Unlocking Simultaneous 129Xe MRI / 15O2 PET Lung and Brain Perfusion Imaging

吸入式超极化129Xe MRI是一种无创、快速获取、无辐射风险的肺部成像方法，直接、空间地测量肺部气体交换发生的业务单元——肺泡和腺泡管的结构和功能。这种MRI方法提供了一种可视化和量化参与通气/灌注和不参与通气/灌注的肺区域的方法。与其他成像气体相比，由于氙在肺组织中的天然溶解度，因此可以同时对肺内的功能气体交换进行通气/灌注肺测量。因此，129Xe是测量肺实质气体交换、肺通气和灌注的独特探头。值得注意的是，129Xe不仅对肺部有益。一旦进入体内，129Xe还可以进入溶解在血液中的脑组织，从而照亮大脑的结构和功能信息。我的研究项目侧重于开发先进的新型无辐射肺和脑成像方法，如使用129Xe MRI进行肺/脑灌注测量。用于肺和脑的超极化129Xe MRI需要几个主要硬件组件：具有宽带能力的MRI扫描仪（用于非质子MRI），专用射频（RF）线圈，氙偏振器（生产超极化129Xe）和用于临床前项目的小型动物呼吸机。我们请求资助一个胸部射频线圈和小型动物呼吸机，因为这些设备对于在劳森健康研究所建立我们独特的PET/MRI肺/脑成像项目至关重要，因为劳森有一台3T西门子Biograph mMR， PET/MRI扫描仪。所要求的研究工具的购买将完全解锁我的研究计划，因此，使我们能够加速开发新的129Xe肺部MRI成像方法，这意味着开发准确评估与Covid-19相关的肺损伤的工具。有了我提出的研究工具和脉冲序列开发专业知识，这些目标的实现是可能的。所要求的基础设施将在我的实验室中持续日常运行，由两名博士生，两名本科生（研究助理）和一名工作人员：一名MRI/PET专家（劳森PET/MRI实验室）。我们希望能长期使用所要求的设备。

Inhaled hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI is a non-invasive, rapidly acquired and radiation risk free lung imaging method, which directly and spatially measures the structure and function of the business unit of the lung where gas exchange happens - the alveoli and acinar ducts. This MRI approach provides a way to visualize and quantify the regions of the lung that participate in ventilation/perfusion, and those that do not. Simultaneous ventilation/perfusion lung measurements of functional gas exchange within the lungs are possible due to the natural solubility of xenon in lung tissue compared to other imaging gases. Therefore, 129Xe is a unique probe for measuring the lung parenchyma gas exchange, lung ventilation and perfusion. Remarkably, 129Xe is not just for lungs. Once inside, 129Xe can also travel to brain tissue dissolved in blood illuminating information on the structure and function of the brain as well. My research program focuses on the development of advanced novel and radiation free imaging methods for lung and brain, such as lung/brain perfusion measurements using 129Xe MRI. Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI for lungs and brain requires several main hardware components: an MRI scanner with broadband capability (for nonproton MRI), dedicated Radio Frequency (RF) coils, a xenon polarizer (production of hyperpolarized 129Xe), and a small animal ventilator for the pre-clinical program. We request funding for a chest RF coil and small animal ventilator as these pieces of equipment are critically important to establish our unique PET/MRI lung/brain imaging program at Lawson Health Research Institute, as Lawson has a 3T Siemens Biograph mMR, PET/MRI scanner. The purchase of the requested research tools will fully unlock my research program and therefore, permit us to accelerate the development of novel imaging methods for 129Xe lung MRI, meaning development of the tools for the accurate assessment of the lung damage related to Covid-19. With my proposed research tools and pulse sequence development expertise, the accomplishment of these goals is possible. The requested infrastructure will be in continuous daily operation in my labs by two PhD students, two undergrad students (research assistants) and a staff member: a MRI/PET specialist (Lawson PET/MRI lab). We expect full time use of the requested equipment.