Advances in Quantitative Diffusion MRI Techniques & Their Potential Clinical Application to Both Healthy & Disease-Affected Populations
Member-Initiated Symposium

ORGANIZERS: Maxime Descoteaux, Ivana Drobnjak, Shawna Farquharson, Andrada Ianus

Tuesday, 19 June 2018

Session Number: MIS-11

Overview
This Symposium was proposed by the Diffusion study group.

This symposium will provide a forum for clinicians and diffusion MR scientists to engage in a discussion about the potential role of quantitative assessment of tissue microstructure and structural connectivity in our understanding of the brain in health & disease. 
The overall aim is to present and discuss key clinical questions & novel, state of the art diffusion MRI techniques that are/can be used to address such questions. The session format is specifically designed to foster a dialogue between these two communities to aid the translation of novel scientific advances that may ultimately improve patient care. 
The format: In Part 1 (Clinical Power Pitches) leading clinicians pitch clinical questions that need to be addressed to improve patient care. Topics include: Brain Development, Epilepsy, MS, Dementia & the present challenges of Neurosurgical interventions. In Part 2 (MR Scientists Power Pitches) emerging physicists pitch their techniques for providing quantitative measures of tissue microstructure in healthy and diseased populations. Topics include: DTI, AFD, NODDI, Micro FA, OGSE. In Part 3 (Discussion) moderators, supported by the speakers, lead the discussion focusing on the key questions arising from the power pitches to generate audience discussion. 
This symposium aims to address the pressing need in MRI to improve healthcare outcomes & efficiencies through the better translation of technical advances, by connecting MR scientists, clinicians & radiographers.

Target Audience
MDs, PhDs, radiographers & technologists interested in developing or applying quantitative diffusion MRI techniques to study tissue microstructure.

Educational Objectives
As a result of attending this course, participants should be able to:
- Describe common clinical diseases where improved measures of microstructure may be useful;
- Describe methodological challenges unique to providing robust quantitative diffusion MRI-based measures;
- Describe the technical advantages of more novel quantitative diffusion MRI approaches; and
- Describe how quantitative diffusion MRI measures could specifically be used to improve the knowledge and/or clinical management of patients.