Congratulations to Dustin Loren Velasco Almanza 

Congratulations to CPIN student member Dustin Loren Velasco Almanza (Medical Biophysics, supervised by Dr. Bojana Stefanovic and Dr. Greg Stanisz) on completing the CPIN requirements and graduating from his PhD program. Dustin Loren Velasco Almanza completed his doctorate in Medical Biophysics at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, with research conducted at Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI). Supervised by Dr. Bojana Stefanovic and Dr. Greg Stanisz, his PhD dissertation focused on MRI-based characterization of brain metabolism and hemodynamics in neurodegenerative disease. His dissertation investigated alterations in metabolism, functional hyperemia, and neurovascular coupling in a transgenic rat model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) subjected to high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet. As a CPIN student, Dustin made significant contributions to neuroimaging and Alzheimer’s research, resulting in first-author publications in Theranostics (2024) and Alzheimer’s & Dementia (2025). He established a robust, translational MRI-based assay of metabolism and neurovascular coupling in animal model of AD comorbid with obesity induced by high-caloric intake, enabling investigation of diet–disease interactions. His findings revealed stage-specific effects of obesity on neurovascular and metabolic dysfunction in AD pathology, underscoring the importance of disease stage when evaluating effects of obesity. Dustin presented his research extensively, delivering 18 poster and 5 oral presentations at conferences. He was recognized for excellence and leadership in medical biophysics through multiple MBP Excellence Awards from SRI and University of Toronto, highlighting his strong scientific impact, communication skills, and commitment to collaborative research.