Unlocking Simultaneous 129Xe MRI / 15O2 PET Lung and Brain Perfusion Imaging

吸入式超极化129Xe MRI是一种非侵入性、快速获得和无辐射风险的肺部成像方法，它直接和空间地测量发生气体交换的肺业务单位-肺泡和腺泡导管的结构和功能。这种MRI方法提供了一种可视化和量化肺部参与和不参与呼吸/灌流的区域的方法。由于氙气在肺组织中的自然溶解性，与其他成像气体相比，肺内功能性气体交换的同步通风/灌注肺测量是可能的。因此，129Xe是测量肺实质气体交换、肺通气量和肺灌注量的唯一探头。值得注意的是，129Xe不仅适用于肺部。一旦进入体内，129Xe还可以进入溶解在血液中的脑组织，从而照亮关于大脑结构和功能的信息。我的研究计划集中在开发先进的新型无辐射肺和脑成像方法，例如使用129Xe磁共振测量肺/脑血流灌注。用于肺部和大脑的超极化129Xe磁共振成像需要几个主要硬件组件：具有宽带功能的MRI扫描仪(用于非质子MRI)、专用射频(RF)线圈、氙气偏振器(生产超极化129Xe)和用于临床前计划的小型动物呼吸机。我们要求为胸部射频线圈和小动物呼吸机提供资金，因为这些设备对于在Lawson Health Research Institute建立我们独特的PET/MRI肺/脑成像计划至关重要，因为Lawson拥有一台3T西门子Biograph MMR、PET/MRI扫描仪。购买所需的研究工具将完全释放我的研究计划，因此，使我们能够加快开发129Xe肺磁共振成像的新方法，这意味着开发用于准确评估与新冠肺炎相关的肺损伤的工具。凭借我提出的研究工具和脉冲序列开发专业知识，这些目标的实现是可能的。所需的基础设施将由两名博士生、两名本科生(研究助理)和一名工作人员：一名MRI/PET专家(Lawson PET/MRI实验室)在我的实验室持续日常运行。我们希望全天候使用所要求的设备。

Inhaled hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI is a non-invasive, rapidly acquired and radiation risk free lung imaging method, which directly and spatially measures the structure and function of the business unit of the lung where gas exchange happens - the alveoli and acinar ducts. This MRI approach provides a way to visualize and quantify the regions of the lung that participate in ventilation/perfusion, and those that do not. Simultaneous ventilation/perfusion lung measurements of functional gas exchange within the lungs are possible due to the natural solubility of xenon in lung tissue compared to other imaging gases. Therefore, 129Xe is a unique probe for measuring the lung parenchyma gas exchange, lung ventilation and perfusion. Remarkably, 129Xe is not just for lungs. Once inside, 129Xe can also travel to brain tissue dissolved in blood illuminating information on the structure and function of the brain as well. My research program focuses on the development of advanced novel and radiation free imaging methods for lung and brain, such as lung/brain perfusion measurements using 129Xe MRI. Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI for lungs and brain requires several main hardware components: an MRI scanner with broadband capability (for nonproton MRI), dedicated Radio Frequency (RF) coils, a xenon polarizer (production of hyperpolarized 129Xe), and a small animal ventilator for the pre-clinical program. We request funding for a chest RF coil and small animal ventilator as these pieces of equipment are critically important to establish our unique PET/MRI lung/brain imaging program at Lawson Health Research Institute, as Lawson has a 3T Siemens Biograph mMR, PET/MRI scanner. The purchase of the requested research tools will fully unlock my research program and therefore, permit us to accelerate the development of novel imaging methods for 129Xe lung MRI, meaning development of the tools for the accurate assessment of the lung damage related to Covid-19. With my proposed research tools and pulse sequence development expertise, the accomplishment of these goals is possible. The requested infrastructure will be in continuous daily operation in my labs by two PhD students, two undergrad students (research assistants) and a staff member: a MRI/PET specialist (Lawson PET/MRI lab). We expect full time use of the requested equipment.