High Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy of Epilepsy at 7T

神经外科手术可能是15%-30%的癫痫患者的唯一选择， 药物治疗由于良好的软组织对比度和高分辨率的脑解剖可视化，磁共振成像， 磁共振成像（MRI）在术前定位和表征脑异常中起着至关重要的作用 癫痫手术的病人。7特斯拉（7 T）MR有可能成为一种强大的非侵入性工具，1）在- 癫痫异常的明显性提高了检测效率，减少了侵入性检查的使用。 电生理学评估和2）提供更准确的病变边界描绘，有助于神经外科手术 计划和导致更好的患者结果。不幸的是，多个技术问题，包括 主磁场和施加的RF场以及所选体积中的频率相关空间偏移， 在成像和光谱学的伪影中，限制了当前高场扫描仪的实用性。我们的目标是设计 创新的RF脉冲和脉冲序列，以克服这些限制，以充分利用信噪比 以及由高场MR磁体提供的用于癫痫成像和光谱学的新型对比机制。具体- 总之，我们的目标是：1）开发用于7 T大脑高分辨率结构MR成像的工具，2）开发用于高分辨率结构MR成像的工具。 在7 T和3）联合收割机的内侧颞叶的空间分辨率质子光谱成像，这些工具， 提出一个全面的7 T癫痫成像协议，我们将在癫痫患者的试点研究中进行评估， 外科手术的候选人。 我的职业目标是建立一个独立的研究项目，专注于MR技术的发展， 现场神经成像和光谱学，以改善诊断，治疗和监测神经系统疾病，以及 来增进我们对健康大脑的理解。我的职业发展计划包括获得专业知识， 临床需求和开发新的MR技术来满足这些需求。作为培训，我将扩大我的背景 在神经科学，重点是神经系统疾病的病理生理学，特别是癫痫。此外，我将 获得成为一名成功的独立调查员所需的必要科学管理技能。斯坦福大学 大学提供了一套完整的物理和智力资源，以及一个彻底的合作研究 这是获得这种培训所需要的环境。在这个奖项的独立阶段，我将有机会 继续开发创新的MR技术和患者评估，同时建立自己的研究计划。 作为一名独立的研究者，我将奋进对神经系统疾病患者的护理产生根本性的影响。 通过在磁共振成像领域进行临床相关研究，治疗各种疾病和病症。

Neurosurgery may be the only option for the 15%-30% of people suffering from epilepsy who are refractory to drug therapy. Due to excellent soft tissue contrast and high-resolution visualization of brain anatomy, magnetic res- onance imaging (MRI) plays a vital role in the preoperative localization and characterization of brain abnormalities for patients undergoing epilepsy surgery. 7 Tesla (7T) MR has the potential to be a powerful noninvasive tool to 1) in- crease conspicuity of epileptogenic abnormalities resulting in improved detection efficiency and reduced use of invasive electrophysiological evaluation and 2) provide more accurate delineation of lesion boundaries aiding in neurosurgical planning and leading to better patient outcomes. Unfortunately, multiple technical issues including inhomogeneity of the main magnetic and applied RF fields as well as frequency-dependent spatial shifts in the selected volume, result in artifacts for imaging and spectroscopy, limiting the utility of current high-field scanners. Our objective is to design innovative RF pulses and pulse sequences to overcome these limitations in order to fully utilize the signal-to-noise ratio and novel contrast mechanisms offered by high-field MR magnets for imaging and spectroscopy of epilepsy. Specifi- cally, we aim to 1) develop tools for high-resolution structural MR imaging of the brain at 7T, 2) develop tools for high spatial-resolution proton spectroscopic imaging of the medial temporal lobe at 7T and 3) combine these tools to com- pose a comprehensive 7T epilepsy imaging protocol which we will evaluate in a pilot study of epilepsy patients who are candidates for surgical intervention. My career goal is to establish an independent research program focused on MR technique development for high- field neuroimaging and spectroscopy to improve diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of neurological diseases as well as advance our understanding of the healthy brain. My career development plan includes gaining expertise in identifying clinical needs and developing new MR technologies to meet these needs. As training, I will expand my background in neuroscience, with a focus on pathophysiology of neurological diseases, particularly epilepsy. In addition, I will acquire the necessary scientific management skills required to become a successful independent investigator. Stanford University offers the complete set of physical and intellectual resources as well as a thoroughly collaborative research environment required to obtain this training. During the independent phase of this award, I will have the opportunity to continue development of innovative MR technology and evaluation in patients, while building my own research program. As an independent investigator, I will endeavor to make a fundamental impact on the care of patients with neurological diseases and disorders through the pursuit of clinically relevant research in the field of magnetic resonance imaging.