Dr Dimo Ivanov | Developments and applications for (ultra) high field neuroimaging

Functional MRI has become a widely used tool to detect brain activation non-invasively, most predominantly using the BOLD signal which results from a complex interplay of oxygen consumption, perfusion, and volume. Arterial spin labelling (ASL) allows non-invasive measurements of perfusion, while vascular space occupancy (VASO) can depict changes in blood volume. The main advantage of these approaches is their quantitative nature and potentially their more direct link to the underlying neuronal activity. In my talk I will present our recent and ongoing work on developing techniques and strategies for measuring ASL at 3 and 7 Tesla and VASO signals at 7 T with high resolution, quality and precision. Furthermore, anatomical imaging benefits from 7 Tesla by allowing higher spatial resolutions, and improved contrast that offer a better depiction of tissue structure and properties at the sub-millimetre scale. To this end, I will show applications of quantitative anatomical imaging approaches (T1 and T2*) at 7T to MELAS (Mitochondrial Encephalopathy Lactic Acidosis and Stroke-like episodes) patients and healthy controls to gain further insight into the effects of the disease on the brain. Finally, some recent work on imaging the locus coeruleus at 3 and 7 T will be presented.

Poster