Quantification of vascular and neuronal pathology in dementia using PET and MRI
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: School of Health Sciences
Abstract
The increasing occurrence of dementia within our ageing population is one of the pressing challenges facing society. Successful management of patients with dementia is significantly aided by early and accurate diagnosis. Imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) are already used in the diagnostic process; we believe that there is substantial scope for both methods to be improved to provide more precise and sensitive diagnostic information, and to do so in a way that is easily tolerated by patients. If we are correct in this belief, then the methods we develop within this project will not only help in early diagnosis, but may also help in the discovery of new therapies and in the longer term with helping doctors select the best therapeutic strategies for patients with different forms of dementia.
Imaging methods such as MRI and PET can tell us a lot more about brains than simply providing a picture of brain shape and size. We will focus on improving MRI and PET to be sensitive to two important microscopic aspects of dementia. Firstly, we will develop and validate new methods for measuring the loss of brain cells due to the condition; this loss is the cause of many of the symptoms of dementia, such as memory problems, and we hope to be able to detect these changes earlier than has previously been possible. Secondly we will develop and validate new methods for measuring changes in blood delivery to the brain and how this can affect oxygen delivery. These changes are thought to be part of one of the important processes involved in causing cell death and tissue loss, and are likely to be particularly relevant to vascular dementia.
We will also spend considerable time checking that the measurements we develop are both accurate and practical for application in dementia patients in the future. We will optimise the way in which the scanning processes take place so that the time required for patients to lie in the scanner(s) is minimised. This will be important for future adoption of these methods in the clinical environment.
Imaging methods such as MRI and PET can tell us a lot more about brains than simply providing a picture of brain shape and size. We will focus on improving MRI and PET to be sensitive to two important microscopic aspects of dementia. Firstly, we will develop and validate new methods for measuring the loss of brain cells due to the condition; this loss is the cause of many of the symptoms of dementia, such as memory problems, and we hope to be able to detect these changes earlier than has previously been possible. Secondly we will develop and validate new methods for measuring changes in blood delivery to the brain and how this can affect oxygen delivery. These changes are thought to be part of one of the important processes involved in causing cell death and tissue loss, and are likely to be particularly relevant to vascular dementia.
We will also spend considerable time checking that the measurements we develop are both accurate and practical for application in dementia patients in the future. We will optimise the way in which the scanning processes take place so that the time required for patients to lie in the scanner(s) is minimised. This will be important for future adoption of these methods in the clinical environment.
Planned Impact
The outputs of this research will benefit a range clinical and industrial sectors. The obvious clinical benefit is for neurology and gerontology, where the methods provided by this work will add to the toolkit available to clinicians to aid diagnosis and patient monitoring. Industrial beneficiaries are likely to include scanner manufacturers, such as Philips, Siemens (see letters of support) and GE, who are the major manufacturers of both PET and MRI scanners; more efficient and informative imaging methods are likely to increase demand for imaging equipment. The emerging field of PET+MRI hybrid systems is also likely to benefit from our work, which explicitly aims to maximise the combined information obtainable when these two modalities are used closely together. Imaging contract research, equipment and software companies also stand to benefit indirectly from our research (see letters of support from SMEs Icometrix and Bioxydyn), as we expect better imaging techniques to lead to more clinical trials of new therapies for dementia. The pharmaceutical industry will be the main industrial beneficiary of those trials; it will exploit better imaging methods to shorten trials and/or to run trials with fewer patients, as the effects of new drugs will be more readily apparent with more specific and sensitive imaging tools.
Ultimately the highest benefit of our proposed work will be felt by dementia patients and society at large. The pressing need for action on dementia within our ageing population highlights the need for earlier and more precise diagnosis. In time, patients will be provided with more appropriate treatments for their condition due to better diagnosis, and that treatment will start earlier; both factors are likely to have a significant impact on wellbeing by slowing disease progression. Healthcare systems will benefit from substantial cost savings by being able to treat earlier and more precisely, as the more severe (and costly to manage) symptoms of dementia are delayed and reduced due to better clinical decision making enabled by better diagnosis.
Ultimately the highest benefit of our proposed work will be felt by dementia patients and society at large. The pressing need for action on dementia within our ageing population highlights the need for earlier and more precise diagnosis. In time, patients will be provided with more appropriate treatments for their condition due to better diagnosis, and that treatment will start earlier; both factors are likely to have a significant impact on wellbeing by slowing disease progression. Healthcare systems will benefit from substantial cost savings by being able to treat earlier and more precisely, as the more severe (and costly to manage) symptoms of dementia are delayed and reduced due to better clinical decision making enabled by better diagnosis.
Organisations
- University of Manchester (Lead Research Organisation)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- University of Calgary (Collaboration)
- University of Newcastle (Collaboration)
- Newcastle University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- Hvidovre Hospital (Collaboration)
- University of Sheffield (Collaboration)
- Cardiff University (Collaboration)
- Stanford University (Collaboration)
- GE Healthcare Limited (Collaboration)
- Royal Preston Hospital (Collaboration)
- Philips Healthcare (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- KING'S COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Philips (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Bioxydyn Limited (Project Partner)
- University College London (Project Partner)
- National Institute for Health Research (Project Partner)
- Siemens plc (UK) (Project Partner)
- Leiden University Medical Center (Project Partner)
- Icometrix (Belgium) (Project Partner)
Publications
Loughnan RJ
(2016)
Determination of Microvascular Parameters from Diffusion-Weighted Images
Loughnan RJ
(2016)
Determination of Microvascular Parameters from Diffusion-Weighted Images
McFadden J
(2019)
Optimisation of QSM measurements of venous oxygen saturation
McFadden JJ
(2021)
Optimization of quantitative susceptibility mapping for regional estimation of oxygen extraction fraction in the brain.
in Magnetic resonance in medicine
Mitsides N
(2019)
Extracellular resistance is sensitive to tissue sodium status; implications for bioimpedance-derived fluid volume parameters in chronic kidney disease
in Journal of Nephrology
Powell E
(2023)
Blood-brain barrier water exchange measurements using FEXI: Impact of modeling paradigm and relaxation time effects.
in Magnetic resonance in medicine
| Description | Water exchange across the blood brain barrier is altered in a model of early Alzheimer's disease. Water exchange measurements are feasible in both model systems and in humans. |
| Exploitation Route | Improved early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. |
| Sectors | Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | Brief all-in-one diagnostic MR-PET scan to predict progression to Alzheimer dementia in MCI patients |
| Amount | £383,580 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 531 |
| Organisation | Alzheimer's Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| End | 09/2023 |
| Description | Combined PET-MR biomarkers to understand mechanisms of neurodegeneration |
| Amount | £285,126 (GBP) |
| Organisation | GE Healthcare Limited |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2020 |
| End | 11/2022 |
| Description | Development of Measurements of Subtle Blood-Brain Barrier Damage in Multiple Sclerosis |
| Amount | £120,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 08/2023 |
| Description | Imaging blood-brain barrier disruption post-stroke |
| Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2021 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | Imaging early blood-brain barrier dysfunction in dementia |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 2453618 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | Institutional Strategic Support Fund |
| Amount | £12,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2016 |
| End | 04/2017 |
| Description | MRC confidence in concept |
| Amount | £97,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2018 |
| End | 01/2020 |
| Description | MRC/UoM Momentum award for dementia research |
| Amount | £750,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2017 |
| End | 01/2019 |
| Description | Simultaneous PET-MRI in the brain to measure changes in dementia |
| Amount | £70,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | GE Healthcare Limited |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2017 |
| End | 01/2021 |
| Description | Strategic Support Fund for Public Engagement |
| Amount | £2,400 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 10/2016 |
| Description | Water Exchange in the Vasculature of the Brain (WEX-BRAIN) |
| Amount | £86,059 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/S031375/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 10/2022 |
| Description | Water exchange in the vasculature of the brain (WEX-BRAIN) |
| Amount | £800,509 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/S031510/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 11/2022 |
| Description | Water exchange in the vasculature of the brain (WEX-BRAIN) |
| Amount | £13,082 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/S031367/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2019 |
| End | 07/2022 |
| Description | Water exchange in the vasculature of the brain (WEX-BRAIN) |
| Amount | £20,969 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/S031332/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 10/2022 |
| Description | Collaboration on phantoms for diffusion and perfusion MRI |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Department | Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Production of electrospun phantoms for diffusion and perfusion MRI |
| Collaborator Contribution | Development of models of DWI signal in the presence of diffusion and perfusion; histological validation. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary: physics, computer science, materials science, neuroscience, radiology, cancer biology |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Collaboration on phantoms for diffusion and perfusion MRI |
| Organisation | Hvidovre Hospital |
| Country | Denmark |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | Production of electrospun phantoms for diffusion and perfusion MRI |
| Collaborator Contribution | Development of models of DWI signal in the presence of diffusion and perfusion; histological validation. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary: physics, computer science, materials science, neuroscience, radiology, cancer biology |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Collaboration on phantoms for diffusion and perfusion MRI |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Production of electrospun phantoms for diffusion and perfusion MRI |
| Collaborator Contribution | Development of models of DWI signal in the presence of diffusion and perfusion; histological validation. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary: physics, computer science, materials science, neuroscience, radiology, cancer biology |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Collaboration on phantoms for diffusion and perfusion MRI |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Production of electrospun phantoms for diffusion and perfusion MRI |
| Collaborator Contribution | Development of models of DWI signal in the presence of diffusion and perfusion; histological validation. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary: physics, computer science, materials science, neuroscience, radiology, cancer biology |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | DPUK Imaging Network |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am MRI lead for Manchester for the Dementia Platform UK Initiative and take part in regular teleconference calls with the rest of the network My team and I provide MRI protocol advice and implementation for dementia imaging studies at the University of Manchester and work to harmonise protocols across the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members from the partner organisations have been very helpful in discussions on best practice regarding MRI protocols to ensure we are implementing the most appropriate techniques for each study. |
| Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving physicists, engineers, mathematicians and radiologists. One output is a research grant from Alzheimer's Research UK to harmonise MRI protocols between the sites. I am a collaborator on this grant which is led by Dr. David Thomas, UCL. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | DPUK Imaging Network |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am MRI lead for Manchester for the Dementia Platform UK Initiative and take part in regular teleconference calls with the rest of the network My team and I provide MRI protocol advice and implementation for dementia imaging studies at the University of Manchester and work to harmonise protocols across the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members from the partner organisations have been very helpful in discussions on best practice regarding MRI protocols to ensure we are implementing the most appropriate techniques for each study. |
| Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving physicists, engineers, mathematicians and radiologists. One output is a research grant from Alzheimer's Research UK to harmonise MRI protocols between the sites. I am a collaborator on this grant which is led by Dr. David Thomas, UCL. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | DPUK Imaging Network |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am MRI lead for Manchester for the Dementia Platform UK Initiative and take part in regular teleconference calls with the rest of the network My team and I provide MRI protocol advice and implementation for dementia imaging studies at the University of Manchester and work to harmonise protocols across the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members from the partner organisations have been very helpful in discussions on best practice regarding MRI protocols to ensure we are implementing the most appropriate techniques for each study. |
| Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving physicists, engineers, mathematicians and radiologists. One output is a research grant from Alzheimer's Research UK to harmonise MRI protocols between the sites. I am a collaborator on this grant which is led by Dr. David Thomas, UCL. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | DPUK Imaging Network |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am MRI lead for Manchester for the Dementia Platform UK Initiative and take part in regular teleconference calls with the rest of the network My team and I provide MRI protocol advice and implementation for dementia imaging studies at the University of Manchester and work to harmonise protocols across the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members from the partner organisations have been very helpful in discussions on best practice regarding MRI protocols to ensure we are implementing the most appropriate techniques for each study. |
| Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving physicists, engineers, mathematicians and radiologists. One output is a research grant from Alzheimer's Research UK to harmonise MRI protocols between the sites. I am a collaborator on this grant which is led by Dr. David Thomas, UCL. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | DPUK Imaging Network |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am MRI lead for Manchester for the Dementia Platform UK Initiative and take part in regular teleconference calls with the rest of the network My team and I provide MRI protocol advice and implementation for dementia imaging studies at the University of Manchester and work to harmonise protocols across the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members from the partner organisations have been very helpful in discussions on best practice regarding MRI protocols to ensure we are implementing the most appropriate techniques for each study. |
| Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving physicists, engineers, mathematicians and radiologists. One output is a research grant from Alzheimer's Research UK to harmonise MRI protocols between the sites. I am a collaborator on this grant which is led by Dr. David Thomas, UCL. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | DPUK Imaging Network |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am MRI lead for Manchester for the Dementia Platform UK Initiative and take part in regular teleconference calls with the rest of the network My team and I provide MRI protocol advice and implementation for dementia imaging studies at the University of Manchester and work to harmonise protocols across the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members from the partner organisations have been very helpful in discussions on best practice regarding MRI protocols to ensure we are implementing the most appropriate techniques for each study. |
| Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving physicists, engineers, mathematicians and radiologists. One output is a research grant from Alzheimer's Research UK to harmonise MRI protocols between the sites. I am a collaborator on this grant which is led by Dr. David Thomas, UCL. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | DPUK Imaging Network |
| Organisation | University of Newcastle |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am MRI lead for Manchester for the Dementia Platform UK Initiative and take part in regular teleconference calls with the rest of the network My team and I provide MRI protocol advice and implementation for dementia imaging studies at the University of Manchester and work to harmonise protocols across the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members from the partner organisations have been very helpful in discussions on best practice regarding MRI protocols to ensure we are implementing the most appropriate techniques for each study. |
| Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving physicists, engineers, mathematicians and radiologists. One output is a research grant from Alzheimer's Research UK to harmonise MRI protocols between the sites. I am a collaborator on this grant which is led by Dr. David Thomas, UCL. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | DPUK Imaging Network |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am MRI lead for Manchester for the Dementia Platform UK Initiative and take part in regular teleconference calls with the rest of the network My team and I provide MRI protocol advice and implementation for dementia imaging studies at the University of Manchester and work to harmonise protocols across the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members from the partner organisations have been very helpful in discussions on best practice regarding MRI protocols to ensure we are implementing the most appropriate techniques for each study. |
| Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving physicists, engineers, mathematicians and radiologists. One output is a research grant from Alzheimer's Research UK to harmonise MRI protocols between the sites. I am a collaborator on this grant which is led by Dr. David Thomas, UCL. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Development of MR-PET methods |
| Organisation | GE Healthcare Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | New MRI and PET methods |
| Collaborator Contribution | Implementation on GE MR-PET systems |
| Impact | None to date |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Development of MRI methods |
| Organisation | Philips Healthcare |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | New MRI methods |
| Collaborator Contribution | Implementation of the methods on Philips scanners |
| Impact | Conference proceedings and journal publications |
| Description | Marion Buckwalter at Stanford |
| Organisation | Stanford University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Implementation of a dynamic contrast-enhanced protocol to the MRI scanner in Stanford in order to collect images of blood-brain barrier leakage. This will be used in a multi-centre study (including Columbia and Manchester) of people after stroke to understand how barrier breakdown contributes to cognitive decline. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NIH grant submitted to extend ongoing work at all 3 centres. Stanford contributes additional patients and expertise with regards to mechanistic understanding. |
| Impact | MRC grant and NIH grant submissions. Multi-disciplinary involving neuroimaging, neuroinflammation, stroke and cognitive neuroscience |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Partnership grant collaboration |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have been providing infrastructure for internal communication: • Organise monthly WEBEX/TC for the executive team and all task groups • Organise F2F task group meetings as needed • Establish and maintain the SOP database • Facilitate discussion of scientific perspectives and funding opportunities • Quarterly monitoring of task group progress and deliverables • Compilation of quarterly task group reports for the steering committee • Annual reporting to the MRC DPUK oversight board My local Co-I Julian Matthews is leading as CI on the ongoing harmonisation study (test-retest across the network in 42 normal volunteers) to ensure a standardised methodology of acquisition, image reconstruction and data analysis, which is imperative for the development of biomarkers sensitive to differential diagnosis and robust across scanners and protocols within the DPUK compliant nodes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-Investigators at partner universities have been co-leading on workpackages on communication, training, harmonisation, and governance. |
| Impact | Still ongoing |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Partnership grant collaboration |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have been providing infrastructure for internal communication: • Organise monthly WEBEX/TC for the executive team and all task groups • Organise F2F task group meetings as needed • Establish and maintain the SOP database • Facilitate discussion of scientific perspectives and funding opportunities • Quarterly monitoring of task group progress and deliverables • Compilation of quarterly task group reports for the steering committee • Annual reporting to the MRC DPUK oversight board My local Co-I Julian Matthews is leading as CI on the ongoing harmonisation study (test-retest across the network in 42 normal volunteers) to ensure a standardised methodology of acquisition, image reconstruction and data analysis, which is imperative for the development of biomarkers sensitive to differential diagnosis and robust across scanners and protocols within the DPUK compliant nodes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-Investigators at partner universities have been co-leading on workpackages on communication, training, harmonisation, and governance. |
| Impact | Still ongoing |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Partnership grant collaboration |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have been providing infrastructure for internal communication: • Organise monthly WEBEX/TC for the executive team and all task groups • Organise F2F task group meetings as needed • Establish and maintain the SOP database • Facilitate discussion of scientific perspectives and funding opportunities • Quarterly monitoring of task group progress and deliverables • Compilation of quarterly task group reports for the steering committee • Annual reporting to the MRC DPUK oversight board My local Co-I Julian Matthews is leading as CI on the ongoing harmonisation study (test-retest across the network in 42 normal volunteers) to ensure a standardised methodology of acquisition, image reconstruction and data analysis, which is imperative for the development of biomarkers sensitive to differential diagnosis and robust across scanners and protocols within the DPUK compliant nodes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-Investigators at partner universities have been co-leading on workpackages on communication, training, harmonisation, and governance. |
| Impact | Still ongoing |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Partnership grant collaboration |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have been providing infrastructure for internal communication: • Organise monthly WEBEX/TC for the executive team and all task groups • Organise F2F task group meetings as needed • Establish and maintain the SOP database • Facilitate discussion of scientific perspectives and funding opportunities • Quarterly monitoring of task group progress and deliverables • Compilation of quarterly task group reports for the steering committee • Annual reporting to the MRC DPUK oversight board My local Co-I Julian Matthews is leading as CI on the ongoing harmonisation study (test-retest across the network in 42 normal volunteers) to ensure a standardised methodology of acquisition, image reconstruction and data analysis, which is imperative for the development of biomarkers sensitive to differential diagnosis and robust across scanners and protocols within the DPUK compliant nodes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-Investigators at partner universities have been co-leading on workpackages on communication, training, harmonisation, and governance. |
| Impact | Still ongoing |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Partnership grant collaboration |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Cambridge Neuroscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have been providing infrastructure for internal communication: • Organise monthly WEBEX/TC for the executive team and all task groups • Organise F2F task group meetings as needed • Establish and maintain the SOP database • Facilitate discussion of scientific perspectives and funding opportunities • Quarterly monitoring of task group progress and deliverables • Compilation of quarterly task group reports for the steering committee • Annual reporting to the MRC DPUK oversight board My local Co-I Julian Matthews is leading as CI on the ongoing harmonisation study (test-retest across the network in 42 normal volunteers) to ensure a standardised methodology of acquisition, image reconstruction and data analysis, which is imperative for the development of biomarkers sensitive to differential diagnosis and robust across scanners and protocols within the DPUK compliant nodes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-Investigators at partner universities have been co-leading on workpackages on communication, training, harmonisation, and governance. |
| Impact | Still ongoing |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Partnership grant collaboration |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | Edinburgh Neuroscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have been providing infrastructure for internal communication: • Organise monthly WEBEX/TC for the executive team and all task groups • Organise F2F task group meetings as needed • Establish and maintain the SOP database • Facilitate discussion of scientific perspectives and funding opportunities • Quarterly monitoring of task group progress and deliverables • Compilation of quarterly task group reports for the steering committee • Annual reporting to the MRC DPUK oversight board My local Co-I Julian Matthews is leading as CI on the ongoing harmonisation study (test-retest across the network in 42 normal volunteers) to ensure a standardised methodology of acquisition, image reconstruction and data analysis, which is imperative for the development of biomarkers sensitive to differential diagnosis and robust across scanners and protocols within the DPUK compliant nodes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-Investigators at partner universities have been co-leading on workpackages on communication, training, harmonisation, and governance. |
| Impact | Still ongoing |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Phil Barber at Calgary |
| Organisation | University of Calgary |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Analysis of MRI images to produce quantitative susceptibility maps and so estimate blood oxygenation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of MRI images from ~400 people with cerebrovascular disease. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary: neuroimaging, neurology, stroke |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Preston |
| Organisation | Royal Preston Hospital |
| Department | Neurology Department |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | I have jointly supervised medical students and clinical fellows on dissertation projects and PhDs, providing advice on implementation and analysis of imaging measurements. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint supervision of medical students and clinical fellows on dissertation projects and PhDs, providing advice on clinical mechanisms and impact. |
| Impact | This long-term research partnership with neurologist Prof. Emsley has resulted in many publications: Al-Bachari S, Vidyasagar R, Emsley HCA, Parkes LM, 'Structural and Physiological Neurovascular Changes in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease and its Clinical Phenotypes' Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, in press [2017]. Hanby MF, Al-Bachari S, Makin F, Vidyasagar R, Parkes LM, Emsley HCA, 'Structural and physiological MRI correlates of occult cerebrovascular disease in late-onset epilepsy.' Neuroimage Clinical 9:128-133, Sept [2015]. DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2015.07.016 Al-Bachari S, Parkes LM, Vidyasagar R, Hanby MF, Tharaken V, Leroi I, Emsley H, 'Arterial Spin Labeling Reveals Prolonged Arterial Arrival Time in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease.' Neuroimage Clinical 6:1-8 [2014]. DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2014.07.014 Gibson LM, Hanby M, Al-bachari S, Parkes LM, Allan SM, Emsley HCA, 'Late Onset Epilepsy and Occult Cerebrovascular Disease' JCBFM 34(4):564-570 April [2014]. DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2014.25 Maxwell H, Hanby M, Parkes LM, Gibson L, Coutinho C, Emsley HCA, 'Prevalence and subtypes of radiological cerebrovascular disease in late-onset isolated seizures and epilepsy' Clin Neurol and Neurosurgery 115(5): 591-596 May [2013]. DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2012.07.009 Mohtasib RS, Lumley G, Goodwin JA, Emsley HCA, Sluming V, Parkes LM 'Calibrated fMRI during a cognitive Stroop task reveals reduced metabolic response with increasing age' Neuroimage 59:2 1143-1151 Jan [2012]. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.07.092 Gibson LM, Allan SM, Parkes LM, Emsley HC 'Occult cerebrovascular disease and late onset epilepsy: could loss of neurovascular unit integrity be a viable model?' Cardiovascular Psychiatry and Neurology 2011:130406. Epub Mar [2011]. DOI: 10.1155/2011/130406 And a number of research grants: 2012 - 2016 Cerebrovascular Mechanisms of Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease; Correlations with Clinical Phenotypes and Features. Biomedical Imaging Institute Studentship. Grant Holders: Laura Parkes (PI), Hedley Emsley (£70k). 2012 -2013 Investigating comorbid cerebrovascular disease in idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust and the Neuroscience Research Institute, University of Manchester. Grant holders: Laura Parkes (PI), Hedley Emsley and Ira Leroi. (£32k). |
| Start Year | 2006 |
| Description | Water exchange measurements in multiple sclerosis |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Contribution of methodological expertise on water exchange measurements based on those developed within the grant. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and supervision for PhD studentship. |
| Impact | Collaboration is multidisciplinary, with physics and neurology input. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Big Brain 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A 'hands-on' 2 day event for local school children aged 13 - 14. I led a theme on brain imaging with the aim of highlighting the need for physics and maths in brain imaging not just biology. Children were engaged and asked many questions. They enjoyed the day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Brainbox 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Brainbox event was held in Manchester town hall on 'Manchester day' and attracted over 5000 members of the public. My team ran one of 8 themes on neuroimaging. Our exhibit explain how imaging techniques work (eg MRI, EEG, PET), the importance of physical scientists in this work, and the impact of imaging technologies on neuroscience research and healthcare. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://mcrbrainbox.wordpress.com/legacy/ |
| Description | British Science Week 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This was a week long event attracting hundreds of local school children (secondary and primary) to tour the exhibition. I led a theme on neuroimaging in action. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Invited speaker to the University of Manchester Undergraduate Medical and biophysics Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 20 physics undergraduates with an interest in medical imaging career attended the talk. I described my research and different possible career paths to inspire and encourage students into the field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Keynote speaker at Christie medical physics evening |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 140 'A' level school children attended. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Presentation at the National Student Conference of the Academy of Medical Sciences |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presented on 'Imaging in neurology and neuroscience' to a group of medical students to enthuse them on the role of imaging in medical research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | Pre-2006,2017 |
| Description | Recover academy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Led a presentation and discussion on brain imaging in dementia to patient and carers and health professionals as part of the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust 'Recover academy'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | ScienceGrrl event at MOSI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was one of a team of female scientists at the Museum of Science and Industry. We roamed the Museum carrying gadgets and engaged children in our work and explained what we do and what the gadget is for. Specifically aimed at changing people's perception of 'what a scientist looks like' and engaging young girls in science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Talk to U3A Stockport |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of Research findings to the U3A group, some of whom had participated in the research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |