In-vivo glucoCEST MRI - The future of organ metabolic imaging

目前尚不能对胎儿新陈代谢进行成像，但它的发展是了解胎儿发育和生理的关键。这项技术的核心是磁共振成像(MRI)，**它没有有害的辐射，被认为对母亲和胎儿是安全的。行业合作伙伴已经**开始开发这项技术，但目前它仍然是一个无法使用的产品。由此产生的改进和销售的**产品将解决目前胎儿成像方面的技术空白，同时满足对非侵入性**方法的代谢过程成像的日益增长的需求。该项目的成功完成将为西门子带来巨大的价值**，因为它在技术能力方面突破了胎儿成像的界限，允许在此基础上建立新的**技术，同时促进**加拿大和国际上理解母胎生理学的新的科学途径。

Imaging of fetal metabolism is currently unavailable but its development is key to understanding fetal**development and physiology. Since glucose is the primary source of energy for the fetus, being able to image**its uptake and utilization by the fetal organs could reveal new information about fetal organ growth and**function.**In the proposed study, the industry partner would like to develop a non-invasive imaging technique that traces**glucose metabolism by the different fetal organs. The technique pivots on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),**which has no harmful radiation and is considered safe for the mother and the fetus. The industry partner has**started developing this technique, yet it is currently still an unusable product. In the proposed collaboration we**will work on further developing this technique in order to turn it into a usable, marketable imaging product.**We will carry out analysis, computer simulation, optimization, and testing of the currently available industry**product, thereby improving its capabilities and utility in fetal imaging. The resulting improved and marketable**product will address a current technical gap in fetal imaging whiles satisfying a growing need for non-invasive**means of imaging metabolic processes. The successful completion of this project will bring tremendous value**to Siemens as it pushes the boundaries of fetal imaging in terms of technical capabilities, allowing new**techniques to build on it while facilitating new scientific avenues in understanding maternal-fetal physiology in**Canada and internationally.