Preclinical and clinical imaging with focus on neurology

Course Code :2038FBDBMW
Study domain:Biomedical Sciences
Academic year:2019-2020
Semester:1st semester
Contact hours:55
Credits:6
Study load (hours):168
Contract restrictions: Exam contract not possible
Language of instruction:English
Exam period:exam in the 1st semester
Lecturer(s)Marleen Verhoye
Annemie Van Der Linden
Johan Van Goethem

3. Course contents *

The course is considered as an integrated practical course in which the different techniques of neuroimaging are dealt with. The applications, indication and medical value of all techniques of neuroimaging will be discussed and illustrated by means of literature or practical examples.  Appropriate levels of attention will be devoted to the advanced image processing used in biomedical research.     The course also gives insight in how image contrasts can be acquired (technically) and what are the underlying physiological or anatomical mechanisms for each image contrast.

In the introduction the anatomy/MRI/CT and existing neuro-atlasses are compared between humans (clinical) and rodents (rat/mouse) (preclinical).

In the computer tomography (CT) section focus is made towards CT contrast agents and their applicability in preclinical and clinical context, perfusion CT, 3D techniques and CT-angiography.
 

In the  magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) section focus is made towards MRI contrast agents and their applicability in both preclinical and  clinical context, diffusion MRI and application of DW MRI in several applications (stroke, MS,  development/degeneration white matter), perfusion weighted MRI with application of PW MRI in several applications (ischemia, brain tumors), MRI functional for brain functioning, flow and MR angiography with applications, ultrafast imaging with applications (use in fMRI, quantification volume brain regions), and leakage of blood-brain-barrier with dynamic MRI with use of contrast agents. Moreover both MR Spectroscopy and MR spectroscopic imaging is discussed, including their underlying principles and the neuro applications in preclinical and clinical context.

In the PET-MRI section the use of relevant tracers for neuro research in preclinical and clinical context is discussed. This technique however is more described in detail in the course ‘Molecular Imaging representation in preclinical and clinical’ context.