“Metabolic MRI at ultra-high fields – tracer versus non-tracer methods”

NOTE location

Hosted by the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) 

Synopsis: Metabolic MRI allows observing energy metabolism, neurotransmission, antioxidants, protein metabolism and dynamic membrane processes in vivo in the human brain and body. To visualize these metabolic processes my research group develops methodology for highly spatially and temporally resolved metabolic imaging exploiting magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) and non-proton spectroscopic imaging (31P, 13C, 2H) at 3T, 7T and 9.4T. These methods allow for non-invasive and non-ionizing determination of tissue concentrations and metabolic turn-over rates of more than 20 metabolites and ions and specifically benefit from ultrahigh field strength. Related quantitative metabolic imaging biomarkers are beneficial for differential diagnostics, monitoring of treatment response and patient stratification in various neurological and psychiatric disorders. This presentation gives an overview about the promise of metabolic MRI with the use of deuterated or carbon labelled tracers versus non-tracer based methods and discusses respective technical challenges and solutions as well as potential clinical and neuroscientific applications.

For inquiries contact Margaret Morton.