Dr. Tivarus received her PhD in Biophysics in 2006 from the Ohio State University, where she trained in MRI and brain imaging. Later that year joined the Department of Imaging Sciences at University of Rochester as a postdoctoral fellow/instructor in Radiology and Brain and Cognitive Sciences. She is the Director of the Functional MRI pre-surgical brain mapping program, and of the 3D Post-Processing Lab in the Department of Imaging Sciences. She is a certified Magnetic Resonance Safety Expert (MRSE) and provides MR Physics support, MRI QA/QC testing, ACR (American College of Radiology) accreditation and acceptance testing for MRI systems at University Imaging at East River Road and University Imaging at Penfield. She works closely with the Neuroradiology section to standardize and optimize MRI protocols across the enterprise. She is a member of the DelMonte Institute for Neuroscience and has an appointment at the University of Rochester Center for Advanced Brain Imaging & Neurophysiology (UR CABIN) where she provides support with development of new MRI research protocols, MR safety and Human Research (RSRB) Compliance. Dr. Tivarus has significant experience with neuroimaging techniques such as functional MRI (fMRI), Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL), MR spectroscopy, morphometry, and Perfusion DSC, and their applications in neurology, neuroscience and clinical neuroradiology and has numerous multidisciplinary research collaborations across many UR departments. She mentors undergraduate and graduate students doing neuroimaging research and gives neuroimaging lectures to Imaging Sciences residents and technologists.

Faculty Appointments

Associate Professor - Department of Imaging Sciences (SMD)

Associate Professor - Department of Neuroscience (SMD) - Joint

Credentials

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

Imaging Sciences and Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester 2006 - 2008

Education

PhD | Ohio State University-Columbus. Biophysics. 2006

MS | Ohio State University-Columbus. Biophysics. 2004

MS | Romania - University of Bucharest. Physics. 1998

BS | Romania - University of Bucharest. Physics. 1997

Awards

Alumni Grants for Graduate Research and Scholarship. 2004

Fellowship, Summer Workshop in fMRI Informatics. 2004

Hazel Brown Teaching Award. 2001

Academic merit scholarship. 1992 - 2000

Research

Publications

Journal Articles

Role of non-classical monocytes in HIV-associated vascular cognitive impairment.

Singh MV, Uddin MN, Vidalle MC, Sutton KR, Boodoo ZD, Peterson AN, Tyrell A, Brenner R, Tivarus ME, Wang HZ, Sahin B, Zhong J, Weber M, Wang L, Qiu X, Maggiwar SB, Schifitto G

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences.. 2023 March 27 Epub 03/27/2023.

Cognitive and neuroimaging outcomes in individuals with benign and low-grade brain tumours receiving radiotherapy: a protocol for a prospective cohort study.

Hardy SJ, Finkelstein AJ, Tivarus M, Culakova E, Mohile N, Weber M, Lin E, Zhong J, Usuki K, Schifitto G, Milano M, Janelsins-Benton MC

BMJ open.. 2023 February 1513 (2):e066458. Epub 02/15/2023.

Brain iron imaging markers in the presence of white matter hyperintensities.

Murray KD, Tivarus ME, Schifitto G, Uddin MN, Zhong J

Magnetic resonance imaging.. 2023 January 19 Epub 01/19/2023.

Association of Potentially Damaging De Novo Gene Variants With Neurologic Outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease.

Morton SU, Norris-Brilliant A, Cunningham S, King E, Goldmuntz E, Brueckner M, Miller TA, Thomas NH, Liu C, Adams HR, Bellinger DC, Cleveland J, Cnota JF, Dale AM, Frommelt M, Gelb BD, Grant PE, Goldberg CS, Huang H, Kuperman JM, Li JS, McQuillen PS, Panigrahy A, Porter GA, Roberts AE, Russell MW, Seidman CE, Tivarus ME, Anagnoustou E, Hagler DJ, Chung WK, Newburger JW

JAMA network open.. 2023 January 36 (1):e2253191. Epub 01/03/2023.

Initiation of combined antiretroviral therapy confers suboptimal beneficial effects on neurovascular function in people with HIV.

Singh MV, Uddin MN, Singh VB, Peterson AN, Murray KD, Zhuang Y, Tyrell A, Wang L, Tivarus ME, Zhong J, Qiu X, Schifitto G

Frontiers in neurology. 2023 14 :1240300. Epub 08/31/2023.

Editorial: Neuroimaging of neuroinflammation in neurological disorders.

Uddin MN, Tivarus ME, Schifitto G, Rudko DA

Frontiers in neurology. 2023 14 :1328511. Epub 11/10/2023.

Longitudinal Effects of Combination Antiretroviral Therapy on Cognition and Neuroimaging Biomarkers in Treatment-Naive People With HIV.

Weber MT, Finkelstein A, Uddin MN, Reddy EA, Arduino RC, Wang L, Tivarus ME, Zhong J, Qiu X, Schifitto G

Neurology.. 2022 September 699 (10):e1045-e1055. Epub 06/22/2022.

Effects of HIV infection and Former Cocaine Dependence on Neuroanatomical Measures and Neurocognitive Performance.

Wakim KM, Freedman EG, Tivarus ME, Christensen Z, Molholm S, Foxe JJ

Neuroscience.. 2022 August 10 Epub 08/10/2022.

Longitudinal Effects of Combination Antiretroviral Therapy on Cognition and Neuroimaging Biomarkers in Treatment-Naïve People with HIV.

Weber MT, Finkelstein A, Uddin MN, Reddy EA, Arduino RC, Wang L, Tivarus ME, Zhong J, Qui X, Schifitto G

Neurology.. 2022 June 22 Epub 06/22/2022.

Prediction of Naming Outcome With FMRI Language Lateralization in Left Temporal Epilepsy Surgery.

Gross WL, Helfand A, Swanson SJ, Conant LL, Humphries C, Raghavan M, Mueller WM, Busch RM, Allen L, Anderson CT, Carlson CE, Lowe MJ, Langfitt JT, Tivarus ME, Drane DL, Loring DW, Jacobs M, Morgan VL, Allendorfer JB, Szaflarski JP, Bonilha L, Bookheimer S, Grabowski T, Vannest J, Binder JR,

Neurology.. 2022 April 11 Epub 04/11/2022.

Assessing combinatorial effects of HIV infection and former cocaine dependence on cognitive control processes: A functional neuroimaging study of response inhibition.

Wakim KM, Freedman EG, Tivarus ME, Heinecke A, Foxe JJ

Neuropharmacology.. 2021 October 22 :108815. Epub 10/22/2021.

Increased risk for cerebral small vessel disease is associated with quantitative susceptibility mapping in HIV infected and uninfected individuals.

Murray KD, Uddin MN, Tivarus ME, Sahin B, Wang HZ, Singh MV, Qiu X, Wang L, Spincemaille P, Wang Y, Maggirwar SB, Zhong J, Schifitto G

NeuroImage. Clinical.. 2021 August 2832 :102786. Epub 08/28/2021.

Mitochondrial toxicity before and after combination antiretroviral therapy, a Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy study.

Tivarus ME, Zhuang Y, Wang L, Murray KD, Venkataraman A, Weber MT, Zhong J, Qiu X, Schifitto G

NeuroImage. Clinical.. 2021 May 731 :102693. Epub 05/07/2021.

A longitudinal analysis of brain extracellular free water in HIV infected individuals.

Uddin MN, Faiyaz A, Wang L, Zhuang Y, Murray KD, Descoteaux M, Tivarus ME, Weber MT, Zhong J, Qiu X, Schifitto G

Scientific reports.. 2021 April 1511 (1):8273. Epub 04/15/2021.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Childhood Primary Hypertension: Potential in the Study of Cognitive Outcomes.

Uddin MN, Tivarus M, Adams H, Little E, Schifitto G, Lande MB

Hypertension.. 2021 March 377 (3):751-758. Epub 02/10/2021.

Functional MRI Correlates of Sleep Quality in HIV.

Venkataraman A, Zhuang Y, Marsella J, Tivarus ME, Qiu X, Wang L, Zhong J, Schifitto G

Nature and science of sleep.. 2021 13 :291-301. Epub 03/02/2021.

Whole-brain computational modeling reveals disruption of microscale brain dynamics in HIV infected individuals.

Zhuang Y, Zhang Z, Tivarus M, Qiu X, Zhong J, Schifitto G

Human brain mapping.. 2020 September 17 Epub 09/17/2020.

Temporal lobe regions essential for preserved picture naming after left temporal epilepsy surgery.

Binder JR, Tong JQ, Pillay SB, Conant LL, Humphries CJ, Raghavan M, Mueller WM, Busch RM, Allen L, Gross WL, Anderson CT, Carlson CE, Lowe MJ, Langfitt JT, Tivarus ME, Drane DL, Loring DW, Jacobs M, Morgan VL, Allendorfer JB, Szaflarski JP, Bonilha L, Bookheimer S, Grabowski T, Vannest J, Swanson SJ

Epilepsia.. 2020 August 11 Epub 08/11/2020.

Changes in description naming for common and proper nouns after left anterior temporal lobectomy.

Swanson SJ, Conant LL, Humphries CJ, LeDoux M, Raghavan M, Mueller WM, Allen L, Gross WL, Anderson CT, Carlson CE, Busch RM, Lowe M, Tivarus ME, Drane DL, Loring DW, Jacobs M, Morgan VL, Szaflarski J, Bonilha L, Bookheimer S, Grabowski T, Phatak V, Vannest J, Binder JR,

Epilepsy & behavior : E&B.. 2020 May 106 :106912. Epub 03/13/2020.

Harnessing Real-World Data to Inform Decision-Making: Multiple Sclerosis Partners Advancing Technology and Health Solutions (MS PATHS).

Mowry EM, Bermel RA, Williams JR, Benzinger TLS, de Moor C, Fisher E, Hersh CM, Hyland MH, Izbudak I, Jones SE, Kieseier BC, Kitzler HH, Krupp L, Lui YW, Montalban X, Naismith RT, Nicholas JA, Pellegrini F, Rovira A, Schulze M, Tackenberg B, Tintore M, Tivarus ME, Ziemssen T, Rudick RA

Frontiers in neurology. 2020 11 :632. Epub 08/07/2020.

Pathomechanisms of HIV-Associated Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: A Comprehensive Clinical and Neuroimaging Protocol and Analysis Pipeline.

Murray KD, Singh MV, Zhuang Y, Uddin MN, Qiu X, Weber MT, Tivarus ME, Wang HZ, Sahin B, Zhong J, Maggirwar SB, Schifitto G

Frontiers in neurology. 2020 11 :595463. Epub 12/15/2020.

Reorganized language network connectivity after left arcuate fasciculus resection: A case study.

Chernoff BL, Teghipco A, Garcea FE, Belkhir R, Sims MH, Paul DA, Tivarus ME, Smith SO, Hintz E, Pilcher WH, Mahon BZ

Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior.. 2019 November 5123 :173-184. Epub 11/05/2019.

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping.

Mahon BZ, Mead JA, Chernoff BL, Sims MH, Garcea FE, Prentiss E, Belkhir R, Haber SJ, Gannon SB, Erickson S, Wright KA, Schmidt MZ, Paulzak A, Milano VC, Paul DA, Foxx K, Tivarus M, Nadler JW, Behr JM, Smith SO, Li YM, Walter K, Pilcher WH

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE.. 2019 August 12 (150)Epub 08/12/2019.

A Role for the Frontal Aslant Tract in Speech Planning: A Neurosurgical Case Study.

Chernoff BL, Teghipco A, Garcea FE, Sims MH, Paul DA, Tivarus ME, Smith SO, Pilcher WH, Mahon BZ

Journal of cognitive neuroscience.. 2018 May 30 (5):752-769. Epub 03/23/2018.

Validation of diffusion measurements obtained on a 0.35T MR in Malawi: Important insights for radiologists in low income settings with low field MRI.

Zhuang Y, Potchen MJ, Kampondeni SD, Tivarus M, Birbeck GL, Zhong J

Magnetic resonance imaging.. 2018 January 45 :120-128. Epub 10/12/2017.

Combination antiretroviral therapy improves cognitive performance and functional connectivity in treatment-naïve HIV-infected individuals.

Zhuang Y, Qiu X, Wang L, Ma Q, Mapstone M, Luque A, Weber M, Tivarus M, Miller E, Arduino RC, Zhong J, Schifitto G

Journal of neurovirology.. 2017 October 23 (5):704-712. Epub 08/08/2017.

Qualitative analysis of double inversion recovery MRI in drug-resistant epilepsy.

Wychowski T, Hussain A, Tivarus ME, Birbeck GL, Berg MJ, Potchen M

Epilepsy research.. 2016 November 127 :195-199. Epub 09/03/2016.

Cognitive and Neural Effects of Vision-Based Speed-of-Processing Training in Older Adults with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study.

Lin F, Heffner KL, Ren P, Tivarus ME, Brasch J, Chen DG, Mapstone M, Porsteinsson AP, Tadin D

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.. 2016 June 64 (6):1293-8. Epub 1900 01 01.

Disrupted functional connectivity affects resting state based language lateralization.

Teghipco A, Hussain A, Tivarus ME

NeuroImage. Clinical.. 2016 12 :910-927. Epub 10/24/2016.

Increased connectivity between sensorimotor and attentional areas in Parkinson's disease.

Onu M, Badea L, Roceanu A, Tivarus M, Bajenaru O

Neuroradiology.. 2015 September 57 (9):957-68. Epub 07/15/2015.

Are Structural Changes Induced by Lithium in the HIV Brain Accompanied by Changes in Functional Connectivity?

Tivarus ME, Pester B, Schmidt C, Lehmann T, Zhu T, Zhong J, Leistritz L, Schifitto G

PloS one.. 2015 10 (10):e0139118. Epub 10/05/2015.

The neural correlates of statistical learning in a word segmentation task: An fMRI study.

Karuza EA, Newport EL, Aslin RN, Starling SJ, Tivarus ME, Bavelier D

Brain and language.. 2013 October 127 (1):46-54. Epub 01/11/2013.

Patterns of white matter injury in HIV infection after partial immune reconstitution: a DTI tract-based spatial statistics study.

Zhu T, Zhong J, Hu R, Tivarus M, Ekholm S, Harezlak J, Ombao H, Navia B, Cohen R, Schifitto G

Journal of neurovirology.. 2013 February 19 (1):10-23. Epub 11/21/2012.

Homotopic language reorganization in the right hemisphere after early left hemisphere injury.

Tivarus ME, Starling SJ, Newport EL, Langfitt JT

Brain and language.. 2012 October 123 (1):1-10. Epub 07/24/2012.

Mapping anterior temporal lobe language areas with fMRI: a multicenter normative study.

Binder JR, Gross WL, Allendorfer JB, Bonilha L, Chapin J, Edwards JC, Grabowski TJ, Langfitt JT, Loring DW, Lowe MJ, Koenig K, Morgan PS, Ojemann JG, Rorden C, Szaflarski JP, Tivarus ME, Weaver KE

NeuroImage.. 2011 January 1554 (2):1465-75. Epub 09/25/2010.

Independent component analysis of the effect of L-dopa on fMRI of language processing.

Kim N, Goel PK, Tivarus ME, Hillier A, Beversdorf DQ

PloS one.. 2010 August 175 (8):e11933. Epub 08/17/2010.

Lithium therapy for human immunodeficiency virus type 1-associated neurocognitive impairment.

Schifitto G, Zhong J, Gill D, Peterson DR, Gaugh MD, Zhu T, Tivarus M, Cruttenden K, Maggirwar SB, Gendelman HE, Dewhurst S, Gelbard HA

Journal of neurovirology.. 2009 April 15 (2):176-86. Epub 1900 01 01.

Lack of noradrenergic modulation of indirect semantic priming.

Cios JS, Miller RF, Hillier A, Tivarus ME, Beversdorf DQ

Behavioural neurology.. 2009 21 (3):137-43. Epub 1900 01 01.

Dopaminergic modulation of semantic priming in Parkinson disease.

Pederzolli AS, Tivarus ME, Agrawal P, Kostyk SK, Thomas KM, Beversdorf DQ