. She also applied multiple MRI techniques to evaluate brain injury associated with long-COVID symptoms. Her new research direction focuses on using animal models to evaluate MRI-guided-focused ultrasound (FUS)-mediated blood brain barrier opening for improve delivery of gene therapy and ultralong-acting antiretroviral medications to eradicate the CNS HIV reservoirs, as well as the delivery of monoclonal antibodies to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, she is using MRI-guided FUS to modulate brain function associated with drug-seeking behaviors for substance use disorders.

Highlighted Publications

Selected Publications (from >260):

  1. Patel M, Panja S, Zaman LA, Yeapuri P, Bhattarai S, Gorantla S, Chang L, Heredia A, Walczak P, Cohen S, Kevadiya BD, Gendelman HE. CCR5-Ligand Decorated Rilpivirine Lipid-based Nanoparticles for Sustained Antiretroviral Responses. Nature Communications 2025 Jan 8;16(1):513. PMCID:PMC11711180
  2. Isaiah A, Uddin S, Ernst T, Cloak C, Li D, Chang L. Cognitive and behavioral outcomes of snoring in a large sample of adolescents. JAMA Network Open 2024 Nov 4;7(11):e2444057.PMCID:PMC11549662
  3. Isaiah A, Ernst T, Cloak CC, Clark DB, Chang L. Structural alterations in the frontal lobe mediate the impact of snoring and associated symptoms on childhood behavior. Nature Communication 2021 Apr 13;12(1):2205 PMCID: PMC8044120 [Open Access]
  4. Kevadiya BD, Machhi J, Herskovitz J, Oleynikov MD, Blomberg WR, Bajwa N, Soni D, Das S, Hasan M, Patel M, Senan AM, Gorantla S, McMillan J, Edagwa B, Eisenberg R, Gurumurthy CB, Reid SPM, Punyadeera C, Chang L and Gendelman HE. Diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2 Infections. Nature Materials 2021 May;20(5):593-605.

  5. Isaiah A, Ernst T, Cloak CC, Clark DB, Chang L. Association Between Habitual Snoring and Cognitive Performance Among a Large Sample of Preadolescent Children. JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2021 May 1;147(5):426-433 PMCID: PMC7907984.

  6. Chang L, Lohaugen G, Andres T, Jiang C, Douet V, Tanizaki N, Walker C, Castillo D, Lim A, Skranes J, Miller E, Ernst T. Improved Brain Function after Working Memory Training in HIV Patients. Annals of Neurology 2017 Jan; 81(1):17-34. Epub 2016 Dec 28. PMID:27761943; PMC5299494 [Open Access]

  7. Chang L, Oishi K, Skranes J, Buchthal S, Cunningham E, Yamakawa R, Hayama S,Jiang CS, Alicata D, Hernandez A, Cloak C, Wright T, Ernst T. Sex-Specific Alterations of White Matter Developmental Trajectories in Infants with Prenatal Methamphetamine and Tobacco-Exposure.  JAMA Psychiatry. 2016 Dec 1;73(12):1217-1227. PMID: 27829078; [PMC in process]

  8. Chang L, Douet V, Bloss C, Lee K, Pritchett A, Jernigan TL, Akshoomoff N, Murray SS, Frazier J, Kennedy DN, Amaral DG,  Gruen J, Kaufmann WE, Casey BJ, Sowell E and Ernst T, for the Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition, and Genetics (PING) Study Consortium. Gray Matter Maturation in Children with Different APOE-epsilon Genotypes.  Neurology 2016 Aug 9;87(6):585-94. Epub 2016 Jul 13. PMID: 27412137; PMC4977368.

  9. Noble KG, Houston SM, Bartsch H, Kan E, Kuperman JM, Akshoomoff N, Bloss CS, Casey BJ, Chang L, Ernst TM, Frazier JA, Gruen JR, Kennedy DN, Murray SS, Schork N, Dale AM, Jernigan TL and Sowell ER, for the Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition, and Genetics Study. Family income, parental education and brain development in children and adolescents. Nature Neuroscience 2015 May;18(5):773-8. Epub 2015 Mar 30. PMID:25821911; PMC4414816

  10. Holland D, Chang L, Kuperman KM, Ernst TM, Curran M, Buchthal SD,Alicata D, Skranes J, Johansen H, Hernandez A, Yamakawa R, Dale AM. The first three months: A longitudinal analysis of early postnatal brain development. JAMA Neurology 2014 Oct 1;71(10):1266-74. PMID:25111045; PMC4940157.
  11. Chang L, Jiang CS, Cunningham E, Buchthal S, Douet V, Andres M, Ernst T.  Effects of APOE-e4, age and HIV on glial metabolites and cognitive deficits.  Neurology 2014 Jun 17;82(24):2213-22. Epub 2014 May 21. PMID:24850492; PMC4113464.

  12. Chang L, Yakupov R, Jiang C, Holt J, Ernst T.  Lower cognitive reserve in the aging human immunodeficiency virus-infected brain.  Neurobiology of Aging 2013; 34(4):1240-1253. Epub 2012 Nov 15. PMID: 23158761; PMC3984923.
  13. Chang L, Andres M, Sadino J, Jiang CS, Nakama H, Miller E, Ernst T. Impact of APOEε4 Allelle, age and HIV on cognitive function and brain atrophy: Antagonistic pleiotropy and premature brain aging. Neuroimage 2011 Oct 15;58(4):1017-27. Epub 2011 Jul 21. PMID: 21803164; PMC3171637

  14. Chang L, Yakupov R, Cloak C, Ernst T.  Marijuana use is associated with a reorganized visual attention network and cerebellar hypoactivity.  Brain 2006 May;129(Pt 5):1096-112. Epub 2006 Apr 3.PMID: 16585053 (Free article).

  15. Ernst T, Yakupov R, Nakama H, Crocket G, Cole M, Watters M, Ricardo-Dukelow M, Chang L. Declined neural efficiency in cognitively stable HIV patients. Annals of Neurology 2009 Mar;65(3):316-325. PMID:19334060; PMC2734503.

  16. Chang L, Wang GJ, Volkow N, Ernst T, Telang F, Logan J, Fowler J. Decreased brain dopamine transporters are related to cognitive deficits in HIV patients with or without cocaine abuse.  Neuroimage 2008 Aug 15;42(2):869-78. Epub 2008 May 20. PMID:18579413; PMC2730417

  17. Volkow N, Chang L, Wang GJ, Fowler JS, Leonido-Yee M, Franceschi D, Sedler MJ, Gatley SJ, Hitzemann R, Ding YS, Logan J, Wong C, Miller EN.  Association of Dopamine Transporter Reduction with Psychomotor Impairment in Methamphetamine Abusers.  American Journal of Psychiatry 2001;158:377-382.

  18. Chang L, Tomasi D, Yakupov R, Lozar C, Arnold S, Caparelli EC, Ernst T.  Adaptation of the Attention Network in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Brain Injury.  Annals of Neurology 2004 August;56:259-272.

  19. Chang L, Miller BL, McBride D, Cornford M, Oropilla G, Buchthal S, Chiang F, Aronow H, Beck K, Ernst T. Brain Lesions in Patients with AIDS: H-1 MR spectroscopy. Radiology 1995; 197:525-531 [erratum to add “Beck K” as a co-author: Radiology 1996;198(2):586].

  20. Chang L, Anderson T, Migneco OA, Boone K, Mehringer CM, Villanueva-Meyer J, Berman N, Mena I.  Cerebral Abnormalities in Myotonic Dystrophy: Cerebral Blood Flow, MRI and Neuropsychological Tests. Archives of Neurology (JAMA Neurology) 1993;50:917-923.

Additional Publication Citations

Clinical Specialty Details

Awards and Affiliations

Grants and Contracts

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