ULTRA-HIGH RESOLUTION MODELLING OF THE HUMAN BRAIN USING MULTISCALE, MULTIMODAL IMAGING AND AI

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1. Context of the research including potential impactResearchers at UCL have developed a new X-ray imaging method called Hierarchical Phase-Contrast Tomography (HiP-CT), which allows imaging whole human organs in detail up to the cellular level. HiP-CT is an X-ray phase propagation technique that uses the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) Extremely Brilliant Source to perform non-destructive, three-dimensional (3D) scans with hierarchically increasing resolution at any location in whole human organs, down to 1 um/voxel in Volumes of Interest. As such, these imaging data not only provide a novel view of the complex hierarchical structure of the human brain but could also provide a detailed understanding of the biological processes at work during neurodegenerative diseases which are difficult to diagnose.This PhD will develop advanced AI tools for data processing, meaningful interpretation and analysis, and translation of these high-resolution images to clinical use.2. Aims and objectivesThe goal of this project is to enhance our understanding of the structure of white matter tracts and blood vessels in the brain, both in healthy individuals and in those with neurodegenerative conditions. This will be done by developing advanced computational techniques, such as large-scale AI, to analyze multi-resolution images obtained from a synchrotron and then correlating these images with MRI images to realise clinical use in the assessment of a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's.3. Novelty of the research methodologyThe HiP-CT imaging method enables imaging of the human brain with a resolution of up to 300 times greater than the current highest resolution MRI scans and so requires bespoke computational methods to be developed for modelling brain structure. These imaging data are unique worldwide and will be correlated to clinical MRI images to improve the current models of white matter tract orientation and vascular architecture, in healthy and neurodegenerative cases.4. Alignment to EPSRC's strategies and research areasThe project aligns with the priorities of the EPSRC Healthcare Technologies Theme, specifically around Novel imaging technologies. This research will support the development of advanced AI tools for data processing, making sense of complex imaging data, understanding underlying pathology and monitoring progression of neurodegenerative diseases.5.Any companies or collaborators involvedChan Zuckerberg Initiative