MIND - Modelling and imaging using non-gaussian diffusion. (360G-Wellcome-098784_Z_12_Z)

£250,000

A clinical diffusion-weighted sequence (b-value=1000 s/mm2) is generally sensitive to water molecules hindered in the extra-cellular/extra-axonal space. When stronger b-values are applied, restrictions and long-range spatial/temporal correlations lead to a failure of the Gaussian approximation. My project will fully characterize water dynamics in brain tissue outside the Gaussian regime, to gain microstructural insights and overcome the low specificity of DT-MRI. I will achieve this by expanding my work on three different non-Gaussian approaches: (1) anomalous diffusion imaging (ADI) which models the diffusion-weighted signal as a stretched-exponential function, linking the exponent to local tissue heterogeneity; (2) the composite hindered and restricted model of diffusion (CHARMED) which models diffusion in white matter using both extra-axonal and intra-axonal compartments; and (3) diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) which quantifies the deviation of a generic probability distribution fr om a Gaussian. Long experimental times and lack of clear links with underlying histology currently preclude wider deployment and translation of these methods. My goals are clear: (i) to fully characterize the link between ADI/CHARMED/DKI and tissue microstructure in the animal model; (ii) to develop and optimize a protocol to assay key and complementary microstructural parameters; and (iii) to demonstrate the clinical feasibility and utility of this new approach.

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Grant Details

Amount Awarded 250000
Applicant Surname De Santis
Approval Committee Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships Interview Committee
Award Date 2012-05-28T00:00:00+00:00
Financial Year 2011/12
Grant Programme: Title Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship
Internal ID 098784/Z/12/Z
Lead Applicant Dr Silvia De Santis
Partnership Value 250000
Planned Dates: End Date 2016-09-30T00:00:00+00:00
Planned Dates: Start Date 2012-10-01T00:00:00+00:00
Recipient Org: Country United Kingdom
Region Wales
Sponsor(s) Prof Derek Jones