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H2020Doctoral network2018–2022

B-Q MINDED · Breakthroughs in Quantitative Magnetic resonance ImagiNg for improved DEtection of brain Diseases

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2018-01-01 → 2022-03-31
EU contribution
€3,861,067
Participants
14
Scheme
MSCA-ITN-ETN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners. CORDIS does not always give exact coordinates for projects before 2014. These points are placed at city or country level.

Results in brief

Breakthroughs in Quantitative Magnetic resonance ImagiNg for improved DEtection of brainDiseases

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most useful and rapidly growing neuroimaging tools. Unfortunately, signal intensities in conventional MRI images are expressed in relative units that depend on scanner hardware and acquisition protocols. While this does not hinder visual inspection of anatomy, it hampers quantitative comparison of tissue properties within a scan, between successive scans, and between subjects. In contrast, advanced quantitative MRI (Q-MRI) methods like MR relaxometry or diffusion MRI do enable absolute quantification of biophysical tissue characteristics. Evidence is growing that Q-MRI techniques detect subtle microscopic damage, enabling more accurate and early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. However, due to the long scan time required for Q-MRI, causing discomfort for patients and limiting the throughput, Q-MRI methods have not entered clinical practice yet. B-Q MINDED aims to overcome the current barriers by developing widely-applicable post-processing breakthroughs for accelerating Q-MRI. The originality of B-Q MINDED lies in its ambition to replace the conventional rigid multi-step processing pipeline with an integrated single-step parameter estimation framework. This approach will unlock a wealth of options for optimization of Q-MRI. To accomplish this goal, B-Q MINDED follows a collaborative cross-disciplinary approach (from basic MR physics to clinical applications) with strong involvement of industry (two MRI vendors and two MRI-software SMEs). B-Q MINDED provides a unique training platform that enables young European researchers to develop a holistic view on Q-MRI research and development. The fellows enrolled in B-Q MINDED have access to a variety of network-wide training events and gain essential transferable skills that will positively affect their employability in academia and industry. By combining research, innovation, and education, B-Q MINDED aims to pave the way for introducing Q-MRI into the clinic.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most useful and rapidly growing neuroimaging tools. Unfortunately, signal intensities in conventional MRI images are expressed in relative units that depend on scanner hardware and acquisition protocols. While this does not hinder visual inspection of anatomy, it hampers quantitative comparison of tissue properties within a scan, between successive scans, and between subjects. In contrast, advanced quantitative MRI (Q-MRI) methods like MR relaxometry or diffusion MRI do enable absolute quantification of biophysical tissue characteristics. Evidence is growing that Q-MRI techniques detect subtle microscopic damage, enabling more accurate and early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. However, due to the long scan time required for Q-MRI, causing discomfort for patients and limiting the throughput, Q-MRI methods have not entered clinical practice yet. B-Q MINDED aims to overcome the current barriers by developing widely-applicable post-processing breakthroughs for accelerating Q-MRI. The originality of B-Q MINDED lies in its ambition to replace the conventional rigid multi-step processing pipeline with an integrated single-step parameter estimation framework. This approach will unlock a wealth of options for optimization of Q-MRI. To accomplish this goal, B-Q MINDED proposes a collaborative cross-disciplinary approach (from basic MR physics to clinical applications) with strong involvement of industry (2 MRI vendors and 3 MRI-software SMEs). B-Q MINDED proposes a unique training platform that enables young European researchers to develop a holistic view on Q-MRI research and development. The fellows enrolled in B-Q MINDED will have access to a variety of network-wide training events and will gain essential transferable skills that will positively affect their employability in academia and industry. By combining research, innovation, and education, B-Q MINDED will pave the way for introducing Q-MRI into the clinic.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN · AntwerpenCoordinatorBelgium
  • ERASMUS UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM ROTTERDAM · RotterdamNetherlands
  • FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JULICH GMBH · JULICHGermany
  • ICOMETRIX NV · LeuvenBelgium
  • LINKOPINGS UNIVERSITET · LinkopingSweden
  • MRR SYSTEMS LIMITED · GUILFORDUnited Kingdom
  • QUANTIB BV · RotterdamNetherlands
  • SIEMENS HEALTHCARE · Groot-BijgaardenBelgium
  • STICHTING NETHERLANDS ESCIENCE CENTER · AmsterdamNetherlands
  • SYNTHETIC MR AB (PUBL) · LINKOPINGCity levelSweden
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD · SHEFFIELDUnited Kingdom
  • UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM AACHEN · AachenGermany
  • UNIVERSITAIR ZIEKENHUIS ANTWERPEN · EdegemBelgium
  • UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS · LeedsUnited Kingdom

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union