ISMRM 24th Annual Meeting & Exhibition • 07-13 May 2016 • Singapore

Weekend Educational Course: Molecular & Metabolic Imaging

Skill Level: Basic to Intermediate

Organizers: Guanshu Liu, Ph.D. & Mark D. Pagel, Ph.D.

Saturday 07 May 2016

Overview
This educational session is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of cellular and molecular MR imaging. This course incorporates the fundamentals of relaxation and CEST, and MRI methods that quantify these properties: 1H, multinuclear, and hyperpolarized 13C MR spectroscopy and spectroscopic imaging; PET-MRI, and applications in pharmaceutical development and cell labeling & tracking.  A session on the fundamentals and emerging concepts in hyperpolarization including pulse sequence design and molecular imaging applications are also included.

Target Audience
M.D. and Ph.D. researchers with a specialty or developing need to improve their knowledge in cellular and molecular imaging concepts and applications.

Educational Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Assess fundamental concepts and methods and future trends in the diverse field of cellular and molecular imaging;
  • Integrate effective practices of molecular imaging; and
  • Evaluate challenges in molecular imaging that may inspire new research studies and clinical translational activities.

PROGRAM
      Basic Concepts of Molecular Imaging  
      Moderators: Kejia Cai, Leo Cheng  
08:30
 
Relaxation Based Contrast Agents
Vikram D. Kodibagkar1
1School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, AZ, United States
This lecture will review the fundamental properties and applications of relaxation based contrast agents. We will begin by understanding the physics of relaxation and factors influencing it. With a view towards in vivo use, we will discuss the relevant physicochemical and MR properties that influence the success of relaxation based agents for biomedical applications.  We will also discuss factors that determine the pharmacokinetics of these agents and the opportunity for targeting tissue microenvironment. Finally we will review some new directions in the field outline future prospects.

 
09:15
 
Responsive Contrast Agents
Matthew John Allen1
1Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
Responsive contrast agents are a promising class of molecules for visualizing disease-relevant molecular events. These contrast agents undergo chemical changes in response to stimuli including enzyme activity, metal ion transport, and changes in pH and oxygen levels. The chemical changes lead to changes in contrast enhancement that can be detected with MRI. This talk will cover the basic principles behind how this class of contrast agents function and will highlight some published examples of response.

 
10:00
 
Break & Meet the Teachers
10:30
 
Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer
Xavier Golay1
1UCL Institute of Neurology
This teaching presentation will attempt to demonstrate the power and existing present limitations of Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST)-based MRI and its most prominent applications.

 
11:00
 
Multinuclear, Sodium & Fluorine - Permission Withheld
Fernando Boada1
1New York Univeristy
This presentation discusses the basic principles for the implementation and application of multi-nuclear MRI, with an emphasis on sodium MRI, in the study of disease in humans.

 
11:30
 
Fundamentals of Hyperpolarization
Leif Schröder
MRI relies on detecting signals in the radiofrequency range that are related to very small energy transitions of the spin ensemble. While this is a blessing with regard to the harmless character of the radiation, it imposes a serious problem in terms of the low sensitivity caused by almost vanishing spin polarization at ambient temperatures. Increasing the sensitivity through artificial enhancement of the net magnetization relies on so-called hyperpolarized agents for NMR and MRI. Hyperpolarization is a powerful technique that has enabled many varied applications for molecular and cellular imaging. This tutorial will summarize the methods of hyperpolarization, probe design and optimized signal encoding.

 
12:00
 
Lunch & Meet the Teachers
 
 
      Initial Clinical Experience with Molecular Imaging  
      Moderators: Guanshu Liu, Jannie Wijnen  
13:30
 
  
 
Clinical Experience with Hyperpolarized MRI
Craig R. Malloy1
1University of Texas Southwestern
14:00
 
  
 
Multiparametric "Molecular" MR Imaging
John Gore
Various contrast mechanisms are available using MRI to emphasize specific molecular and cellular features of tissues that have applications in research and clinical management. These intrinsic mechanisms do not require exogenous agents and can be obtained on the same standard equipment as used for routine imaging.

 
14:30
 
  
 
Metabolic Imaging with Spectroscopy
Bruce Damon1
1Vanderbilt University
Combining metabolic imaging methods with spectroscopy methods allows for the appreciation of spatial patterns of physiology and metabolism and the complexities of normal and pathological physiology.  A variety of approaches, including traditional spectroscopy, metabolic mapping, and indirect detection of metabolites, are available.

 
15:00
 
  
 
Break & Meet the Teachers
15:30
 
  
 
Cell Labeling & Tracking
Erik M Shapiro1
1Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
This educational session will describe how MRI can be used to detect cells in preclinical models and clinical scenarios. Contrast agent selection and use will be covered, as will MRI acquisition and data analysis methods.

 
16:00
 
  
MR Molecular Imaging Biomarkers in Pharmaceutical Applications
Patrick McConville1
1Molecular Imaging, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI, United States
The rapid shift to targeted and personalized therapies by the pharmaceutical industry has led to increasing need for specific and predictive biomarkers of therapeutic response [1].  Imaging methods including MRI provide many approaches to the use of biomarkers that are importantly non-invasive, translational and spatially resolved. Many MRI based molecular biomarkers have been, and continue to be used by the pharmaceutical industry [2-5], though use and related success has been modest so far.  A number of new MR Molecular Imaging applications many associated with imaging agents [6], highlight new promise for clinical biomarkers that can be used reliably for state of the art molecular targets and therapeutic paradigms currently in discovery and soon to be in clinical trials.  This course presentation will outline the way the pharmaceutical industry integrates, uses and needs biomarkers and how MRI biomarkers and new molecular imaging assays fit this need. Reference to prevalence of MRI biomarkers in pharmaceutical literature and clinical trials will be provided.  A number of the latest and most promising areas for MRI pharmaceutical applications will be described.

 
16:30
 
  
 
Clinical Translation of MR Molecular Imaging
Zheng-Rong Lu1
1Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
This presentation will discuss  the advantages and clinical applications of MR molecular imaging, the path and challenges for clinical translation, factors affecting the clinical translation, design considerations of clinically translatable MR molecular imaging technology, examples and recent progress of promising MR molecular imaging technologies. 

 
17:00
 
  
 
Adjourment & Meet the Teachers
 
 
 

The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for
Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.