Speakers

Dr Maryam Tayebi and Dr Gil Newburn

Topic

Methamphetamine use can affect both the brain and the heart, but many of these changes may not be obvious from routine clinical assessments. In our study, we are using advanced MRI to look more closely at the brain and heart of people with methamphetamine use disorder. By combining several different MRI techniques, we aim to build a more complete picture of how methamphetamine use is associated with changes in the brain and heart. In this presentation, we will share what we have learned so far from our MRI data. We will also introduce the current phase of our work, which involves collecting follow-up scans to investigate how these measures may change over time in people participating in a treatment pathway and recovery programme.

Dr Gil Newburn will discuss the treatment and clinical side of the programme, drawing on his experience working directly with participants to provide insight into their treatment journey, the challenges they face, and the changes observed as they progress through recovery.

About the Speakers

Dr Maryam Tayebi is a Senior Research Fellow at Mātai Medical Research Institute. Her research focuses on using advanced MRI to detect and understand abnormalities within the body, particularly the brain, across a range of conditions. She is co-leading a methamphetamine recovery project at Mātai and works as part of a multidisciplinary team bringing together advanced imaging, neuropsychiatric care, cognitive assessment, community engagement and culturally grounded approaches. Her work aims to improve understanding of the biological effects of methamphetamine use on the brain and heart and contribute to better approaches for supporting treatment and recovery.

Dr Gil Newburn is a neuropsychiatrist and Senior Research Associate at Mātai Medical Research Institute, with expertise in the assessment and treatment of people experiencing mental health, neurological and addiction-related conditions. He plays a key clinical role in Mātai’s methamphetamine recovery project, working directly with participants throughout their treatment and recovery journey and providing neuropsychiatric assessment and ongoing clinical support. His contribution helps connect the clinical and treatment experience of participants with the imaging and cognitive findings from the study, providing a broader understanding of recovery from methamphetamine use disorder.