Advanced Clinical Cardiovascular MR Imaging and Spectroscopy at 7 Tesla
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: RDM Cardiovascular Medicine
Abstract
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allows us to image the inside of the human body non-invasively. Pioneered in the brain this technique has become invaluable over the last 5-10 years for imaging the heart in the clinic. MRI scanners operate at a magnetic field strength of 1.5 Tesla. Increasing the magnetic field strength can provide higher image quality and we have pioneered the use of 3 Tesla scanners. The highest commercially available human field strength is 7 Tesla, which is our next step.
Imaging at higher field strength results in more signal, and thus, the images are obtained quicker, or with higher spatial resolution. The areas that we will develop are those that are limited by low SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) at 1.5 and 3 Tesla. These include imaging the coronary arteries and the energy-rich metabolites in the human heart. Coronary artery imaging is important as these vessels are critical to supplying blood to the heart (blockages cause ?heart attack?). The higher SNR of 7T will allow us to image the blood and walls of these vessels at higher resolution than has previously been possible with MRI enabling us to visualise small plaques and subtle damage. The metabolic condition of the heart is another important area of research where we in Oxford are world leaders. A technique called MRS (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) shows the biochemistry of the heart. Levels of phosphocreatine and adenosine triphosphate, which are essential energy-providing metabolites, can give an indication of damage even before functional changes become apparent. At 7T, the higher spatial resolution enables the MRS examination of small regions in the heart, equivalent to those presently required in clinical examination (this is impossible at lower field). Additional projects will build on these methods to look at oxygen supply, the degree of fibrous scar tissue, and the blood supply from small vessels in the heart.
Clinically these developments have the potential to transform MR imaging of cardiac metabolism, oxygenation, and coronary plaque biology from a niche research tool into a mainstream diagnostic measure that can treat the patient as an individual, enabling doctors to monitor the progress of a disease or the response to therapy over time. These techniques would contribute significantly to improving cardiovascular health and to relieving the burden of cardiovascular disease. Our plans are highly novel, and we would be the first site in the UK, and probably in Europe, developing cardiac MR at 7T.
Imaging at higher field strength results in more signal, and thus, the images are obtained quicker, or with higher spatial resolution. The areas that we will develop are those that are limited by low SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) at 1.5 and 3 Tesla. These include imaging the coronary arteries and the energy-rich metabolites in the human heart. Coronary artery imaging is important as these vessels are critical to supplying blood to the heart (blockages cause ?heart attack?). The higher SNR of 7T will allow us to image the blood and walls of these vessels at higher resolution than has previously been possible with MRI enabling us to visualise small plaques and subtle damage. The metabolic condition of the heart is another important area of research where we in Oxford are world leaders. A technique called MRS (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) shows the biochemistry of the heart. Levels of phosphocreatine and adenosine triphosphate, which are essential energy-providing metabolites, can give an indication of damage even before functional changes become apparent. At 7T, the higher spatial resolution enables the MRS examination of small regions in the heart, equivalent to those presently required in clinical examination (this is impossible at lower field). Additional projects will build on these methods to look at oxygen supply, the degree of fibrous scar tissue, and the blood supply from small vessels in the heart.
Clinically these developments have the potential to transform MR imaging of cardiac metabolism, oxygenation, and coronary plaque biology from a niche research tool into a mainstream diagnostic measure that can treat the patient as an individual, enabling doctors to monitor the progress of a disease or the response to therapy over time. These techniques would contribute significantly to improving cardiovascular health and to relieving the burden of cardiovascular disease. Our plans are highly novel, and we would be the first site in the UK, and probably in Europe, developing cardiac MR at 7T.
Technical Summary
MR imaging of the cardiovascular system (CMR imaging) has made a huge clinical and scientific impact. Currently, CMR is performed at field strengths of either 1.5 or 3 Tesla (T). Here, CMR allows analysis of cardiac anatomy, function, viability and perfusion. CMR can offer much deeper insight into cardiac pathophysiology, as it is capable of providing accurate information about cardiac metabolism and oxygenation, coronary lumen anatomy and atherosclerotic plaque. However, these advanced CMR applications currently are severely limited by their low resolution and reproducibility. While 3T, compared to 1.5T, provides resolution gains in the right direction, these are insufficient. Our understanding of the major epidemic diseases in Cardiology, ischemic heart disease and heart failure, would benefit greatly from reliable and highly reproducible non-invasive characterisation of these advanced parameters. This would allow fundamentally novel insights into disease mechanisms and treatment effects. We aim to be at the leading edge of this new development by obtaining a high-field (7T) imaging system as a platform from which these highly desirable goals can be made a reality. In a collaborative effort (with local, national and international MR Physics partners), we will develop CMR methods at 7T, the first such effort in the UK (and probably in Europe). MR physics research will initially focus on coil design, SAR and B1 management, RF pulse optimisation, regional shimming. High resolution quantitative MR spectroscopy (MRS) will be developed, to measure cardiac high-energy phosphates and the novel parameters CK flux and free energy change, regionally resolved, with high reproducibility, making true metabolic imaging of the heart by MRS a reality for the first time. Clinical research applications will include ischemic heart disease, heart failure and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Coronary lumen and wall imaging will be developed with unprecedented resolution, allowing reliable non-invasive serial assessment of coronary artery disease in application studies. The BOLD effect is greatly enhanced at 7T, and we will develop robust imaging of myocardial oxygenation, allowing assessment of the interrelations amongst cardiac function, perfusion, oxygenation and metabolism in patients. Such a development has the potential to transform CMR imaging of cardiac metabolism, oxygenation, and coronary plaque from a niche research tool into a mainstream diagnostic measure that can treat the patient as an individual, enabling doctors to monitor the progress of a disease or the response to therapy. Such new MR techniques would contribute significantly to improving cardiovascular health and to relieving the burden of cardiovascular disease.
Organisations
- University of Oxford, United Kingdom (Collaboration, Lead Research Organisation)
- University College London Hospital (Collaboration)
- Massachusetts General Hospital (Collaboration)
- John Radcliffe Hospital, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University Medical Centre Nijmegen (Collaboration)
- University of Glasgow, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University of Vienna (Collaboration)
- University of Minnesota, United States (Collaboration)
- Johns Hopkins University, United States (Collaboration)
- King's College London, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
Publications

Alhamud A
(2012)
Volumetric navigators for real-time motion correction in diffusion tensor imaging.
in Magnetic resonance in medicine

Arnold JR
(2012)
Myocardial oxygenation in coronary artery disease: insights from blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging at 3 tesla.
in Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Banerjee R
(2014)
Multiparametric magnetic resonance for the non-invasive diagnosis of liver disease.
in Journal of hepatology

Biasiolli L
(2013)
In-vivo quantitative T2 mapping of carotid arteries in atherosclerotic patients: segmentation and T2 measurement of plaque components.
in Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance



Bogner W
(2014)
3D GABA imaging with real-time motion correction, shim update and reacquisition of adiabatic spiral MRSI.
in NeuroImage

Bogner W
(2014)
Real-time motion- and B0-correction for LASER-localized spiral-accelerated 3D-MRSI of the brain at 3T.
in NeuroImage

Bogner W
(2014)
3D GABA imaging with real-time motion correction, shim update and reacquisition of adiabatic spiral MRSI.
in NeuroImage

Bull S
(2013)
Human non-contrast T1 values and correlation with histology in diffuse fibrosis.
in Heart (British Cardiac Society)
Description | Cardiac T1 imaging steering group (Robson, Piechnik, Neubauer) |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guidance committee |
Description | Stefan Neubauer is member of an international expert group on Simplifying Cardiovascular MR Pulse Sequence Terminology |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Description | 7T Programme Grant |
Amount | £1,304,942 (GBP) |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2011 |
End | 12/2015 |
Description | Chris Rodgers (travel) |
Amount | £600 (GBP) |
Organisation | International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 05/2012 |
End | 03/2013 |
Description | Chris Rodgers Welcome Fellowship |
Amount | £1,200,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | WT098436MA |
Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2012 |
End | 10/2013 |
Description | Core infrastructure funding: application for 7T MRI RF 32-channel Receive coil |
Amount | £26,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RE/13/1/30181 |
Organisation | British Heart Foundation (BHF) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2017 |
End | 04/2018 |
Description | NIHR - Oxford AL |
Amount | £240,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Cardiac Theme, DNP project |
Organisation | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2012 |
End | 04/2015 |
Description | NIHR - Oxford LT |
Amount | £350,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Cardiac Imaging Theme, Tissue Characterisation LT |
Organisation | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2012 |
End | 04/2017 |
Description | NIHR - Oxford SP |
Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Translational Phsiology Theme (Piechnik) |
Organisation | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2012 |
End | 04/2017 |
Description | Ultra-high resolution imaging with 7T MRI: atrial structure and function (Dr Hess) |
Amount | £188,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RE/13/1/30181 |
Organisation | British Heart Foundation (BHF) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2016 |
End | 09/2018 |
Description | Will Clarke Studentship |
Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2012 |
End | 10/2015 |
Description | one year extension to Ultra-high resolution imaging with 7T MRI: atrial structure and function (Dr Hess) |
Amount | £60,334 (GBP) |
Organisation | British Heart Foundation (BHF) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2018 |
End | 10/2019 |
Description | travel scholarship |
Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2012 |
End | 03/2012 |
Title | 4D flow acquisition and analysis tools |
Description | Dr Aaron Hess has developed a series of acquisition and analysis tools that he has distributed locally to support the development of 4D flow work in Oxford. Further these have been adopted by Siemens for international distribution. The work comes under a research agreement with Siemens. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2012 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Presentation at recent 4D flow meeting (in Oxford). Distribution of code to Siemens and to a research group in San Francisco |
URL | http://www.siemens.com |
Title | 4D flow acquisition and analysis tools |
Description | Dr Aaron Hess has developed a series of acquisition and analysis tools that he has distributed locally to support the development of 4D flow work in Oxford. Further these have been adopted by Siemens for international distribution. the work comes under a research agreement with Siemens. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2012 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Presentation at recent 4D flow meeting in Oxford. Distribution of code to Siemens and to a research group in San Francisco |
URL | http://www.siemens.com |
Title | Cardiac imaging under Step 2.1 of the Siemens 7T environment |
Description | This set of tools and techniques have been developed to allow us to use this scanner to acquire the required cardiac MRI data. The implementation of the Step 2.1 software was not well suited to this purpose and we have worked with Siemens to rectify the not inconsiderable set of problems. The goal of this work is to allow clinically trained research fellows to use this 7T MRI scanner as they might a "normal" clinical 1.5T scanner. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2013 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Publication in this area is on a steep upward curve from a number of group who can now run these methods in a practical manner. Previously this was not the situation owing to the technical limitations of the scanner software. |
Title | Multi-channel RF coil combination for spectroscopy and spectroscopy fitting tools |
Description | Software tools that apply algorithms that we have published on to data acquired on MRI scanners. Specifically algorithms to combine the signals from multiple MRI coils for use in magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Further we have developed open source versions of the JMRUI (aka AMARES) in matlab which allows accurate and precise fitting of spectroscopy data. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | The method is used at several sites and they are publishing using data processed using this algorithm. |
Description | 7T saftey |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Contributed knowledge of RF coil saftey for the planning of institutional saftey guidelines |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed knowledge of RF coil saftey for the planning of institutional saftey guidelines from a multi disciplinary team including engineers, physicists and radiographers |
Impact | Agreements on safe practice with regard to implants and tattoos in a 7T MRI scanner |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Advanced navigator methods |
Organisation | Massachusetts General Hospital |
Country | United States |
Sector | Hospitals |
PI Contribution | We have provided software and assistance to get these methods working and helped evaluate and debug the associated problems. |
Collaborator Contribution | MGH have provided low level software for controlling the MRI scanner in a low level manner. fMRIB have provided the clinical questions and expertise in spectroscopy of the brain. |
Impact | 22213578 22246720 24201013 24488204 24655149 24924772 24999293 25255945 |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Advanced navigator methods |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have provided software and assistance to get these methods working and helped evaluate and debug the associated problems. |
Collaborator Contribution | MGH have provided low level software for controlling the MRI scanner in a low level manner. fMRIB have provided the clinical questions and expertise in spectroscopy of the brain. |
Impact | 22213578 22246720 24201013 24488204 24655149 24924772 24999293 25255945 |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Botnar KCL Coronary MRA |
Organisation | King's College London |
Department | Cardiovascular Division |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We provide the hardware (scanner and RF coils), technical know-how and access to normals controls and patients. |
Collaborator Contribution | Rene Rotnar is a world expert in coronary MRA with 20 years of experience. He provides expert guidance on how to optimise these methods for coronary MRA at 7T. |
Impact | No formal outputs as yet |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Cambridge body 7T imaging |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Loan of a parallel transmit MRI coil and B1+ adjustment software |
Collaborator Contribution | Abstracts submitted to conference |
Impact | Abstracts to be presented at ISMRM 2020 |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Dr James Moon, London Heart Hospital |
Organisation | University College London Hospital |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Hospitals |
PI Contribution | We provide the shortened shMOLLI sequence to support the work at the London Heart into Extra-cellular Volume fraction (ECVF) that they are doing on cardiac patients. The also use our method in assessing the T1 before MR contrast agents are used in patient groups with whom we hav elittle or no access |
Collaborator Contribution | Our partners have provided training in the use of the ECV method that we can use this approach in Oxford. Most valuably they have provided data on a number of interesting patient groups to whom the shMOLLI method has been found to offer new insights into disease. These insights have strengthened our understanding of what our new T1 mapping methods are showing. |
Impact | Large number of abstracts that are moving into full papers. Single breath-hold Vd(m) calculation as good as multi breath-hold technique in Equilibrium Contrast CMR Daniel Sado, Stefan K Piechnik, Matthew D Robson, Viviana Maestrini, Andrew Flett, Steven K White, Sanjay M Banypersad, James Moon Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2012, 14(Suppl 1):P262 (1 February 2012) Age and gender dependence of pre-contrast T1-relaxation times in normal human myocardium at 1.5T using ShMOLLI Stefan K Piechnik, Vanessa Ferreira, Adam J Lewandowski, Ntobeko Ntusi, Daniel Sado, Viviana Maestrini, Steven K White, Merzaka Lazdam, Rajarshi Banerjee, Mark B Hofman, James Moon, Stefan Neubauer, Paul Leeson, Matthew D Robson Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2012, 14(Suppl 1):P221 (1 February 2012) Histological validation of ShMOLLI equilibrium contrast CMR for the measurement of diffuse myocardial fibrosis Steven K White, Stefan K Piechnik, Stefan Neubauer, Matthew D Robson, James Moon Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2012, 14(Suppl 1):O111 (1 February 2012) Pre-contrast T1 mapping for detection of myocardial fibrosis in asymptomatic and symptomatic aortic stenosis Sacha Bull, Steven K White, Stefan K Piechnik, Andrew Flett, Vanessa Ferreira, Margaret Loudon, Jane M Francis, Stefan Neubauer, James Moon, Saul Myerson Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2012, 14(Suppl 1):P93 (1 February 2012) Pre-contrast ShMOLLI T1 mapping in cardiac AL amyloidosis Theodoros Karamitsos, Sanjay M Banypersad, Daniel Sado, Viviana Maestrini, Vanessa Ferreira, Stefan K Piechnik, Matthew D Robson, Philip N Hawkins, Stefan Neubauer, James Moon Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2012, 14(Suppl 1):O76 (1 February 2012) |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | KCL pTx collaboration |
Organisation | King's College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Develop parallel transmit methods for body imaging |
Collaborator Contribution | Developed methods for RF pulse design |
Impact | Publication |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Minnesota cardiac function and coil collaboration |
Organisation | University of Minnesota |
Department | Department of Biomedical Engineering |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have provided the clinical cardiac expertise to build and design an experiment to test whether 7Tesla MRI can deliver good image quality and accurate clinical metrics versus previous methods. Our MRI systems have been used in this comparison. We have provided the clinical cardiac perspective to them regarding what is necessary from 7T to assist clinical decision making. |
Collaborator Contribution | Technological benefits of their coil technology, and access to their software tools is of huge value to us. Additional conversations and site visits have moved forward our technology and understanding of these technologies immeasurably. |
Impact | One Oxford scicentist won a Royal Society Award to work in Minnesota on the back of this collaboration, and there have been over 10 visits between the two sites over the last year. Additionally we have generated 4 peer reviewed publications in highly respected journals. 1: Keith GA, Rodgers CT, Hess AT, Snyder CJ, Vaughan JT, Robson MD. Automated tuning of an eight-channel cardiac transceive array at 7 Tesla using piezoelectric actuators. Magn Reson Med. 2014 Jul 1. doi: 10.1002/mrm.25356. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 24986525. 2: Rodgers CT, Clarke WT, Snyder C, Vaughan JT, Neubauer S, Robson MD. Human cardiac 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 7 Tesla. Magn Reson Med. 2014 Aug;72(2):304-15. doi: 10.1002/mrm.24922. Epub 2013 Sep 4. PubMed PMID: 24006267; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4106879. 3: Rodgers CT, Piechnik SK, Delabarre LJ, Van de Moortele PF, Snyder CJ, Neubauer S, Robson MD, Vaughan JT. Inversion recovery at 7 T in the human myocardium: measurement of T(1), inversion efficiency and B(1) (+). Magn Reson Med. 2013 Oct;70(4):1038-46. doi: 10.1002/mrm.24548. Epub 2012 Nov 29. PubMed PMID: 23197329; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4134266. 4: Suttie JJ, Delabarre L, Pitcher A, van de Moortele PF, Dass S, Snyder CJ, Francis JM, Metzger GJ, Weale P, Ugurbil K, Neubauer S, Robson M, Vaughan T. 7 Tesla (T) human cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging using FLASH and SSFP to assess cardiac function: validation against 1.5 T and 3 T. NMR Biomed. 2012 Jan;25(1):27-34. doi: 10.1002/nbm.1708. Epub 2011 Jul 19. PubMed PMID: 21774009; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3440016. |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | Nijmegen 31P collaboration |
Organisation | Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have provided some software for the optimal combination of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy data when acquired with a multi-channel array coil. Work that we have pioneered and are experts at. |
Collaborator Contribution | We provide software to them, they use the methods and provide feedback on its utility to us. The Nijmegen group are very experienced with MRS and 31P so these conversations are very valuable. |
Impact | Internal testing reports and improved documentation. |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Parallel Transmission between KCL and Oxford |
Organisation | King's College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Starting at the beginning. This is a project between KCL, the Oxford cardiac MRI group and the Oxford brain MRI group. Each party supplies a post-doc. Oxford supply the MRI scanner. The Oxford cardiac MRI group provide the relevant MRI coil. KCL have some a priori Parallel Transmission expertise. The 3 post-docs have had dedicated MRI 7T scanner time (4 hours/week). So, I provide a 7T scanner, a small amount of my time, a post-doc (typically 2 days a week) and the use of my cardiac RF coil. |
Collaborator Contribution | KCL provide some prior experience of Parallel transmission and software tools in this area. In addition to the time that their post-doc engages in they have expertise to lend from senior scientists which has proved helpful at times. |
Impact | 2 publications are expected, one has been written but not yet submitted, the second is in an earlier formative phase. |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Paul Bottomley |
Organisation | Johns Hopkins University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We provide data and the ability to collect data on our 7Tesla MRI scanner |
Collaborator Contribution | Paul Bottomley is widely respected as the world expert on cardiac 31P spectroscopy (from a technical perspective), and provides advice and expert guidance on technical elements of these methods. Further he will host one of our researchers as part of a training programme. |
Impact | None as yet |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | University of Minnesota |
Organisation | University of Minnesota |
Department | Centre for Magnetic Resonance Research |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have worked at their site and taught them how to collect high quality cardiac MRI images. We have assisted them in writing grant applications and helped educate them in the practical utility in cardiology of ultra-high field MRI of the heart. Included in this were a series of visits from which we have published 4 papers. Most recently one of our research fellows visited their site to collect data on 6 subject for one of their grant applications that will also help the collaboration from their end. This recent visit will result in an abstract and hopefully further papers in this area. |
Collaborator Contribution | The group at Minnesota have supplied components and assisted us in building TEM RF coil systems that are essential for imaging the human heart at 7 tesla and are not commercially available. They have worked with us on some novel designs for coil tuning from which we have published joint abstracts. |
Impact | 1: Keith GA, Rodgers CT, Hess AT, Snyder CJ, Vaughan JT, Robson MD. Automated tuning of an eight-channel cardiac transceive array at 7 Tesla using piezoelectric actuators. Magn Reson Med. 2014 Jul 1. doi: 10.1002/mrm.25356. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 24986525. 2: Rodgers CT, Clarke WT, Snyder C, Vaughan JT, Neubauer S, Robson MD. Human cardiac 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 7 Tesla. Magn Reson Med. 2014 Aug;72(2):304-15. doi: 10.1002/mrm.24922. Epub 2013 Sep 4. PubMed PMID: 24006267; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4106879. 3: Rodgers CT, Piechnik SK, Delabarre LJ, Van de Moortele PF, Snyder CJ, Neubauer S, Robson MD, Vaughan JT. Inversion recovery at 7 T in the human myocardium: measurement of T(1), inversion efficiency and B(1) (+). Magn Reson Med. 2013 Oct;70(4):1038-46. doi: 10.1002/mrm.24548. Epub 2012 Nov 29. PubMed PMID: 23197329; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4134266. 4: Suttie JJ, Delabarre L, Pitcher A, van de Moortele PF, Dass S, Snyder CJ, Francis JM, Metzger GJ, Weale P, Ugurbil K, Neubauer S, Robson M, Vaughan T. 7 Tesla (T) human cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging using FLASH and SSFP to assess cardiac function: validation against 1.5 T and 3 T. NMR Biomed. 2012 Jan;25(1):27-34. doi: 10.1002/nbm.1708. Epub 2011 Jul 19. PubMed PMID: 21774009; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3440016. |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Vienna 31P collaboration |
Organisation | University of Vienna |
Country | Austria |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have provided software to allow them to combined Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy data from a multi-coil system. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our partners have installed and evaluated the software and provided feedback. This is part of an ongoing conversation that we expect will result in the adoption of these methods by the MRI equipment manufacturers. |
Impact | Internal documentation, bug repors and feedback, but no external outputs. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | fMRIB 7T collaboration |
Organisation | John Radcliffe Hospital |
Department | Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (fMRI) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Hospitals |
PI Contribution | We have developed the use of 7T scanning in collaboration with fMRIB. Our research team provide financial support for parts of the system and direct technical support for specific aspects of the RF system. |
Collaborator Contribution | fMRIB provide local infrasructure to host the equipment. Further they provide framework for safety, training and ethics which helps us use this equipment most efficiently. There is an area of common ground between the research groups on various aspects of MRI physics where we assist each other. |
Impact | 22498328 20110375 18093924 19603408 18093924 17406613 17023184 17000119 16381189 16271482 16192375 16120793 15340158 |
Start Year | 2007 |
Title | METHODS FOR EXTRACTING SUBJECT MOTION FROM MULTI-TRANSMIT ELECTRICAL COUPLING IN IMAGING OF THE SUBJECT |
Description | Described herein are methods and systems for extracting or determining subject motion from multi-channel electrical coupling in imaging of the subject, in particular in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the subject. The motion can be of a region of interest of the subject (such as an organ or specific tissue). Changes in the position of the subject and the subject's organs can be monitored by measuring how external coils, such as RF coils, couple to the subject and to one another and change the scattering of the RF coils, for example scattering of RF pulses transmitted by the coils. Changes in position influence this coupling and the scattering and can be detrimental to the quality of the imaging. The present methods and systems address and overcome this problem. |
IP Reference | WO2018173009 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2018 |
Licensed | Yes |
Impact | Licenced to Siemens Health care |
Title | METHODS FOR MONITORING MOTION USING MULTI-TRANSMIT ELECTRICAL COUPLING IN IMAGING OF THE SUBJECT |
Description | Described herein are methods for monitoring and/or extracting subject motion from multi-channel electrical coupling in imaging of the subject, in particular in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the subject. |
IP Reference | US2019361082 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | In progress |
Title | Rapid Imaging Assessment of the Liver |
Description | By combining 3 imaging methods we can accurately stage liver disease using MRI. This technique can replace the use of an invasive biopsy which saves money and provides a better patient experience. |
IP Reference | WO2013088149 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2011 |
Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
Impact | University spin-off company being formed |
Title | T1 mapping in abdominal visceral organs |
Description | T1 mapping of the visceral organs (including the liver) is one important part of our liver imaging toolkit. This method uses an approach that we patented in the heart but applies it to the liver. |
IP Reference | WO2013088151 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2011 |
Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
Impact | University spin-off company being formed |
Title | LiverMultiscan |
Description | The LiverMultiscan method (described in the patents describes above) is a method for diagnosing liver disease. This work was supported by a BHF fellow. |
Type | Diagnostic Tool - Imaging |
Current Stage Of Development | Refinement. Clinical |
Year Development Stage Completed | 2010 |
Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
Clinical Trial? | Yes |
Impact | Company spun out (Perspectum Diagnostics Ltd). Successfully raised seed fund capital (~£500k). Won "Technology Strategy Board funding" (~£1.2m). |
Title | shMOLLI method to Siemens |
Description | We developed a T1 mapping method that we have used our 3T and 1.5T systems to validate. These methods have been taken on by Siemens Healthcare and have been incorporated into their clinical product (presently as a works-in-progress package, but this is likely to become part of their mainstream product). |
Type | Diagnostic Tool - Imaging |
Current Stage Of Development | Small-scale adoption |
Year Development Stage Completed | 2010 |
Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
Impact | The diagnostic imaging method that we have developed allows images to be collected faster that results in more reliable image quality. Further more we generate quantitative maps of relaxation parameters from these measurements in real-time which has been found to be a very useful tool in the clinic and appears to improve diagnosis on various clinical patient groups. |
Description | Imaging sciences presentation day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | ~200 scientists from across the university and beyond attended this meeting which was designed to show what imaging methods are available. Several MSc candidates contacted us about doing projects within our group. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | Invited presentation at Imaging Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | 150 researchers and students working in the general field of imaging attended the workshop. http://www.imaging.ox.ac.uk/activities/annual-festival/imagefest12/programme Useful subsequent e-mail correspondence with a group who are interested in developing some clever processing methods on our 3D cardiac ex-vivo datasets. ....@inria.fr |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Invited talk at Berlin Ultra-high field symposium 2019 (Dr Hess) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk on novel cardiac motion correction for ultra high field |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Liz CSO Presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Presentation by one of our group on MRI cardiac imaging of an acute imaging centre to the CSO of the NHS. 20 minute presentaiton. Talk was well received. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Liz MRC/SRC Summerville |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Presentation to a general academic College audience on the science that we do Talk was well received |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | MDR Imaging Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | 200 people attended an imaging festival meeting and learned about what we do. The talk was well received and we followed up contact from a group who are keen to use our ex-vivo diffusion data. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Oxford BioMedical Imaging Festival Organisation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This is an annual meeting that I co-organise. It is often over subscribed (200 limit) and provides an excellent 1 day education forum for experts in oxford university to present and inspire with what they are doing. This extends over a large range of imaging modalities (microscopy in all its forms, MRI , ultrasound, x-ray, etc.) and multiple sample systems (from single atom up to whole people typically). I have organised, presented and chaired sessions every year. Lots of cross discipline conversations. For example we spawned a potential project relating to safety with a scientist who is investigating the use of magnetic micro-bubbles for local treatment targeting. Every year lots of cross-pollination occurs. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014,2015 |
URL | http://www.imaging.ox.ac.uk/2015-imaging-festival/index.html |
Description | Oxford Open-Doors event. 7T show and tell |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We demonstrated how 7 tesla scanners can image the brain and imaged thought processes in real time. This unsurprisingly stimulated considerable discussion and interest. There were 3 audience groups (of around 20) and each of them posed some interesting questions that will certainly affect how we write our ethics and volunteer forms in the future. No specific interactions except a real "feel good" factor for the team running the demos. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.oxfordopendoors.org.uk/ |
Description | Summer School visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | 45 people visited who were involved in a summer school activities in Oxford. They spend 2 hours with us and we performed live demonstrations of MRI scanning on 2 different MRI systems, and discussed the usage of MRI from a clinical perspective. We received very positive feedback both at the time and subsequent to the event from several of the attendees (actually it was pretty nice). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Summer School visit MDR |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | We hosted a site visit for a Summer School that focused on cardiac engineering. http://mpss.iop.org/index.html This involved a 2 hour visit to our site where we performed live demonstrations on MRI scanning and presented talks on what the method could offer clinically. The talks and presentations were very well received, and our scores in the end of course assessment were at the 80% level, which we were told was very high. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |