ISMRM 2026 Workshop on Fluids, Flows, and Clearance in the Brain

Workshop Overview

This workshop will discuss the current state of the art of MRI techniques for measuring neurofluids (dynamics of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain), and how the images from these techniques should be interpreted and applied to patients with clinical disorders. Sessions will include a focus on novel methods in phase contrast MRI, functional MRI, ASL, diffusion, and motion-sensitive MRI techniques, and how these techniques can be rigorously validated and accurately interpreted. Sessions will describe the current knowledge about the physiology of CSF flow in the brain at multiple spatial scales, and its links to waste clearance and lymphatic systems. We will discuss many clinical applications of these methods, including in traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, sleep and sleep disorders, pediatrics, hydrocephalus, and aging. We will include a practical hands-on session on how to analyze several types of MRI data focused on neurofluid measurement. We will also include a session on open-source data and tools, to enable attendees to begin working with these methods on their own. This workshop provides technical insight, practical knowledge, and clinical context for imaging and understanding CSF and waste clearance systems in the brain.

Target Audience

This workshop will be relevant for radiologists and neurologists. MRI technologies are now beginning to be able to measure fluid dynamics and waste clearance in the human brain. These techniques have revealed striking changes in neurofluids linked to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, cerebral amyloid angiopath, and traumatic brain injury. Furthermore, clinical interventions are now being developed based on these methods. Being up to date on the current MRI methods and their clinical applications will be relevant for multiple clinical practice areas.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

Demonstrate current MR imaging methods to probe the brain clearance system and neurofluid physiology;
Examine what component(s) of the brain clearance system current MR imaging techniques are sensitive to;
Evaluate limitations (what is not measured) of current brain clearance and fluid imaging methods;
Describe the anatomy and physiology of brain clearance pathways;
Explain the different theories on brain clearance both regarding common elements as well as still-disputed components;
Assess how diseases affect brain clearance as well as MRI of brain clearance and neurofluid physiology;
Identify gaps in our current MRI arsenal for monitoring brain clearance; and
Identify current barriers for widespread dissemination of brain clearance MRI.

Session 1: Physiology of Neurofluids

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

What Is Known and Still Unknown About Neurofluid Driven Waste Clearance: Insights from Basic Research

T.B.A.

Physiology of Neurovascular Flow and Impact on ISF and CSF Dynamics and Perivascular Space Physiology

T.B.A.

Draining the Brain: Anatomy and Physiology of Brain Lymphatic Systemsand Brain Barriers

T.B.A.

Session 2: Quantitative CSF Flow Imaging in the Healthy and Disordered Brain

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

Technical Overview of Phase-Contrast Based Measurements

T.B.A.

4D CSF Flow in the Subarachnoid Space

T.B.A.

Clinical Application of Quantitative CSF Flow Measures

T.B.A.

Session 3: Imaging Simultaneous Hemodynamic and CSF Dynamics

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

fMRI Techniques for Neurofluid Flow Measurement

T.B.A.

Biology of Low-Frequency CSF and Hemodynamic Oscillations

T.B.A.

Session 4: Perivascular Spaces

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

Quantitative Measurements of PVS-Volume and Physiology

T.B.A.

Round Table Discussion: Why Do Perivascular Spaces Enlarge?

T.B.A.

Session 5: The Brain in Motion

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

MREG Measures of Brain and Fluid Pulsatility

T.B.A.

DENSE and Amplified MRI

T.B.A.

Session 6: Diffusion Based Techniques for Measuring Neurofluids

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

Diffusion-Weighted Imaging on the Border Between Flow, Dispersion, and Diffusion

T.B.A.

DTI-ALPS/Diffusion in Perivascular Spaces: What Does It Measure and What Doesn’t It Measure?

T.B.A.

Session 7: Contrast Agent Methods for Measuring Brain Clearance

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

How to Interpret Intravenous Injections in Neurofluids MRI

T.B.A.

Pre-Clinical Contrast Agent MRI of Neurofluids

T.B.A.

The Newest Biological Findings in Intrathecal Injections

T.B.A.

Session 8: Neurofluids in Practice: Hands-On Post-Processing

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

Live Demonstration 1: Analyzing Flow Signals in fMRI

T.B.A.

Live Demonstration 2: Analyzing Phase Contrast or Diffusion Data

T.B.A.

Session 9: Where Did My Label Go? Water-Transport Measurements in the Brain and Across Barriers

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

Methods for Measuring Water Exchange in the Brain

T.B.A.

Contrast Agent Imaging of Blood Brain Barrier Integrity and Subtle Impairments

T.B.A.

Session 10: Neurofluids in Development and Developmental Disorders

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

Neurofluids in the Pediatric Brain

T.B.A.

CSF Alterations in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

T.B.A.

Session 11: Neurofluids in Neurological Disorders

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

Neurofluid Physiology in Neurodegenerative Disorders

T.B.A.

Neurofluids Imaging in Disorders of the CSF

T.B.A.

Session 12: Moving Towards Open Science Neurofluids Research

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

Pitch Your Public Dataset or Software!

T.B.A.

Panel Discussion: Obstacles and Opportunities in Open Science for the Neurofluids Research Field

T.B.A.

Session 13: Are You Still Awake? MRI in the Sleeping Brain

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

MRI of Sleep in Humans: Practical Tips How To Do It and Changes Across the Lifespan

T.B.A.

Biology of CSF Flow During Sleep Measured with MRI

T.B.A.

Imaging Neurofluids in Sleeping Pre-Clinical Model Organisms

T.B.A.

Session 14: Computational Modeling

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

Computational Modeling of Neurofluid Flow Using MRI Data

T.B.A.

Session 15: Interventions to Modulate Neurofluids

Moderators: T.B.A.

T.B.A.

Breath Modulation of Neurofluids

T.B.A.

Pharmacological Modulation of Neurofluids

T.B.A.

Ultrasound/Stimulation Modulation of Neurofluids

T.B.A.

Program Credit Designation

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. The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine designates this live activity for a preliminary maximum of XX.OO* AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The American Medical Association has an agreement of mutual recognition of Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits with the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), the accreditation body for European countries. Physicians interested in converting AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ to UEMS-European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education CME credits (ECMECs) should contact the UEMS at mutualrecognition@uems.eu.

Activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ that take place within a member country of the UEMS are not eligible for conversion to ECMECs under this agreement.

The International Society for MR Radiographers & Technologists (ISMRT), A Section of the ISMRM, is recognized by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) as a Recognized Continuing Education Evaluation Mechanism (RCEEM). This workshop does not offer CE credits.

* preliminary credit designation; subject to change

Claiming Credit

To obtain your credit for the workshop, log in to the ISMRM membership portal at www.ismrm.org, click the [Session Evaluations for Certificates] menu button, find this workshop in the list that appears, click "Begin Evaluation" and follow the instructions provided.

Certificate of Participation

To obtain your Certificate of Participation after the workshop has ended, log in to the ISMRM membership portal at www.ismrm.org, click the [Session Evaluations for Certificates] menu button, find this workshop in the list that appears, click "Begin Evaluation" and follow the instructions provided.