SPHARM Shape Modeling and Analysis Toolkit for Brain Imaging

描述（由申请人提供）：该R 03申请是一年的资金，用于开发和发布SPHARM-MAT，这是一种用于神经解剖学研究的3D形状建模和分析工具包。形状分析正变得越来越感兴趣的神经影像学社区，因为它的潜力，提供重要的信息，超越简单的体积测量。SPHARM-MAT是一套工具，旨在使用球谐函数（SPHARM）有效地表征和标准化3D大脑结构的形态特征。它建立了一个基础上，可以进行统计形状分析，以发现与特定的大脑疾病相关的神经解剖结构的形态学变化。SPHARM-MAT的开发是与现有工具的协同努力。它提供了一个替代的软件平台，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，具有几个增加价值的新功能。它具有更广泛的适用性，由于实现了几个新的算法，克服了传统的SPHARM方法的局限性。它是用户友好和可互操作的，提供了一个图形界面，模块化设计结构，以及记录良好的用户手册和源代码。本研究的目标包括：（1）实现一种改进的SPHARM个体建模方法;（2）实现一种改进的SPHARM群体分析方法;（3）将该功能与SPHARM-MAT中的其他必要组件一起打包并发布工具包。SPHARM-MAT将通过打包先前研究中SPHARM处理组件的现有原型实现以及通过实现额外的必要组件（包括图形用户界面、可视化模块、用户手册、项目wiki站点和源代码文档）来开发。SPHARM-MAT将在NITRC（www.nitrc.org）上使用GNU通用公共许可证发布，以广泛传播。这一新工具包的传播将使研究许多脑部疾病的研究人员能够更有效地测试神经解剖学假设，因此该项目将有利于公共卫生成果。公共卫生相关性：形状分析正变得越来越感兴趣的神经影像学社区，因为它的潜力，提供重要的信息，超越简单的体积测量和了解形态学变化的神经解剖结构相关的特定的大脑疾病。该项目的目的是开发和发布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。SPHARM-MAT是一个与现有工具协同工作的工具包，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.