Guglielmo Genovese
About
Guglielmo Genovese, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science at NTNU, affiliated with the Norwegian Centre for Headache Research (NorHead) and the Norwegian 7T MR Center.
With a background in physics and neuroscience, his research focuses on the development and application of advanced magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) methods to investigate human brain metabolism and microstructure. He obtained his PhD in Neuroscience from Sorbonne University, conducting his doctoral research at the Paris Brain Institute, and subsequently completed a four-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota.
His research combines ultra-high-field MRS, diffusion-weighted MRS, metabolite relaxometry, and advanced spectral modelling to investigate neurochemical mechanisms in neurological disorders. A major focus of his current work is the study of primary headache disorders, particularly migraine and cluster headache, with the aim of identifying neurochemical mechanisms and imaging biomarkers that can support more precise treatment strategies.
At NTNU, he leads research projects spanning methodological development and clinical translation, including studies of hypothalamic metabolism in headache disorders, cortical hyperexcitability in chronic migraine, and methods for measuring the cellular and subcellular distribution of brain metabolites.
He is an Onsager Fellow, a member of NTNU's Outstanding Academic Fellows Programme, and serves on the board of HUMANI as Infrastructure Strategy Lead. His research brings together MR physics, neuroscience and clinical research to advance non-invasive metabolic imaging as a tool for understanding brain disease and developing precision approaches in neurology.
Research
My research focuses on developing and applying advanced magnetic resonance spectroscopy methods to investigate brain metabolism and microstructure in vivo. I am particularly interested in translating methodological advances at ultra-high magnetic field into tools for understanding neurological disease and treatment response.
Current research projects include:
MultiGlu – Measuring glutamate distribution in cellular and subcellular compartments with non-invasive imaging
Research Council of Norway, FRIPRO Radical Research Ideas. This project combines diffusion-weighted MRS and metabolite relaxometry to investigate the compartmental distribution of glutamate in the human brain.
HYPE – Cortical hyperexcitability in chronic migraine
A 7T MRS study investigating alterations in excitatory and inhibitory neurochemistry in chronic migraine, with particular emphasis on glutamate, aspartate and GABA.
MACROMAP – MACROmolecule Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for non-invasive detection of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology
A methodological and translational project investigating macromolecular MRS signals as potential markers of brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease pathology, with the aim of improving the biological specificity of metabolic imaging.
Hypothalamic metabolism and treatment response in chronic migraine
Using 7T MRS to investigate whether hypothalamic glutamate can characterize neurochemical differences associated with response to CGRP-targeted preventive treatment and detect early metabolic changes following therapy.
Hypothalamic metabolism in cluster headache
Ultra-high-field MRS studies investigating neurochemical alterations in the hypothalamus in chronic cluster headache and their relationship with disease mechanisms and clinical characteristics.
Brain metabolism across the lifespan
Methodological and neurobiological studies of age-related metabolic changes, including the influence of macromolecular modelling on metabolite quantification at 7T.
Publications
2026
Genovese G, Terpstra M, Deelchand D, Filip P, Mangia S, McCarten J, Hemmy L, Marjańska M. Neurometabolic time course of aging observed with proton MR spectroscopy at 7 T. Under revision in NMR in Biomedicine
2026
Jain A, Rørnes AX, Farestveit A, Grinde MT, Nyman AKG, Sitter B, Wergeland T, Tronvik E, Genovese G. Altered hypothalamic metabolism in chronic cluster headache patients measured with 1H-MRS at ultra-high magnetic field. The Journal of Headache and Pain. doi:10.1186/s10194-026-02446-4.
2026
Bakir CN, Genovese G, Nakonezny PA, Azamet I, Shekunov J, Vande Voort JL, Marjańska M, Croarkin PE. Ultra-high field magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment in adolescents with depression. BMC Psychiatry. doi:10.1186/s12888-026-08102-0.
2026
Bakir CN, Genovese G, Nakonezny P, Azamet I, Shekunov J, Vande Voort JL, Marjańska M, Croarkin PE. Neurochemical and neurophysiological glutamatergic correlates in adolescents with depression: an exploratory ultra-high field magnetic resonance spectroscopy and transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Journal of Affective Disorders. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2026.121309.
2026
LaMaster JT et al., including Genovese G; MRS Group; Kaiser A. Synthetic Data in MR Spectroscopy: Current Practices, Applications, and Considerations. arXiv:2602.23463.
2025
Maiuro A, Palombo M, Macaluso E, Genovese G, Bozzali M, Giove F, Capuani S. New functional MRI experiments based on fractional diffusion representation show independent and complementary contrast to diffusion-weighted and blood-oxygen-level-dependent functional MRI. Applied Sciences. doi:10.3390/app15094930.
2025
Hingerl L et al., including Genovese G. Exploring In Vivo Human Brain Metabolism at 10.5 T: Initial Insights from MR Spectroscopic Imaging. NeuroImage. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121015.
2025
Şimşek K, Gallea C, Genovese G, Lehéricy S, Branzoli F, Palombo M. Age-trajectories of higher-order diffusion properties of major brain metabolites in cerebral and cerebellar grey matter using in vivo diffusion-weighted MR spectroscopy at 3T. Aging Cell. doi:10.1111/acel.14477.
2024
Genovese G, Terpstra M, Filip P, Mangia S, McCarten J, Hemmy L, Marjańska M. Age-related differences in macromolecular resonances observed in ultra-short-TE STEAM MR spectra at 7 T. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. doi:10.1002/mrm.30061.
2024
Ligneul C et al., including Genovese G. Diffusion-weighted MR spectroscopy: consensus, recommendations and resources from acquisition to modelling. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. doi:10.1002/mrm.29877.
2023
Özütemiz C et al., including Genovese G. Clinical Neuroradiology Applications of 7T MRI: Indications, Sequence Parameters, Pitfalls, and Solutions. A Single-Center Clinical Experience. American Journal of Roentgenology. doi:10.2214/AJR.23.29342.
2023
Genovese G, Deelchand D, Terpstra M, Marjańska M. Quantification of GABA concentration in human brain from 7-T ultra-short-TE MR spectra. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. doi:10.1002/mrm.29514.
2022
Genovese G, Diaz-Fernandez B, Lejeune F, Ronen I, Marjańska M, Cherif L, Lehéricy S, Branzoli F, Rosso C. Longitudinal monitoring of microstructural alterations in cerebral ischemia by in vivo diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Radiology. doi:10.1148/radiol.220430.
2021
Genovese G et al., Inflammation‐driven glial alterations in the cuprizone mouse model probed with diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 11.7 T. NMR in Biomedicine. doi:10.1002/nmb.4480
2021
Genovese G, Marjańska M, Auerbach E, Cherif L, Ronen I, Lehéricy S, Branzoli F, In vivo diffusion‐weighted MRS using semi‐LASER in the human brain at 3 T: Methodological aspects and clinical feasibility. NMR in Biomedicine. doi:10.1002/nmb.4206
2026
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Bakir, Cicek N.;
Genovese, Guglielmo;
Nakonezny, Paul A.;
Azamet, Irem;
Shekunov, Julia;
Voort, Jennifer L.Vande;
Marjańska, Małgorzata;
Croarkin, Paul E..
(2026)
Ultra-high field magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment in adolescents with depression.
BMC Psychiatry
Academic article
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Jain, Avneesh;
Rørnes, Anna Xiu;
Farestveit, Anne;
Grinde, Maria Tunset;
Nyman, Axel Karl Gottfrid;
Sitter, Beathe;
Wergeland, Tore;
Tronvik, Erling;
Genovese, Guglielmo.
(2026)
Altered hypothalamic metabolism in chronic cluster headaches patients measured with 1H-MRS at ultra-high magnetic field.
The Journal of Headache and Pain
Academic article
2025
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Maiuro, Alessandra;
Palombo, Marco;
Macaluso, Emiliano;
Genovese, Guglielmo;
Bozzali, Marco;
Giove, Federico;
Capuani, Silvia.
(2025)
New Functional MRI Experiments Based on Fractional Diffusion Representation Show Independent and Complementary Contrast to Diffusion-Weighted and Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent Functional MRI.
Applied Sciences
Academic article
Journal publications
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Bakir, Cicek N.;
Genovese, Guglielmo;
Nakonezny, Paul A.;
Azamet, Irem;
Shekunov, Julia;
Voort, Jennifer L.Vande;
Marjańska, Małgorzata;
Croarkin, Paul E..
(2026)
Ultra-high field magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment in adolescents with depression.
BMC Psychiatry
Academic article
-
Jain, Avneesh;
Rørnes, Anna Xiu;
Farestveit, Anne;
Grinde, Maria Tunset;
Nyman, Axel Karl Gottfrid;
Sitter, Beathe;
Wergeland, Tore;
Tronvik, Erling;
Genovese, Guglielmo.
(2026)
Altered hypothalamic metabolism in chronic cluster headaches patients measured with 1H-MRS at ultra-high magnetic field.
The Journal of Headache and Pain
Academic article
-
Maiuro, Alessandra;
Palombo, Marco;
Macaluso, Emiliano;
Genovese, Guglielmo;
Bozzali, Marco;
Giove, Federico;
Capuani, Silvia.
(2025)
New Functional MRI Experiments Based on Fractional Diffusion Representation Show Independent and Complementary Contrast to Diffusion-Weighted and Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent Functional MRI.
Applied Sciences
Academic article
Teaching
MEDT8011/FY8408 - Introduction to MR Imaging - Guest Lecturer
FIS/07 - Medical imaging techniques: principles and applications - Guest Lecturer (Università degli Studi di Verona; Italy)
Supervision
Guglielmo Genovese, PhD, is currently main supervisor for 1 PhD student at PHMEDT (Medical Technology)
He is also main supervisor for 1 Master's student MSMOLMED (Molecular Medicine) and 2 Erasmus Master's students.
Outreach
2025
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Conference lectureJain, Avneesh; Genovese, Guglielmo. (2025) Towards reliable Glutamate T2 quantification at 7T: Role of macromolecules and model choice. 15th Biennial Workshop on Ultra-High Field Imaging
2024
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Conference posterNyman, Axel Karl Gottfrid; Johannessen, Fredrik Røkke; Andreassen, Trygve; Bonnevie, Tora; Genovese, Guglielmo; Scheffler, Katja. (2024) A personalized in vitro metabolic model of preclincal Alzheimer's disease. The Aging Brain Conference
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Conference lectureNyman, Axel Karl Gottfrid; Johannessen, Fredrik Røkke; Andreassen, Trygve; Bonnevie, Tora; Genovese, Guglielmo; Scheffler, Katja. (2024) A Personalized in vitro Metabolic Model of Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease. 15th International Conference on Brain Energy Metabolism (ICBEM)
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Conference posterJain, Avneesh; Rørnes, Anna Xiu; Farestveit, Anne; Grinde, Maria; Nyman, Axel Karl Gottfrid; Sitter, Beathe; Tronvik, Erling Andreas; Meisingset, Tore Wergeland; Genovese, Guglielmo. (2024) Higher thalamic myo-Inositol measured at 7T using 1H-MR spectroscopy suggests novel mechanisms in chronic cluster headaches. 18th European Headache Concgress
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Conference lectureJain, Avneesh; Rørnes, Anna Xiu; Farestveit, Anne; Grinde, Maria; Nyman, Axel Karl Gottfrid; Sitter, Beathe; Meisingset, Tore Wergeland; Genovese, Guglielmo. (2024) Higher thalamic myo-Inositol measured at 7Tesla suggests novel mechanisms in chronic cluster headaches. European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology 40th Annual Scientific Meeting
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Lecture