A multi-scale computational model of brain blood flow: enhancing MRI for assessing brain health

血流量异常是包括中风和痴呆在内的许多脑部疾病的重要因素。血压的变化，主要大血管的疾病，以及穿透脑组织的小血管的改变，都会干扰大脑营养物质的持续供应。我们，在卡迪夫大学脑研究成像中心（CUBRIC），正在开发MRI工具，使用最先进的3T和7T系统，以评估大脑血管的健康。为了支持这一点，我们想要开发描述脑血流的计算模型，将其与MRI信号联系起来。这样的模型将使我们能够提取出有关脑血管疾病变化的更详细信息。在这个博士项目中，你将开发大脑血管树不同区域的血流计算模型，从大动脉到最小的毛细血管。第一年将专注于了解当前不同尺度的脑血流计算模型。将提供MRI模拟培训（如果需要）。在第二年，你将把这些模型和确定MRI信号的Bloch方程结合到一个真实血管树的软件模拟包中。在第三年，我们将使用这些模拟来告知新的MRI序列的开发/优化，并测试它们是否能更好地从大脑中提取健康信号。论文撰写时间为3.5年。

Abnormal blood flow is an important factor in many brain diseases including stroke and dementia. Changes in blood pressure, disease of major large blood vessels and alterations in the smaller vessels that penetrate brain tissue can all interfere with the constant supply of nutrients to the brain. We, at Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), are developing MRI tools, using state-of-the-art 3T and 7T systems, to assess the health of the brain's blood vessels. To support this, we would like to develop computational models that describe brain blood flow, linking it to MRI signals. Such models will enable us to extract more detailed information about changes to the brain's blood vessels with disease. In this PhD project, you will develop computational models of blood flow in different compartments of the brain's vascular tree, from major arteries to the smallest capillaries. The 1st year will focus on understanding current computational models of brain blood flow at different scales. Training in MRI simulations will be provided (if required). In the 2nd year, you would combine these models and the Bloch equations that determine MRI signals into a software simulation package of realistic vascular trees. In the 3rd year, we will use these simulations to inform the development/optimisation of new MRI sequences and test if they can better extract health signals from the brain. Thesis write up will be completed in 3.5 years.