Grant: Operating Grant

Multiple sclerosis is the most common disease of the central nervous system among young adults and has a high prevalence in northern countries such as Canada, with highest incidence in Alberta. The cause is unknown and there is no cure yet. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been used for diagnosing and following multiple sclerosis in the clinic for over a quarter century. MRI is very helpful for diagnosing multiple sclerosis by looking at lesions, but less effective for following the disease progression after diagnosis, because lesions do not always relate to the clinical symptoms of the patient. New MRI methods are needed that can provide a better objective measure of the disease to help in patient management. Our overall goal is to provide new MRI methods for the clinic to follow the individual MS patient. We will invent new MRI methods that are sensitive to brain iron accumulation, which may be a marker of brain damage or neurodegeneration. These MRI methods will have a much closer correspondence to patient symptoms as measured by a disability scale. The invention takes place by evaluating the underlying MRI physics to determine more effective imaging methods. The methods that will be developed are then carefully tested and validated in a research setting before being used in our clinic to measure changes in patients over time. The clinical work involves collaboration with medical doctors who are specialists in multiple sclerosis and clinical imaging. The end product will be a transformation in the way MRI is used to follow multiple sclerosis, by providing an objective means to track disease progression using the new MRI methods.