23Na MRI: New frontiers in clinical imaging and diagnostics
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
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Technical Summary
This proposal aims to apply recent technical developments in MRI to exploit the “untapped potential” of sodium (23Na) MRI to drive the translation of 23Na imaging from bespoke research to a clinical research tool. We propose to build on the MRC-led investment in MRI through the Clinical Research Capabilities & Technologies Initiative (CRCTI) award to the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre (SPMIC) at the University of Nottingham to establish a platform centre for high and ultra-high field 23Na clinical imaging to meet the following objectives:
1) Produce a set of optimised novel protocols for 23Na imaging that can be used at high and ultra-high magnetic field (3 and 7 Tesla) strengths in vivo. In addition, we will develop novel 23Na MR rheometry methods to study blood biomechanics in health and disease.
2) Apply these measures to study kidney disease as an exemplar clinical application to facilitate development of a wider range of 23Na imaging applications, including brain, lung, gut and musculoskeletal system.
3) Develop measures of tissue sodium content (TSC) and the cortico-medullary sodium gradient, sodium velocity and multiple quantum filtered (MQF) methods as markers of tubule and nephron function, tissue damage or fibrosis, and regional variation in glomerular filtration.
4) Apply TSC and MQF measures in skin/muscle, where tissue sodium accumulation may be a biomarker for a hypertensive kidney.
5) Develop novel data analysis methods for 23Na imaging for biomarker discovery and validation analytics.
To ensure sustainability of 23Na imaging expertise in the UK, a cohort of postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers, clinical research fellows, and associated clinical and non-clinical academic staff will receive training and acquire knowhow in this area. A focused workshop will also be organised to ensure effective knowledge transfer of the proposed innovations to wider academic and commercial research communities.
1) Produce a set of optimised novel protocols for 23Na imaging that can be used at high and ultra-high magnetic field (3 and 7 Tesla) strengths in vivo. In addition, we will develop novel 23Na MR rheometry methods to study blood biomechanics in health and disease.
2) Apply these measures to study kidney disease as an exemplar clinical application to facilitate development of a wider range of 23Na imaging applications, including brain, lung, gut and musculoskeletal system.
3) Develop measures of tissue sodium content (TSC) and the cortico-medullary sodium gradient, sodium velocity and multiple quantum filtered (MQF) methods as markers of tubule and nephron function, tissue damage or fibrosis, and regional variation in glomerular filtration.
4) Apply TSC and MQF measures in skin/muscle, where tissue sodium accumulation may be a biomarker for a hypertensive kidney.
5) Develop novel data analysis methods for 23Na imaging for biomarker discovery and validation analytics.
To ensure sustainability of 23Na imaging expertise in the UK, a cohort of postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers, clinical research fellows, and associated clinical and non-clinical academic staff will receive training and acquire knowhow in this area. A focused workshop will also be organised to ensure effective knowledge transfer of the proposed innovations to wider academic and commercial research communities.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Victoria Chapman (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Anisimov N
(2021)
MRI Coils Optimized for Detection of 1H and 23Na at 0.5 T
in Applied Magnetic Resonance
Benjamin Prestwich
(2018)
Sodium imaging with an UTE technique to study the effects of exercise on muscle
Bray J
(2020)
Operando visualisation of battery chemistry in a sodium-ion battery by 23Na magnetic resonance imaging
in Nature Communications
Canaud B
(2019)
Sodium and water handling during hemodialysis: new pathophysiologic insights and management approaches for improving outcomes in end-stage kidney disease.
in Kidney international
Hanson P
(2022)
Novel perspectives of sodium handling in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
in Expert review of endocrinology & metabolism
Hanson P
(2021)
Sodium in the dermis colocates to glycosaminoglycan scaffold, with diminishment in type 2 diabetes mellitus
in JCI Insight
Keppie SJ
(2021)
Matrix-Bound Growth Factors are Released upon Cartilage Compression by an Aggrecan-Dependent Sodium Flux that is Lost in Osteoarthritis.
in Function (Oxford, England)
Mahmoud H
(2016)
Imaging the kidney using magnetic resonance techniques: structure to function.
in Current opinion in nephrology and hypertension
Pavlovskaya GE
(2023)
A molecular-mechanical link in shear-induced self-assembly of a functionalized biopolymeric fluid.
in Soft matter
| Description | Biomedical Research Centre |
| Amount | £23,600,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2017 |
| End | 04/2022 |
| Description | Birmingham-Nottingham Strategic Collaboration Fund |
| Amount | £40,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Birmingham-Nottingham Strategic Collaboration Fund |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Confidence in Concept |
| Amount | £123,690 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Global Challenges Research Fund- Institutional Sponsorship grant with China/ Imaging in Precision Imaging Beacon |
| Amount | £8,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Research grant |
| Amount | £87,784 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Muscular Dystrophy UK |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2017 |
| End | 12/2018 |
| Description | Philips |
| Organisation | Phillips Healthcare |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Development of coils for sodium imaging. Implementation of multiple channel sodium imaging. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on development of sodium imaging |
| Impact | Collaboration is with industry |
| Start Year | 2006 |
| Description | Validating potential rheo-markers in human cartilage using multi-scale MRI approach |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | .Although cartilage degradation is the characteristic feature of osteoarthritis (OA), it is now recognized that the interaction or crosstalk between cartilage and subchondral bone is a central feature of this process. The interface between cartilage and bone is a unique zone, which comprises articular cartilage, below which is calcified cartilage that is anchored into the subchondral bone plate. In OA, there are well described progressive destructive changes in cartilage and subchondral bone that can be investigated using novel MRI techniques being developed in the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre (SPMIC). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Novel MRI approaches will assess the cartilage, chondral-synovial fluid interaction as well as the osteochondral junction under load, mirroring real-life situations. The very short T2 components of the osteochondral junction (which are invisible on conventional MRI) will be assessed using ultra-short echo time (UTE) MR sequences, facilitating investigation of osteochondral integrity and bone-cartilage crosstalk. We will identify and validate these novel rheo-markers in human knee joint tissues at ultra-high field and by detailed histology. |
| Impact | This study will combine expertise from within the Nottingham BRC, and Functional and Metabolic Imaging for Precision Medicine theme of the UoN Imaging Beacon, to validate potential rheo-markers in cartilage to provide 'early-discovery' MRI data in normal and OA joints. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | clinical mr solutions |
| Organisation | MR Solutions Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Working with MR coils to optimise coil design for sodium imaging of the kidneys at 3 Tesla |
| Collaborator Contribution | Building prototype coils for the development of 6 channel sodium coil |
| Impact | Sodium coil for body imaging at 3T |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Title | Development of 6 channel 23Na coil in collaboration with Clinical MR Solutions |
| Description | This is a 6 channel body receive sodium coil for which we have optimised the size of coil loops and performed SAR modelling. This allows improved imaging of the body and will be applied to other applications such as those in the NIHR BRC grant - 23Na imaging in the body to assess renal sodium retention in cirrhosis, and the use of 23Na imaging to study optimal perioperative fluid management for GI surgery. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Impact | Imaging of 23Na in the human body. |
| Title | Development of sodium surface coil for skin measures, and proton coil |
| Description | Development of sodium surface coil for skin imaging, and proton coil for imaging skin thickness. |
| Type Of Technology | Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Impact | Sodium skin coil measures |
| Title | Testing biofluids and tissues under shear/compression deformation fields |
| Description | The Discovery award has provided the infrastructure for testing biofluids and tissues under shear/compression deformation fields as this recreates cell's natural environment in the body. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Impact | The usage of 23Na detection to monitor these features is important as this creates special type of markers - rheo-markers- that can detected only in the presence of a deformation field. |
| Description | British Chapter ISMRM invited talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk at the British Chapter ISMRM conference on body imaging in which proton and sodium imaging was described. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | KRUK visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | Visit of kidney research UK, promoted work on sodium imaging. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |