A Novel Integrated Multi-Scale Magnetic Resonance Imaging Biosensor System

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used as a safe 'window' into the body by basic science and clinical researchers to 'see' changes in biological molecules or structure without surgery or biopsy, to assess disease or effects of therapy. The project aims to produce a system of integrated devices to be sensitive to detecting low amounts of MRI signals from the brain of live subjects, isolated brain samples, and especially from multiple, very thin, 'microscopy-sized' brain tissue sections. MRI of the latter is innovative and offers the researcher with the ability to get closer to studying small brain changes approaching those seen by microscopy, and then extrapolate such findings to data from isolated brain samples and live subjects where data has to be acquired relatively quickly and at a larger level than that of tissue sections. The ultimate aim of this project is to extend the use of MRI in the biosciences and negate the need for biopsy and potential risks of damage to the body.