1H MRSI of the Human Brain at 7T

描述（由申请人提供）：质子磁共振波谱成像（1H-MRSI）提供了一种非侵入性方法，用于识别、可视化和定量特定脑生化标志物和神经递质，评估受损或患病脑组织的异常，纵向监测退行性疾病，以及早期评估治疗干预。这些独特的能力，使直接在体内评估离散的大脑结构的神经化学状态的潜在识别机制的选择性脑病变。 在人类研究中，1H-MRSI已成功鉴定神经元健康、细胞膜完整性、神经胶质活性和氨基酸神经递质循环的标志物。然而，在常规场强下的光谱成像遭受差的空间分辨率（通常在厘米的量级）和有限的光谱分辨率，导致相对少量的代谢物的稳健检测。 提高灵敏度的明确需求一直是安装高场扫描仪的驱动力。这个项目，写在响应国家卫生研究院计划公告（PA-06-279）：神经技术研究、开发和增强（R 01）-提出开发利用理论优势所需的增强型1H-MRSI技术（增强的信噪比[SNR]、光谱分辨率和信息内容），使用最近推出的超高场7特斯拉（T）全身MR扫描仪;从而解决了神经光谱学进展的关键障碍。 这项为期4年的R 01的目标是开发优化的7 T 1H-MRSI数据采集和处理技术，以提供目前无法从整个人脑的选择性组织和小结构中获得的高空间分辨率和高SNR生化信息。这些新成像工具的成功开发将对基础科学和临床应用产生广泛影响，提供深入了解大脑健康和疾病机制的手段。这些发展的应用包括大脑发育，精神病理学，药物和酒精依赖，神经退行性过程，脑损伤和治疗干预的研究。公共卫生相关性：质子磁共振光谱成像（1H-MRSI）提供了一种非侵入性的方法，用于识别，可视化和定量特定的大脑生化标志物和神经递质，该项目提出了开发创新技术所需的理论优势，最近推出的TMF 7 T人体扫描仪。这项工作的目标是实现两到八倍更高的空间分辨率和覆盖率，沿着检测代谢物的数量显着增加，比现有的方法。我们预计这些新成像工具的成功开发将通过提供深入了解大脑健康和疾病机制的方法，对基础科学和临床应用产生广泛影响，这些发展的应用包括大脑发育、精神病理学、药物和酒精依赖、神经退行性过程、脑损伤和局灶性脑结构的治疗反应的研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI) offers a non-invasive method for the identification, visualization, and quantification of specific brain biochemical markers and neurotransmitters, the assessment of abnormalities in injured or diseased brain tissue, the longitudinal monitoring of degenerative diseases, and the early evaluation of therapeutic interventions. These unique capabilities enable the direct in vivo assessment of the neurochemical status of discrete brain structures with the potential of identifying mechanisms underlying selective brain pathologies. 1H-MRSI has been successful in identifying markers of neuronal health, cell membrane integrity, glial activity, and amino acid neurotransmitter cycling in human studies. Nevertheless, spectroscopic imaging at conventional field strengths suffers from poor spatial resolution, typically on the order of centimeters, and limited spectral resolution, resulting in the robust detection of a relatively small number of metabolites. The clear need to improve sensitivity has been a driving force behind the installation of highfield scanners. This project, written in response to the NIH Program Announcement (PA-06-279): Neurotechnology Research, Development, and Enhancement (R01) - proposes the development of enhanced 1H-MRSI technology needed to exploit the theoretical advantages (enhanced signal-to-noise ratio [SNR], spectral resolution, and information content) available using recently introduced ultrahigh-field 7 Tesla (T) whole-body MR scanners; thus addressing a critical barrier to progress in neurospectroscopy. The goal of this 4-year R01 is to develop optimized 7T 1H-MRSI data acquisition and processing techniques to provide currently unavailable high-spatial resolution and high-SNR biochemical information from selective tissues and small structures throughout the human brain. The successful development of these new imaging tools will have a broad impact on basic science and clinical applications by providing the means to obtain insights into mechanisms of brain health and disease. Applications of these developments include studies of brain development, psychopathology, drug and alcohol dependence, neurodegenerative processes, brain injury, and therapeutic interventions. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI) offers a non-invasive method for the identification, visualization, and quantification of specific brain biochemical markers and neurotransmitters, and this project proposes the development of innovative technologies needed to exploit the theoretical advantages offered by recently introduced ultrahigh field 7T human scanners. The goal of this work is to achieve two- to eight-fold higher spatial resolution and coverage, along with the detection of a significantly increased number of metabolites, than possible with existing methods. We anticipate the successful development of these new imaging tools will have a broad impact on basic science and clinical applications by providing the means to obtain insights into mechanisms of brain health and disease, and applications of these developments include studies of brain development, psychopathology, drug and alcohol dependence, neurodegenerative processes, brain injury, and the therapeutic response of focal brain structures.