Alena Svatkova

Research Fellow

Research Interests

During my previous career as a clinical radiologist, I obtained strong background in neuroradiology with particular emphasis on structural brain connectivity mapping and quantitative white matter assessment. My research experience at world-leading research institutions in Europe and the USA helped me to address challenges in multimodal MRI acquisition and analysis in a morphologically abnormal central nervous system in various patient’s populations such as lysosomal storage diseases, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, degenerative spinal cord compression. My goal is to utilize my combined clinical and research expertise to unravel MR markers of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Employments

2022 – Present

Radiologist and Research Fellow at the Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging, Department of Radiology, and DRCMR, Hvidovre and Amager Hospital, Denmark

2018 – 2022

Post-Doctoral Associate at the Department of Medicine III, Medical University Vienna, Austria

2019 – 2022

Radiologist, University Hospital Ostrava and Hospital Blansko, Czech Republic

2015 – 2018

Post-Doctoral Associate, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota

2013 – 2014

Intern, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands

2012 – 2017

PhD student, Central European Institute of Technology, Molecular and Functional Neuroimaging Group, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

2009 – 2016

Radiologist, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno & City Hospital Ostrava, Czech Republic

Education

2020

Board-certification in Radiology and Imaging Techniques, Czech Republic

2017

PhD in Neuroscience, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

2009

MD in General Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

Publications

Nygaard S, Madsen MAJ, Wiggermann V, Cabras C, Christiansen L, Svatkova A, Lundell H, Højsgaard Chow H, Romme Christensen J, Blinkenberg M, Sellebjerg F and Siebner H (2026), 'Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to alleviate fatigue in multiple sclerosis—study protocol for a randomized sham-controlled double-blinded clinical trial', Frontiers in Neurology, 17, doi:10.3389/fneur.2026.1759679

Niess E, Niess F, Bogner W, Svatkova A, Herle M, Laußner L, Hingerl L, Strasser B, Pichler M, Konstantopoulou V, Hufgard-Leitner M, Buchinger D, Milenkovic I, Kautzky-Willer A, Stulnig T and Scherer T (2025), 'Myo-Inositol Deficiency, Structural Brain Changes, and Cerebral Perfusion Alterations in Classic Galactosemia: Preliminary Insights From a Multiparametric MRI Study', Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease, 48(6), doi:10.1002/jimd.70097

Svatkova A, Pasternak O, Eisengart JB, Rudser KD, Bednařík P, Mueller BA, Delaney KA, Shapiro EG, Whitley CB and Nestrašil I (2025), 'Diffusion tensor imaging with free-water correction reveals distinctions between severe and attenuated subtypes in Mucopolysaccharidosis type I', Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease, 48(1):1-15, doi:10.1002/jimd.12830

Horak T, Horakova M, Kerkovsky M, Dostal M, Hlustik P, Valosek J, Svatkova A, Bednařík P, Vlckova E and Bednarik J (2024), 'Evidence-based commentary on the diagnosis, management, and further research of degenerative cervical spinal cord compression in the absence of clinical symptoms of myelopathy', Frontiers in Neurology, 15:1-9, doi:10.3389/fneur.2024.1341371

David Ruban S, Skaarup Andersen N, Svatkova A and Fischer CP (2024), 'Neuroborreliosis Presenting as Encephalitis: A Case Report', Cureus, 16(4):57882, doi:10.7759/cureus.57882

Bednarik P, Goranovic D, Svatkova A, Niess F, Hingerl L, Strasser B, Deelchand DK, Spurny-Dworak B, Krssak M, Trattnig S, Hangel G, Scherer T, Lanzenberger R and Bogner W (2023), '1H magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging of deuterated glucose and of neurotransmitter metabolism at 7 T in the human brain', Nature Biomedical Engineering, 7(8):1001-1013, doi:10.1038/s41551-023-01035-z

Valošek J, Bednařík P, Keřkovský M, Hluštík P, Bednařík J and Svatkova A (2022), 'Quantitative MR Markers in Non-Myelopathic Spinal Cord Compression: A Narrative Review', Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(9):1-21, doi:10.3390/jcm11092301

Horáková M, Horák T, Valošek J, Rohan T, Koriťáková E, Dostál M, Kočica J, Skutil T, Keřkovský M, Kadaňka Z, Bednařík P, Svátková A, Hluštík P and Bednařík J (2022), 'Semi-automated detection of cervical spinal cord compression with the Spinal Cord Toolbox', Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery, 12(4):2261-2279, doi:10.21037/qims-21-782


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