Imaging
Molecular Neuroimaging
Supervisors: Drs. Moffat, Steward and Lovell
Location: The Brain Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Level 2, 1B building, Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Contact: brad.moffat@mh.org.au, PH : 9342 8340
There is presently a paradigm shift in the way in which patients with neurological diseases (such as Brain Tumours, Stroke and Epilepsy) are treated. Old methods are being replaced by individualised patient management protocols using spatially, molecularly and genetically targeted therapies. Similarly, there is also currently a paradigm shift occurring in the field of Neuroimaging. Molecular Imaging (MI) Biomarkers are being developed to image biological, molecular and functional targets of interest to neuroscientists and clinicians. With this in mind The Brain Imaging Laboratory is currently developing and validating the following MI biomarkers: Functional Diffusion Mapping, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine positron emission tomography, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Perfusion MRI. The following are a subset of possible projects:
Project A: Image fusion of Fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine positron emission tomography and Diffusion MRI in Brain Tumour Patients
Project B: Perfusion imaging of stroke using blood oxygen level dependent and dynamic susceptibility MRI.
Project C: Absolute quantification of glutamate using MR spectroscopy.
Project D: Perfusion MRI of Brain Tumour Patients
Project E: Optimisation of diffusion tensor MRI techniques for clinical assessment of white matter integrity.
Project F: Optimisation of functional MRI paradigms for imaging the visual cortex.