Research Interests
The Physics Group works on the development and optimisation of methods
for physiologic study of the brain. This includes projects in the measurement
and characterisation of cerebral haemodynamics (oxygenation, perfusion,
blood volume); water transport mechanisms in the brain (self diffusion in
tissue); and brain metabolism (using NMR spectroscopy).
Examples of specific projects are outlined below:
Optimisation of hardware for functional MR. To obtain the
highest performance MRI data requires fully optimized hardware. This
includes the radiofrequency coils that should be dedicated to a particular
application. For example, specialised coils suitable for the back of the
head could be used for study of the visual cortex. A neck coil could be
used to magnetically label blood entering the brain in order to conduct
quantitative perfusion measurements.
Development of new sequences and methods for enhancing the
quality of the acquired fMRI data, such as methods that minimise geometric
distortion of the image, or optimise the contrast mechanism of interest.
Techniques for reducing the amount of signal dropout seen in
high field gradient echo images. This takes the form of high order active
and passive shimming methods that can recover some of the signal lost in
gradient echo sequences, particularly in the frontal lobes.
A research programme to develop real time functional imaging in
which data are analysed on-line (rather than current off-line analyses).
This could allow an "interactive" neuropsychiatric examination to be
performed.
A project to further enhance the clinical applicability of diffusion
MRI by addressing some of the remaining technical challenges facing
this technique. These include: optimisation of image quality through
navigator echo or equivalent approaches; and optimisation of patient time
in the magnet by determining the most clinically relevant diffusion tensor
characteristics.
A programme investigating the application of spectroscopy in
gaining insight into energetics and neurohemistry in the brain.
