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A photo of Kim Cecil.

Spectroscopist, Imaging Research Center

Professor, UC Department of RadiologyUC Department of Pediatrics

513-636-8559

513-636-3754

Biography & Affiliation

Biography

Kim M. Cecil, PhD, received her undergraduate and postgraduate training in chemistry. After a post-doctoral fellowship in magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Cecil joined the Department of Radiology and the Imaging Research Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in 1998. She serves as an imaging research scientist and clinical MR spectroscopist.

In 2000, Kim M. Cecil, PhD, Antonius deGrauw, MD, PhD, and Gajja Salomons, PhD, discovered creatine transporter deficiency syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the creatine transporter gene (SLC6A8). Male patients demonstrate a significant reduction or absence of creatine in the brain, as indicated by MR spectroscopy. This is an X-linked intellectual disability disorder thought to be second only to fragile X in prevalence.

Clinical Interests

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; creatine deficiency syndromes

Research Interests

Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy; inborn errors of metabolism; environmental exposures to lead manganese, air pollution, PBDEs, PFCs; traumatic brain injury including concussion; ADHD; bipolar disorders; breast cancer; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Academic Affiliation

Professor, UC Department of RadiologyUC Department of Pediatrics

Divisions

Radiology, Imaging

Science Blog

Education

BS: Chemistry & Mathematics (magna cum laude), Kentucky Wesleyan College, 1988.

MS: Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, 1991.

PhD: Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, 1993.

Fellowship: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

Publications

Selected Publication

Myo-inositol mediates the effects of traffic-related air pollution on generalized anxiety symptoms at age 12 years. Brunst, KJ; Ryan, PH; Altaye, M; Yolton, K; Maloney, T; Beckwith, T; LeMasters, G; Cecil, KM. Environmental Research. 2019; 175:71-78.

Big GABA II: Water-referenced edited MR spectroscopy at 25 research sites. Mikkelsen, M; Rimbault, DL; Barker, PB; Bhattacharyya, PK; Brix, MK; Buur, PF; Cecil, KM; Chan, KL; Chen, DY-T; Craven, AR; et al. Neuroimage. 2019; 191:537-548.

Diagnostic methods and recommendations for the cerebral creatine deficiency syndromes. Clark, JF; Cecil, KM. Pediatric Research. 2015; 77:398-405.

Pediatric Sports-Related Concussion Produces Cerebral Blood Flow Alterations. Maugans, TA; Farley, C; Altaye, M; Leach, J; Cecil, KM. Pediatrics. 2012; 129:28-37.

Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Adults with Childhood Lead Exposure. Cecil, KM; Dietrich, KN; Altaye, M; Egelhoff, JC; Lindquist, DM; Brubaker, CJ; Lanphear, BP. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2011; 119:403-408.

The influence of age of lead exposure on adult gray matter volume. Brubaker, CJ; Dietrich, KN; Lanphear, BP; Cecil, KM. NeuroToxicology. 2010; 31:259-266.

Altered myelination and axonal integrity in adults with childhood lead exposure: A diffusion tensor imaging study. Brubaker, CJ; Schmithorst, VJ; Haynes, EN; Dietrich, KN; Egelhoff, JC; Lindquist, DM; Lanphear, BP; Cecil, KM. NeuroToxicology. 2009; 30:867-875.

Decreased brain volume in adults with childhood lead exposure. Cecil, KM; Brubaker, CJ; Adler, CM; Dietrich, KN; Altaye, M; Egelhoff, JC; Wessel, S; Elangovan, I; Hornung, R; Jarvis, K; et al. PLoS Medicine. 2008; 5:e112-e112.

The impact of early childhood lead exposure on brain organization: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of language function. Yuan, W; Holland, SK; Cecil, KM; Dietrich, KN; Wessel, SD; Altaye, M; Hornung, RW; Ris, MD; Egelhoff, JC; Lanphear, BP. Pediatrics. 2006; 118:971-977.

Reduced gray matter volume and cortical thickness associated with traffic-related air pollution in a longitudinally studied pediatric cohort. Beckwith, T; Cecil, K; Altaye, M; Severs, R; Wolfe, C; Percy, Z; Maloney, T; Yolton, K; LeMasters, G; Brunst, K; et al. PLoS ONE. 2020; 15:e0228092-e0228092.