Training in Structural, Physiologic and Functional MRI

 描述(申请人提供)：自40年前创立以来，磁共振成像(MRI)一直在不断发展，远未达到其最终潜力。毫无疑问，MRI是最复杂的，但也是最丰富和最通用的成像方法，因此需要系统的培训。虽然MRI本质上是定量的，但它在很大程度上被放射科医生作为一种定性成像技术使用，主要是利用定性标准来确定诊断或排除疾病。这种方法充满了问题，其主要局限性是结果的主观性，即对读者经验和判断的敏感性。医学上越来越多的问题需要对组织结构、生理和功能进行定量评估。此外，对于许多诊断或分期问题，量化观察不仅是更好的选择，而且定性方法完全不适合。例如，测量组织血流，通过光谱成像量化代谢物浓度，评估非局灶性全身疾病，如退行性神经或代谢性骨病，其中必须对某些结构或功能参数进行定量测量。多年来，随着新方法的不断出现，这种模式变得越来越复杂，为组织功能提供了越来越详细的见解。这些新方法中的许多都是在设备制造商实施之前构思并付诸实践的。成功地参与这些开发需要针对特定模式的深入培训，以使未来的科学家能够有效地部署用于脉冲序列设计和数据重建的无数数学工具。将新方法从试验台转化到临床同样重要，并强调为NIH的关键优先事项之一。因此，培训过程需要是多学科的，需要各个子专业的MR物理学家、工程师、计算机科学家和医生之间的密切合作。基础科学实习生往往对医学问题的理解不完全，在将抽象的技术概念转化为执业医生方面通常存在困难。 拟议的培训计划建立在主任早期的计划及其取得的培训成果方面的记录上，表明绝大多数以前的受训人员已经在工业中获得了学术教师或高级研究职位。新计划以这一成功的模式为基础，提议对核磁共振物理学和工程学方面的博士后和博士后候选人进行为期两年的培训，重点是结构、生理和功能应用。培训方式包括口述、结构化教学和动手实验室培训相结合，并强调讲师指导的研究。培训人员由磁共振成像和内科科学家组成，他们拥有成功的多学科研究培训记录，以及基础和翻译研究方面的卓越经验。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Since its inception four decades ago, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has continued to evolve and is far from having reached its ultimate potential. MRI is unquestionably the most complex but also the richest and most versatile imaging method therefore requiring systematic training. Although inherently quantitative, MRI has been used largely as a qualitative imaging technique practiced by radiologists utilizing predominantly qualitative criteria for establishing a diagnosis or excluding disease. This approach is fraught with problems, its main limitation being the subjective nature of the result, i.e. sensitivity to reader experience and judgment. An increasing number of problems in medicine require a quantitative assessment of tissue structure, physiology and function. Moreover, for many diagnostic or staging problems quantification of an observation is not merely a better option but the qualitative approach is entirely unsuited. Examples are measurement of tissue perfusion, quantification of metabolite concentration by spectroscopic imaging, the assessment of non-focal systemic disorders such as degenerative neurologic or metabolic bone disease where a quantitative measurement of some structural or functional parameter has to be made. Over the years the modality has become ever more complex with the ongoing emergence of new methodologies, providing increasingly detailed insight into tissue function. Many of these new methods are conceived and reduced to practice years before being implemented by equipment manufacturers. Successful participation in these developments demands in-depth, modality-specific training to enable future scientists to effectively deploy the myriad of mathematical tools for pulse sequence design and data reconstruction. Translation of new methods from the bench to the clinic is equally important and highlighted as one of NIH's key priorities. The training process therefore needs to be multidisciplinary, requiring close cooperation among MR physicists, engineers, computer scientists and physicians in the various subspecialties. Basic science trainees often understand the medical problem incompletely and typically have difficulties in translating abstract technical concepts to the practicing physician. The proposed Training program builds on the director's earlier program and its record in terms of achieved training outcome, showing the large majority of former trainees having attained academic faculty or senior research positions in industry. The new program builds on this successful formula by proposing to train predoctoral and postdoctoral candidates in MRI physics and engineering, with particular focus on structural, physiologic and functional applications, for period of two years. Training modalities involve a combination of colloquia, structured teaching and hands-on laboratory training, and emphasis on preceptor-directed research. The training faculty consists of MR imaging and physician scientists with a record of successful multidisciplinary research training as well as basic and translational research excellence.