Automated quality control of MRI scans with machine learning

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a widely used 3-D medical imaging technique in modern healthcare systems. However, MRI scans are more prone to corruption due to patient motion than other types of imaging, such as CT. As low-quality scans may reduce the accuracy of subsequent analysis, quality control (QC) process that can flag these scans is often required. Currently, this process is typically accomplished by human experts via visual inspection. With the volume of MRI scans rising rapidly, expert-based QC is becoming increasingly impractical. Hence, there is considerable interest in developing automated QC tools. The existing automated QC frameworks are usually machine learning (ML) based. However, due to a lack of training data, their performance is currently limited. This project aims to develop methods to simulate realistic MRI scans to address this challenge. These methods will provide a vast source of simulated yet realistic MRI scans to develop new and improved ML-based automated QC tools. The main potential impact is that the developed automated QC tools can allow researchers and clinicians alike to focus their valuable time on analysing high-quality MRI data.

The aim of the project is to develop ML-based tools for automated MRI quality control.
To address this aim, this project has the following two objectives:
1. To develop an MRI scan simulator that can produce synthetic but realistic MRI scans to increase data availability for training ML-based techiques.
2. To incorporate synthetic scans into training to improve the performance of ML-based MRI quality control frameworks.

The critical mass of scientists and engineers that i4health will produce will ensure the UK's continued standing as a world-leader in medical imaging and healthcare technology research. In addition to continued academic excellence, they will further support a future culture of industry and entrepreneurship in healthcare technologies driven by highly trained engineers with deep understanding of the key factors involved in delivering effective translatable and marketable technology. They will achieve this through high quality engineering and imaging science, a broad view of other relevant technological areas, the ability to pinpoint clinical gaps and needs, consideration of clinical user requirements, and patient considerations. Our graduates will provide the drive, determination and enthusiasm to build future UK industry in this vital area via start-ups and spin-outs adding to the burgeoning community of healthcare-related SMEs in London and the rest of the UK. The training in entrepreneurship, coupled with the vibrant environment we are developing for this topic via unique linkage of Engineering and Medicine at UCL, is specifically designed to foster such outcomes. These same innovative leaders will bolster the UK's presence in medical multinationals - pharmaceutical companies, scanner manufacturers, etc. - and ensure the UK's competitiveness as a location for future R&D and medical engineering. They will also provide an invaluable source of expertise for the future NHS and other healthcare-delivery services enabling rapid translation and uptake of the latest imaging and healthcare technologies at the clinical front line. The ultimate impact will be on people and patients, both in the UK and internationally, who will benefit from the increased knowledge of health and disease, as well as better treatment and healthcare management provided by the future technologies our trainees will produce.

In addition to impact in healthcare research, development, and capability, the CDT will have major impact on the students we will attract and train. We will provide our talented cohorts of students with the skills required to lead academic research in this area, to lead industrial development and to make a significant impact as advocates of the science and engineering of their discipline. The i4health CDT's combination of the highest academic standards of research with excellent in-depth training in core skills will mean that our cohorts of students will be in great demand placing them in a powerful position to sculpt their own careers, have major impact within our discipline, while influencing the international mindset and direction. Strong evidence demonstrates this in our existing cohorts of students through high levels of conference podium talks in the most prestigious venues in our field, conference prizes, high impact publications in both engineering, clinical, and general science journals, as well as post-PhD fellowships and career progression. The content and training innovations we propose in i4health will ensure this continues and expands over the next decade.