David Matuskey, MD
Associate Professor of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingCards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Director, NeuroPET Imaging Program, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Medical Director, Yale Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Center
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Director, NeuroPET Imaging Program, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Medical Director, Yale Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Center
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Director, NeuroPET Imaging Program, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Medical Director, Yale Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Center
Contact Info
About
Copy Link
Titles
Associate Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Director, NeuroPET Imaging Program, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging; Medical Director, Yale Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Center
Biography
I am a board certified psychiatrist and neuropsychiatrist with research work that has been translational in nature and focused on elucidating the underlying pathology of brain conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, substance abuse and neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease) with an aim to find effective clinical treatments guided by molecular neuroimaging. Studies have included using in vivo PET imaging to investigate the role of neuroreceptors such as dopamine D3, serotonin 1B and 6, MGlur5 and kappa opioid systems, neuroinflammation, and most recently, synaptic density (SV2A) in clinical and nonclinical populations. Ongoing interests include imaging neuropsychiatric and addictive disorders and the demographic, social and environmental factors influencing our brain.
Appointments
Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
Associate Professor on TermPrimaryNeurology
Assistant ProfessorSecondaryPsychiatry
Associate Professor on TermSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- All Institutions
- Bioimaging Sciences
- Center for Brain & Mind Health
- Connecticut Mental Health Center
- Mental Health PET Radioligand Development (MHPRD) Program
- Movement Disorders
- MR Core
- Neurology
- NeuroPET Imaging Program
- PET Core
- Psychiatric Symptoms in Neurology Research Program
- Psychiatry
- Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
- Yale Biomedical Imaging Institute
- Yale Cocaine Research Clinic
Education & Training
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Fellow
- Yale University (2010)
- Senior Resident
- Yale University (2009)
- Resident
- University of Connecticut (2008)
- MD
- St Matthew's University School of Medicine (2005)
- BA
- University of South Florida, Psychology (1998)
- BS
- University of South Florida, Biology (1998)
Research
Copy Link
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Public Health Interests
ORCID
0000-0001-7508-6572
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Nabeel Nabulsi, PhD
Richard Carson, PhD
Jean-Dominique Gallezot, PhD
Yiyun Huang, PhD
Irina Esterlis, PhD
Shannan Henry
Neuroimaging
Mental Disorders
Social Class
Molecular Imaging
Publications
2025
Assessment of test-retest reproducibility by [18F]Bavarostat for PET imaging of HDAC6
Naganawa M, Zheng M, Gallezot J, Bonomi R, Gu J, Gao H, Jacutin-Porte S, Nabulsi N, Koole M, Van Laere K, Matuskey D, Huang Y, Carson R. Assessment of test-retest reproducibility by [18F]Bavarostat for PET imaging of HDAC6. EJNMMI Research 2025, 15: 76. PMID: 40542929, PMCID: PMC12182542, DOI: 10.1186/s13550-025-01268-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsAbsolute test-retest variabilityMultilinear analysis-1Time-activity curvesTest-retest variabilityRegional time-activity curvesTest-retest reproducibilityVT valuesTwo-tissue compartment modelEffect of scan durationInterscan intervalRegional VT valuesTest-retest scansScan durationArterial blood samplesBrain bindingOne-tissuePET/CT scannerCentrum semiovaleDistribution volumePET imagingAnalysis-1Blood samplesTherapeutic targetBrain regionsHDAC6 inhibitorsGreater neuroimmune system deficit in women than men with alcohol use disorder
Zakiniaeiz Y, Hillmer A, Shi H, Pittman B, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Bonomi R, Matuskey D, Angarita G, McKee S, Cosgrove K. Greater neuroimmune system deficit in women than men with alcohol use disorder. Biological Psychiatry 2025 PMID: 40412787, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.05.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsTranslocator protein availabilityAlcohol-induced neurodegenerationExecutive function tasksConsequences of alcohol useAlcohol use disorderBrain imaging scansTranslocator protein levelsSex-matched controlsExecutive functionLower hippocampalTSPO availabilityFrontal cortexTranslocator proteinUse disorderNeurocognitive functionBrain regionsSex differencesAlcohol useBrain-resident immune cellsNeuroimmune mechanismsFunctional tasksSystem deficitsAUDImaging scansNeuroimmune cells406. Associations Between Kappa Opioid Receptor Availability and Hoarding Behaviors: Preliminary Evidence Using [11C]EKAP Positron Emission Tomography
Weiss E, Hart-Derrick V, Freeman D, Pittenger C, Matuskey D, Nabulsi N, Davis M. 406. Associations Between Kappa Opioid Receptor Availability and Hoarding Behaviors: Preliminary Evidence Using [11C]EKAP Positron Emission Tomography. Biological Psychiatry 2025, 97: s264-s265. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.02.644.Peer-Reviewed Original Research20. Imaging Sex Differences in Amphetamine-Induced Dopamine Release in the Prefrontal Cortex in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder
Zakiniaeiz Y, Riordan W, Gallezot J, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Bonomi R, Matuskey D, Cosgrove K. 20. Imaging Sex Differences in Amphetamine-Induced Dopamine Release in the Prefrontal Cortex in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder. Biological Psychiatry 2025, 97: s82-s83. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.02.210.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMind the Itch
Matuskey D. Mind the Itch. JAMA Neurology 2025, 82: 433-434. PMID: 40193091, DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.0479.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetric612. Early Evidence for Lower HDAC6 Levels in the Amygdala of Individuals With AUD
Bonomi R, Naganawa M, William R, Zakiniaeiz Y, Huang Y, Matuskey D, Cosgrove K. 612. Early Evidence for Lower HDAC6 Levels in the Amygdala of Individuals With AUD. Biological Psychiatry 2025, 97: s350-s351. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.02.851.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetric452. Examining the Role of the Kappa Opioid Receptor in Trauma-Related Psychopathology and Chronic Pain Using [11C]EKAP Positron Emission Tomography
Weiss E, Hart-Derrick V, Freeman D, Miller R, Hillmer A, Wagner A, Matuskey D, Esterlis I, Davis M. 452. Examining the Role of the Kappa Opioid Receptor in Trauma-Related Psychopathology and Chronic Pain Using [11C]EKAP Positron Emission Tomography. Biological Psychiatry 2025, 97: s283. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.02.690.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAir Pollution and Dopamine in Parkinson’s Disease (S21.001)
Saraiya R, Cayir S, Pala V, Tezel M, Solomon B, Elshahat A, Matuskey D. Air Pollution and Dopamine in Parkinson’s Disease (S21.001). Neurology 2025, 104 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000208890.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe Association Between Physical Activity and Dopaminergic System in Parkinson’s Disease (P4-3.002)
Cayir S, Tezel M, Matuskey D. The Association Between Physical Activity and Dopaminergic System in Parkinson’s Disease (P4-3.002). Neurology 2025, 104 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000210820.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGenerating synthetic brain PET images of synaptic density based on MR T1 images using deep learning
Zheng X, Worhunsky P, Liu Q, Guo X, Chen X, Sun H, Zhang J, Toyonaga T, Mecca A, O’Dell R, van Dyck C, Angarita G, Cosgrove K, D’Souza D, Matuskey D, Esterlis I, Carson R, Radhakrishnan R, Liu C. Generating synthetic brain PET images of synaptic density based on MR T1 images using deep learning. EJNMMI Physics 2025, 12: 30. PMID: 40163154, PMCID: PMC11958861, DOI: 10.1186/s40658-025-00744-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsCannabis use disorderStructural similarity indexPET imagingImages of higher qualityMR-T1 imagesMean square errorUse disorderEncoder-decoderDeep learningCross-validation processData-driven approachDiagnostic categoriesLow-dose scansPredicted imageTemporal regionsBrain disordersGround truthT1-weighted MRISynaptic densityHuman brainSimilarity indexDisordersSevere neurological disordersTranslation accuracyNoise reduction
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Brain Connections & HIV Status
HIC ID2000033582RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2027Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 80 yearsMeditation and Synaptic Density
HIC ID2000030601RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date08/31/2024Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge28 years - 70 yearsM1 Schizophrenia PET Study
HIC ID2000031171RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date04/30/2023Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 55 yearsImaging cortisol metabolism in liver, adipose tissue and brain with a novel PET radioligand update
HIC ID2000029576RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/30/2024Recruiting ParticipantsEligibility for Participation in Neuroimaging Studies
HIC ID2000027842RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2023Recruiting Participants
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Copy Link
Honors
honor NARSAD Young Investigator Award
08/07/2018National AwardBrain & Behavior Research FoundationDetailsUnited Stateshonor Michael Kuhar Travel Award
08/23/2011International AwardInternational Drug and Alcohol Research SocietyDetailsUnited Stateshonor NIDA-ISAM Travel Fellowship
01/01/2011International AwardNIDA-ISAMDetailsUnited Stateshonor NARSAD Young Investigator Award
08/01/2010National AwardBrain & Behavior Research FoundationDetailsUnited States
News
Copy Link
News
- June 13, 2025
NeuroEXPLORER Paper wins Journal of Nuclear Medicine's Editors' Choice Award as the best clinical article
- October 15, 2024
A Key Brain Difference Linked to Autism Is Found for the First Time in Living People
- January 29, 2023
Symposium Highlights Importance of Biomedical Imaging for Understanding Neurological Disease
- November 15, 2022Source: Biological Psychiatry
Yale Study Seeks to Understand Neurobiology Underlying Bipolar Disorder Vs. Major Depressive Disorder
Get In Touch
Copy Link
Contacts
Locations
801 Howard Avenue
Academic Office
New Haven, CT 06519