New Hardware and Software Developments for Improving Prostate Metabolic MR Imaging

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Project Summary/Abstract The proposed F31 NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research project aims to develop new MR detector hardware and acquisition & analysis methods to enable a major improvement in the clinical management of prostate cancer. This is of relevance to all prostate cancer patients, but also especially for under-represented minorities. African-American men have the world's highest incidence of prostate cancer and a more than two-fold higher mortality rate compared with whites. Also, African-American men have twice the risk of non-Hispanic whites for presenting with advanced-stage prostate cancer. This means that it is important to identify and stage aggressive, advanced prostate cancer accurately in this under-represented population. Prior studies by our group have been focused on improved MR molecular imaging of primary, organ- confined prostate-cancer and detecting response to therapy in bone and liver (distant) metastases. The PI, an African-American graduate student, has designed the proposed research training in this diversity fellowship project to focus on developing novel 13C/1H RF detector hardware and methods for increased HP [1-13C]pyruvate & 1H mpMRI sensitivity and coverage to detect aggressive cancers within the prostate and local spread to the prostatic bed & adjacent lymph-nodes. This is important for newly diagnosed patients and of particular relevance for African-American patients who more often present with advanced stage disease that has extra-capsular spread beyond the prostate and to nearby lymph nodes. As shown in his attached biosketch and through his outstanding initial research, the candidate is a highly motivated, successful trainee who meets the eligibility criteria as an African-American graduate student and will benefit greatly from this fellowship in terms of his research, education, and efforts to promote diversity in biomedical research. This project was designed by the PI applicant (with sponsor input & guidance) to fit his career goal of becoming a professor leading advanced MRI technology development to improve the clinical care of prostate cancer patients specifically, and patients with other deadly diseases in general. This award will also enable the PI candidate to promote diversity within the joint Bioengineering program at UC Berkeley and UCSF and ultimately science nationally to expand the number and input of under-represented minority scientists especially in the field of Bioengineering. He has been highly active in promoting diversity currently as a UC BioE graduate student and a member of Black Graduate Engineering and Science Students (BGESS). The diversity fellowship career development plan is designed to expand the scientific knowledge and independent research capabilities of the candidate. The goals are to: 1) Improve knowledge and research skills in MR hardware and acquisition methods; 2) Learn research study design and conduct; 3) Statistical and clinical study considerations; and 4) the conduct of first-rate research designed to ultimately improve prostate cancer imaging of newly diagnosed patients presenting with advanced disease.