SPHARM Shape Modeling and Analysis Toolkit for Brain Imaging

描述(申请人提供)：此R03申请为期一年的资金，用于开发和发布SPHARM-MAT，一个用于神经解剖学研究的3D形状建模和分析工具包。形状分析越来越受到神经影像学界的关注，因为它有可能提供简单的体积测量之外的重要信息。SPHARM-MAT是一套工具，旨在使用球谐函数(SPHARM)有效地表征和归一化3D大脑结构的形态特征。它建立了一个基础，可以在此基础上进行统计形状分析，以发现与特定大脑疾病相关的神经解剖结构的形态计量学变化。SPHARM-MAT的开发是与现有工具相关的协同工作。它提供了另一种软件平台以及工具比较和交叉验证的机会。更重要的是，它是一个强大的工具包，具有几个增值的新功能。由于实现了几种新的算法，克服了传统SPHARM方法的局限性，因此具有更广泛的适用性。它是用户友好的和可互操作的，提供了图形界面、模块化设计结构以及文档齐全的用户手册和源代码。本研究的目标包括：(1)实现改进的个体SPHARM建模方法；(2)使用SPHARM实现改进的群体分析方法；(3)将该功能与其他必要的组件一起打包到SPHARM-MAT中并发布工具包。SPHARM-MAT将通过打包以前研究中的SPHARM处理组件的现有原型实现以及通过实现其他必要组件来开发，这些组件包括图形用户界面、可视化模块、用户手册、项目维基站点和源代码文档。SPHARM-MAT将使用GNU通用公共许可证在NITRC(www.nitrc.org)上发布，以便广泛传播。这一新工具包的传播将使致力于许多大脑疾病的研究人员能够更有效地测试神经解剖学假说，因此该项目将有利于公共卫生成果。公共卫生相关性：形状分析越来越受到神经影像学界的关注，因为它有可能提供简单的体积测量以外的重要信息，并了解与特定大脑疾病相关的神经解剖结构的形态计量学变化。这个项目的目的是开发和发布SPHARM-MAT，这是一个用于神经解剖学研究的3D形状建模和分析工具包。SPHARM-MAT是与现有工具相关的协同工作，是一个功能强大的工具包，具有几个增加价值的新功能，包括易用性、广泛的适用性、良好的互操作性和广泛的传播。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This R03 application is for one year of funding to develop and release SPHARM-MAT, a 3D shape modeling and analysis toolkit for neuroanatomical studies. Shape analysis is becoming of increasing interest to the neuroimaging community because of its potential to provide important information beyond simple volume measurements. SPHARM-MAT is a suite of tools that are designed to effectively characterize and normalize morphometric features of 3D brain structures using spherical harmonic functions (SPHARM). It establishes a foundation on which statistical shape analysis can be performed to discover morphometric changes in neuroanatomical structures related to specific brain disorders. The development of SPHARM-MAT is a synergistic effort in relation to existing tools. It provides an alternative software platform as well as an opportunity for tool comparison and cross-validation. More importantly, it is a powerful toolkit with several new features that add value. It has a broader applicability due to the implementation of several new algorithms that overcome the limitations of the traditional SPHARM method. It is user-friendly and interoperable, offering a graphical interface, modular design structure, and well-documented user manual and source code. The objectives of this research include (1) implementing an improved method for individual SPHARM modeling, (2) implementing an improved method for group analysis using SPHARM, and (3) packaging this functionality together with other necessary components in SPHARM-MAT and releasing the toolkit. SPHARM-MAT will be developed by packaging the existing prototype implementation of SPHARM processing components from previous studies as well as by implementing additional necessary components including a graphical user interface, a visualization module, a user manual, a project wiki site, and documentation of source code. SPHARM-MAT will be released at NITRC (www.nitrc.org) using GNU General Public License for wide dissemination. The dissemination of this new toolkit will enable investigators working on many brain disorders to more effectively test neuroanatomical hypotheses and therefore this project will benefit public health outcomes. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Shape analysis is becoming of increasing interest to the neuroimaging community because of its potential to provide important information beyond simple volume measurements and to understand morphometric changes in neuroanatomical structures related to specific brain disorders. The purpose of this project is to develop and release SPHARM-MAT, a 3D shape modeling and analysis toolkit for neuroanatomical studies. SPHARM-MAT is a synergistic effort in relation to existing tools, and is a powerful toolkit with several new features that add value, including ease of use, broad applicability, good interoperability, and wide dissemination.