Chemistry Meets Imaging: Molecular Routes to Enhance Contrast

High-resolution and quantitative MRI are prone to various types of artifacts, which make it challenging to perform MRI based studies in many biomedical applications. In this talk I will discuss a series of improved MRI acquisition and reconstruction strategies, effectively addressing image distortions and signal loss artifacts resulting from phase inconsistencies in k-space data. Our improved phase reconstruction methods make it possible to generate high-quality images even for challenging applications. First, using a chemical-shift multiplexed sensitivity encoded (MUSE) algorithm, diffusion properties of multiple chemical species can be quantified from high-resolution multi-shot MRI, even in the presence of intra-scan subject motion. Second, using an inverse Double Echo Steady State (iDESS) pulse sequence, the phase contrast of interest (e.g., the susceptibility effect due to contrast agents or iron accumulation) can be separated from the undesirable phase induced artifacts (e.g., signal loss near the air-tissue interfaces). Third, using a k-space energy spectrum analysis algorithm, image-domain phase values can be reliably measured, even from data of very low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Chemistry Meets Imaging: Molecular Routes to Enhance Contrast May 11, 2015 Interrogating Metabolism in vivo Using Hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance Kayvan Keshari, PhD Department of Radiology Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Dr. Keshari’s research focuses on improving the biochemical understanding of cancer metabolism and using metabolic changes to develop imaging agents for diagnosis and treatment – specifically using hyperpolarized magnetic resonance to watch metabolic dynamics in real time.