Towards Reliable Diffusion MRI of Moving Organs
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Medical Physics and Biomedical Eng
Abstract
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Organisations
- University College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- University of Manchester (Collaboration)
- University of Sheffield (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW (Collaboration)
- Institute of Cancer Research UK (Collaboration)
- Newcastle University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS (Collaboration)
- Philips Healthcare (Collaboration)
- Skope (Collaboration)
- KING'S COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
Publications
Bonet-Carne E
(2019)
VERDICT-AMICO: Ultrafast fitting algorithm for non-invasive prostate microstructure characterization.
in NMR in biomedicine
Bray T. J. P.
(2016)
QUANTITATIVE APPARENT DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT MEASUREMENTS ARE A MORE REPEATABLE MEASURE OF SACROILIITIS THAN VISUAL SCORING IN YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ENTHESITIS-RELATED ARTHRITIS
in CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY
Bray T. J. P.
(2016)
QUANTIFICATION OF SACROILIAC JOINT INFLAMMATION USING DIFFUSION-WEIGHTED IMAGING IN YOUNG PEOPLE: BIOLOGICAL VALIDATION IN ENTHESITIS-RELATED ARTHRITIS
in CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY
Bray TJ
(2016)
Association of the apparent diffusion coefficient with maturity in adolescent sacroiliac joints.
in Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI
Campbell-Washburn AE
(2016)
Using the robust principal component analysis algorithm to remove RF spike artifacts from MR images.
in Magnetic resonance in medicine
Chan RW
(2014)
High-resolution diffusion tensor imaging of the human kidneys using a free-breathing, multi-slice, targeted field of view approach.
in NMR in biomedicine
Chan RW
(2014)
Characterization and correction of eddy-current artifacts in unipolar and bipolar diffusion sequences using magnetic field monitoring.
in Journal of magnetic resonance (San Diego, Calif. : 1997)
Description | We developed Magnetic Resonance sequences that can show us the directions of the muscle fibres within the in-vivo heart. The fibre directions are important because these muscle fibres are responsible for the beating of the heart and the pumping of blood around the body and do change in various relevant cardiovascular diseases. We were able to produce 3D visualizations of these cardiac muscle fibres of the in-vivo human heart for the first time. For the kidney, we modified sequences to achieve high resolution diffusion imaging of the kidney during free breathing. Diffusion imaging in the kidney has the potential to provide information about the microstructural environment and health of the kidney. With colleagues from the UCL Centre for Medical Image Computing, we developed diffusion sequences that reveal micro structural information about prostate cancer. As well as developing novel sequences, we have provided insight into how to handle the inherent noise in diffusion scans and built models linking diffusion and other MR properties to histological findings in prostate cancer. To elucidate microstructural changes in relation to cardiac remodelling in congenital and acquired heart diseases, we translated our imaging tools into the clinical setting and acquired data in patients with systemic right ventricles and in patients with dilated cardiomyopathies in cooperation with cardiology colleagues at KCL. Marked differences of cardiac muscle architecture was detected relative to data from healthy subjects indicating the potential of our method to improve the diagnosis of cardiac patients. Beyond the visualisation and quantification of cardiac muscle architecture, we also explored the possibility to image tissue perfusion in the heart using diffusion weighted imaging. Such an approach may allow to replace contrast agent based perfusion imaging in the future. We had access to one of the first commercial field cameras for the highly accurate mapping of magnetic fields within an MRI scanner. Using this we were able to characterise and publish some of the unwanted fields that compromise the accuracy of diffusion imaging. We further showed that knowledge of unwanted fields permits the correction of biases to yield accurate diffusion metrics. With the availability of detailed information on in-vivo human cardiac muscle architecture, computer-based biomechanical modelling can be taken to the next level. To this end, collaborations with modelling experts at KCL have been initiated. It is expected that this work will lead to new insights regarding the mechanisms of congenital and failing hearts in the future. |
Exploitation Route | The MR sequences and acquisition strategies that we developed for imaging of the heart and kidney may be taken forward by other academic centres and industry, using the information that we have published. The 'INNOVATE' single centre trial of 360 prostate cancer patients has started using the diffusion imaging scheme we helped to develop. An EU COST action on kidney imaging led by Leeds University has been funded. The distortion reduction methods have formed the basis of a Cancer Research UK grant awarded to UCL, in this case applied to prostate cancer imaging. Our published findings using the field camera will inform academic and industrial development. Newer generations of the camera are being marketed by Skope Magnetic Resonance Technologies and benefiting researchers worldwide, including in the UK, Oxford and Nottingham Universities. The measurement and reconstruction methods we developed for cardiac diffusion tensor imaging provide journal publications and datasets that will be available from a public repository. These will inform models of heart structure and function in disease that could provide new insights into cardiac disease mechanisms. |
Sectors | Healthcare |
Description | This was a highly technical project requiring persistence from skilled people to acquire, process and interpret data. In addition, considerable efforts were spent to translate the imaging technology into the experimental and clinical setting and provide first evidence of the value of diffusion imaging in patients. As a result of the work a number of tangible projects have been launched: * a single centre trial on 20 patients with aortic stenosis and 12 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy has started to reveal structural remodelling of the heart and its recovery after intervention. * a single centre trial of 360 patients on prostate cancer diagnosis was started. This trial uses a diffusion imaging acquisition developed by the PostDoc on this grant. Promising results have been published in Radiology. * we expect the information we published on diffusion imaging from moving kidneys to become part of the normative data on healthy kidneys. * we are due to launch a cardiac atlas that will be available publicly providing data for in-depth analysis of cardiac mechanics. * we have initiated collaborations with cardiac modelling experts to gain further insights into the mechanisms leading to cardiac remodelling. * partly as a consequence of this work, we have contributed to the diffusion component of the developing international standard for MRI raw data that is independent of vendor. * some of the methods developed in this grant for the reduction of distortions in cardiac imaging have formed part of a successful grant application to Cancer Research UK for distortion correction in prostate MR imaging - something that frequently hampers cancer diagnosis. * the methods developed for imaging the heart have formed the basis to successfully recruit funding for investigating the efficacy of stem-cell based cardiac repair. |
Sector | Healthcare |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | London Cancer - prostate |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | COST ACTION |
Amount | € 400,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | CA16103 |
Organisation | European Union |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 03/2017 |
End | 04/2021 |
Description | CRUK Multidisciplinary Project Award |
Amount | £389,793 (GBP) |
Funding ID | C35706/A21099 |
Organisation | Cancer Research UK |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2016 |
End | 03/2019 |
Description | ISMRM Educational Stipend |
Amount | £270 (GBP) |
Organisation | International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 03/2013 |
End | 05/2013 |
Description | ISMRM Educational Stipend |
Amount | £270 (GBP) |
Organisation | International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 03/2013 |
End | 05/2013 |
Title | Cardiac atlas |
Description | We are assembling a cardiac atlas (database of cardiac fibre directions inferred from diffusion MRI). |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Database is not yet live. |
Description | King's College London |
Organisation | King's College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | PHILIPS HEALTHCARE |
Organisation | Philips Healthcare |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Feedback of our research results to the collaborator. Feedback on the collaborator's clinical and research products. |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific advice, access to clinical scientists with knowledge of MRI hardware and software. Provision of pulse programming software environment and works in progress packages to enable clinical research. |
Impact | This collaboration enables the research we do using Philips MR systems. |
Description | SKOPE |
Organisation | Skope |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Feedback of experience using early version of field camera |
Collaborator Contribution | Supply of field camera, advice, software. |
Impact | Publication using field camera: Chan et al, J Magn Reson 244 pp74-84 (2014) |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | UK Renal Imaging Network |
Organisation | Institute of Cancer Research UK |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in kidney renal diffusion imaging. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners have formed the UK Renal Imaging network to bring together research in kidney imaging and promote best clinical practice. |
Impact | Mailing list, network meetings, support funding from Kidney Research UK. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | UK Renal Imaging Network |
Organisation | King's College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in kidney renal diffusion imaging. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners have formed the UK Renal Imaging network to bring together research in kidney imaging and promote best clinical practice. |
Impact | Mailing list, network meetings, support funding from Kidney Research UK. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | UK Renal Imaging Network |
Organisation | Newcastle University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in kidney renal diffusion imaging. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners have formed the UK Renal Imaging network to bring together research in kidney imaging and promote best clinical practice. |
Impact | Mailing list, network meetings, support funding from Kidney Research UK. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | UK Renal Imaging Network |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in kidney renal diffusion imaging. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners have formed the UK Renal Imaging network to bring together research in kidney imaging and promote best clinical practice. |
Impact | Mailing list, network meetings, support funding from Kidney Research UK. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | UK Renal Imaging Network |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in kidney renal diffusion imaging. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners have formed the UK Renal Imaging network to bring together research in kidney imaging and promote best clinical practice. |
Impact | Mailing list, network meetings, support funding from Kidney Research UK. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | UK Renal Imaging Network |
Organisation | University of Leeds |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in kidney renal diffusion imaging. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners have formed the UK Renal Imaging network to bring together research in kidney imaging and promote best clinical practice. |
Impact | Mailing list, network meetings, support funding from Kidney Research UK. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | UK Renal Imaging Network |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in kidney renal diffusion imaging. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners have formed the UK Renal Imaging network to bring together research in kidney imaging and promote best clinical practice. |
Impact | Mailing list, network meetings, support funding from Kidney Research UK. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | UK Renal Imaging Network |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in kidney renal diffusion imaging. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners have formed the UK Renal Imaging network to bring together research in kidney imaging and promote best clinical practice. |
Impact | Mailing list, network meetings, support funding from Kidney Research UK. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | UK Renal Imaging Network |
Organisation | University of Sheffield |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in kidney renal diffusion imaging. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners have formed the UK Renal Imaging network to bring together research in kidney imaging and promote best clinical practice. |
Impact | Mailing list, network meetings, support funding from Kidney Research UK. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Title | INNOVATE Trial |
Description | This is a 360-subject prospective cohort study combining serum and urinary biomarkers with novel diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for the prediction and characterization of prostate cancer. It is funded by Prostate Cancer UK. INNOVATE is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, with reference NCT02689271. |
Type | Diagnostic Tool - Imaging |
Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
Year Development Stage Completed | 2017 |
Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
Clinical Trial? | Yes |
Impact | Pilot work led to a publication in Investigative Radiology 50 (4), 218-227 (2015). |
URL | https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02689271 |
Title | ISMRMRD |
Description | ISMRMRD is a raw data format for MR image reconstruction. The format is specified in a publication (see DOI below), and in the code available from GitHub. The license used is the NIH Open Source license. Development is still active [March 2017] with regular collaborative meetings using Google Hangouts. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | This is a new international standard aimed at facilitating the sharing and validation of reconstruction algorithms for MRI data. |
URL | https://github.com/ismrmrd |