Quantitative high resolution in-vivo multi-modality medical imaging techniques

目标。为了开发定量成像技术，最好地利用主要应用于脑功能研究的互补体内医学成像方法之间的协同作用。**背景。体内成像方式，如正电子发射断层扫描(PET)、单光子发射断层扫描(SPECT)和磁共振成像(MRI)，探索具有互补优势的生物功能和结构。PET和SPECT通过使用放射性生物相关化合物来探索生物化学的功能方面。相比之下，MRI提供了极好的解剖学信息，可用于研究组织连通性和功能行为。认识到疾病影响人类功能的许多方面，现在正在开发能够以至少两种方式同时采集数据的混合成像仪器。因此，开发新的成像和数据分析算法以最大限度地利用成像模式之间的协同作用是至关重要的。**提出的研究计划。具体的短期目标是：(I)开发数据分析方法，允许从相同受试者的PET和MRI中提取新的信息；(2)开发能够容易地解释运动的新的图像重建；(3)表征和开发临床前混合PET/SPECT矢量扫描仪的混合成像的定量方面；(4)将这些新技术应用于啮齿动物的先导研究。**新颖性和意义。虽然个体成像模式已经成熟了几十年，但混合多模式成像是一种相对新颖的方法，仍然需要做很多工作来了解和优化其潜力。这项研究的结果将有助于实现将几种成像模式与开发先进的成像方法无缝集成的长期目标，这些成像方法非常适合于解决人体功能的复杂性，并改进早期疾病检测，从而最终影响医疗保健和生活质量。

OBJECTIVES. To develop quantitative imaging techniques, that best exploit synergies between complementary in-vivo medical imaging methods as primarily applied to the study of brain function.**BACKGROUND. In-vivo imaging modalities, such as positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission tomography(SPECT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) explore biological functions and structure with complementary strengths. PET and SPECT explore functional aspects of biochemistry by using radioactive biologically relevant compounds. In contrast, MRI provides excellent anatomical information and can be used to investigate tissue connectivity and functional behavior. Hybrid imaging instrumentation capable of simultaneous data acquisition with at least two modalities is now being developed in recognition of the fact that disease affects many aspect of human function. It is thus essential to develop novel imaging and data analysis algorithms to best exploit the synergy between the imaging modalities.**PROPOSED RESEARCH PROGRAM. The specific short term aims are (i) development of data analysis methods that allow to extract novel information from PET and MRI from the same subjects; (2) development of novel image reconstruction that can easily account for motion; (3) characterization and development of the quantitative aspects of hybrid imaging with the preclinical hybrid PET/SPECT VECTor scanner and (4) application of these novel techniques to pilot rodent studies.**NOVELTY AND SIGNIFICANCE. While individual imaging modalities have been maturing for decades, hybrid multi-modality imaging is a relatively novel approach and much still needs to be done to understand and optimize its potential. The outcome of this research will contribute to the long term goal of seamlessly integrating several imaging modalities with development of sophisticated imaging approaches well suited to address the complexity of human function and improve early disease detection thus ultimately impacting health care and quality of life.****************************************