Probing Tissue Structures Using Short Diffusion Times

我建议开发和优化一种重要的新方法，用于使用扩散磁共振成像(MRI)区分非常小(~1微米)组织结构的大小，例如小轴突直径。该方法依赖于探测可能的最短扩散时间尺度，从而可以检测到在最小结构内从受限扩散到受阻扩散的转变。目前最先进的方法无法区分这些小结构，因为当前方法使用的脉冲序列限制了探测最短扩散时间的能力。我的方法绕过了这些限制，用振荡梯度代替脉冲梯度。我是使用振荡梯度进行扩散测量的世界专家。这种新方法将在生物和神经科学方面有重要的应用。

I propose to develop and optimize an important new method for distinguishing the size of very small (~ 1 µm) tissue structures, such as small axon diameters, using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The method relies on probing the shortest possible diffusion time scales so that the transition from restricted to hindered diffusion within the smallest structures can be detected. Current state-of-the-art methods cannot distinguish these small structures because current methods use pulse sequences which limit the ability to probe the shortest diffusion times. My method circumvents those limitations by using oscillating gradients in place of pulsed gradients. I am a world expert in the use of oscillating gradients for diffusion measurements. The new method will have important biological and neuroscience applications.