A cutting-edge radio-frequency coil for structural and functional MRI of the primate brain at ultra-high magnetic field

用于超高磁场下灵长类大脑结构和功能 MRI 的尖端射频线圈

• 批准号: RTI-2023-00553
• 负责人: Shmuel, Amir
• 金额: $ 10.84万
• 依托单位: McGill University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=761357
• 关键词: cutting; edge; radio; frequency; coil

We request a cutting-edge radio-frequency (RF) coil custom-made for structural and functional MRI of the alert and anesthetized primate brain at a high magnetic field (7 Tesla), an MRI-compatible chair for alert primate functional MRI, and an MRI-compatible primate bed for use in the anesthetized state. The requested equipment will support seven excellent research laboratories that investigate the primate brain. The research projects span evaluation, optimization, and validation of non-invasive MRI-based methods for parcellating the brain; high-resolution structural MRI to study the neuronal mechanisms underlying hand control and plasticity of the motor cortex and deep nuclei; precise guidance of electrodes to the deep vestibular nuclei; high-fidelity MRI of the deep cerebellar nuclei for understanding the processing of vestibular signals; development, optimization, and validation of novel methods for anatomically-guided 3D reconstruction of PET data; and high-resolution MRI for precise modeling of the electric current distribution during transcranial electrical stimulation. McGill University and U de Montreal together form one of the largest communities of primate brain research laboratories in the world (approximately 60% of all such laboratories in Canada). The requested RF coil will be the first of its kind in Canada. All research programs currently use a standard RF coil designed for imaging the human head. However, the coil elements are far from the head of the non-human primate, because of its smaller size relative to the size of the human head. The need for the requested RF-coil has emerged because the neuroscience community has realized that to understand brain function, bridges are required between systems neuroscience and neuroimaging. The requested RF-coil will make it possible for our laboratories to continue leading primate brain research worldwide. In a field that is dominated by male PIs, our group includes 2 female PIs, one PI from an underrepresented minority, and five male PIs. The laboratories of the applicants host collectively 42 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, including 18 female trainees and 9 trainees of underrepresented minorities origin. Our trainees will acquire skills that are highly demanded in academia and the high-tech industry sector, including skills in animal training, cutting-edge MRI, and quantitative methods, including image and signal processing, statistics, artificial intelligence, and neuronavigation. The data obtained using the requested RF-coil will enrich the repertoire available to our trainees who specialize in acquiring data and simple analysis, as well as those who specialize in high-level medical image analysis, opening opportunities in academia and the high-tech biomedical imaging industry.

我们需要一个定制的尖端射频（RF）线圈，用于在高磁场（7特斯拉）下对清醒和麻醉的灵长类动物大脑进行结构和功能MRI，一个MRI兼容的椅子用于清醒的灵长类动物功能MRI，以及一个MRI兼容的灵长类动物床用于麻醉状态。所要求的设备将支持七个研究灵长类动物大脑的优秀研究实验室。研究项目包括评估、优化和验证基于非侵入性核磁共振的脑包裹方法；高分辨率结构MRI研究手部控制的神经元机制以及运动皮层和深部核的可塑性；电极对前庭深部核的精确引导；小脑深部核的高保真MRI对前庭信号处理的理解；开发、优化和验证解剖引导的PET数据三维重建新方法；以及高分辨率MRI，用于精确模拟经颅电刺激过程中的电流分布。麦吉尔大学和蒙特利尔大学共同组成了世界上最大的灵长类大脑研究实验室之一（约占加拿大所有此类实验室的60%）。所要求的射频线圈将是加拿大同类产品中的第一个。目前所有的研究项目都使用一种标准的射频线圈，用于对人类头部进行成像。然而，线圈元件与非人类灵长类动物的头部相距甚远，因为它的尺寸相对于人类头部的尺寸较小。对rf线圈的需求已经出现，因为神经科学界已经意识到，要了解大脑功能，需要在系统神经科学和神经成像之间建立桥梁。所要求的射频线圈将使我们的实验室能够继续在全球范围内领先灵长类动物的大脑研究。在一个由男性PI主导的领域，我们的小组包括2名女性PI， 1名来自代表性不足的少数民族的PI和5名男性PI。申请者的实验室共招收了42名研究生和博士后，其中包括18名女性学员和9名少数族裔学员。我们的学员将获得学术界和高科技产业部门高度要求的技能，包括动物训练技能，尖端MRI，定量方法，包括图像和信号处理，统计学，人工智能和神经导航。使用所要求的射频线圈获得的数据将丰富我们的学员可用的技能，他们专门从事数据获取和简单分析，以及那些专门从事高水平医学图像分析的人，在学术界和高科技生物医学成像行业开辟机会。