Assessment of the Neonatal Lung Using Structural and Functional MRI

Currently available diagnostic imaging tools, such as chest radiography and computed tomography, are inadequate for assessing the lungs of preterm neonates. There is considerable interest in using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to monitor lung development in neonates longitudinally, since it is a non-invasive and non-ionizing imaging modality. MRI can potentially detect complications at an early stage and improve outcomes by monitoring the effectiveness of therapy, however, images typically suffer from poor signal and organ motion. In collaboration with Siemens, this proposal will develop, optimize and test novel MRI tools for improved assessment of neonatal lungs. Anatomical and functional proton lung MRI approaches will first be developed and compared to established hyperpolarized gas imaging techniques in rodent lungs. After optimizing MRI hardware and software for preclinical imaging, these novel proton methods will then be translated to neonatal lung imaging. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Giles Santyr

Student:

Marcus Couch

Partner:

Siemens Healthcare Ltd.

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program: