Combined Diffusion-Relaxometry Microstructure Imaging
Member-Initiated Symposium

ORGANIZERS: Jana Hutter, Marco Palombo, Paddy Slator

Thursday, 16 May 2019

Session Number: MIS-22

Overview
Diffusion and relaxometry are the two most used MR contrasts in clinical diagnostics and prognostics. However, our understanding of the driving chemical-physical mechanisms underpinning complex systems such as biological tissues is still very limited. Even more challenging is the attempt to infer the link between diffusion and relaxation contrasts and the underlying tissue microenvironment. An important obstacle is that these contrasts influence each other. Thus, measuring them separately has limitations due to inherent correlations. Advanced MR techniques, generally called "multi-dimensional" have been recently proposed as very promising tools to selectively investigate these correlations and try to disentangle useful information about the tissue microstructure. In particular, this symposium will focus on combined diffusion-relaxometry MRI schemes because of their versatility and compatibility with current clinical setups.

The session will focus on:
1. What questions (basic/clinical research) can diffusion-relaxometry potentially answer?
2. What are the existing acquisition and analysis techniques?
3. What are the future directions?

The session will conclude with a panel discussion comprising all speakers. This would discuss important topics in this new field, including: minimizing acquisition times, data-driven vs. model-based analysis, main barriers to clinical translation.

Target Audience
Clinicians and scientists interested in the potential of combined diffusion-relaxometry to address unanswered questions in microstructure imaging.

Educational Objectives
As a result of attending this course, participants should be able to:
- Recall the historical context within which combined diffusion-relaxometry lies;
- Recognize the current state of the art acquisition and analysis techniques for combined diffusion-relaxometry;
- Identify the advantages and limitations of combined diffusion-relaxometry techniques; and
- Evaluate the multitude of potential clinical applications in the CNS and beyond.