Postdoctoral Training in Biomedical MRI and MRS

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请寻求支持在磁共振成像（MRI）和波谱（MRS）在范德比尔特大学，这将是由一个经验丰富的教师和研究人员的专家组提供一个全面的博士后培训计划。 MR方法是公认的最强大和最广泛的生物医学成像技术之一，但技术的重大进步和影响的增加仍在继续发生。 MR方法不仅是诊断成像中最重要的方式，而且还提供了对生物过程和结构的重要见解，以解决生物医学研究中的基本问题。 用于研究的先进的MR系统在大量的医疗中心是可用的，并且随着具有更强场磁体的系统变得更加普遍，其使用的进一步发展将不可避免地发生。 然而，有一个短缺和一个关键的需要，适当的培训科学家能够利用MR技术的潜力，谁是意识到的使用和MR方法的局限性，以及如何MRI/MRS可以实施，先进，并与其他方式提供的信息集成。 我们提出了一个全面的培养计划，为8名优秀的博士后科学家设计（4在每个为期两年的计划）谁通常会有很少以前的重大经验，在生物医学MRI和MRS博士后学员从物理，化学，生物，工程或医学将在与生物医学NMR相关的所有相关领域接受全面和示范性的指导，包括18博士教师在生物医学MRI/S及其应用方面经验丰富。 这将通过一个教育计划来实现，包括课程，研讨会和期刊俱乐部;一个实践计划，包括教师主导的教程和实践培训;和一个研究计划，其中学员将被整合到一个积极的研究计划中。 这些程序说明了MR方法在人类和动物中应用的最主要方面，包括功能和结构脑成像，癌症生物学，基本弛豫现象和扩散，血流和灌注，代谢成像，图像处理和分析，以及临床MRS和MRI的研究。 学员将有机会获得优秀的设施，包括人类磁共振系统与1.5，3和7T的场强;动物磁共振系统的4.7，7和9.4T;和其他成像模式（包括光学成像，microCT和microPET）。 学员将在生物医学研究的道德和方法，以及在赠款写作和其他重要的职业技能辅导。 范德比尔特的项目、人员和设施为科学家提供了独特的机会，使他们能够接受最高水平的生物医学NMR高级培训，并将有助于确保实现MRI和MRS可能实现的对生物学和疾病的卓越见解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application seeks support for a comprehensive postdoctoral training program in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) at Vanderbilt University which will be provided by an experienced and expert group of faculty and research staff. MR methods are well established as amongst the most powerful and widespread of biomedical imaging techniques yet major advancements in technology and increases in their impact continue to occur. MR methods serve not only as the single most important modality in diagnostic imaging but also provide crucial insights into biological processes and structure to address fundamental questions in biomedical research. Advanced MR systems for research are available at a large number of medical centers, and further advances in their uses will occur inevitably as systems with stronger field magnets become more widespread. There is, however, a shortage and a critical need for appropriately trained scientists capable of exploiting the potential of MR techniques, who are aware of the uses and limitations of MR methods, and of how MRI/MRS may be implemented, advanced, and integrated with information available from other modalities. We propose a comprehensive training program designed for 8 outstanding postdoctoral scientists (4 in each of a two-year program) who will usually have had little previous significant experience in biomedical MRI and MRS. Postdoctoral trainees from physics, chemistry, biology, engineering or medicine will receive thorough and exemplary instruction in all of the cognate areas relevant to biomedical NMR in a coherent program that includes 18 Ph.D faculty experienced in biomedical MRI/S and their applications. This will be accomplished through an educational program, consisting of courses, seminars, and journal clubs; a practical program, consisting of faculty-led tutorials and practical training; and a research program, in which trainees will be integrated into an active research program. These programs illustrate most major aspects of the applications of MR methods in humans and animals and include functional and structural brain imaging, cancer biology, studies of basic relaxation phenomena and diffusion, blood flow and perfusion, metabolic imaging, image processing and analysis, and clinical MRS and MRI. Trainees will have access to outstanding facilities including human MR systems with field strengths of 1.5, 3, and 7T; animal MR systems of 4.7, 7, and 9.4T; and other imaging modalities (including optical imaging, microCT, and microPET). Trainees will be mentored in the ethics and methods of biomedical research, as well as in grant writing and other important career skills. The programs, personnel, and facilities at Vanderbilt provide unique opportunities for scientists to receive advanced training in biomedical NMR of the highest caliber, and will help to ensure that the remarkable insights into biology and disease that are possible with MRI and MRS will be realized.